For most of my travel life, I camped.  Camping has several travel advantages.  Campgrounds are usually close to beautiful natural features and a sense of community tends to develop among campers.  Another advantage, of course, is cost.  Camping can be free depending on where you do it.

This advantage, however is not as good as it once was.  As government budgets have tightened, even stays at state forest campgrounds can rise to half or more of the cost of a nearby motel room.

One option to consider if avoiding campgrounds is the growing number of extended stay hotels.  During our wedding in Wisconsin, Kathy and I stayed at the Extended Stay America hotel in Appleton, WI.  Desk services are minimal and there is no pool.  But most extended stay hotels have large rooms, wifi access and, most importantly, kitchen facilities.

Given the items needed to camp and the costs of eating out, an extended stay hotel can often be cheaper for a vacation trip than many other options.  Extended Stay America, for instance, offers rooms for $60 per night in most areas.  That’s a pretty good price considering state park and forest campgrounds can cost $15 to $25 per night.

The Detroit Free Press has an article related to this traveling option:

Demand is up for the nation’s nearly 2,500 extended-stay lodgings, originally the domain of businessmen and women on long assignments, now also sought out by leisure travelers. Occupancy averaged 69.9% from January through June, better than the U.S. hotel-industry average of 61.4%, Smith Travel Research says.

The average ES nightly rate was $85.60 in that period, compared with the lodging-industry average of $107.64. These lower rates typically buy suite-style accommodations with kitchens, complimentary breakfasts and Wi-Fi; lots of brands have happy hours, barbecue nights and other free evening eats. Most long-stay brands do accept overnight visitors.

Homewood Suites by Hilton has “definitely seen an increase in leisure stays” in recent months, says Rebecca Wyatt, a senior vice president. “You give up the bar and the restaurant, but you have a kitchen and you get a lot of space.”

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080907/FEATURES07/809070369/1025/rss05

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