motel and hostel costs

[squeezebox]

I'm hoping to keep hostel and motel costs to maybe $150 a month. Essentially once a week, maybe a bit more often. So is this idea realistic or am I full of crap ??

[saltysack]

As long as u don't run into any un neutered dogs....


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[Lone Wolf]

I'm hoping to keep hostel and motel costs to maybe $150 a month. Essentially once a week, maybe a bit more often. So is this idea realistic or am I full of crap ??

that's reasonable

[Starchild]

What are you including in your stay? Just the bed? Then possible, but also realize that things get more expensive at you travel further north, so you may want to limit it to $100/month till about Harper Ferry or so..

If your stay includes cost of laundry, dinner/breakfast in town, and especially if it includes drinks, then no this won't work.

[kayak karl]

the cost of hostels is in your guide. motels can vary depending on town and weekend or not. (30-80 a night)

[garlic08]

I don't think so. I kept a reasonable lid on costs, and my total lodging for the AT hike was about $800 for 3.5 months. That was 25% of my budget. That was 14 nights, so about once a week as you're planning.

I can see in my spreadsheet the cheaper nights down south ($40) getting more expensive up north ($80).

If I were younger and didn't have a credit card, I would have spent less, but it was a comfort item I was glad to be able to afford.

[Coffee]

A typical hostel might be $20-30 while motels are going to usually be $60+ so I'm thinking that a $150/month budget for weekly lodging needs to be comprised of three hostel stays and one motel stay, on average.

[Jeff]

The AT Guide and Companion can be really helpful when on a budget. Hostels vary greatly regarding services included (or not included) in their basic rate. Some hostels charge extra for laundry, internet, breakfast, shuttle back to trail, etc.

Don't let your "tab" at the end of your hostel stay catch you by surprise.

[kayak karl]

we used the guide a lot for prices. if there were two for $15 and one for $20 we stayed at the $20. it was quieter and less young people

[RobUgly]

easily do able- but really depends on your comfort level .
The cheapest I heard of was a man who only spent $350 from Springer to Harpersferry,WV

[DistantDreamer]

In 2012 we budgeted $1000 for lodging, and we went though $400 of that in the 800 or so miles before I was injured. For 2016, we are tripling the budget for lodging to $3000. Our total budget is going to be $12,000 for the thru-hike. We already have all our gear from 2012 when we purchased it for that thru-hike attempt. Most will say this amount is excessive but we like options and financial freedom and are firm believers that you should go to a long distance hike with far more money than you ever think you will need to take away the fear of not being able to finish because money runs out. I cannot imagine worrying about money constantly while thru-hiking, that would take away much of the enjoyment to us.

We do not drink or smoke or use street drugs, so we save a lot of money and use it to relax and clean up in better lodging. The question of lodging of course depends on a person's comfort level, how much luxury or lack of luxury they want. For example, in 2012 we often stayed at basic accommodations such as NOC where they placed us in what my girlfriend called a 'broom closet.' We started our hike at the Hiker Hostel which was to us the nicest and most clean hostel within the first 600 miles that we stayed at.

When we hike we go out 5-6 days, then go to a hotel or hostel for 1 day, resupply, and head back out for 5-6 days. So we hotel/hostel 4-5 times a month. We are talking about possible cutbacks for 2016 but I know that will fall by the wayside when she gets grimy and wants a shower after a week. I could on the other hand go a month without a shower if needed but I would be lying if I said I did not appreciate it. The difference is my girlfriend considers a shower necessary and I respect that as I do her. So we go to a hotel 1 time a week.

Bottomline: Budget FAR more money than you think you need for the thru-hike. If you do not spend it all you will still have it at the end of the trip! Far better than going cheap and running out of money.

[Grampie]

When you go to a motel, in any town along the trail ,always ask if they give a discount to thru-hikers. Many do.

[Bronk]

Even when you don't stay at a hostel or motel you're probably going to want to do laundry and take a shower, so make sure you are budgeting for that in the towns where you don't stay the night. I was on the trail 4 months and only stayed in a motel 3 times, and a hostel 5 times, but that is not the norm. You will see a lot of people in a hotel at least twice a week. And if you start moving with a group you will very likely make decisions based on what your group of friends is doing...you get a group of a half dozen people together and one of them is going to want to stop every time you cross a town, so you'll likely end up stopping in every town if you start making group decsions. That is how a lot of people burn through more money than they had planned on.

[Sly]

One thing to consider is motels can often be cheaper than hostels if shared with 1-3 people. Also, generally, you'll have more amenities and more privacy

[Coffee]

I'm never sure what to think when I hear about more than two people sharing a motel room ... motel rooms usually have two beds at the most. Are people sharing beds? Sleeping on the floor? If the latter, I'd just as soon camp. Motel floors are notoriously dirty. There's a reason why motel room carpets are usually dark with complex patterns.

[barich942]

I'm never sure what to think when I hear about more than two people sharing a motel room ... motel rooms usually have two beds at the most. Are people sharing beds? Sleeping on the floor? If the latter, I'd just as soon camp. Motel floors are notoriously dirty. There's a reason why motel room carpets are usually dark with complex patterns.

Not to mention the ax murders out there.

[squeezebox]

But on the other hand over packing a shelter and spooning with people you don't know, a queen size bed with someone you are not having sex with might be better than the shelter situation.

[Slo-go'en]

There's a big psychological difference between being in your own cocoon (sleeping bag) crammed in a shelter then being in a bed sharing the same sheets/blanket with someone.

[rickb]

I deleated my reply to barich942 -- excessive drift for this thread.

[Sly]

There's a big psychological difference between being in your own cocoon (sleeping bag) crammed in a shelter then being in a bed sharing the same sheets/blanket with someone.

If it's a major concern with two people sharing a bed the problem could be remedied by using your sleeping bags. I've shared motel roms with couples, guys and girls with two or more beds including rollouts.