What type of accommodation do you prefer?

let's hear from the members where they would like to stay when on the road with a bike.

You can select more than one option

Maybe admin would like to create a "Poll" section and move this post?

I voted for camping. My rationale is simply because it is cheap, you can take your lodgings with you, allowing you more freedom as to where you want to stop. Often I have ridden through a truly amazing place and wanted to stop and stay there only to find there were no lodgings.

I will be the first to admit there are drawbacks to camping but with the technology now at the disposal to the fervent camper, many of the drawbacks have been mitigated. This from someone that is claustrophobic and hates enclosed spaces, I have had to re-learn sleeping in a tent.

Morpheus

Personally speaking - anything less than 3 star is regarded as camping.

When travelling we prefer to have a nice warm bed, nice warm bath and in general a relaxed setup at the end of the days riding. From our perspective we prefer a BB, as you often times stop very late for lunch during the course of the riding day and dinner is then not very high on the end of day itenary.

Also when travelling i normally try and book the honey moon suite at least once during the trip as a special treat for Elsabe. Don't get me wrong - i grew up in a camping family, it just does not suit our needs anymore.

This is a very good "Poll" to do in the club from a ride organizing perspective as the ride organiser has to find a venue that can cater for a small to large number of people at any given time. I hope this thread gets a very large reaction from the club members.

Still a bit early to draw conclusions but certainly very interesting so far.

We have been traveling as part of the roadies with the club since 2005 and if I had to put a percentage on campers on the various trips, I would say it’s a maximum of 10% yet the early poll results suggest something else.

For me – and I’m not trying to influence future voting - ………after 800km in the saddle, the last thing I would want to do is to go and pitch a tent and rest on the ground only to pack up everything tomorrow morning and do it all over again tomorrow afternoon/night at a different location…...not to mention queuing for a cold shower.

I would therefore prefer roofed/catered accommodation. If you only stay one night at a certain location, it’s simply more convenient to stay at B&B’s/Guest houses. My philosophy regarding this choice is almost the same as when buying rider gear……..go for the most expensive you can afford…….I can like some luxury and by this I don't imply it's wrong to want to camp.

Different folk, different...........

MadnohB wrote:.. Maybe admin would like to create a "Poll" section and move this post?

Okay...

When I started riding I hardly had enough money to put petrol in my bike. The only way to indulge the need to go on road trips was to camp. Those early days were some of the best trips I have ever had in my life and to be honest nothing lately has come close.

As my financial position has improved, I have sometimes opted for the B&B. I know a lot of riders especially in the BM club have been riding 5 years or less, or only started later in life. I have noticed in that particular group a predilection for B&B's etc. Now please don't be offended by the remark it simply illustrates that bikers who begin later in life, have more money to indulge themselves and in some cases, older backs that will not tolerate night after night on the ground.

If you were doing this poll on the WD forum where the guys all ride DS bikes and their trips are a little more extreme, you would find camping rating in the top 10 percent of the choices. Mostly because the places these people choose to ride, in most cases you will not find suitable lodgings. Different strokes for different folks but a poll like this really helps. When choosing riding partners, you can choose people with similar interests.

Morpheus

I prefer camping, been doing it for years already. It does open up more areas to visit. Though from time to time I don't mind staying at a B&B on long trips amongst the camping.

I like both camping and B&B's. Depending of my mode of transport I will either prefer to camp or stay in B&B's.

If I take the GSA I have more space to pack the camping gear than on the LT.

The LT is also always ending up in places where there are enough luxury place to stay over.

The GSA on the other hand sometimes ends up where there are no luxury options and then camping is the way to go.

morpheus wrote:........Different strokes for different folks but a poll like this really helps. When choosing riding partners, you can choose people with similar interests.

are you trying to tell me something morhpman?


back to the poll.......

morpheus wrote:.......If you were doing this poll on the WD forum where the guys all ride DS bikes and their trips are a little more extreme, you would find camping rating in the top 10 percent of the choices......

that is exactly what confuses me.....it's not on the WD forum it's on the BM club's site where we often have a 50/50 split between roadies and GS's on rides and I'm yet to see the masses camp on a trip......in fact in practise the contrary happens, one or two out of a group may camp........

be it as it may.........

there are no "correct or popular" answers here, it's not a trick question and remember it's anonymous.

the idea is to get the members' preference for accommodation while touring with a bike (excluding rallies) so speak your mind and stipulate your expectations for now and tomorrow

MadnohB wrote:

We have been traveling as part of the roadies with the club since 2005 and if I had to put a percentage on campers on the various trips, I would say it’s a maximum of 10% yet the early poll results suggest something else.

Problem is, if 7 people go on a trip, the one person that does not want to camp, makes all the other not camp, cause that person does not have the equipment (or not willing to get/borrow some).

not quite true for organised trips.

Most of the places we have overnight at in the past, offered a choice of camping or chalets/rooms. Venues are specifically selected with this in mind. Members are free to choose whatever they want

I will gladly go on a road trip with you Jamie, even if I have to stay on road the whole time and stay in a B&B.

There is some truth to what Tr0jan said. Often when it comes to making the arrangements, the campers will opt to go B&B to satisfy the rest. Mostly due to wanting to be part of the group and enjoy the same comforts. This is not true for everyone but certainly does happen. I believe it is referred to as peer pressure?

What I love about being involved with bikes and other bikers is their diversity. I can go on a road trip with you and stay in B&B's or an off road trip with Robert and camp. I get to do both if I like, neither, or only one of the two. That was one of the reasons for choosing the DS bike.

I am not even worried if people trailer their bikes to the hotel where they are staying and ride around there. It's all about different people doing what makes them happy. If they are happy, then so am I.

Lastly I would like to say that I believe a lot of people think to be a biker you have to be hardcore. Camping is hardcore compared to B&B's, so perhaps some people voted camping purely for that reason, although given the choice they may prefer a soft bed and a warm shower.

Enough from me now!
Morpheus

Tend to agree fully with Jamie - the more comfort after a long day in the saddle the better. Hence why we BB or go for the self catering options, with the BB being the 1st choice.

Yes staying on the tar road, and not frequenting the more hard to reach areas that can only be reached by off road, i suppose there is a lot of places we dont see.

But being on the wrong side of 45 - our comfort rates high - riding and overnighting.

I dont do many overnighters, but B&B all the way for me ...

I love camping and go to Mozambique camping a lot. I will use my 4x4 and trailer so that when I do camp I am comfortable. Decent kitchen area, gazebos for sun and rain protection. When touring on my bike however space is limited so I will stay in B and B accommodation or hotels. I want to be able to park, have a nice shower, sleep in a comfortable bed and have someone else prepare food for me. The one who is boss will not camp either when we are on the bike. She is happy to camp with the necessary luxuries and comfort.

I think this way in terms of priorities:

1. Security - bike and riders must be safe, and the bike must be there the next morning.
2. Comfort - the overnight must be a place to relax, rest, refresh and revitalize the spirit.
3. Cost - when I ride on my own, I don't want to pay for two people's accommodation - a common problem in B+B's that charge single occupant surcharges.
4. Convenience - it should be convenient to get to and depart from the next morning at sunrise.

I enjoy camping, I enjoy self-catering/lodges, I enjoy B+B's and I enjoy hotels where rates are reasonable. They are all part of the road trip experience. By rejecting any of the options out of hand, you restrict your experiences.

I also ride solo - not having a pillion that needs a hairdryer un-complicates a lot of issues!
On our Extreme Gold trip last year we did all the above options at different times...and being four males, we doubled up per room to save costs.

Richard H wrote:...I also ride solo - not having a pillion that needs a hairdryer un-complicates a lot of issues!

Agreed Richard but a hairdryer is the smallest of problems. Women do need some additional stuff that men don't use and I won’t elaborate on this, let’s just call it anti-aging stuff.

The biggest problem however, if you're not staying at a hotel or B & B, is towels. They are so bulky and almost take up all the space in one pannier. See with the relative small sport panniers on the ST or the K for that matter, one need to be far more conscious of what you want to take with. It’s not as big as the GS panniers…….looks twice as good and takes half the capacity…….or something like that.

I therefore prefer to stay at a place where I can get a clean towel and especially bathroom after a long day on the road.

Tend to agree with Stienie - i have the use of the left hand pannier on the LT (standing behind) - the top box is for Elsabe and a few extra things, and the right hand pannier is for the rain suits, puncture kit and Elsabe's vanity case, with al the female maintenance thingies in it.

So yes even though the LT seems to have large pannier - compared Jamie/Stienie's carrying capacity - it also has its limitations. Hence we BB or hotel or Self cater if we will be staying over for more than one night at a venue.

Planning a ride - i tend to lean towards BB's as a first choice.

Mermaid wrote:The biggest problem however, if you're not staying at a hotel or B & B, is towels. They are so bulky and almost take up all the space in one pannier. See with the relative small sport panniers on the ST or the K for that matter, one need to be far more conscious of what you want to take with.

I therefore prefer to stay at a place where I can get a clean towel and especially bathroom after a long day on the road.

I found that the best way to deal with a damp towel is to drape it over the luggage / top box and hold down with a cargo net. Turn it around whenever you stop and it is dry in no time. For Christmas my kids bought me a camping towel that folds into a 10x12x2 cm web bag. I haven't tried it out yet, but if it works, I have no problem in that department anymore...

Richard H wrote:For Christmas my kids bought me a camping towel that folds into a 10x12x2 cm web bag. I haven't tried it out yet, but if it works, I have no problem in that department anymore...

Got that as well from Dorothy - she bought me two - a 'his' and 'hers' set! Still have to try them out. Guess that will be at the Buff in March.

Rejuvenated DaveS wrote:

Richard H wrote:For Christmas my kids bought me a camping towel that folds into a 10x12x2 cm web bag. I haven't tried it out yet, but if it works, I have no problem in that department anymore...

Got that as well from Dorothy - she bought me two - a 'his' and 'hers' set! Still have to try them out. Guess that will be at the Buff in March.

They WORK WELL! Leave all the old stuff at home... And use the saved space for extra bottles of Klippies & Gin!

tj wrote:
They WORK WELL! Leave all the old stuff at home... And use the saved space for extra bottles of Klippies & Gin!

Jislaaik!! Dis 'n concoction daai!!!!

Klip-en-Spook?

I have just realised one reason why I take up less pannier/suitcase space.
When SWMBO* and I went away for a few nights last week, I took the toiletries bag I have for put together specifically for travelling.

As I travel rather often, usually for a night or two. I have small 25-50ml bottles of everything I need - shampoo, soft soap, mouthwash, medication, etc. that I keep filling up from the big bottles at home. I keep small tubes of toothpaste and even a travel razor and toothbrush. I can look after my personal hygiene from that toiletries bag for five (seven at a stretch) days and it is about 20x15x7cm. It will fit happily in my tank-bag with all the rain gear and spare gloves.

SWMBO*, on the other hand, took a large bag with all the big 200-500ml tubes, bottles, jars and boxes of stuff off the bathroom counter - enough to last 21 days, or 30 if she used it sparingly. She needed half a walk-on sized suitcase for her toiletries - excluding the hair drier, hand mirror and such.

So ladies, may I suggest that you obtain a man sized toiletries bag and a collection of suitable new or recycled little bottles and fill them from the large stock on the vanity slab. This will leave you with enough space for your other rider's stuff.


*she who must be obeyed

Rejuvenated DaveS wrote:

tj wrote:
They WORK WELL! Leave all the old stuff at home... And use the saved space for extra bottles of Klippies & Gin!

Jislaaik!! Dis 'n concoction daai!!!!

Nee nee Kêrels. Die mix word plaaslik aangeskaf. Te swaar en te bulky vir 'n fiets!

Bottle of Chivas works better - no mix - just add ice. Ask Dave.