u235

Stayed there the last three years when passing through. No problems any time. It's a little dated but its safe, cheap, and there is a breakfast (make waffles, small selection of cereal, oatmeal, fruit, juices and some pastries etc), not elaborate but it serves its purpose. Wi-fi, microwave, and small frig in the room. Most of the time there was coffee in the lobby. It is up the hill about a 2-3 minute ride from everything else. You can walk back down into "town" for dinner/drinks/hangout etc but I chose to ride down.

Bostonwheeler

A few tips for bringing a bike with you to a hotel/motel:

• Always bring your own lock. Even if the hotel/motel has a secure storage room, any guest can probably request the key and get access.
• Wipe down the bike tires with a rag prior to bringing the bike inside, so you don't soil the carpet in the lobby or hallways.
• Bring a large plastic garbage bag, and slice it open so that you have a long sheet of plastic. If you are able to bring the bike into your room, lay out the bag and park the bike so that the tires and drive train are on the plastic, preventing the bike from making any mess on the hotel carpet.
• If you're staying in a nice B&B (as opposed to hotel/motel), please don't bring the bike into your room unless you have been given explicit permission to do so. Such places usually have a garage or basement area where you can lock up your bike.

Dave P

Hey UniChris:

Like the majority of posters on your thread, I've never had any serious problems bringing my bike into hotel rooms. This would include Arizona, California and Hawaii.

Of note were Waikiki, HI and Bisbee, AZ.

The high-rise Ilikai Hotel in Waikiki asked that all bicycles be transported on the elevators designated for beach-goers and swimmers. I thought that was kind of them. I'd rather wait 15 minutes for the "unwashed elevator," than ride with the clean folks.

As strange as it sounds, "Old Bisbee," AZ, seemingly, has developed a negative attitude over bicycles in rooms (and perhaps cyclists, in general). The past 2 times I've stayed there during 2 day event rides, the innkeepers have been adamant about keeping our bikes out of their rooms. Granted, the rooms are typically very small, but there was an attitude change, for sure. Luckily, they have found somewhere "secure" to store the bikes overnight. As Johnny Rotten once said, "...'cause tourists are money."

I typically use the side entrances to all hotels to get my bike to my room. Even when spotted (like always), no one has ever said a word. I never dirty the room with bike grease/dirt, and always leave a tip for housekeeping.

I always pay in advance, so I've never had a problem checking out super early. Anymore, it seems officially checking out at the desk is an annoyance to the staff. I've never had an issue with hotel staffers when arriving a bit grimy and rank, either.

If for some reason, I must use an elevator with my bike, I always sit and wait until there are no other passengers riding with me.

As mentioned earlier, I would never leave my bike outside. "Sir, you can lock your bike to that rack out front..." Forget it! Thieves look for bikes locked inside of cars quite commonly, as well. I would never do that, either.

Cool thread, and best of travels to you!

notmyke

Never had an issue with bringing bike to room, except in Whistler, BC, which was opposed to the mountain bikers' steeds fouling up the rooms.
Given that they knew that cyclists (MTB mostly) were a significant part of their clientele, though, they had a really good bike-check / valet system - not just a storage room.

In typical hotels, I make a point of carrying my bike through the lobby - even clean, the bike can leave subtle tire-tracks. If nothing else, shows the staff that I'm trying to be careful and respectful of their property. Usually get a comment out of the front desk if they're not busy ("how was the ride?"; "how far did you go today"; etc.), so they seem cool with it.

UKFan4Sure

I'm with you. My bike is way too valuable to leave it out of sight. Even when I stop to eat somewhere, the bike is right outside the window of the restaurant in my plain view. I won't have it any other way.

InfinityMPG

Same here. They can probably pick up on the cues of me cycling there (cycling jersey, tights, sweat, helmet head); but if you ask an employee if it's okay to bring in a bike, then they may be forced to refer to an official policy or seek out a manager, whereas if you're simply responsible and keep your bike from getting the room dirty, there shouldn't be a problem. It's like Leave-No-Trace Camping. Be clean, pick up after yourself, respect the space.

OP's questions have mostly been answered, I'll just add a couple things: a person above said you should book in advance and get agreements in writing. That may apply for Airbnb, but I disagree in the case of hotels and motels. When I hotel tour (places bike-toured: California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana), I do not book rooms in advance because I do not know exactly how far I'll ride, and it works out. I've run into hotels with no rooms left, but there are always more hotels nearby. I leave a little in my physical "tank" for the hotel search, just in case, and I decide on-the-fly which city or town ahead looks like a good place to stop.

If a hotel ever were to tell me that I cannot bring my bike inside (it has never happened yet), I would just go to another hotel. I do not travel with a lock because it's a waste of weight, but that means that I have to keep my bike in sight, which means in my hotel room.

As for early check-out, it was suggested already, but just pay in advance and tell them your plans. One place in particular put out a light breakfast just for me since I told them I'd be gone before their normal breakfast hours. In my experience, places tend to be nice when they know you're just going to be there to shower, sleep, and head out early. Be nice back, of course

Batstar

Just wanted share this article as it relates to the discussion here. A Japanese tourist who was in the midst of a 9-month cycling tour through Canada/USA, had his custom bike stolen outside a hotel in Hinton, AB. Nice to know that the cycling community reached out and got him back in the saddle.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmon...port-1.5442456

indyfabz

Those of us who tour and camp don't have a choice. Certainly would never leave it locked outside a motel room, but there are plenty of other situations where I cannot keep sight of my bike at all times. (E.g., Using the head while riding the Mickelson Trail in the middle of nowhere SD.) I practice realistic risk assessment.

livedarklions

Well, don't come crying to us when a bear takes your bike.

pdlamb

We've had the "do you carry a bike lock?" threads. Is it time for a new thread, "Do you take a bear trap with you while touring?"

indyfabz

I've got chunks of bears tougher than Chuck Norris in my stool.

A 'coon started to make off with one of panniers while I was in my tent. Glad I heard him and was able to scare him off empty pawed.

UniChris

Relax, your bike is safe, I'm the one who has to worry.

livedarklions

That took me a second! I'd also worry about the bike horn salesman at the seal convention.

livedarklions

I can state with some authority that racoons do not like Super Soakers.

indyfabz

The crazy thing is that it was completely empty. I put all my attractants in the restroom because I was in bear country in NJ. Earlier it had held a very aromatic everything bagel. Wonder if the smell lingered.

pdlamb

Sounds probable. Every month or two I buy a bakers dozen bagels on the way to work. When I get everything bagels, I can smell the dried onion on that pannier for a couple days afterwards.

UniChris

Continuing the theme (er, well, prices seem to have gone up...) anyone tried AirBnB on rides?

palehose66

I have made two 8 day trips to western N.Y. via motels. I traveled solo with a BOB yak trailer. It was awesome, yes pricey. I used a discount card and once pulled into a place that looked out of business while there was a brand new Holiday Inn next door. They were remodeling and I had paid ahead to save some money. They wouldn't let me cancel obviously and the room was a smoking room. I picked places that had continental breakfast so I could save some money and also get loaded up with snacks for the day! Only one place in Lorraine, Ohio would not let me eat a few minutes early. Beware floors. I walked into an old motel that had tile floors and skated to the front desk. Every time I ran into rain the hotels would have extra newspaper somewhere to stuff into my shoes overnight.

San Rensho 

A bike is smaller and less intrusive than a wheelchair and of course they have to let wheelchairs in the room. Say that you have an "emotional support" bike, get fake credentials on line and say they are violating federal law by not letting you take your bike with you. Hell, pull that stunt with the airline and your bike will ride with you in the cabin.

indyfabz

Cool story, bro.

pdlamb

Or you might have to carry the bike in your lap or put it under the seat in front of you.

San Rensho 

UniChris

Not any sort of normal / non-folding DF bike. Wheelchairs are amazingly maneuverable, able to rotate in their own footprint so you can do things like roll into a compact elevator forwards, spin around without the other people moving, and then roll off forwards as well. They also typically don't have exposed chains and rarely tires muddy from a trail.

Maybe you meant a mobility scooter and not a wheelchair? The things that sort of look like a riding lawnmower without the blade assembly?

Yes, you can pick up a DF bike and stand it on end in a tiny elevator (as a former co-worker often did), but then everyone has to trust you not to drop it or bang things with it.

And a lot of these issues come down to an establishment's willingness to trust an unknown "you".

There are a whole bunch of legal issues there. Many cases it won't be every room, but they're required to have some that can fit a wheelchair.