Are motels unreasonably expensive or is it just inflation?

Motels/hotels are very overpriced for what you get, generally. Most of the time, all I need is a place to sleep and a shower. There's no reason that should cost $90. I have saved a lot of money in my day just by sleeping in my car and then going to some rec center and showering for less than $10.

Also, continental breakfasts have become garbage over the last 10 years at most places. It used to be common for nearly everywhere to offer a basic, simple, but decent breakfast (cereal, juice, yogurt, etc), but most average and below places I've stayed at these days just have a bunch of packaged gas station junk food and that's it. I'd rather not be offered anything than that crap.

Accounting for inflation, $45 in 2003 works out to $71 today.

We are in abnormal times now, but normally things double about every 20 years.

Ever try Hotwire? You can also get cheap rooms by paying sketchy front desk people in cash late at night.

All hotels in the last year are price gouging. I hate Priceline but I still use them. Search the site a few days in advance and they will send you a coupon code. Motel 6 is full of prostitutes and pimps on crack. Only seek out three stars or hire with 8.0 reviews. I traveled from South Padre Island to Key West and back last year and made out ok. Prices have gone up but that's do to corporate greed.

Your problem is two-fold.

1. Motels instead of hotels.

2. Democrat

With the motels being that expensive you’re better off picking a two star hotel like a Days Inn or something

and I agree with you on the continental breakfasts being total junk. Just order ubereats on your phone to the junk hotel

You took the bait. That false detail was inserted to trigger political responses.

Why can't you just sleep in your car at a rest stop? That's what it's for, resting.

My apartment recently had work done so they moved me into a hotel for 10 days. It was $230 a night. They paid the bill so it’s fine, but here’s the room I stayed in. You decide. I thought it was way overpriced. I wouldn’t pay over $150 for it on my own.

For comparison, this summer I drove from CA to Florida and stayed in various nice Hilton hotels using my points. I had enough points to stay for free the entire week, but the rooms were $120-$180 range if I wasn’t using points. I would say the rooms I stayed in during that trip were way nicer than the one I stayed at in Irvine. One was a beautiful suite, full kitchen, two beds, beautiful bath, and shower set up. I actually thought the hotels were on the cheap side. I expected those kinds of suites to be $250 minimum and I thought my points would only last a 2-2.5 night. And they all had amazing free breakfast, except the Louisiana Hilton. We thought it was free and went down to eat and it wasn’t. So we paid $90 for two meals and a couple alcoholic drinks that would cost $30-$40 total anywhere else. Oh well. Can’t put a price on fun. Interestingly, I didn’t know Louisiana allows you to walk around the streets drinking alcohol. Just get whatever drink you want and keep walking. I like the efficiency. Don’t have to sit in a grungy bar for 30-60 minutes wasting time.

Better link.

Breaking news - prices have gone up since 2005. Truly shocking.

Not everything doubles every 20 years. Stock portfolios, historically, have doubled every 6 years.

just think outside the box. if you have a car, sleep in it. otherwise, buy a tent and sleeping bag and pitch it somewhere quiet. you can wash etc at any random petrol station.

Yeah, ok to sleep in your car. Also, if you belong to PF, which is nationwide,$20 mo. membership, you can shower etc in their facilities. Some are still 24 hr and you could sleep in an easy chair there too. Cheap food? Go to a Walmart and you can get decent prepared items for much less than a restaurant.

You're learning about the effect of the Democratic policies you're trying to further. 8.5% inflation will do raise motel prices.

If something is unreasonably priced then competition will lower it. There are air bnb and others out there and they compete.

But looking at price if you pay $1800/month for an apartment that is $60/night.

Worth it not to get bedbugs. Although expensive hotels get them too.

If the place you are staying in isn’t at least $100 then someone has been cooking meth in it at some point. You are better off sleeping in your car like the homeless person you are.

Well, you took that bait.