Motel to Go, For Those on the Go

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 07:36:25 EST

Requirements for being displaced as a traveler are different in the United States than in Europe. However, even for those of you on the other side of the pond may be interested in this Motel to go. It may come as a surprise to the US-based Road warrior. That just because an airline cannot complete your flight, either because of voluntary or involuntary boarding denial, they are not required to set you up with lodging. In the past they have done so, as part of a voluntary bump. With many of the airlines getting squeezed so hard because of energy prices, giving you a place to sleep is becoming a thing of the past. If you could not complete your flight because of weather related reasons or other circumstances beyond control of the airline, well, tough luck for you. This is such a common issue, a web site now exists for finding out in advance what you may be facing.It is sleepinairports.net

Tcat has discovered an amazing solution that looks like a motel to go. Its formal name is Mini Motel, which you can find at Minimotel.

I am an experienced road warrior. For example, as I tell you about this Motel to go, I'm into my second month of seeing neither Seattle nor Mexico. It may be another three months before I see either. Yet besides my clothing, I have my computer equipment, Sony video camera, Nikon DSLR, yada yada, and doing it all with carry-on luggage. Sure it's a little tight. And I'm darn sure going to find a room to add this Motel to go to my arsenal.

For $50 USD you get a little mini tent, air mattress, pillow, bedsheet, alarm clock, reading light, toothbrush and toothpaste, earplugs and eyeshades. All this fits in a package 17" x 12" x 3" (43.2 cm x 30.5 cm x 7.6 cm) and weighing in at 4.7 pounds (2.14 kilograms). This means you're in Motel to go can fit in your carry-on luggage.

The website suggests other uses such as being part of a disaster kit. If that's in your plans, I suggest chucking the bedsheet and get a space blanket from a sporting good store. My advice to fellow road warriors is also to dump the bedsheet and get a silk sack. Yes, that's part of my carry-on entourage. This is not only for personal comfort. I've had the unpleasant experience of bedbugs in what were supposed to be some pretty upscale lodging facilities.

The other piece I would shed is the toothbrush. I've long since given up carrying the fancy pulsing toothbrushes and charger. Not only are the replacement heads sometimes difficult to find and expensive, plugging in the charger, carrying it along is a pain. I have replaced this with Oralb.com

At about $5 it is cheaper than replacement heads, and cuts weight and bulk. A great find.

Of course this all adds a bit to the bottom line expendure of your Motel to go. And my fellow seasoned Road Warriors, you'll use the silk sack and toothbrush anyway.

If you have Road Warrior tricks you want to pass on, drop me a line Tcat AT Travel4RoadWarriors.com

Tcat Houser is an international author and trainer for technology and applied psychology. He finds that sometimes (not always) his own Internet travel portal at travel4roadwarriors.com gets in the best deals.

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Motel to Go, For Those on the Go