Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Humboldt Lodging Expensive?

It's not available online yet, but there's a letter to the editor in the Times- Standard today from a guy in Yuba City. He suggests we shouldn't expect people to vacation up here because our motels and hotels are so expensive.

I was somewhat taken aback by that. I might have even felt offended. I'd always figured that lodging costs up here would be less expensive that most places. I suppose I got that impression because I drive by that motel on the west side on Broadway near Wabash fairly often and the sign always shows a lower rate than what we pay down south.

A few weeks ago they were advertising $49.95 a night, single occupancy. Now I think it's $59.99, still a bargain in my book, at least compared to most places we stay. But that's just one motel. What about the others?

I didn't want to spend all day checking, so I ended up just taking a look at the nightly rates advertised online for three cities: Eureka, Healdsburg and Ukiah. Without spending too much time comparing, it looks like Eureka has the same range of prices as Healdsburg, but we have more lower priced offerings than they do. Ukiah looks to have about the same selection as Eureka does, as far as rates go.

Looking at Yuba City, it looks like they might actually have a slightly higher number of the lower cost lodgings. Still, their highest priced place, the Hampton Suites, comes in four dollars higher than Eureka's, the Red Lion at $140.

Of course, those are just the places that wanted to be listed with Sidestep, but it's probably as fair a way to compare prices as you could do quickly.

Headlsburg might be the place to avoid. I don't know that Eureka has any places as expensive as nearby Calistoga does.

9 Comments:

At 10:46 AM, Blogger ΛΕΟΝΙΔΑΣ said...

We completed a 6500 mile motor trip of the US last April. The only area with generally higher lodging costs than Humboldt County was South Lake Tahoe. This is of course not a scientific study.

 
At 11:33 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Fred this is boring. ZZZZZzzzzz...

 
At 1:18 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

if tourists are surprised at hotel costs, wait till they see the gas prices here!!

also, ive seen people get rooms at the red lion for $40 on priceline.com by naming your own price.

 
At 1:39 PM, Blogger Fred Mangels said...

One of the in- laws got a lower rate using priceline. I think he stayed at the San Francisco Hilton. I believe he said you had to bid on the price, or something like that.

He said he got a pretty good discount but got nailed with charges for using their parking garage. I think that brought the total paid up to what the original room charge would have been. Of course, if he paid the original higher price for the room and then the parking fees, it would have been even more.

 
At 2:15 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've used priceline for both the hilton and two of the hyatt's in SF, and have had to pay for parking each time. However, you have to pay for parking regardless - it is not included in the price if you use the hotel to book the room.

SF is like that.

 
At 2:32 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

From the Hyatt Regency site:

*Tax is additional on parking*
Indoor valet parking $50.00 per night plus tax with in/out privileges. Vans ok. Oversize Vehicles: High profile cars (SUV) up to 12 feet high, can be valet parked. If the vehicle needs two spaces, guest will be charged for two cars.

Self Parking
Available adjacent to the hotel in the Embarcadero Center.Hourly rates: $2.50 each 20 minute interval. Max $27 per day. Clearance 6'4". In and out privileges are not included. Garage is closed from 12 midnight to 7am. The hotel does not offer validation on any self park garage. Vans and oversized vehicles are subject to a $25 fee

 
At 2:49 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

fred,
i dont believe that the red lion charges for parking....

most hotels in SF charge $40-50 to park in thier garages....

 
At 2:57 PM, Blogger Fred Mangels said...

We've been very lucky in rarely having to pay for parking in San Francisco.

By the way: It was the Motel 6, on Broadway in Eureka, I was referring to earlier on. Just drove by there half an hour ago and they're charging $47.95 for single occupancy. Not bad, imo. Looks like a nice enough place.

Funny how these hotel prices bounce around so much. Just made reservations for the Novato Day's Inn for later this month. This time it's around $75.95, after the supposed 10% discount. Last time I believe they only charged us $59.95. I believe the gal told us she was giving us the "corporate rate" that time.

 
At 9:16 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I stopped my frequent visits to San Francisco after I was ticketed for parking LEGALLY.

 

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