Where to stay - arts and crafts shows

Where to stay when away at an arts and crafts show

For simplicity we will refer to hotel, motel, bed and breakfast or tourist room as motel.

Motels, B&B's etc...

Most people will need to travel if they want to attend larger shows. When a show goes over a weekend or longer you will need to find a place to sleep. Nothing beats sleeping at home both for comfort and economy and we have been known to drive an hour and a half so that we did not need to rent a room. However, with the price of gas steadily rising, it makes sense to explore all the alternatives.

We do larger shows because we like the work and the people but we also need to make a profit and every motel room and meal out takes money that we could use to pay bills. We have no quarrel with those who choose to stay in a motel. This is a personal choice and there are ways to get a better price.

The internet has made finding motel rooms much less of a chore than in the past. In fact there are internet based companies who will try and find you are room at a discounted rate. Motel rooms are a perishable commodity and if the owner lets a room go empty they loose the money they could have made. Check the online services by doing a search for motel room discount.

We have had luck finding rooms at discount without the internet, but only at the last minute. This is risky and you might end up sleeping in the car if you wait.

Sometimes motels give discounts for AAA or AARP or other organizations. Ask what discounts are applied when you are booking the room.

Often, promoters will have agreements with particular motels for room discounts. Ask the show promoter if they have a deal or if they can recommend a motel nearby. Be aware that some big shows use up available rooms in a hurry. Especially if there are other events in the same area, at the same time, so book your room well in advance if you can.

Most motels will hold your room with a credit or credit/debit card until you arrive at no extra cost or payment due until you arrive.

Check to see if they offer microwaves and small refrigerators. We have saved a lot of money by eating in the room and bringing our own healthy snacks like fruit and vegetables. Another nice convenience of motels is the internet connections. We bring the laptop and run the credit cards we took that day. It's also nice to keep track of email and online orders while on the road. Then there are those who cant stand being away from their facebook account for more than a few days.

Sadly, it seems you need to check the room for bugs, even at the best establishments. Weird.

Bring a pillow or two from home.

Friends and family.

Staying with friends and family can be a fun way to visit and save money at the same time. Obviously you don't want to take advantage of the situation. Share a meal out or fix a dinner in for them. Find a really nice gift at the show and bring it back to them.

We have known some artists who have made friends in other parts of the state and they alternate hosting each other. Sometimes even a space in the driveway is a welcome solution as to where the camper can be parked for the weekend.

Camping

Camping out is a good way to save money on lodging for away shows. Some shows provide camping areas and in many cases it's free. We have seen everything from tent sites to space for self contained campers. If the promoter does not provide a camping option then look around for private or municipal campgrounds. Private campgrounds can be found by doing a web search or contact the government office nearest the venue.

State and national parks are really nice with showers, bathrooms and hookups for RVs. Campgrounds can be ½ as expensive as a motel room.

Tent camping is the most basic form of lodging and we know of many crafters who enjoy sleeping out and saving money. All you really need is a tent and some bedding. An inflatable bed can make sleeping on the ground more comfortable. If the weather is mild there is no reason why tent camping would not be a perfectly good alternative to staying in a motel.

When we were kids our parents would often take us camping for the weekend in a tent, where we slept on the ground and ate from paper plates. Coolers kept our food cold for the whole weekend. Water would be frozen in plastic containers and drank as it thawed. Meat was frozen before leaving and this helped keep everything cold. Just remember to use a good cooler and keep the top closed. Use one cooler for drinks and snacks and another for perishable foods that will stay closed until you are ready to fix a meal.

Some folks sleep in their truck. The cargo area becomes the living area once the stock and setup are unloaded. We knew an elderly woman who slept in her van right on site and we have another friend who uses a "short bus" as transportation and lodging. His biggest complaint is the drinking water freezes when the temperature goes down..

The main drawback to camping onsite is you may be forced to use the port a-potties because these "campsites" are often parking lots or a bit of extra space in an adjacent field.

A step up from a tent would be a separate camper or RV that is self contained. It is nice to have your home away from home. Many of these setups will have a stove of some kind to prepare a hot meal, a place to sleep and get cleaned up and in some cases even a toilet. It can be a real hassle to find a place to go in the middle of the night! Camper heaters work on propane to keep things toasty on cold nights.

If electricity is available RV campers can even enjoy air conditioning. You may be surprised to find that a tow behind camper can be bought for less than $1000.00. The money spent can be recouped in money saved from motel rooms and meals. Campers of 24 foot or less can be safely towed by most pickup trucks. If you are using a truck to pull the show trailer why not switch to a camper?

Customizing a camper can be fun as you make the living space more comfortable and suited to your special requirements. For example we are converting a vintage 22 foot Shasta camper to include a full sized mattress. After years of spending money on motel rooms and sleeping on uncomfortable beds we decided we wanted to save money and sleep in comfort!

Propane refrigerators will keep food cold and a wholesome meal can be prepared at a fraction of what eating out would be. These campers can include all the comforts of home. If you keep your living space clean you won't need to worry about bugs, bed or otherwise.

The big differences in tent camping vs. self contained campers is with the camper you have a warm dry place to eat and sleep, you have a toilet and a place to get cleaned up, but almost all commercial camp grounds will offer bathrooms facilities.

Some of our fiends with campers enjoy the freedom of arriving a few days early or staying a day or two after the show to do sight seeing . Just another benefit of having a home on wheels.

Check your towing or roadside assist package to see if a camper is included. In some cases you can add the camper for a fee. If you are towing a camper make sure the running gear including tires, breaks and bearings are in good shape and well maintained.

Next >> equiptment