Travel Plans for August-September

I started thinking about making hotel reservations for the drive up and back to Oregon before and after the Japan trip. (I've decided that, rather than flying up and back to Oregon, I'll drive up the weekend before we leave and drive back to California the weekend after we return.) Based on my experience the last time I did that trip, I planned on staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Weed both directions. Imagine my surprise when I went to the web site and was told that there are no Holiday Inn Express hotels in Weed. Huh? I stayed in one just a few months ago!

A little Google searching revealed that the hotel formerly known as the Holiday Inn Express in Weed is now the Quality Inn & Suites. And the price is $10/night lower in the bargain. The location is right, and the nearest HIX properties beyond that either direction are Ashland (I was unimpressed with that one when I stayed there last time) and Redding (too far north or south; I'm amused to see that the regular Holiday Inn costs less than the HIX).

While I'll miss not collecting useful Priority Club points -- I really should have upgraded to Silver status in their program at the start of this year -- at least I'll get Alaska Airlines miles instead.

More Motel Thoughts

Thinking more about the August-September drives to/from Oregon, I decided to economize a little bit. (The huge amount of money I'll be spending over that month on hotel and other travel expenses in Japan weighs heavily on my mind.) So I booked a considerably less-expensive room in Yreka, just up the road from Weed, instead. The Rodeway Inn is only barely above Motel 6, but it's only for one night each way. At least it's not a Day's Inn; I'll never willing stay in one of those again.