Travel Tip: Look Beyond Booking Sites
One travel tip we have learned over the years is not to rely only on major booking websites such as Hotels.com or Booking.com.
Our experience
Those sites are helpful, especially when you are planning ahead or comparing prices. But some of the best small motels, locally owned hotels, and quirky roadside stays — particularly in smaller towns — may not appear on the big booking platforms at all.
They may be family-run places that take reservations directly and have built their reputation through repeat customers and word of mouth.
When we are looking for a place to stay, we also check Google Maps and read the reviews. A motel may not be listed on a major booking site, but it can still have strong ratings, good photos, and comments from travelers who found it clean, friendly, affordable, and full of character.
If you find a place that looks promising, call them directly. You can ask about availability, rates, parking, pet policies, or anything else that matters to you. And if they are full, do not hesitate to ask whether they recommend another nearby motel.
Smaller, locally owned places often have an informal network. They know which neighboring properties are clean, reliable, fairly priced, and likely to have a room available. That is something we know from experience.
Long ago, Rod's parents were in the motel business, and when their place was full, they would recommend other good motels nearby. It was simply good hospitality — and it still is.
The big booking sites are a useful starting point. But when you are traveling through small towns and along historic road-trip routes, a quick map search and a friendly phone call may lead you to a more personal, more affordable, and much more memorable place to stay.
Not every independent motel or locally owned property distributes its rooms through the major online booking platforms. That means a motel can have reviews, photos, and contact information online even when it does not appear on the booking sites you normally use. Sometimes the old-fashioned approach really does work: find the property, read recent reviews, look at traveler photos, and pick up the phone.
Must-dos
- Compare your options first — major booking platforms are still useful for getting a quick sense of prices, locations, and availability.
- Search the map — zoom into the town or neighborhood where you want to stay and look for independent motels and locally owned properties that may not have appeared in your first search.
- Read recent reviews — pay attention to repeated comments about cleanliness, service, noise, parking, and whether the property matches its photos.
- Look at traveler photos — they can sometimes give you a better idea of what a small property is really like than professional photographs.
- Call the property directly — ask about availability and the actual rate. You can also confirm parking, check-in times, pet policies, or anything else important to your trip.
- Ask for a recommendation if they are full — a local motel owner may know another nearby property worth trying.
- Keep an open mind — the place you remember most from a road trip may not be the biggest hotel or the one that appeared first in a search.
Our pro tip
Use booking platforms as a starting point rather than the entire search. Compare what is available, then take a few minutes to look at the map and see what else is nearby.
But do not let an app or booking site make every decision for you. Sometimes the best travel tool is still a map, a few recent reviews, and a friendly phone call.
Compare accommodation through Klook Hotels before deciding where to stay.
For a road trip, having your own vehicle can make it much easier to stay at smaller properties outside the main tourist areas. Compare rental-car options through QEEQ. International travelers can arrange a United States eSIM through Airalo before arriving, which is especially useful when you are relying on maps, reviews, and directions to find smaller hotels and motels along the way.