Finding a hotel

[GalvestonDuck]

For those who evacuate -- if you're planning to go to a hotel instead of to an inland family member's home or to a shelter, be prepared for a long drive, unless you were lucky enough to get reservations somewhere.

I moved to TX from KY and drove down through AL, completely oblivious to Hurricane Georges. Early in the evening (around 6PM), I ran into some nasty weather and strong winds (what I found out later were rainbands as Georges was making landfall). I called a friend back in KY to let her know how far I'd gotten and that I was going to stop for the night until the storm passed. That's when she informed me about Georges. I stopped at several exits along I-20 and kept seeing "No Vacancy" signs everywhere. I asked at one place where they thought there might be a hotel with rooms still available. They said I'd have to go north to Tennessee, east to Florida, or west to Texas. Obviously, I kept going towards TX. Didn't find a vacancy until 1:30 in the morning in Longview, TX.

[therock1811]

Yes if you're trying to find hotel rooms and weren't able to make reservations, you've got a long haul ahead of you, but I'm sure that those in neighboring states if they're not in the path, they'll help out...please stay safe!

[Lebowsky]

I made three different sets of hotel reservations in three different areas in anticipation of having to evacuate due to Ivan.

I made them all online through Holiday Inn's main website, and the total cost to cancel the reservations was $75. That is very cheap insurance in the event I had to evacuate.

On the one hand you could say I wasted $75, but on the other hand if Ivan had landed on the west coast I'd be in a nice comfortable hotel instead of a flooded home with no power for a week.

You need to make reservations BEFORE we know for sure where the storm is going ... once they have the landfall area narrowed down it is TOO LATE to make reservations.

[WeatherNLU]

If anyone has reservations they are going to cancel, let me know.

[anjou]

You know, if you've got camping gear and space, it couldn't hurt to toss it in the back of the car/SUV. For instance, in the event you can't get where you want to go or the hurricane turns and changes your path - even if you have reservations. Maybe print out a list of campgrounds in the area you hope to evac to, at least the 800 number for KOA campgrounds or whatever... it MIGHT be that other people haven't thought of or prepared for the camping option.

ONLY DO THIS if you KNOW you're going to be in an area where NO EFFECT from IVAN will be felt, of course. Much better to have a solid roof over your heads. But this camping option might help in a pinch on your way to your ultimate evac destination.

Another thing - maybe bedandbreakfast.com wouldn't be the worst place to go (or someplace like it)... many people probably aren't looking for a B&B and MAYBE there are a few that have space if hotels do not.

[ursa minor]

I just spoke with my mother in law and she has been trying to find a room north/east even west of Mobile and the nearest she could find were in Texas and Nashville.......

[mrcaptjbird]

I have rooms in Meridian but called around for my Mother in law.

Days Inn- Philadelphia,MS has vacancy
Quality Inn- Hoover, B'ham Al had vacancy
La Quinta- Birmingham Vacancy
Holiday Inn- Birmingham Vacancy
Quality Inn- Tuscaloosa Vacancy

That seriously was about it. If any of you are looking check and see if they are still available.

[LSUChamps0002]

I just cancelled at the hampton inn in batesville, ms,if anyone needs a room call there

[MBismyPlayground]

Just a suggestion, not sure and have not had a chance to verify, but usually any military post has evacuation shelters ect.....so If you cannot find a room, try a military post. In the process of checking with Ft. Rucker, although they don't always follow along the beaten path of most posts.

[alicia-w]

I seriously doubt that there will be any room on a military base since at least Eglin had a mandatory evac and I'm pretty sure Tyndall did too. Then you have the Pensacola Navy folks, etc.. That's a lot of military personnel looking for shelters who will have priority over civilians. PS THE EGLIN SHELTERS WERE NOT GOING TO BE OPEN. All Eglin folks were ordered to evacuate.