When you go Touring, do you book ahead?

[Chriss]

Simple question really. When you go touring, do you plan hotels in advance, or do you just turn up to a few until you find a reasonable rate/space?

Thanks in advance
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

[tatters]

Just turn up and ask if theres a empty room and for how much till you find one thats in your price range and not a french dos house.
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[dodger]

No and I wouldn't dream of it...

Wake up, have a rough idea of where you want to head to, stop when you want and find a hotel... jobs a good'un!

Make sure you haggle as well, seemed to work well when I went away last year
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My Bikes: Piaggio NRG| Aprilia RS 125| Suzuki GSX-R 600|Yamaha Fazer Ducati 848
Europe 2008

[map]

Done both in the past.
The not booking option is the better one.
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[Skudd]

I'm doing B&Bs in Scotland, Did it last year too. Booking before hand gives me chance to select a good place to stay that is biker friendly, has the room for the bikes to be parked safely and to make sure there is enough room to dry gear if it has been raining. We have a route that we want to take but it is variable with the end destination of the B&B being a good goal if the weather is very poor.
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[Phoenix]

I don't book, though if you're spending the first night only across the channel then it might be worth booking if you have a long ride to get there as it's nice to have first night planned so you're not searching calais/dunkerque for hotels and can get to bed and get a good start next morning.

If you look for hotels on the fly then best bet is to get to tourist information where you want to stop before it closes (about 5-6 in my experience) and they'll tell you the cheapest one or whatever you want in the area and ring them for you. Camping is easy you just ride until you're knackered, then the next camping sign you see you follow it, get a pitch and you're sorted.

Booking days in advance ties you to a schedule and a destination, some may like that but I don't, kind of takes away the adventure and the ability to go wherever the mood takes you.

[kitty kat]

I always book my campsites before I set off. As I travel solo I like to know where I am going and people who worry about me know where I will be each evening.
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Enjoy everyday, tell those you love everyday you love them
Life is too short to fall out with people

[Skudd]

[njd27]

The only downside of not booking is those times when you're tired, it's getting dark and you can't find any form of civilisation.

Best to have something to aim for IMO.