Originally Posted by
Tourist in MSN
Some of the recent posts reminded me of an experience I had over a decade ago (2012).
All of the places I wanted to reserve a motel room at were either full or quite expensive. This was in Whitefish Montana, a lot of tourism business in that area. But I managed with internet searches to find a lower cost motel that did not pay the larger booking agencies to list them, thus you would not find them with Expedia or Booking or anyone else.
I called them to make a reservation. Was quite affordable.
I was taking Amtrak to get there, the train was running quite late. I called them in the afternoon and said I expected to arrive after midnight. They said they were a small family run motel, did not staff the office after 11 pm, so they offered to leave my key in an envelope that I could find upon my arrival. I got there at 2am, the key was in an envelope with my name on it where I expected to find it.
Sometimes those small places that are not listed on the booking agent websites are the best option, if you can find them.
I just did an internet search for them, they appear to have closed six years ago.
I highly doubt it closed due to lack of business these days. Glacier is very busy. If you are entering by car after 6 am you need to reserve a pass ahead of time. Perhaps the pandemic killed them off. Or maybe the owners simply retired and the property was converted to another use, such as long-term rentals.
In any event, I like places like that. In 2011 the GF and I went to the motel in Wisdom, MT on the Trans Am. The owners had left a note on the door explaining that they were at a family function. Also attached to the door were envelopes with a key for each room. You were told to pick a room and “settle up” later.