Author Topic: Hotel question  (Read 11953 times)

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Offline GreyCrazy

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Hotel question
« on: June 24, 2011, 06:50:13 PM »
I know you guys are all gonna laugh at me, but here goes.  LOL  Warning Stupid Newbie Problem ahead....


My husband has dreamed of seeing Speed Week his entire life.  Yesterday I convinced him that we should just take the plunge and go!  What are we waiting for after all?!?

Well....naturally now that I've started this I have a hotel issue.  I had done some previous research but read 'casinos in Wendover' and thought 'surely there are rooms'.  YES....you can laugh now.  LOL

Are there any other hotel options closer than SLC?  We'll be flying in Thursday night and it sounds like we'll need to book a hotel there through Monday or Tuesday.  Camping isn't an option this year so I've got to find us a room somewhere that will let him see the salt without completely wearing us out driving back and forth.  If anyone has suggestions, or even really good places to stay in SLC, I'd truly be grateful for the help.

Kim in SC

Offline Anvil*

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Re: Hotel question
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2011, 08:07:09 PM »
No and this isn't a bad place to ask either. Flying in is a problem all it's own since rental car agencies don't want their newer cars on the salt and many now have a GPS system that tracks where you've been. For a visit, mid week can often open a few rooms but it's a risk. For the entire week and for a fly in... one possible would be to rent an RV to park at the bend in the road and then hitch rides back and forth onto the salt (they don't much want their RV's out on the salt either).

I know I haven't figured out anything close to an ideal solution. Just getting there is an accomplishment of time and money spent.

Offline don

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Re: Hotel question
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2011, 08:32:28 PM »
Try Wells Nevada it is a little over an hour drive west of Wendover, They maybe full but worth a shot.

Offline fredvance

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Re: Hotel question
« Reply #3 on: June 24, 2011, 08:54:42 PM »
Also in Lake Point, ut and Tooele. About 1.5 hours.
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Offline landsendlynda

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Re: Hotel question
« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2011, 09:00:23 PM »
 
Borrow a set of golf clubs (if you don't have your own), don't call for reservations, just show up with the golf clubs and tell 'em at the hotel desk that you came to play golf.....don't wear anything in the way of clothing that would connect you with the salt and I do believe you'll find rooms available and at a lower rate.      :-(    There are always rooms kept "unavailable" for racers.  If you look like golfing tourist, or someone traveling through, you can get a room, but if you look, sound, or even act like you're interested in the saltflats, there will be "No room at the Inn".

Lynda
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Offline RichFox

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Re: Hotel question
« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2011, 10:34:32 PM »
And keep wtching this space. As time gets shorter there are always people who wanted to go in 6 months that don't want to go as bad in 3 weeks.

Offline GreyCrazy

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Re: Hotel question
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2011, 11:29:19 PM »
Thanks guys, I really appreciate the help!

We can't camp because I require 2 pieces of oxygen equipment at night.  It sure puts a damper on things.  :-(  Otherwise we would probably try to do the RV/camping thing.  We're going to have to find a room somewhere, even if it means driving an hour and a half each way.  Since we're making this journey, we're going to spend 3 days on the salt with all of you (Sat, Sun, Mon) then take the rest of the week to fulfill two other dreams at the same time-- for him to see the Grand Canyon for the first time, and to see a section of Route 66 as well.  He never thought he'd be able to see those three things and to do them on the same trip!  Holy Cow!  So, I've got to find a solution other than driving an RV and camping.

Now I've gotten very worried about taking our rental car on the salt.  Can someone tell me if it's possible to get it cleaned off enough that we can return it the next week without taking heavy fines?  I've seen several mentions of parking at Lands End and paying someone to drive us to the racing and back.  Would that be a better answer for us with a rental car?  And if so, where would I start to beg, borrow, steal, or bribe someone to help us do that?  Or am I worrying over-much with the knowledge that we'll only be on the salt for 2 or 3 days and will have the car for another week to repeatedly run it through a car wash?

Many thanks for taking the time to help me.   I've seen already how willing everyone is to embrace those of us who are new and it speaks volumns about the true spirit of this hobby!

Offline GreyCrazy

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Re: Hotel question
« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2011, 11:33:35 PM »
<<Flying in is a problem all it's own since rental car agencies don't want their newer cars on the salt and many now have a GPS system that tracks where you've been. >>

So....that begs the question.....

Do we be honest and tell them to take an older car, or NOT tell them and hope we can get all the salt off and we don't get 'caught'?  I've only rented a car a couple times in the past and never with the intention of doing anything as dramatic as this.  I'm beginning to see that the salt has a world of rules all it's own (making me all the more eager to see it for myself!)

Offline gfisher

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Re: Hotel question
« Reply #8 on: June 24, 2011, 11:50:39 PM »
I saw last night that the Nugget has smoking rooms available in their online reservation system.  $180-ish per night.
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penny

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Re: Hotel question
« Reply #9 on: June 24, 2011, 11:56:40 PM »
its been mentioned that some rental companies fit GPS to there cars . We plan to rent in vegas and drive up  , is there a likelyhood of these cars not  having GPS  .

Offline maguromic

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Re: Hotel question
« Reply #10 on: June 25, 2011, 02:16:10 AM »
its been mentioned that some rental companies fit GPS to there cars . We plan to rent in vegas and drive up  , is there a likelyhood of these cars not  having GPS  .

They all use GPS,  I got hit with a cleaning bill in Las Vegas when I took a SUV off road and a separate fine for excessive speed.  Its all in little print in the rental contract.  Tony
“If you haven’t seen the future, you are not going fast enough”

Offline GreyCrazy

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Re: Hotel question
« Reply #11 on: June 25, 2011, 08:53:44 AM »
I called the Nugget right after I read this post, very late last night.  BOY do I see what you guys mean now about the locals treating salt visitors differently.  They were really rude on the phone, even though I never said one word about coming in for the races or even how many nights I wanted the room.  When I told him the first date, his response was "like you people don't know what's going on in town, like we would have an open room."

Ummmm, wow.  (shaking my head)  I took two things away from that.  First, they're all idiots if they resent the business this brings to Wendover, and second, apparently I'm now part of You People.  (laughing)  I'll take that as a compliment!   :-D

Offline Crosley

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Re: Hotel question
« Reply #12 on: June 25, 2011, 09:35:19 AM »
the first few years we attended speed week(2004), we had a room in Salt lake city. The drive out to the salt each morning can wear on you after a couple of days.

the golf club suggestion is an interesting one, never thought of that
Tony in AZ...

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Offline bvillercr

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Re: Hotel question
« Reply #13 on: June 25, 2011, 10:31:20 AM »
A relative and fellow 2 club member gets a room every year when he comes to town.  He shows up in a hawaiian shirt and acts like he doesn't know what going on?  He hasn't raced in many years and will again someday, but it's a little risky IMO!  Good luck. :cheers:

Offline Stan Back

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Re: Hotel question
« Reply #14 on: June 25, 2011, 10:56:48 AM »
There's no problem getting a ride onto the salt at the end of the road.  And not much getting one back if you choose junctions in the roads and put your thumb out.  One year one of our crew wanted to walk from the pits to the starting line and four or five people stopped to offer him a ride on the way.  But the problem is shelter and mobility when you get to the action.
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