California - Hotel suggestion for Barstow, CA?

Hi,

in August we are doing a three-week tour through California, and on one day we will be staying for an overnight in Barstow, CA on our way from Las Vegas through Death Valley to Fresno.

Checking hotels on the web I found that there are quite a few places in Barstow, but judging from the photos, most places that have "decent" rates look really bad, and one place is even advertising "recently renovated: 2/97" - are they serious about that?

Well, currently I have the Holiday Inn Express reserved, but it kind of bugs me to pay 76$ per night there when I payed 74$ the night before in Vegas for the Hyatt Regency. I could get this rate down to 65$ for a non-refundable one, as well as a 69$ web-rate at the Ramada. Still this all looks pretty expensive for just a place to "crash" for the night.

So any thoughts here about the places with lower rates? These are the places I found:

- Days Inn Barstow, $36.75
- Comfort Inn Barstow, $49.50 (incl. breakfast)
- Red Roof Inn (Good Nite Inn), $52.49
- Econolodge Barstow, $41.39
- Quality Inn Barstow, $44.99
- Super 8 Motel Barstow, $51.98

That's about it on Expedia for that town...so what would you suggest? Going somewhere else is not an option as this town marks the ten hour drive limit of that day, so going further is not an option. If it makes a difference, we will stay there saturday to sunday.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions...

Greetings - Dirk

I haven't stayed at any, but try to find one next to the Outlet Malls versus Barstow Downtown ("Barstow Station" area) proper. They will likely be much newer, and the area amenities is better. The Mall is about 4 or 5 miles south on the city on I-15.

FWIW, the ZIP of the Barstow Outlets on Lenwood Road is 92311. A yahoo search of this ZIP shows a HI Express and a Red Roof Inn. We like to eat at the In-And-Out Burger here.

Just out of curiosity, are you sure you want to stay in Barstow? Is there something drawing you there or is it just the stopping point on your schedule? I ask because it is only a little over two hours (or less depending on your driving habits) to get from Las Vegas to Barstow and you might be more comfortable staying in Las Vegas and getting an earlier start the next morning. There just isn't that much to do or see in Barstow you might enjoy your trip more by staying elsewhere. Just my two cents.

Just out of curiosity, are you sure you want to stay in Barstow? Is there something drawing you there or is it just the stopping point on your schedule? I ask because it is only a little over two hours (or less depending on your

It's not the direct route we're taking there from Vegas. From Vegas we start out going north, entering Death Valley to get to the Visitor Center at Furnance Creek, then turn south towards Badwater, making it back a little southeast to the park exit and the down to Barstow. Estimated time for that ride is 10 hours with two hours worth of "sightseeing-time".

So our schedule is the reason that is taking us there...

Greetings - Dirk

I'm with kef0913 on this one. May I suggest an alternate route: You can go from Furnace Creek to Fresno via Yosemite Valley, and it's only a five and a half hour trip -- and much more beautiful scenery to boot! And if necessary, there are quite a number of places to stay in Lone Pine or Bishop along the way.

I'm with kef0913 on this one. May I suggest an alternate route: You can go from Furnace Creek to Fresno via Yosemite Valley, and it's only a five and a half hour trip -- and much more beautiful scenery to boot! And if necessary, there are quite a number of places to stay in Lone Pine or Bishop along the way.

I most certainly agree about that, but there are more restrictions I so far have not mentioned. In Barstow we are meeting the second part of our party coming there from Kanab in Utah, and the next morning the aviation-nut inside me insists on a visit to Mojave airport and the aircraft storage facilities.

So Barstow is simply not debatable...;-)! Has anybody already stayed there and suggestion which of the cheaper places are OK?

Greetings - Dirk

Check out the HI Express there, at the Outlet Malls - newer, standard HI Express as I recall. And Mojave is defintely worth a gander! (Well, if you're an av nut like me...) As to cheaper, that will vary with conditions - do a quick search or two on your favorite hotel discount website.

I most certainly agree about that, but there are more restrictions I so far have not mentioned. In Barstow we are meeting the second part of our party coming there from Kanab in Utah, and the next morning the aviation-nut inside me insists on a visit to Mojave airport and the aircraft storage facilities.

So Barstow is simply not debatable...;-)! Has anybody already stayed there and suggestion which of the cheaper places are OK?

Greetings - Dirk

FWIW I rebooked the Ramada Inn Barstow at a 65$ rate on their website yesterday which was 4$ lower than I previously had reserved (all before a 10$ off coupon), and then found the same place at Orbitz for 64$ for our date.

So I went to Ramada and took them up on their "Best rate Guarantee" and received confirmation that the night I am there will be free within about three hours. So free is most certainly the best rate I could get for a decent hotel in Barstow...;-)!

Greetings - Dirk

It sounded from your post that you were planning on driving through the Park; don't know when you are going, but thought I should let you know the roads are all messed up -- this is from the website Death-Valley.us/:

"News
Death Valley National Park Flooding Update

This is the latest information available from Death Valley National Park. Additional updates will be sent as more information becomes available.

Death Valley National Park remains closed until further notice from damage to critical infrastructure from flash flooding that occurred August 15, 2004. For safety reasons, the main entrances to the park remain barricaded and/or staffed with law enforcement personnel. Superintendent J.T. Reynolds said, “We regret having to continue this closure action, but it is absolutely necessary for safety and health reasons, due to the extensive damage the park received from the storm.” Two fatalities from that flooding were discovered on August 16, 2004.

Death Valley personnel are continuing work to repair critical infrastructure at the Furnace Creek developed area. Crews are repairing the main water line that suffered at least two breaks. While repairs are being done, the main 2 million-gallon tank is being filled and will undergo testing to ensure water quality. This repair work and testing could take up to 48 additional hours to complete. National Park Service and California Department of Transportation, District 9 (Caltrans) personnel are working to repair sections of Highway 190. Work has begun on the area of the road that links Furnace Creek with California State Highway 127.

Death Valley National Park Superintendent J.T. Reynolds and Superintendent of the Death Valley Unified School District Jim Copeland have agreed to postpone the start of the school year from Monday, August 23 to August 30.

National Park Service crews are continuing to assess damage in other areas of the park. Today their assessment efforts will be focused on the roads in three areas: Emigrant to Wildrose section of Emigrant Canyon Road, the Grapevine to Scotty’s Caste, and Scotty’s Castle to Scotty’s Junction."

You might want to call -- here is the phone number: Visitor Information
(760) 786-3200. Good luck!

I forget what the rate is buy you could try Motel 6. Often they will charge more for Friday or Saturday night stay.

It sounded from your post that you were planning on driving through the Park; don't know when you are going, but thought I should let you know the roads are all messed up

Thanks for the warning (I sadly did not see it until today, though...). We noticed the problem on our way to Las Vegas a few days after my post and checked with the Authorities that told us that the southern parts were still closed. So we changed our plans again, stayed an additional night in Las Vegas and drove from there to Sand Dunes etc, the part that was reopened on August 25th.

Greetings - Dirk