Each year we get a lot of questions about lodging at hotels other than the official tour hotels. Many riders choose to do this. Some hotels and inns even give a discount for being part of the ride. Just note that ride services are not available at any locations that have not been recognized on the official lodging list.
See the Official Hotel List HERE
Shuttle Service Available at Official Hotel Locations with Purchase of Bus Pass
The following services are only available at Official Hotels.
1. Shuttle services for those holding bus passes. This pass is purchased through the registration system.
2. The Hotel Luggage Transfer service. This service is purchased through the registration system.
Why aren’t some hotels official hotels?
Each year we block roughly 375 rooms at official hotels. That number is a quantity that we can service with our current event model. In most communities we have to block rooms at 6-10 hotels to attain the needed number of 375-400 rooms. Our luggage transfer and bus schedule can only accommodate so many pick up and drop locations within the time we have to work.
Hotels are generally selected using a few factors: price, cleanliness, reputation, and location to other official hotels. We try to cluster the hotels for time and fuel economy. Finally, we try to select locations that offer amenities that riders have expressed as important: non-smoking rooms, pools, restaurants, etc…
What if I am Staying at another Hotel?
If you do not have lodging at one of our official hotels you will need to take care of your own transportation to the ride and to entertainment. You will also need to bring your luggage to tent city to be transported with the camping luggage or you will need to take it to your own hotel in the second tent city. This also applies for the return trip to Virginia.
If you are staying within walking distance of our Official Hotels you may decide to participate in the Shuttle Bus Pass program (purchased through registration) to get to tent city at event headquarters and to entertainment.
Winchester/West Virginia Lodging
In 2012 we are facing the challenge of having more hotels in our first city versus our second cities. Winchester offers many more lodging accommodations than our three closest West Virginia towns combined.
We match the number of rooms in our first town official hotels to the number of rooms in our second host town rooms. That’s why you’ll find a lot of hotels in Winchester that are not on the Official List and hardly any that almost all hotels in Charlestown and Harpers Ferry are official.
B&B and Inns
Many riders choose to experience other local lodging options such as hostels, B&B or Inns. These locations also face the same limitations as non-official hotels regarding event services. We do not offer shuttle services or luggage transfer to the smaller locations. Check with the Inn owners to see if they can arrange transportation for you and your gear. Some happily provide this kind of arrangement.