Just downloaded the app! Thanks for the recommendation. Usually we use Roam mobility in Florida but I am considering adding the Telus travel pass instead ( I think it's $7 a day). It's more expensive but I would be more comfortable knowing my plan was going to work most places and that we can use Google Maps etc.
Did you all pre-book your hotes for your night stops ? Beckley is already looking pretty booked up the night we need. We'd like to push as far as Wytheville, which should be around midnight or 1am but we are prepared to adjust those plans. I know there isn't much wisdom is prebooking a room when we don't know if we can make it that far, but the planner in me is itching to have something solid reserved.
We use Rogers roam like home which is $5 a day, I'm assuming that's the same thing as Telus Roam Mobility.
At least one person should have a fully operational cell phone for sure...
We did pre-book a hotel on the way down (Columbia SC), but did not on the way back. We wanted to see how far we feel like going before stopping for the night. The app will tell you all hotels coming up too and if there is any discount.
We didn't have any problems finding a hotel with vacancy, but because I didn't have time to really read-up on the hotel, it ended up being kinda yucky. Was ok as we were only there from midnight til about 6:30 am, but still.
Just for a few hours sleep, if you can't get Hampton Inn or Holiday Inn Xpress, try Comfort suites, Quality Suites, Comfor Inn, Sleep Inn, Microtel, even some Super8 or Red Roof Inn.
You will be able to find something just driving along but you will have to be a little flexible on the location. If Beckley is booked up, try Wytheville it's only about 1 more hour drive.
If you don't pre-book, start looking for hotels (use the app) about 2 hrs before you feel like stopping