Guys, I need some insight as to where to stay for the Turkey Run this Novemeber. I am being told there is a Shopping Center near Ocean Blvd that has a big turnout out and gathering in the evenings. Looking to stay oceanfront or close to it. Local help is appreciated as well as traveling veterans..... Hotels names is greatly appreciated..
The parking lot is "Bel-Air Plaza". Right across the street is "La Playa" hotel, lots of the people that go for the show stay there. I always stay down the road (still ocean-front) about 1/2 a mile at another hotel thats cheaper, Its no fancy place but the sheets are clean and I dont spend much time at the hotel; im either at the show or Bel-Air. I see that your from S.C. there is a group of us going down together as we always do if you want to convoy.
We've been going for over 30 years and have stayed at just about every hotel in and out of Daytona (even DeLand). Depends on what you want. You say waterfront so the list Gary gave you will show which ones are on A1A (that is where the ocean front rooms are) Lots of hotels there, and generally a lot of availability. Not sure of current rates but we paid $ 200 a night at some of the ones on A1A, although I imagine better rates can be had. One year we thought it would be cool to stay at the LaPlaya as it is right across from all the action at Bel Aire Plaza (one of the hot night cruise spots). It was a big mistake. They have limited parking and if you left to go cruising in your hot rod there were no parking spots when you got back, they would send you to a lot up the street. It was not pleasant, worrying if you would be able to put your car in the lot where you were staying. The LaPlaya also gave something like 25 spots to a car dealer friend of theirs so he could sell cars from the parking lot. We won't stay there again. Go on one of the discount hotel sites and compare prices. Most of the hotels there are nice (stay away from the Streamline Inn, (for reasons I won't go into here). As I mentioned, the cruise spot you are talking about is Bel Aire Plaza and it is generally pretty cool. One year the cops got nasty and were chasing everyone out at something like 11pm, but most years they have been ok . Speaking of cops, they leave the hot rods alone AS LONG AS YOU ARE NOT BEING AN IDIOT. They get very pissed when people start doing goofy stuff on A1A, as they should. Come and have fun, it is one of our two favorite events every year. Don
I'll second Don's comment on staying at or by the LaPlaya and parking. If you plan to not do any cruising and come back from the show before everyone you'll be ok. Otherwise it's a gamble. I stayed next to the LaPlaya one year (forget the name) and it was the same situation. Friday night I lucked into parking at the hotel all night. Saturday I got put in some lot a block off A1A and I was worried about my car all night long. It did make hanging out in the LaPlaya and Bel Aire Plaza more easier and more fun so that's the trade off. Bel Aire Plaza gets super crowded through the night so finding a spot to park and walk around there can get interesting. With an old or interesting car it's a little bit easier but not much. It's been a couple years since I went and man I really want to go! I'm sure a bunch of the guys here in Charleston will be going if you want to caravan with them.
I stay at the Ramada ... just across from the Speedway. Nice, clean and NOT outrageously priced. Then just drive over to the Bel Air Plaza for the night action. I stayed at the motel next to the LaPlaya ( directly across from the Bel Air Plaza ) for years but the $$$ kept on climbing until I finally said NO MORE. They always set up a PHOTO shot as you enter the Speedway. I had both the roadster and the 40 's picture taken there. .
We have stayed at the same Speedway Ramada Deuce Roadster mentioned and it really is a nice place to stay. Skirv (on here) and his family have stayed there for years and put us on to it. No waterfront but we go for the cars and cruising anyway. Two years ago we rented a motorhome and stayed at the International RV Resort on 92. Nice place and we slept well, knowing our hot rods were parked right under our awning. Last year we left our rods home so we stayed back at the Ramada, but this year the cars are going so we will be doing the motorhome routine again. It is always a trade off regardless of where you stay. If you stay at one of the hotels on A1A you are close to the night cruising, but it is a little drive to the track every morning and a bumper to bumper trip back to the hotel when the track closes. If you stay at a hotel right by the track it is a short drive in every morning, but a little drive every night to go up on A1A. Don
To me ... the advantage of no waterfront is LESS salt and less possible salt water/AIR/mist on my car over night. Plus less folks in the parking lot messing with the cars ... I have friends who had things stole off their car at the LaPlaya and surrounding motels. All those cars draws a crowd and there is always some who will steal if they can. Less crowd means less chance for stealing. .
For the last 3 years we have stayed at the Bermuda House Hotel right next to the LaPlaya, it's not a bad place to stay, a little old and run down but clean, for a bunch of guys anyway, and its only $85 bucks a night and there is "security" in the parking lot, but Deuce Roadster is right, last year the surf was huge and we had to keep washing our cars to get the salt spray off, not fun. This is the last year for it though, we bought a camper and will be staying at the KOA campground on Nova Rd next year, its in between the speedway and the beach, its quiet and much cheaper, plus the women will be with us next year, so much for "guys weekend"!......Brian
X 3 on what Don said. I lived there for about 20 years and the Turkey Run was my yearly ritual. Stay at one of the places on 92 closer to the track if you don't really have to have the beach view from your room. The cops are OK if you're not being stupid with your ride. Also, lookout for the roaming "DO NOT PARK" or "NO PARKING" signs. They have a habit of popping up during these events and then disappearing afterwards, compliments of the local towing companies. The night time cruising is best along A1A around the Bel-Air plaza but there are other venues as well. The most important thing is to go and have FUN!!!
The secret is; if you find a Motel you like, make reservation there before you leave, for the following year and lock in the Cost. I used to do it at SRN in Louiseville for years. You get to know who the owners are. Remember, Clean Rooms, and Service means a lot. A1A is a good choice, but look at rooms before you take them. I don't want to get into the Race issues, but some buy up old matresses, and just put material over the old, instead of doing it right. Cleaniness, is next to Godliness. One of the best Shows I have ever been to, was in Evansville, Ind. The businesses cater to the Street Rods, and give all kinds of discounts. Also they use to serve breakfast for a dollar. Most everything is very reasonable. Also all Street Rodders are treated the same. They open the gates very early, and act like they are happy to see you. THE FROG FOLLIES !
I made reservation 1 mile south of 92 on Ocean Blvd. I know opposite of where the "crowd" will be, but after reading the above, I may avoid not having a parking spot and can slip out to track. Just need a place to lay my head and wash my ***.
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