Day 6: Houston, Texas to Mobile, Alabama
We took our time getting out of Houston, leaving at about 8:40 AM. The drive along the Gulf Coast—crossing the endless bridges of the Atchafalaya Basin in Louisiana—is actually quite scenic, if a bit white-knuckled due to the narrow lanes.
We arrived in Mobile at 3:45 PM after driving almost 7 hours. It was so early (and the adrenaline of being close to home was kicking in) that we seriously contemplated just driving on and trying to make it all the way to Florida in one go.
We arrived in Mobile at 3:45 PM after driving almost 7 hours. It was so early (and the adrenaline of being close to home was kicking in) that we seriously contemplated just driving on and trying to make it all the way to Florida in one go.
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The Conundrum: It's tough with three dogs, though. The risk of getting tired at 9 PM and being unable to find a pet-friendly hotel was too high. We played it safe and stayed at TownePlace Suites Mobile.
Hotel Review: There was a $75.00 pet fee, which almost doubled the room rate—a tough pill to swallow for a short overnight stop. Even as a "suite," this room was on the smaller side. It had a kitchenette, but we felt pretty cramped with all the dog gear and luggage. However, it was clean, and the staff was helpful enough to let us switch rooms when there was an issue with the first one.
Safety Note: There is a gated area for dog walks behind one of the buildings. Honestly, I didn't like going alone at night. It wasn't well-lit and was tucked away from areas with foot traffic, which made me uneasy. If you stay here, bring a flashlight and perhaps go in pairs if possible. Before booking I highly recommend reviewing my original blog Cross Country with Three Dogs where I explain all the necessary steps to make reservations when traveling with pets. Regardless of the uneasiness I had in 2016, we rebooked this same hotel on our move to Colorado in 2021.
Hotel Review: There was a $75.00 pet fee, which almost doubled the room rate—a tough pill to swallow for a short overnight stop. Even as a "suite," this room was on the smaller side. It had a kitchenette, but we felt pretty cramped with all the dog gear and luggage. However, it was clean, and the staff was helpful enough to let us switch rooms when there was an issue with the first one.
Safety Note: There is a gated area for dog walks behind one of the buildings. Honestly, I didn't like going alone at night. It wasn't well-lit and was tucked away from areas with foot traffic, which made me uneasy. If you stay here, bring a flashlight and perhaps go in pairs if possible. Before booking I highly recommend reviewing my original blog Cross Country with Three Dogs where I explain all the necessary steps to make reservations when traveling with pets. Regardless of the uneasiness I had in 2016, we rebooked this same hotel on our move to Colorado in 2021.
We ended the night with an amazing meal at Briquettes Steakhouse. It was a great find near the hotel and exactly the comfort food we needed. You can see the whole review on ReviewSteak.
We went to bed knowing this was our last hotel. We were so happy to wake up the next morning headed to our final destination - HOME!
We went to bed knowing this was our last hotel. We were so happy to wake up the next morning headed to our final destination - HOME!
Check out my day-by-day posts for details about each hotel and area.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing!