{"id":961,"date":"2011-03-23T12:08:22","date_gmt":"2011-03-23T16:08:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.worldbiking.info\/wordpress\/?p=961"},"modified":"2016-12-26T14:32:59","modified_gmt":"2016-12-26T19:32:59","slug":"16-creative-places-to-sleep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.worldbiking.info\/wordpress\/2011\/03\/16-creative-places-to-sleep\/","title":{"rendered":"18 Creative Places to Sleep"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the only hotel in town doubles as a brothel and wild camping options are unappealing, what\u2019s a tired cyclist to do?\u00a0 Ask for help.\u00a0 At least that\u2019s what we do.\u00a0 It\u2019s not mooching, rather what Willie Weir<\/a> refers to as Initiating Kindness<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Here are a few places we\u2019ve found a peaceful (and free!) night\u2019s sleep.<\/p>\n

Churches<\/h3>\n

Wander in to almost any small-town church and you\u2019ll find someone to help you out with a safe place to sleep for the night.\u00a0 We camp outside churches, we sometimes roll out our sleeping bags right inside the sanctuary and we\u2019re often invited home to stay with the pastor and his family.\u00a0 We\u2019ve stayed at many churches all through Africa, Mexico, Eastern Europe, Central and South America and even the USA.<\/p>\n

Schools<\/h3>\n

Again, schools are one of the first places we stop if we\u2019re stuck in a small town.\u00a0 Often we can roll the bikes right into a classroom and set up camp.\u00a0 This is much better than squeezing into a cramped hotel room next door to a rowdy bar.\u00a0 Even if all staff has gone home for the day, we often find the night watchman has no problem with letting us stay as long as we hit the road early the next day.<\/p>\n

Mosques<\/h3>\n

We have only been turned down once at a mosque.\u00a0 We all know Muslims take their hospitality very seriously, so you can count on the imam to find you an empty room where you can spend the night.\u00a0 It would be unusual for a Muslim to let you camp outside as this is viewed as sub-standard hospitality.\u00a0 You\u2019ll surely be invited for dinner and your host may even insist you stick around for a few days.<\/p>\n

Restaurants<\/h3>\n

We\u2019ve found many lovely camping spots out back behind a roadside restaurant.<\/p>\n

Immigration Posts<\/h3>\n

In less developed countries, remote border posts are often a good camping option.\u00a0 The officials are generally bored out of their minds and only too happy to have guests for the evening.\u00a0 Facilities vary.\u00a0 On the Paraguay-Bolivia border we had hot showers, excellent cooking facilities and an internet connection.\u00a0 On the Cameroon-Nigeria border, the officer in charge begged for a contribution to the \u2018generator fund\u2019.<\/p>\n

Police Outposts<\/h3>\n

I know they get a bad rap, but all in all police aren\u2019t too bad around the world.\u00a0 Even in corrupt Venezuela, the police welcomed us with ice-cold soft drinks and their assurance that we\u2019d be safe for the night.<\/p>\n

Gas Stations<\/h3>\n

An excellent option in Turkey, Brazil, Argentina and Chile.\u00a0 Lots of grassy areas for camping, free showers and WiFi access.<\/p>\n

Fire Stations<\/h3>\n

The TransAmerica route across the USA is famous for all the fire stations who open up their doors to passing cyclists.\u00a0 Firemen in Mexico, Central and South America are also known to be hospitable towards cyclists.<\/p>\n

Random People who appear kind, helpful or intelligent.<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re really desperate, try asking any small town shopkeeper or random person on the street.\u00a0 Just explain that you\u2019re a cyclist from XYZ country and that you\u2019re looking for a safe place to sleep.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll be amazed at how many people end up helping.\u00a0 You might end up with anything from an empty storeroom where you can rest for the night to the keys to a comfortable guesthouse just for you.\u00a0 Take a chance.<\/p>\n

Contact your Embassy<\/h3>\n

Obviously this is not a last-minute option.\u00a0 If you need to spend time in a capital city and can\u2019t find a host through Couchsurfing or Warm Showers, you can always hit up your fellow countrymen for hospitality.\u00a0 The French Embassy found hosts for us in Panama and Tanzania.\u00a0 We simply sent an email explaining our situation and, lo and behold, some kind expats stepped in to help us out.<\/p>\n

Health Centers<\/h3>\n

We\u2019ve slept at rural health centers in Bolivia, Egypt, Cameroon and Mozambique.\u00a0 In remote areas, the doctor in charge is usually thrilled to chat with a foreigner.<\/p>\n

Bike Shops<\/h3>\n

We\u2019ve actually never tried this, but many cyclists enquire at the local bike shop if somebody\u2019s got a backyard where they might camp.\u00a0\u00a0 Apparently, this method works well.<\/p>\n

Hotels<\/h3>\n

Yeah, duh, you\u2019re thinking.\u00a0 No, I don\u2019t mean check into a hotel and pay for a room that\u2019s beyond your budget.\u00a0 Just ask if you can camp out back.\u00a0 Works surprisingly well and often you\u2019re able to use shower facilities.\u00a0 If you get extremely lucky, a kind hotel owner might just offer you a room for the night.<\/p>\n

City Parks<\/h3>\n

City parks serve as camping spots for cyclists in many small towns throughout America.\u00a0 It\u2019s probably best to ask permission at the general store or police station if there is one.\u00a0 Camping in the park is also common in Argentina.<\/p>\n

Farms<\/h3>\n

My favorite camping spots are at farms.\u00a0 It\u2019s quiet, you often have access to a shower and frequently you\u2019re invited in to share a meal with the family.\u00a0 Farmers get lonely and are usually more than happy to have a little company for the evening.<\/p>\n

Casa de Ciclistas<\/h3>\n

Casa de Ciclistas<\/a> is a hospitality network throughout Latin America of cheap\/free lodging for cyclists on tour.\u00a0 The most famous Casa de Ciclistas is\u00a0 in Trujillo, Peru<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Couchsurfing<\/h3>\n

More free, no-strings-attached hospitality.\u00a0 More than 2.5 million members worldwide and still growing.\u00a0 We\u2019ve used couchsurfing more than 100 times.\u00a0 Great way to meet locals, enjoy the comforts of a soft bed, home-cooked meals and fast internet connections.\u00a0 The ultimate way to keep your touring budget under control.<\/p>\n

Warmshowers<\/h3>\n

The obvious choice for cyclists.\u00a0 Fellow cyclists around the world offering free hospitality to cyclists on tour.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n