Let me start this post by saying that I’m not a motorcycle owner, rider, or an aficionado in any way. There are a lot of posers out there that don’t ride either, except they pretend by dressing the part. I am neither. However, I do service that market with some of the best lodging options when they hit world famous Daytona Beach, Florida, for what is referred to as bike weeks & later in the year “Biketoberfest.”
Some folks ride their motorcycles from just about all over the USA. I can’t say I would have the endurance to drive one cross-country to Florida. However, that’s what makes some motorcycle owners so unique. It’s that sense of adventure that gives them the want and desire to ride their bikes for days on end. Every March, a good many of them settle on Daytona Beach for Bike Week.
When I say a good many of them, what I really mean is somewhere in the area of half a million plus! Think of the number of people that is. Half a million people. That’s filling the biggest football stadium in the United States several times over. All of them coming to Daytona Beach to enjoy a weeklong series of concerts, parties, bike racing and street festivals … and enjoy they do! Travel & tourism surveys show year in and year out that this particular market segment has the highest satisfaction rate with their overall experience. Isn’t that exciting?
Now, despite the number of vendors that show up just for that week alone; there are a great number of permanently placed business and restaurants that cater to what the average biker would enjoy on a trip to the area for Bike Week. One of those most notably would be the Daytona branch of the Miller’s Ale House chain of restaurants. The restaurant features a great atmosphere, enough televisions on the walls to watch every possible sporting event under the sun and food that will pleasantly amaze you. Personally I would go with their full rack of absolutely fall off the bone baby back ribs … and for dessert … Capt’n Jack’s Buried Treasure. One last note on the baby backs, one time I ordered them and can say with all honesty I was able to cut through them with a spoon! All of their other selections are amazing too and affordably priced.
I always tell all of my Orlando owners that there are two things certain when they hit Central Florida Attractions (1) you will spend a lot of money and (2) you will wait in a lot of lines. So, you know if you are coming down for Bike Week, be prepared to bring your extra thick wallet.
Despite a lot of the Bike Week activities being free to next to free, you’re going to be spending a good amount of money on things that don’t have anything to do with your Harley. Hotels run at a very high premium in Daytona for Bike Week. I spoke to one client that told me that they had to l book their hotel for the following year as they were leaving Daytona at the end of the current year – annually! That’s how high in demand the rooms are amongst the bikers.
If you own a nice motorcycle, you make lifestyle choices all the time. A motorcycle is a big ticket item. It’s an asset. This means there is no sociological reasoning why not, if you are coming down for Bike Week that a timeshare isn’t something to consider. Think of it like this. Like with so many other places and things I have described to you, planning what you are going to do on the trip is most of the fun. The trip will be a lot more fun if you don’t have to worry about where you are going to be staying.
For more information on securing Bike Weeks, Daytona 500, Independence Day Week, Spring Break, Christmas Week, New Year’s Week, or an all season week that puts you where you want to go when you want to go, drop me am email at paul@pauldiaz.com or visit my website http://pauldiaz.com
as i read the opening paragraphs of this article, i thought: oh, best to avoid that area during bike week. but then you make it sound like so much fun! so maybe hubby and i will look into it. will definitely book accommodations in advance.
My brother-in-law and I have been toying with doing Bike Week in Daytona for a few years now. Sounds like we’ll really need to do some legwork ahead of time to even get a room!