What a badass.
Born and bred Kansan checking in. You know how schools have fire drills? Well, in Kansas we had tornado drills too. Government buildings, schools, large stores and malls have signs on where storm shelters are placed. You are right, it is useful info! Here in my city the sirens are tested once a week, at noon on Monday, all year round.
When in New York City, I stay at various YMCAs. They have a communal bathroom and showers, but I shower at night and there is never anyone else doing so. Besides, they’re cheap and seriously - how much time are you going to spend in the hotel room when you’re in NYC? The last time was at the Greenpoint Y in Brooklyn. Weekday single rate is $38, weekend $60. And that is for your own room, not a shared room like in a hostel.
Actor Anthony Hopkins loves seeking out the worst and shabbiest hotels.
Bangkok, early '80s. The cheapest hotels tend to be located near the central railroad station. My traveling companion and I found a place within our budget ($2-5) and made our way up the stairs to our room. Upon reaching the second floor, we ran into a group of middle-aged women in various stages of déshabillé, who, upon seeing two potential revenue streams, descended upon us like the Furies. We bolted for our room and literally had to brace ourselves against the door. Yes, it’s true; I couldn’t even get laid in a Bangkok whorehouse.
In 1980 me, my then hubby, our 3 year year old daughter. Drove from Michigan to North Dakota for him to work in the oil fields. We didn’t stay very long, a week or 2 before realized it was a big mistake. I am not sure if we stayed at this motel coming or going. After all these years, I can still remember it. The bathroom was so bad, we decided not to take showers, the tub was rusted, the water came out in dribbles. We intended for our daughter to sleep in a sleeping bag, that was until I saw the cockroach crawl towards her. She slept in bed with us. The TV they advertised was a small b/w with a hanger as the antenna. We got in late and left early. Worst hotel experience ever.:smack:
In 1980 me, my then hubby, our 3 year year old daughter. Drove from Michigan to North Dakota for him to work in the oil fields. We didn’t stay very long, a week or 2 before realized it was a big mistake. I am not sure if we stayed at this motel coming or going. After all these years, I can still remember it. The bathroom was so bad, we decided not to take showers, the tub was rusted, the water came out in dribbles. We intended for our daughter to sleep in a sleeping bag, that was until I saw the cockroach crawl towards her. She slept in bed with us. The TV they advertised was a small b/w with a hanger as the antenna. We got in late and left early. Worst hotel experience ever.:smack:
$15 a night in a 1950s style motel with six rooms, on SR 67, outside of Muncie, Indiana. Two nights, a year apart in the early eighties. It was called the Stony Haven Motel. Very decent for the price. The only problem was the water heater must have been on the other end of the building, as it took the shower a long time to get hot.
Well, you could have. 
Mine is in Bangkok too. Paid the equivalent of two bucks American for a cot in a cubicle in a Khao San Road guesthouse in the 1980s. It really wasn’t bad. Came with an electric fan.
I think it was the first time I ever paid for a hotel room at all. Three of us split a triple, $21/night including breakfast, in Lisbon in 1988. It was actually pretty awesome - the owner was super-friendly, and walked us around the corner to his favorite neighborhood fishermen’s pub, where we had to order lunch on the point-and-pray method. The hotel was a tad run down, but clean, and hey, for $7/night in a West European capital city, I wasn’t going to argue.
I still want to go back to Lisbon now that I’m a grownup!