Anyone spending $300 a night for a motel at MATS?

I'm 90% sure this is why 75% of conventions exist.

 

Let's not forget the chance benefit of bringing home some "critters" from hotels, motels these days .... Bedbugs are a plague even in the most posh hotels. No thanks!

Just think of the clientele that attends mats.... Truck drivers ... you probably see in a T/S every day...stinking up the place being filthy , rude , inconsiderate and disrespectful hogs.

I love trucks ... But not enough to want to see more of these modern "truck drivers".

I'll pass, thanks.

 

I guess I like living on the edge.
I don't wear flip flops in the shower either

If I was close enough to it I would go. Someday I'd like to see some truck shows.

 

Wait till the last minute for any event and the room rates will be high. Dates are known well in advance, so it's not like the weekend is a secret. So probably not much in the way of cheap accommodation, even when planning ahead. Try going where everyone else is going (hotels close to the venue or downtown), and you'll pay more.

Airbnb is a good option, their hosts also know what shows are in town and when. My last visit was 2 yrs ago, for a little over $100 a night we had a fantastic room about a mile from the venue and awesome hosts. A little less private, but much more than a chain hotel stay. I have used airbnb several times (not just for this event) and haven't had a bad stay yet.

There's also regular bnb accommodations in the area. I've done that too, it was nice. Several historic homes on Mansion Row across the river in Indiana offer rooms.

There's also a casino on the Indiana side that is good for a fun side trip with no trucking content.

I think it's worth checking out at least once. There's a lot to see, and something for everyone. My advice is:

1. Take a little time and at least plan a few key things you want to see.
2. Plan to visit the important stuff on Thursday, less important or follow ups on Friday. Be gone on Saturday when all the locals swarm the place with their packs of unruly kids clogging the aisles. After about noon on Saturday they start tearing things down anyway.

As you go from one thing to another, you're liable to pass by a few more interesting displays. Some things worth a second look, and a whole lot more crap that isn't. Every time I go, I probably discover one or two things I didn't realize I needed LOL. By the time you see the dozen or less items you checked off, and waste a little more time on stuff you didn't, you're wondering where all the time went.

It's not entirely a shopping and buy stuff event. Think of it more like a showroom where you get to put your hands on a bunch of stuff without visiting a dealer. It's all right there. You get ideas that you're more likely to act on after you get back home and think it over. Or maybe see options offered that the sales guy you already use hasn't mentioned to you.

Early in the day the traffic on the floor is much lighter, since the people who come only to party usually won't be up much before dinner time.

The roasted, candied pecans taste twice as good as they smell. You won't save any for later, so don't buy the large.

Eat before you go, and after you leave each day. Or expect higher than truck stop pricing if you want to eat at the show. Which can be kind of interesting. The dining area has a bunch of huge tables that seat about a dozen. You find a spot and usually end up meeting some new folks that sit there too. There are two dining areas. The fast food in the west wing is not that great and really crowded. There is another dining area with better stuff, but kind of out of the way and a little pricier if that's possible. If you're gonna spend on show food, get the better food.

I go when I can. I've made a few discoveries that were worth the cost of the trip each time. This year and last year, it just wasn't in the cards. Other priorities. I can usually make a decision at least a month in advance and still get decent choices on rooms.

I agree with what some others have mentioned: I spend enough nights at a truck stop that I don't need to visit MATS for that experience. I did the truck parking once. It was ok, nothing to write home about. I prefer the flexibility of having my own car and a better room to sleep in.

 

Great show and huge turnout from vendors to manufacturers to crowd.

If you like trucks and the trucking industry then this is a must see event.

So many things to see and people to talk to. Pretty much can hardly see it all in three days.

Huge money on display here. Motivates me when I see that opportunity to make money evidently is there for the taking.

For those that say they don't want to see the scum truckers normally seen everyday at truck stops.....dont worry....I don't see that type truckers here. These people love trucking. Nice people who make a living at this and are proud of it. Family people.

It's a great time believe it or not.