Retirement planning feels like one of those things everyone’s quietly dreading but pretending they’ve got under control (like, not gonna lie, I don’t even wanna think about that sometimes). You save what you can. You guess at numbers. Maybe you skim some articles and try not to panic. The whole system seems designed to make you feel like you’re always behind—even if you’re not.
And then there’s Terry Robison, a guy from Texas who kind of broke the internet with a Facebook post a few years ago. His take on retirement? Skip the nursing home and live at a Holiday Inn. How ’bout that? My father was like “that’s a great idea!”
Not even kidding.
Okay, But… Is He Wrong?
The numbers, at least, are hard to argue with. Terry did the math. He points out that a retirement home—just a standard one, not some upscale private facility—runs about $188 per day. And a room at a Holiday Inn? He found one for $59.23.
You don’t need a calculator to see the appeal.
Now, obviously, no one’s saying hotel life is the same thing as long-term elder care. We’ll get to that. But as far as costs go? The comparison is real.
And Terry’s argument doesn’t stop at the price tag. There are perks.
Free Breakfast, Daily Housekeeping, and a Pool
Start with breakfast. Included. Every day. Maybe not gourmet, but enough to fill you up. And when you don’t have to budget for that meal, suddenly lunch and dinner don’t feel like such a squeeze. Multiply that over months—or years—and yeah, it adds up.
Holiday Inn also has… well, the usual: a gym, pool, sometimes a hot tub, lounge, and free Wi-Fi. You can do laundry. You don’t have to buy soap or shampoo because they stock that too. Terry makes a point of this. He’s not wrong.
You’re a Guest, Not a Patient
One thing that really sticks with people, I think, is the way he talks about service. If you tip the hotel staff five bucks a day, they’ll remember your name. They’ll check in on you. You’ll feel like a guest—not someone being managed. That’s a big deal.
Because let’s be honest—assisted living facilities vary wildly. And even the good ones, while full of well-meaning staff, aren’t exactly built around the idea of comfort and dignity in the same way a hospitality brand is.
It’s not just about survival. It’s about how you’re treated.
And Then There’s the Mobility Part
Hotels are everywhere. Which means if you’re tired of one, you can go to another. Terry talks about catching the airport shuttle, hopping on public transit, maybe even taking a flight somewhere different.
If you’ve got decent health and a light suitcase, it’s not out of the question. At the very least, it’s… more mobile than most long-term care models.
And for those with limited mobility? Holiday Inn locations are usually near city bus lines, and many have handicap-accessible rooms. Senior bus passes exist. So does the church van, if you’re somewhere that still does that. These little logistics matter.
But Let’s Be Real About It
Terry’s plan works as a thought experiment more than a full replacement for long-term care—at least for most people. Hotels don’t offer medical support, physical therapy, or help with daily tasks like bathing or meds. So if you’re someone who might need that (eventually, let’s be honest, most of us will), this is more of a delay tactic than a full plan.
Still, his point isn’t that this should replace nursing homes. It’s that the cost of aging has gotten so out of control that this feels like a better option to a lot of people. And that says something.
You don’t have to book a room at the Holiday Inn to feel that truth.
It’s Strange. But Also Kind of Brilliant.
There’s something about Terry’s thinking that sticks, maybe because it hits on how bizarre our systems have become. How backward things can feel. That it might (facing four walls, eating reasonably well, not drinking undrinkable instant coffee) be more in reach of large numbers of people than aging “the official way”? That’s… a little depressing. But it’s also a reminder that perhaps not all solutions need to be traditional.
He’s not saying that this is for everyone. You can’t, of course, make anyone choose this way. He’s not saying it’s the best choice, necessarily. That’s it. And I think this is a very courageous and brave thinking.
Terry’s not alone—this couple chose a custom tiny home over a big retirement bill.
