Clive-sounds like we could swap some interesting stories, for sure.
For the most part we tried to handle our own accomodations. It was fun playing Canada, though, because a lot of the clubs were attached to hotels, so we just had to walk down the hall to our crab-infested room (yes, we all got them on one trip from the bed sheets-try to explain that to your fiance!).
One of the worst 'band houses' was in Eau Claire, Wisconsin where there was one bed, a couple of chairs and that was about it. We have three nights of no pillows or blankets. But, that was when I discovered how comfortable the road case for my guitar was. My butt fit perfectly in the tail piece region and my head in the headstock area. It was not good if I rolled over because the aluminum strips on the edge were kind of sharp.
We slept in trucks, cars, dressing rooms, on 5 or 6 chairs lined up in a bar, truck stops, backstage while warm-up bands were playing, you name it.
Comfort becomes important when you are in your fourties like I am, but it's still fun thinking about the 'old days'.