CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 190,440	$ 21,351	$ 193,341
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	228,342	238,089	245,868
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discounts as interest	6,305	7,123	11,046
Straight line rental income	(4,807)
Security deposits applied to payment shortfalls	(36,444)	(28,508)	(17,813)
FF&E reserve income and deposits	(47,485)	(58,944)	(49,218)
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt		6,720	(51,097)
Loss on asset impairment	16,384	163,681
Equity in (earnings) losses of an investee	(139)	1	134
Other non-cash (income) expense, net	(1,340)	(2,587)	(2,241)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(2,890)	(1,111)	1,297
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other liabilities	6,696	(4,424)	(11,048)
Increase (decrease) in due to related persons	40	53	(153)
Cash provided by operating activities	355,102	341,444	320,116
Cash flows from investing activities:
Real estate acquisitions and improvements	(69,345)	(7,091)	(9,807)
FF&E reserve fundings	(63,177)	(97,816)	(63,390)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	6,905
Investment in TravelCenters of America common shares	(5,690)
Investment in Affiliates Insurance Company		(76)	(5,134)
Increase (decrease) in security deposits	37,000	(17,220)
Cash used in investing activities	(94,307)	(122,203)	(78,331)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net			373,056
Issuance of senior notes, net of discount			296,961
Repayment of mortgage note	(3,383)
Repurchase of convertible senior notes		(185,626)	(258,102)
Repurchase of senior notes			(45,239)
Repayment of senior notes		(50,000)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility	276,000	298,000	389,000
Repayments of revolving credit facility	(271,000)	(154,000)	(785,000)
Deferred financing costs incurred	(6,872)	(1,130)	(2,258)
Distributions to preferred shareholders	(29,880)	(29,880)	(29,880)
Distributions to common shareholders	(222,239)	(222,122)	(72,374)
Cash used in financing activities	(257,374)	(344,758)	(133,836)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	3,421	(125,517)	107,949
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	4,882	130,399	22,450
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	8,303	4,882	130,399
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	127,131	135,929	127,869
Cash paid for income taxes	1,354	1,553	6,055
Non-cash investing activities:
Property managers' deposits in FF&E reserve	50,834	60,631	51,143
Property managers' purchases with FF&E reserve	(144,436)	(102,909)	(78,433)
Non-cash financing activities:
Issuance of common shares under equity compensation plans	$ 1,366	$ 1,018	$ 624