Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Information
Hotel operating revenues	$ 242,995	$ 193,626	$ 670,867	$ 558,900
Rental income	72,305	81,695	230,078	241,774
FF&E reserve income	3,389	5,877	13,537	17,023
Total revenues	318,689	281,198	914,482	817,697
Hotel operating expenses	168,278	128,601	450,845	364,058
Depreciation and amortization expense	57,106	57,997	171,050	179,260
General and administrative expense	11,292	10,082	30,746	29,396
Acquisition related costs	387		1,150
Loss on asset impairment			7,263	16,384
Total expenses	237,063	196,680	661,054	589,098
Operating income (loss)	81,626	84,518	253,428	228,599
Interest income	11	33	54	216
Interest expense	(33,513)	(33,475)	(100,183)	(105,367)
Loss on extinguishment of debt				(6,720)
Equity in earnings (losses) of an investee	28	34	111	(17)
Income (loss) before income taxes	48,152	51,110	153,410	116,711
Income tax expense	(621)	(878)	(1,188)	(2,404)
Net income (loss)	47,531	50,232	152,222	114,307
Total assets	5,111,069		5,111,069		5,192,286
Hotels
Segment Information
Hotel operating revenues	242,995	193,626	670,867	558,900
Rental income	21,708	33,824	79,395	99,854
FF&E reserve income	3,389	5,877	13,537	17,023
Total revenues	268,092	233,327	763,799	675,777
Hotel operating expenses	168,278	128,601	450,845	364,058
Depreciation and amortization expense	36,421	38,205	110,222	118,517
Loss on asset impairment			7,263	16,384
Total expenses	204,699	166,806	568,330	498,959
Operating income (loss)	63,393	66,521	195,469	176,818
Income (loss) before income taxes	63,393	66,521	195,469	176,818
Net income (loss)	63,393	66,521	195,469	176,818
Total assets	2,888,669		2,888,669		2,967,467
Travel centers
Segment Information
Rental income	50,597	47,871	150,683	141,920
Total revenues	50,597	47,871	150,683	141,920
Depreciation and amortization expense	20,685	19,792	60,828	60,743
Total expenses	20,685	19,792	60,828	60,743
Operating income (loss)	29,912	28,079	89,855	81,177
Income (loss) before income taxes	29,912	28,079	89,855	81,177
Net income (loss)	29,912	28,079	89,855	81,177
Total assets	2,196,659		2,196,659		2,205,379
Corporate
Segment Information
General and administrative expense	11,292	10,082	30,746	29,396
Acquisition related costs	387		1,150
Total expenses	11,679	10,082	31,896	29,396
Operating income (loss)	(11,679)	(10,082)	(31,896)	(29,396)
Interest income	11	33	54	216
Interest expense	(33,513)	(33,475)	(100,183)	(105,367)
Loss on extinguishment of debt				(6,720)
Equity in earnings (losses) of an investee	28	34	111	(17)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(45,153)	(43,490)	(131,914)	(141,284)
Income tax expense	(621)	(878)	(1,188)	(2,404)
Net income (loss)	(45,774)	(44,368)	(133,102)	(143,688)
Total assets	$ 25,741		$ 25,741		$ 19,440