CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 151,923	$ 190,440	$ 21,351
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	260,831	228,342	238,089
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discounts as interest	6,179	6,305	7,123
Straight line rental income	(252)	(4,807)
Security deposits applied to payment shortfalls	(29,354)	(36,444)	(28,508)
FF&E reserve income and deposits	(21,672)	(47,485)	(58,944)
Loss on extinguishment of debt			6,720
Loss on asset impairment	8,547	16,384	163,681
Equity in (earnings) losses of an investee	(316)	(139)	1
Gain on sale of real estate	(10,602)
Other non-cash (income) expense, net	(1,455)	(1,340)	(2,587)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Increase in other assets	(23,356)	(2,890)	(1,111)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other liabilities	17,918	6,696	(4,424)
Increase in due to related persons	5,517	40	53
Cash provided by operating activities	363,908	355,102	341,444
Cash flows from investing activities:
Real estate acquisitions	(355,500)
Real estate improvements	(275,440)	(69,345)	(7,091)
FF&E reserve fundings	(81,644)	(63,177)	(97,816)
Net proceeds from sale of real estate	34,204	6,905
Investment in TravelCenters of America common shares		(5,690)
Investment in Affiliates Insurance Company			(76)
Increase (decrease) in security deposits	(50,540)	37,000	(17,220)
Cash used in investing activities	(728,920)	(94,307)	(122,203)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of preferred shares, net	280,107
Proceeds from unsecured term loan	400,000
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net of discount	491,975
Redemption of preferred shares	(236,250)
Repurchase of convertible senior notes	(70,576)		(185,626)
Repayment of senior notes	(387,829)		(50,000)
Repayment of mortgage note		(3,383)
Borrowings under unsecured revolving credit facility	698,000	276,000	298,000
Repayments of unsecured revolving credit facility	(527,000)	(271,000)	(154,000)
Deferred financing costs	(6,625)	(6,872)	(1,130)
Distributions to preferred shareholders	(40,145)	(29,880)	(29,880)
Distributions to common shareholders	(224,899)	(222,239)	(222,122)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities	376,758	(257,374)	(344,758)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	11,746	3,421	(125,517)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	8,303	4,882	130,399
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	20,049	8,303	4,882
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	131,249	127,131	135,929
Cash paid for income taxes	1,535	1,354	1,553
Non-cash investing activities:
Property managers' deposits in FF&E reserve	23,364	50,834	60,631
Property managers' purchases with FF&E reserve	(119,460)	(144,436)	(102,909)
Non-cash financing activities:
Issuance of common shares	$ 2,595	$ 1,366	$ 1,018