Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Information
Hotel operating revenues	$ 230,335	$ 195,967	$ 427,872	$ 365,274
Rental income	78,240	80,593	157,773	160,079
FF&E reserve income	5,234	5,831	10,148	11,146
Total revenues	313,809	282,391	595,793	536,499
Hotel operating expenses	152,814	130,057	282,567	235,457
Depreciation and amortization expense	57,630	60,726	113,944	121,263
General and administrative expense	10,190	9,731	19,454	19,313
Acquisition related costs	763		763
Loss on asset impairment	7,263	16,384	7,263	16,384
Total expenses	228,660	216,898	423,991	392,417
Operating income (loss)	85,149	65,493	171,802	144,082
Interest income	14	33	43	183
Interest expense	(33,331)	(34,987)	(66,670)	(71,892)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(6,720)		(6,720)
Equity in earnings (losses) of an investee	46	(24)	83	(52)
Income (loss) before income taxes	51,878	23,795	105,258	65,601
Income tax expense	(235)	(585)	(567)	(1,526)
Net income	51,643	23,210	104,691	64,075
Total assets	5,147,505		5,147,505		5,192,286
Hotels
Segment Information
Hotel operating revenues	230,335	195,967	427,872	365,274
Rental income	27,986	33,172	57,687	66,030
FF&E reserve income	5,234	5,831	10,148	11,146
Total revenues	263,555	234,970	495,707	442,450
Hotel operating expenses	152,814	130,057	282,567	235,457
Depreciation and amortization expense	37,338	39,833	73,801	80,312
Loss on asset impairment	7,263	16,384	7,263	16,384
Total expenses	197,415	186,274	363,631	332,153
Operating income (loss)	66,140	48,696	132,076	110,297
Income (loss) before income taxes	66,140	48,696	132,076	110,297
Net income	66,140	48,696	132,076	110,297
Total assets	2,919,649		2,919,649		2,967,467
Travel centers
Segment Information
Rental income	50,254	47,421	100,086	94,049
Total revenues	50,254	47,421	100,086	94,049
Depreciation and amortization expense	20,292	20,893	40,143	40,951
Total expenses	20,292	20,893	40,143	40,951
Operating income (loss)	29,962	26,528	59,943	53,098
Income (loss) before income taxes	29,962	26,528	59,943	53,098
Net income	29,962	26,528	59,943	53,098
Total assets	2,211,503		2,211,503		2,205,379
Corporate
Segment Information
General and administrative expense	10,190	9,731	19,454	19,313
Acquisition related costs	763		763
Total expenses	10,953	9,731	20,217	19,313
Operating income (loss)	(10,953)	(9,731)	(20,217)	(19,313)
Interest income	14	33	43	183
Interest expense	(33,331)	(34,987)	(66,670)	(71,892)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(6,720)		(6,720)
Equity in earnings (losses) of an investee	46	(24)	83	(52)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(44,224)	(51,429)	(86,761)	(97,794)
Income tax expense	(235)	(585)	(567)	(1,526)
Net income	(44,459)	(52,014)	(87,328)	(99,320)
Total assets	$ 16,353		$ 16,353		$ 19,440