"We're fine," he says reassuringly. "We're just looking for a place to spend the night, and if you don't much want foreign visitors here we'll be on our way right after that."

"Oh, well. I'm afraid you're gonna have to find another place for that. I think there's a motel down Elm Street a ways."

"Thank you so much."

He nods. He keeps frowning at them.

They venture out again. 

It's getting darker. There's nobody obviously out on the streets, though there are still occasional metal carts. They're only a little slower in town.

Seems hazardous but maybe everyone knows their routine or something. 

Are there any signs about which Comprehend Languages would reveal to read Elm Street?

Yep! There's one that says that two cross-streets down.

Then they can go off down Elm Street! Preferably staying off the paths that the metal carts use.

The metal carts only ever use the big paths. That building over there says "Motel 6" on it, maybe that's what they're looking for.

They walk in to the Motel 6. It looks relentlessly expensive. Plate glass everywhere and a carpet with a lot of fine detailing and glossy surfaces made of something unfamiliar. Mahdi quietly cleans off their shoes before they step on the carpet, even though it looks like some other guests have recently been less cautious.

"Hello," he says to the proprietor. "We'd like a room for the night." And he puts several large unfamiliar gold coins on the counter.

"...we use dollars, here," says the guy at the counter.

"We don't have any," he says apologetically, and puts another large unfamiliar gold coin on the counter. "For your trouble."

"...I'm, uh, sorry, I have no idea what these things are. I'm pretty sure you have to pay in dollars."

"Is there a moneychanger near here?"

"There's, like, a bank? They can probably exchange foreign stuff? Uh, like a mile that way."

"Are they open at this hour?"

"Oh. Uh, probably not. Sorry."

"Is it legal to camp outside within the city limits?"

"Uh. I don't really know. You guys don't have a car or anything?"

"We don't. We just arrived here. You don't know if it's legal to camp outside? Do people do it?"

"I mean, there are homeless people? Not a lot of them."

"And are they permitted to camp within the city limits?"

"I don't know? I guess if you're homeless the law might not be your biggest problem?"

Sigh. "Thank you."