Suction cup tripod is best tripod! I wasn't able to block the light from the cabin well enough so the pictures didn't turn out as I had hoped.
Otherwise, your settings sound good. High ISO and shutter speed equal to about your focal length. (1/20 for an 18mm lense, etc..). Wide open aperture. Good Luck!
This is also where a 'nifty fifty' comes in handy. The lense above is a f/1.8 50mm prime. Cost me only about $75. By FAR my favorite lense.