This time of year, everyone seems to be traveling somewhere and the hotels sure do know it. In the winter and off season you can often find hotel rooms for around $40 per night, even for a really nice hotel! In the summer the prices at the same hotel can skyrocket to 4 times that amount or more. Don’t believe me? Just check out the “maximum rate sheet” that is attached to the back of most hotel room doors. That will tell you the highest amount that hotel can charge for that room during their peak season.
Savings on hotel rooms can be hard to come by, especially when you are tired and just looking for a place to rest your head. With a little planning beforehand you should be able to find some great deals on hotel rooms.
How to Find Deals on Hotel Rooms:
Check the discount sites.
Sites like Kayak and Travelocity will show you the deals on all the hotels in the area you are searching for. Although these sites won’t always get you the best rate, they are good because you can look at and compare several hotels at once and check out reviews so you can get an idea of which ones you might want to stay at.
Call the hotels directly.
Ask for their best rate when you call a hotel directly. If you start by asking them their current rate, follow that up by asking “And that’s the best rate you can do?” Sometimes if a hotel is trying to sell an unsold room they will give you a better rate than the “going rate”. This works especially well if it’s late at night and the hotel knows they have little chance of filling that room by a full price paying guest. When you call, ask about discounts that you may qualify for, such as a military discount or AAA discount.
Get the Traveler's Magazine.
While you are traveling to your destination, make sure to pick up a Traveler's Magazine in the nearest local gas station or truck stop. These magazines are filled with discounts and coupons for hotels. Many deals are rock bottom prices and they will honor them, even in the peak season.
Check the Daily Deal Sites.
The daily deal sites often include special deals on hotels. You can subscribe to email notifications about deals in cities you are planning on traveling to. Daily deals sites where you can find travel deals:
- Groupon
- Amazon Local
- LivingSocial
- Deal Chicken
Don’t stay at a hotel.
When you are planning your trip, consider staying at something other than a hotel. Many campground offer inexpensive cabins that you can rent. Even the forest service has great cabins that you can book through Recreation.gov. Another bonus to renting a cabin versus a hotel room is that many cabins have a full or mini kitchen and you can prepare some of your family’s food there instead of being dependent on restaurants or fast food. Plus it’s just fun to stay somewhere different for a change and your family might have a great time “camping”!
Where have you found the best deals on hotel rooms? Do you have a certain hotel you like to stay at that you feel offers the best discounts?
More Tips for Traveling on a Budget:
- How to Plan a Staycation
- How to Save Money on Souvenirs
- Tips for Saving Money on Your Vacation
- Tips for Saving Money on Museum Entrance Fees
Merissa is a modern day homesteader and currently living in an rv on her family's journey towards moving off the grid. She enjoys writing, photography, and being a full time mom. You can find her blogging about her journey on www.littlehouseliving.com.
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