Sunday, May 25, 2008

Cheap Hotels & Cheap Tickets

Erica Johnson writes:

You are planning a holiday abroad for your family, and want everyone to have a good time. You surf the internet for hotel descriptions, but from the pictures that you see and what you read, all hotels project a perfect image of themselves. How can you tell which ones are better? You have never been there and know no one at your destination. At the same time, you don�t want a hotel room that will bust your budget. How do you choose? Check Independent Hotel Ratings Well, the first step you can take is to visit hotel search engines for guest ratings for hotels represented by the search engines. In addition to pre-negotiated rates with individual hotels, most agents ask for ratings and comments from previous guests. Reading their comments will give you a fair idea on what to expect from the hotels located in your destination. Be sure to read a few comments in order to get a fair overview. Certain incidences described may only be rare occurrences that may already have been corrected.

Jeff Lakie tells you what to consider before booking a hotel:

The cheapest hotels are not always the best option for the budget-conscious person. In fact, cheap hotels have become a joke, they can be so bad! Motels are an okay option for the budget conscious person but if you have a family, a hotel may offer you more convenience and choice for your children. For example, in a hotel you might find a restaurant and pool for the kids and a bar for the adults, which you would rarely find a motel. The difference in price is not huge so choosing a hotel for those family friendly amenities make the few extra dollars worthwhile.

Close to where you want to be? People who choose to stay at a hotel often find that the closer a hotel is to the downtown, the more expensive the hotel is. If your destination is downtown, you do not have to choose a hotel that is close by, but you should find one that is conveniently located. For example, if you have a business meeting to attend downtown, you don't want to choose the cheapest hotel which is so far away from downtown that you'll be fighting traffic and searching endlessly for a parking space. But you also don\'t want to spend an arm and a leg for a hotel that is too close to downtown. Instead, settle on one that is a few minutes out of the downtown core but not too far away.

Paul Wilson offers ten tips for finding a cheap hotel:

6. Ask about weekend rates. Often hotels that cater to business travelers have great rates on what they consider off season, weekends. 7. If you plan your trip well in advance you could get a discount of 50% or more during off season. 8. Some hotels have special rates for members of AAA, American Automobile Association and other professional bodies or clubs. Call the hotel of your choice and ask them if they do have such schemes. 9. If you are traveling in a group ask about group rates or family rates. Most hotels have different options for multiple bookings. Some even offer a day or two additional stay at no extra cost. 10. When you leave the airport or railway station or just drive in to a town stop at a gas station and find out if they have hotel coupon booklets. These many a time have great offers for visitors.

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