More Tips For Cheap Hotels

From WorldHum:

Columnist Rolf Potts is the author of Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel:

I advised preparing a "flophouse hotel survival" kit that included earplugs (since many flophouses are near noisy areas like discos or bus stations or mosques), a lightweight cable and padlock (to secure possessions against opportunist crime) and your own towel, soap and toilet paper (since many cheap guesthouses don't provide these).

That said, everyone's cheap hotel strategy is slightly different, and my readers also suggested the following:

* A bag liner or light sleep-sack. Bedding might not always be clean.

* DEET or mosquito netting. In tropical areas, or anyplace, mosquitoes might be a nuisance.

* Eye-shades. If a room is too bright, or if you want to sleep during daylight hours.

* Some kind of simple door wedge. Just in case the lock on hotel room door is flimsy or broken.

* Ambien, or a similar sleep aid. This should be used wisely and sparingly, but sometimes a sleeping pill can spell the difference between fitful semi-sleep and a full night's rest.

* Tiger Balm or Bengay-style cream. In addition to muscle aches, a dab under the nostrils can ward off all manner of bad smells.

Tim Lee writes:

While looking for cheap hotel rates, keep the following tips in mind.

1. Location is everything � Hotel rates vary from place to place depending on its location. You will have to ask yourself if where your balance lies: convenience or price. Most convenient locations in any city will have hotels sporting rates in the upwards range in any market. Some less accessible areas will offer lesser rates. However, you will have to decide for yourself whether the inconvenience is worth the price. If you are pretty familiar with the area you are traveling to, then locations with lesser rates in less accessible or attractive locations will be less of an issue for you. However, if you are traveling to an area for the first time, you will have to think twice about staying at a location that is a little inconvenient.

2. Schedule is also everything - The basic law of supply and demands states that the more the demand, the more expensive the item will be. The same is true for hotel rates, if demand for a travel destination is high, then you are bound to spend more money. So if you are planning to stay away from home, try to make your hotel reservations for off-peak seasons. Hotel rates during peak season can be as much as three times more than regular rates. This alone is reason enough to look to reserve during off-peak seasons.

3. Amenities � Some hotels are pricier because they offer amenities that, while great for those looking for extravagance, are useless to some travelers. If you can live without some of these amenities, then you could consider looking for hotels that are cheaper because they do not offer these amenities.

Rick Steves writes about cheap hotels and other bargains in Europe:

Given the current weakness of our dollar overseas, the potential price-savings of an off-season trip are enough to brighten a gray winter day. Airfares are often hundreds of dollars less. With fewer crowds in Europe, you'll sleep cheaper. Many fine hotels drop their prices, and budget hotels have plenty of vacancies. To save some money on hotels in the off-season, arrive late without a reservation, notice how many empty rooms they have (look for keys on the rack), and give the receptionist an excuse to win your business with a deep discount. Explain that you're a senior (hosteler, student, artist, whatever) with a particular price limit, and bargain from there.

Note that while tourist-oriented places may be cheaper in the low season, the opposite is true of big-city business centers (especially Brussels and the Scandinavian capitals), which are busiest and most expensive in the off-season. For many travelers, "shoulder season" � April, May, early June, September, and early October � offers the best mix of peak-season and off-season pros and cons. In shoulder season you'll enjoy decent weather, long days, fewer crowds, and a local tourist industry that is still eager to please and entertain.

To thrive in the winter, you'll need to get the most out of your limited daylight hours. Start early and eat a quick lunch. Pack for the cold and wet � layers, rainproof parka, gloves, wool hat, long johns, waterproof shoes, and an umbrella. Use undershirts to limit the washing of slow-drying heavy shirts. Dress warmly. Cold weather is colder when you're outdoors trying to enjoy yourself all day long. And cheap hotels are not always adequately heated in the off-season.