Hotel Reservation Tips Stretch Travel Budget
When planning a vacation or other travel that will include a stay in a hotel, there are ways to ensure a pleasant experience with accommodations while saving money at the same time. The first step is to establish a budget in order to know how much will be available for overnight lodgings. Next, decide how much time will actually be spent in the hotel room. For instance, with an extensive road trip to a destination the rooms on the way may be needed just to shower and sleep. In that case, it may not be cost effective to pay for a lavish bedroom or suite and it will be helpful to keep some hotel reservation tips in mind that will save money when traveling.
A brief Internet search will result in several moderately priced or cheap hotel chains that may be sufficient for certain travel needs. Once a hotel chain is decided on, get the number of the local hotel and contact them yourself. You will be better able to negotiate with the manager of the hotel than with customer service that you reach through calling an 800 number.
Ask the hotel manager about special rates and be sure to mention any clubs or organizations you belong to, such as roadside service agencies, unions, professional associations and especially the armed forces. Many hotels give discounts on the room rate to members. Get a firm commitment on the total price, including tax and any other fees before confirming the reservation and keep a record of your confirmation number.
Discount Hotels
If planning to stay several nights or a week in a particular area, search for discount hotels. They will not be four star hotels and may not have all the amenities, but if what is really needed is just a place to sleep after enjoying the area attractions, they may be an excellent way to stretch the vacation budget. Some will even have a pool or offer free continental breakfast. Regardless of what the room rate is for any hotel, it should be clean and safe, so if visiting for the first time, look the room over carefully before giving your approval.
Hotels that are not in the mainstream of the action but just a few miles out of the way may offer huge savings over those inside a popular vacation spot. If staying a length of time and you do not know the area, make hotel reservations by phone for one night, if possible, at a four star hotel and take some time the next day to explore a bit and look for less expensive accommodations for the rest of the stay.