- Ask about special rates or other discounts. You may qualify for corporate, student, military, senior, frequent flier, trade union, or other discounts.
- Dial direct. When booking a room in a chain hotel, you'll often get a better deal by calling the individual hotel's reservation desk rather than the chain's main number.
- Book online. Many hotels offer Internet-only discounts, or supply rooms to Priceline, Hotwire, or Expedia at rates much lower than the ones you can get through the hotel.
- Remember the law of supply and demand. Resort hotels are most crowded and therefore most expensive on weekends, so discounts are usually available for midweek stays. Business hotels in downtown locations are busiest during the week, so you can expect big discounts over the weekend. Many hotels have high-season and low-season prices, and booking even one day after high season ends can mean big discounts.
- Look into group or long-stay discounts. If you come as part of a large group, you should be able to negotiate a bargain rate. Likewise, if you're planning a long stay (at least 5 days), you might qualify for a discount. As a general rule, expect 1 night free after a 7-night stay.
- Avoid excess charges and hidden costs. When you book a room, ask whether the hotel charges for parking. Use a cellphone, pay phones, or prepaid phone cards instead of dialing direct from hotel phones, which usually have exorbitant rates. Don't be tempted by the room's minibar offerings: Most hotels overcharge for water, soda, and snacks. Finally, ask about local taxes and service charges, which can increase the cost of a room by 15% or more.
- Book an efficiency. A room with a kitchenette allows you to shop for groceries and cook your own meals. This is a big money saver, especially for families on long stays.
- Consider enrolling in hotel "frequent-stay" programs, which are upping the ante lately to win the loyalty of repeat customers. Frequent guests can now accumulate points or credits to earn free hotel nights, airline miles, in-room amenities, merchandise, tickets to concerts and events, discounts on sporting facilities -- and even credit toward stock in the participating hotel, in the case of the Jameson Inn hotel group. Perks are awarded not only by many chain hotels and motels (Hilton HHonors, Marriott Rewards, Wyndham ByRequest, to name a few), but individual inns and B&Bs. Many chain hotels partner with other hotel chains, car-rental firms, airlines, and credit card companies to give consumers additional incentive to do repeat business.
- What's the view like? Cost-conscious travelers may be willing to pay less for a back room facing the parking lot, especially if they don't plan to spend much time in their room. If, on the other hand, you can't do without that view of the ocean, the skyline, the Strip, whatever, then be prepared to pay extra for it.
- What's included in the price? Your room may be moderately priced, but if you're charged for beach chairs, towels, sports equipment, and other amenities, you could end up spending more than you bargained for.
- Is there a resort fee? These are recent and particularly heinous schemes (anywhere from $5-$20 per day!) dreamed up by hotel executives trying to make an extra dime off travelers. They ostensibly cover items (local calls, a bottle of water, a newspaper, the electricity in your room) that used to be free, but that you're now being charged for. And these extra charges are never included in the quoted rate. You'll find this sort of gouging mostly at resorts in the major resort destinations such as Florida and Hawaii, but we've seen even small chain hotels in some of these areas assessing this fee.
The United States has a wide range of accommodations: from roadside chain motels, to park lodges, to rental condos, to mammoth themed resorts, to historic inns (where George Washington really did sleep!). And there are tons of excellent campgrounds located all over the country.
Most state tourism offices put out directories or other information on available accommodations -- contact them and they'll be happy to send you the information. Much of the information is also available on the states' tourism websites.
If you prefer the intimacy and character of a bed-and-breakfast, there are several reservation agencies and online websites that deal solely with B&Bs. A few of these B&B-only websites include Inntravels.com, Bed & Breakfast Inns Online (www.bbonline.com), North American Bed & Breakfast Directory (www.bbdirectory.com), and BedandBreakfast.com.
For historic lodging in the United States, look no further than the Historic Hotels of America (tel. 800/678-8946; www.historichotels.org), operated in conjunction with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. We've noted several hotels rich in American history throughout the book.
For information on campgrounds and RV parks in the United States, pick up the comprehensive Frommer's RV & Tent Campgrounds in the U.S.A. You can also contact the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (www.gocampingamerica.com); or KOA (tel. 406/248-7444; www.koa.com), which operates numerous campgrounds and RV parks all over the country.
Saving on Your Hotel Room
The rack rate is the maximum rate that a hotel charges for a room. Hardly anybody pays this price, however, except in high season or on holidays. To lower the cost of your room:
Landing the Best Room
Somebody has to get the best room in the house. It might as well be you. You can start by joining the hotel's frequent-guest program, which may make you eligible for upgrades. A hotel-branded credit card usually gives its owner "silver" or "gold" status in frequent-guest programs for free. Always ask about a corner room. They're often larger and quieter, with more windows and light, and they often cost the same as standard rooms. When you make your reservation, ask if the hotel is renovating; if it is, request a room away from the construction. Ask about nonsmoking rooms, rooms with views, rooms with twin, queen- or king-size beds. If you're a light sleeper, request a quiet room away from vending machines, elevators, restaurants, bars, and discos. Ask for a room that has been most recently renovated or redecorated.
If you aren't happy with your room when you arrive, ask for another one. Most lodgings will be willing to accommodate you.
In resort areas, particularly in warm climates, ask the following questions before you book a room:
Major Hotel & Motel Chains
Best Western International
tel. 800/528-1234
tel. 800/780-7234
www.bestwestern.com
Clarion Hotels
tel. 800/CLARION
tel. 877/424-6423
www.choicehotels.com
Comfort Inns
tel. 800/228-5150
www.choicehotels.com
Courtyard by Marriott
tel. 800/321-2211
www.marriott.com/courtyard
Crowne Plaza Hotels
tel. 888/303-1746
www.ichotelsgroup.com
Days Inn
tel. 800/325-2525
www.daysinn.com
Doubletree Hotels
tel. 800/222-TREE
www.doubletree.com
Econo Lodges
tel. 800/55-ECONO
www.choicehotels.com
Embassy Suites
tel. 800/EMBASSY
www.embassysuites.hilton.com
Fairfield Inn by Marriott
tel. 800/228-2800
www.marriott.com/fairfieldinn
Four Seasons
tel. 800/819-5053
www.fourseasons.com
Hampton Inn
tel. 800/HAMPTON
www.hamptoninn.hilton.com
Hilton Hotels
tel. 800/HILTONS
www.hilton.com
Holiday Inn
tel. 800/HOLIDAY
www.ichotelsgroup.com
Howard Johnson
tel. 800/654-2000
www.hojo.com
Hyatt
tel. 800/228-9000
www.hyatt.com
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
tel. 888/567-8725
www.ichotelsgroup.com
La Quinta Inns and Suites
tel. 800/531-5900
tel. 866/725-1661
www.lq.com
Loews Hotels
tel. 800/23-LOEWS
www.loewshotels.com
Marriott
tel. 800/228-9290
www.marriott.com
Motel 6
tel. 800/4-MOTEL-6 (466-8356)
www.motel6.com
Omni Hotels
tel. 800/THE-OMNI
www.omnihotels.com
Quality
tel. 877/424-6423
www.choicehotels.com
Radisson Hotels & Resorts
tel. 800/333-3333
www.radisson.com
Ramada Worldwide
tel. 800/2-RAMADA
www.ramada.com
Red Carpet Inns
tel. 800/251-1962
www.bookroomsnow.com
Red Lion Hotels
tel. 800/RED-LION
www.redlion.rdln.com
Red Roof Inns
tel. 888/RED-ROOF
www.redroof.com
Renaissance
tel. 888/236-2427
www.renaissancehotels.com
www.marriott.com/renaissancehotels
Residence Inn by Marriott
tel. 800/331-3131
www.marriott.com/residenceinn
Ritz-Carlton
tel. 800/241-3333
www.ritzcarlton.com
Rodeway Inns
tel. 800/228-2000
www.choicehotels.com
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
tel. 800/325-3535
www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton
Super 8 Motels
tel. 800/800-8000
www.super8.com
Travelodge
tel. 800/255-3050
tel. 800/578-7878
www.travelodge.com
Vagabond Inns
tel. 800/522-1555
www.vagabondinn.com
Westin Hotels & Resorts
tel. 800/937-8461
www.starwoodhotels.com/westin
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
tel. 800/822-4200
www.wyndham.com
