Mar 02, 2004 12:32 AM
9117 Views
(Updated Mar 02, 2004 12:32 AM)
Very rarely do I get to stay in a hotel when I travel but when I do there are some things I do before during and after that stay that I would like to share with you all. Choosing the discounted hotel prices is not hard to do anymore! What I mean by ‘discount’ is of course price for your budget and how to get that price.
I always try to find the best price for a hotel that I can. Use to we didn’t have the Internet in helping out with such information but now that we do, it’s the first place I go to search for the price. You can always and still are able to call 800 numbers to book rooms, attraction tickets, etc. You can still use your local newspapers as well, which really don’t offer a lot of discounts for hotels outside of the area but if you are planning a romantic night or need a hotel for a family emergency the local newspaper may be the way to go.
There are many sites that you can go to such as https://priceline.com, https://expedia.com, https://hotels.com and many more to do such a search. There are of course discount travel magazines that you can pick up at any rest area in any state or you can use an Entertainment book like I do. Actually I do all the above! I truly do look for the best prices in the area that we are going. 10 percent is simply not enough discount for me when I know I can get up to half. I have also found that hotels will compete against one another for your business so let the one you are most interested in know what the one down the street will let you stay for. You may just get a match! If not, then you can simply go to the other one or stay and pay the higher price. Some people are that way you know just because of the name of the hotel chain.
When my father got so deathly ill back in October of 2003, we started a hotel stay that lasted until February of 2004. We have spent several nights in various hotels over these months and each hotel was booked on the Internet through https://expedia.com after searching the other places, they just had the best price.
We have stayed at places like the Hampton Inn™, Best Western™ or the Sheraton™ for a lot less than most people on those same nights. The prices were always half or at least up to 25 percent off. In fact, because we had used https://expedia.com while father was in the hospital in Brunswick, GA, they gave us an even larger discount, allowing us one free night. You see, father had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and was not expected to make it through the weekend, much less to now! So, we were a week at that hotel and because of the situation the manager gave us a free night. We paid 49.99 per night where the regular price was 84.99 for the same room. That was a huge savings!
I always confirm the room prior to getting there and I always print off my receipt and when we arrive all I have to do is give them receipt. Now, you should know that if you use a discount from a travel book that you will need to take that with you so don’t loose it! The books found at rest areas are also discounts according to seasons so read the fine print on those small coupons and check for the dates of availability. The last thing you want is to get to the hotel and be angered because what you thought you were going to get is not what you are getting because you didn’t read correctly. So check and double check.
Most online sites as well as travel books also give you information for surrounding attractions as mentioned above, but again, read the dates of availability in those travel books as well as the online sites. Also, if there is an attraction that you want to see, make sure that coupon is not on the backside of your hotel coupon. You may want to pick up two of those books at the rest area just in case!
The hotels now days have most essentials in the room already for you. I know that other than the standard soap, shampoo, cream rinse and lotion you will now find irons, ironing boards, microwaves, hairdryers and coffee makers in the rooms. The styles of home! Of course you will need to get more coffee or bring some from home, which is what I do! And of course most hotels do have razors, shaving cream, etc in sample packs if you have forgotten them at no charge to you. Some hotels offer gyms for those who like to exercise. And some hotels offer free Internet connections while some charge you .25 cents per minute. So these are some things you may want to ask about when searching for the best discount hotel for your needs.
Of course if I have been satisfied with the service I do fill out those questionnaires that are always in a room with high marks. And certainly lower marks if the service was bad or if the room was bad.
You can really find great discounts if you look for them and I mean more than the standard 10 percent for having AAA or ARPP or other such type accounts. Look around, do your research before hitting the road. Take 800 numbers with you so you can call along the way. That is one thing that I do because the hotels will compete!
I like to also look for near by attractions and what kind of discounts are offered for those, the above places and books will also give you this information. The hotels will also have some attractions listed for you and sometimes a bigger discount. Especially if you are going to Orlando Florida! Those hotels compete with each other all the time! And take that Time Share tour for free tickets to Disney World! It’s worth it! You can also get free hotel stays for doing a Time Share tour.
Overall, you can stay where you want to but this girl stays at nice places for less! And I don’t mind that all!
I have to add here something about my father. Mind you this has nothing to do with hotel discounts but since I used his illness in this review I wanted to say that he is better. As of today, there are no signs of terminal cancer and the blood clot that he had in his right lung is completely gone! We were told he would not live a year if the blood clot didn’t kill him first. And he, my father, laid in that hospital bed one Saturday back in October of 2003, held my hand and told me he loved me and that he wished he could just close his eyes and not wake up. Of course he did and he is here today to tell about it. My father is now 80 years old and God has healed him of terminal cancer and a blood clot that usually takes up to 2 years to absorb it self and go away.
I hope that this has helped in some kind of way.
God Bless!
©LKD 2004
