Finding budget hotels with deep discounts can be a great way to save some money for the rest of your trip and apply those extra fund to various activities. If you save on your hotel accommodation, you will be able to see more attractions and enjoy some fine cuisines. After all, a vacation is about getting out and about, not staying in your hotel room.
Once you have found the perfect discount hotel through
Budget Bellhop there are a few thing you should keep in mind to keep costs down during your stay.
Watch Your Hotel Expenses. Most importantly is to watch your hotel expenses. Hotel expenses can add up quickly from those in-room movies to hotel dining and possibly room service if your budget hotel has a restaurant on the premises (many budget hotels you will find here are sans room service so you might save a bunch of money that way). Drink the hotel coffee provided in your room and skip going to a hotel coffee shop. The great thing about many of the budget hotels today is that they are competing on money saving amenities, select a budget hotel that offers things like a
free hot breakfast and
free WiFi Internet access.
Schedule Your Vacation. Avoid staying at a hotel during peak seasons or on holidays. For example, the peak season in Florida is the winter, when everyone is seeking warmer weather. The peak season in New England is summer, when the weather is warm and school is out. New Year's Eve is generally the most expensive night of the year to stay in a hotel so stay away from the major cities celebrating this holiday like New York City. Also if possible try to have an adjustable schedule. If you can stay on a Monday or Tuesday, most hotels will charge on average 20-30% less than on a weekend.
Look for Discounts. You should research all specials and discounts both online an in your local paper before booking your hotel. The hotel may have an unadvertised special, such as getting the fourth night free. Ask about discounts for AAA and AARP. Call your hotel directly to see if you can get a better rate. Many hotels will offer you the best rate if you book with them directly both over the phone and online. Online travel sites to the likes of Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz and many more offer rate guarantees when you book your hotel stay.
Join a Rewards Program. Take advantage of a hotel chain's guest rewards programs for free nights and other offers during your stay. If you stay at the same chain, you can build up points to get a free stay. All rewards programs are pretty much free to join so there is no reason not to take advantage of them. Most if not all of the major hotel chains have a reward program. Some of them include:
What to expect at a budget hotel
You generally won't find luxury amenities like a porter to carry your bags or a proper restaurant at most budget hotels. Guests at most of these hotels have access to food whenever they want (mostly self-service), free hot and cold daily breakfasts, free Wi-Fi and plenty of public space.
It used to be that spending less than $100 a night on a hotel meant that you could look forward to hard beds, floresent lighting, and stale muffins to greet you in the morning. Fortunately, things have changed. As five-star hotels have ramped up their offerings, so have budget properties. Where once you were lucky to find a coffee maker in your room, you can now often find free WiFi, breakfast buffets, and heated pools. Even cool design and a great atmosphere are more affordable than ever.
From very cheap budget motels and hotels to the new generation of trendy, stylish and hip budget hotels, there is a class of budget hotel that will surely meet your travel needs. Here you will find the various classes of budget hotel offerings.
- Low priced economy budget hotels - These chains offer hotels or motels that meet the minimum standards for accommodations and service. These economy class budget hotels normally have very few of the extra amenities found in more moderately prices budget hotels.
- Moderatly priced budget hotels - Moderatly priced (but on a budget) hotels cost a little more than the standard budget hotels, but usually include some additional amenities. They normally provide a larger room with a larger bathroom, include free hygiene items such as shampoo and various toiletries, may have a restaurant or cocktail lounge, and might even have a swimming pool, sauna or exercise facility.
- Extended stay budget hotels - Extended stay hotels are a type of lodging with features unavailable at standard hotels. These features are intended to provide more home-like amenities. Some of the budget hotel chains attract clientele who use the hotels as semi-permanent lodging. Extended-stay hotels typically have self-serve laundry facilities and offer discounts for extended stays, beginning at 5 or 7 days.
- Hip and trendy budget hotels - Some of the best budget brands are still just under the radar. They are chic and hip for the new generation of travelers who want to spend less but require the feel of 5 star luxury, and most likely you never even heard of them. It turns out that some of the best budget hotel brands are still just under the radar. But these hidden gems are something that all hotel bargain-seekers should know about.