Hotels Get the Best Deal

A night away from home can be luxurious whether at a five star lodging or an economy inn. Staying at one within your means makes it even more desirable.The first step in getting a good hotel deal is knowing just what you want when you are booking your rooms. Comparisons can be made regarding the level of quality, or you can simply compare room rates.

Hotels are generally rated on a one to five star (or diamond) rating based on the amenities, service, and quality of furnishings. One star hotels generally are those cheap hotels that just give you a bed and a bathroom with a lock on the door. (But, they leave the light on for you!)

A three star hotel will probably feature a pool and maybe even a hot tub. The room will be outfitted with comforts such as an alarm clock, hair dryer, iron, and coffee maker. Four and five star accommodations are luxury spots where you can indulge in spa treatments and pad about in a thick cotton bathrobe provided by the hotel. These hotels feature fine dining and entertainment, too.

Comparing the star ratings is a beginning point for choosing among the different hotels. However, even those ratings are somewhat subjective, and you may not always agree with the star rating awarded.

You probably won't care about the restaurant or bathrobe, however, if you're searching for really cheap hotels. The whole process of finding an inexpensive place to stay is made difficult, because you can get varying rates for the same hotel room from different booking sites.

Many travelers insist that the simplest way to find the best rate is simply to contact the hotel in question. If you have visited the travel websites and have some information about advertised rates, the one you call will quite possibly be ready to offer you an even better deal, and you won't have the website finder's fee to pay.

There are many reviews of lodging available online, but keep in mind that these may not always be honest. In some cases, it's possible that the reviewer was bribed to make a favorable comment. Reading reviews from different sites should help you wade through the potential hype and tripe.

One way to get a good deal on a hotel room is to visit one of the auction sites dealing with travel accommodations. There are several guidelines that will help you get the best experience if you try this route. Always make sure you read all terms and conditions thoroughly before you even make the first bid.

In many cases, the hotel rooms you bid on are for double occupancy only. If you are hoping to house three or four people you may have exorbitant extra fees added to your rates.

Beware, too, that some of these sites are "opaque." This means you can choose the quality of the hotel and the city, but you won't know which hotel you get until the room is booked. Your savings could disappear into the cab fare for a ten-mile trip to the hotel from the airport. ...