Let’s begin by looking at the most common way that people find a great hotel. Usually, they will be planning a trip and searching several websites that focus on their destination or the area they are headed. The sites may be partnerships or independent travel resources – the difference between the two is that one site might be specifically paid by a range of hotels to rank them on the first few pages of results, while another may be a well-organized database that gives results based on specific criteria.

Which is the one that will give the best deals? Generally speaking, almost any variant of website is going to provide the currently advertised bargains available at travel-related companies. Some, however, may not be as up to date as others, and it is always a great idea to do some comparison shopping.

For example, there are currently several well-known travel websites specifically designed to provide a one-stop location for making complete travel arrangements. Usually such sites are linked directly to the many hotels, airlines, and auto rental agencies with which they can make reservations. On the other hand, a traveler may head to a site that is dedicated to a specific area and run by a group which manually updates the bargains or information about area travel resources. For such specials, it is best to confirm via telephone or email that the prices listed are indeed the correct ones.

Save Money on Your Next Vacation with Great Hotel Deals

Some people wonder if looking for a discounted hotel is a good way to plan a holiday. It is vitally important to remember that most hotel deals are in place to offer the same quality experience as any other visitor enjoys, the only difference is that they often ask the visitor to arrive at a specific time of year or particular day of the week. Most of these vacation deals are full-service and full-feature, with the only difference being those stipulations in place by the management.

Enjoy the City Life in a Suites Hotel

The great thing about a suites hotel in an urban or city location is that it allows the traveler to enjoy the same convenience and comfort of a home-style location from which to base their visit. Unlike a standard hotel room, those in a suite would be able to comfortably entertain visitors or acquaintances, head out for a meal or night on the town, and come home to do a bit of work or even some laundry from their suite.

Most hotels of this type are also usually set within walking distance of major destinations, which means a long-term visitor could get to know a neighborhood while on their stay. They might find a great coffee shop, bookstore, or barber while in town and begin to feel like they are more at home than on the road.
In addition to ample floor space and convenience, a suites hotel is also usually packed with an array of facilities and features. For example, it isn’t unusual for a building to have a large fitness center, swimming pool, business services center or secretarial support, 24-hour front desk and even secure parking. These are all reasons that many people will opt for such an accommodation.

Lodging at a spa hotel is generally upscale in terms of price. Some of these facilities will offer a course of treatments as a part of the board rate and others will charge separately for the health and beauty services which they have available on tap. Either way, there will likely be a range of services available that are truly luxury and that command a high price. Part of the experience of staying at one of these facilities, of course, is having access to these services and having the opportunity to rejuvenate one’s body and mind during the course of their vacation. These are definitely not bargain-level vacations!

Most of these facilities will be of the four-star and up level of accommodation. This means that there will generally be a host of other services and amenities available on tap including restaurants, bars, lounges and so forth. Oftentimes, it’s entirely possible for one to spend their entire vacation at one of these facilities and to not miss out on too much for having taken that option.

Booking lodging at a spa and lodging facility is best done by booking at least a long weekend. Part of the experience is getting away from it all and most of these establishments have gardens and other landscaping features that give it the air of being a million miles away from one’s problems. Visiting one of these establishments for a short stay rather defeats the point and one should plan on sticking around for a bit, sampling the various treatments offered by the facility and exploring the local environs. Remember that different parts of the world have different beauty treatments available so keep this in mind when making a choice of destinations!

A boutique hotel is an example of this. If one happened to be staying in Istanbul, for instance, the moniker “boutique hotel” would carry certain specific meanings. Most of these hotels would be found around the Sultanahmet district of the city and would have some significant historical aspects. Some of the hotels that meet this definition in Turkey are converted palaces and other historical buildings which have few rooms, many amenities and a distinctive look and feel that gives the guests a sense of connection to the history of the nation. All of these hotels will be luxury establishments.

Upscale lodging in other parts of the world may be a far different affair. In Thailand, for instance, a health facility that offers Thai massage and herbal treatments is almost universal among the high-end hotels. Of course, if one were staying in a luxury lodging establishment in Las Vegas, the Thai massage aspect would likely be absent but replaced with luxuries such as an in-house casino, several lounges and so forth. Like so many things in life, the term “luxury” is nothing if not relative. Keep this in mind when reading about any particular hotel.

Hotels which lie along beachfronts tend to have definitions of luxury based largely upon the seaside environs in which they are found. In Europe, for instance, any lodging facility located along what’s denoted as a Blue Flag Beach will most certainly be a luxury provider of accommodations. The same applies for areas where skiing is the most-favored pastime and one would be justified in having the expectation that any hotel located next to the most desirable slopes will be somewhat defined as luxury by its location. Luxury means different things to different people and the same applies to its definition where the advertising of hotels is concerned!

The ultimate answer lies in price. Hotels downtown can be expensive, usually far more than remote hotels or motels in rural areas. Hotels in the city are usually corporate owned, meaning they are the most expensive type of accommodation in the region, given the high front-end costs hotels have to pay. (Property tax, huge utility bills, salaried staff, etc.) Remote hotels are often times owned and operated by local families, and they charge less.

The best advantage of these city hotels is that they are conveniently located. Hotels can be found usually within walking distance of the biggest attractions in town. Imagine being no more than 500 meters from your favorite restaurant, entertainment show, sports stadium or casino! Safety is an issue clearly in the eye of the beholder. Some people feel safer in a city area, where they are spared the traffic of the freeway, and can simply walk to every single destination. Others may feel better staying at a remote hotel and avoiding walking the city area if possible.

Another advantage of hotels downtown includes exclusive deals that downtown accommodations offer to their guests. Often times, downtown or beach hotels will secure deals with other services in the area, including sporting activities, casinos, restaurants and entertainment venues. Some hotels also have concierge services and can provide tour information and shuttle services to and from the airport. Remote hotels usually can’t afford to make any deals. They charge less because they offer less.

Lastly, hotels in the downtown area are usually more elaborately detailed and elegantly designed. Four and five star hotels offer luxurious accommodations which usually include swimming pools, saunas, solariums, spas and Jacuzzis, something that remote hotels or models occasionally offer, but not too often.

Booking a hotel downtown will guarantee you a convenient and very enjoyable vacation. It’s not always cheap, but in the end, your happiness is always worth a few extra dollars.

Online Discounts: You can find coupons and special discounts from online websites. Some of these websites are travel agencies, and others are just sites that focus on finding coupons, good deals, unadvertised specials and other niceties. Searching online could find you a three or four night hotel stay for less than $50 in some cases. Don’t be surprised if the hotel staff double checks your quoted price at check in—the figure is accurate, it’s just not that common.

Company Websites: Don’t underestimate offers presented to you by company websites. Sometimes a hotel company can run a special promotion that is comparable or even less than what travel sites can find with an online search. It’s not a matter of trusting any one authority—you must search through all of your options.

Haggling: Sometimes the best way to find unadvertised sales is to simply ask the hotel staff if there are any promotions or deals going on. While they might not have any the same day, they might be aware of special promotions happening in a week or in a month. If you call the hotel in advance, you may be able to take advantage of the staff’s generosity. Some travelers have actually been upgraded to superior rooms because they had the “nerve” to ask if there were any specials going on!

Friends: Friends can sometimes get you good deals on hotel stays. About now, you probably wish you had more friends! Whether your friend knows somebody or simply heard about a great promotion going on, never hesitate to tell your friends upcoming plans. They may be able to help you find a hotel room for cheap. Hey, what are friends for if not to exploit?

A vacation is sweet but a vacation for 50% of the price is far sweeter. Start exploring your options!

Most of these resorts feature amenities directly related to beach dwelling. For example, the lounging area will usually feature a clear view of the ocean. Many of the individual rooms have balconies and offer a panoramic display of the beach area. Some hotels also offer exclusive activities on the water such as boating, scuba diving, fishing, surfing and other water sports.

Other amenities you might expect to find include swimming pools, wellness centers that include spas, Jacuzzis, solariums and massage centers, as well as onsite restaurants. (Chances are, they serve seafood meals.) Beach hotels tend to be rather large, so they have to fill the area with something attractive and of great interest to beach lovers. Rooms at beach hotels are also very luxurious and include wood furnishings, elegant wall decor, and cable or satellite TV.

Obviously, the best advantage to a beach hotel and resort is the ideal location. You are minutes away or walking distance from hitting the waves. You are just a stroll away from a good nap on the sands. This is a great location to meet new people if you are single, and at the same time, an ideal place for families to unite (especially if the resort has a play area for children).

Many visitors love resort deals, as they prefer to pay one convenient price rather than having to book individual reservations for hotels, rentals, entertainment and recreation. (Some resorts even throw in airfare, making the trip all-inclusive.) A resort definitely helps you to feel secure. Instead of wandering the streets, you can stay within a single beachside location, never more than a few minutes away from the rest of your party. Come have fun at the beach!

Let’s consider some of the facts from the consumer’s point of view. Despite the “convenient low price” these all-inclusive offers promise, they can be pricey. It really depends on what your plans for the vacation include. For instance, if you’re going to be staying in a cheap hotel and attempting to enjoy as many free attractions as possible, then this is a very different itinerary than someone who is planning on flying first class, staying at a hotel for two weeks, hitting the casinos, doing the water sport activities, and eating out every night.

Therefore, it’s mainly a question of lifestyle. If you really want to save money then you can do so, even when individually purchasing items on your itinerary. However, for the definitive tourist experience—complete with splurging—then you may find more value in paying one flat rate.

There are other advantages to full resort deals. Some travelers feel safer sticking to one resort location, as they can have their meals, entertainment and lodging all in one spot, avoiding the streets and constant driving involved in most destination trips. Many traveling parents with children see advantages in staying at a resort, especially if there are day camp areas or other childcare facilities (not to mention children eat or stay free deals going on).

If you are a sports enthusiast, then you might want to consider resorts if for no other reason than the free sports packages they offer. Some resorts offer free tennis courts (day or night) as well as golfing packages, or even water sports activities. Water sports activities can be pricey, so a package deal might be worth considering for this reason alone.

Always stop to consider price, but consider the price differential between booking resort deals (which includes the whole shebang of the vacation experience) and individual booking which is straight to the point.

Finding a hotel discount is not as difficult as it once was. In fact, you can find several ways in which to reduce the costs of downtown hotels as well as hotels on the beach or in other popular areas. One of the best ways to find discounted accommodations is to use the Internet to compare current and future special offerings by area hotels. You will find that luxury hotels as well as spa hotels and budget accommodations routinely run specials on their rooms. Often, these specials are timed to coincide with the area’s offseason, as this is usually when hotels need the most help in filling their rooms.

You will find Internet websites that allow you to compare room amenities, property amenities, ongoing specials, future specials and last minute deals, as well. Of course, you need not limit yourself to using the Internet for this. You can accomplish a great deal with a simple phone call and a well-phrased question. If you ask the front desk of the hotel about lower pricing or discounted rooms, you will often find that they can provide you with deals.

Of course, the more exclusive the property is and the more popular the destination is, the earlier you will have to arrange for accommodations. Therefore, it’s highly advised that you plan far enough ahead that you can make arrangements before rooms fill up in the area. You should also consider traveling during the offseason, as this can help you save tremendous amounts of money throughout your trip, as mentioned earlier.

Whether you choose to travel during peak season, or visit when the rest of the tourists are at home, you have several ways to reduce the price of your hotel accommodations, save money and have an enjoyable vacation.