Discount Hotels: The Best Bang For Your Money

Did you every hear this saying:  “A  penny saved is a penny earned”?  It certainly applies with full force when looking for ways to stretch your travel budget.  Discount hotels are a great way to save a penny or two, and probably much more.    The frugal and discerning traveler knows that looking for discount hotels is simply smart.  It’s the best way to get good value for your  hard-earned money. 

After all, ask yourself:  “how much time during my vacation will I actually spend in my hotel room?”   Does it really make sense to pay exorbitant hotel rates for a mere 8-10 hours of sleeping time? 

Researching and Booking  Discount Hotels

A little research will reveal that booking discount hotels does not mean spending your vacation in a shack.  You don’t have to compromise comfort and cleanliness for a discount price.   Many well known hotel chains offer good discounts on booking. 

Follow the guidelines below to get the best deals on discount hotels:

1.  Book early – Note:  The meaning of the word “early” is important.  Here when I say ‘early”  I mean quite ahead in time, i.e. 2-3 (or preferably more) months ahead of time. Expect huge discounts as a “thank you” for booking early.  Often early bookings are given up to 30 percent discounts.

Warning: there is a downside.  A down payment may be required with most of the advance bookings.  You may loose this down payment if you cancel the booking less than 72 hours before the due date.

2. Book using the World Wide Web—There are many benefits to book your discount hotel on the Internet.  That’s where the best deals and deepest discounts may  be found.  But this is not for the hasty or time pressed traveler.  It takes patience and effort to find the best deals.  Reserve  at least half a day  just to do this “homework”.   Sit with a relaxed mind and go through the net, researching and searching for websites that promise you discount airfares and discount hotels bookings.  The possibilities may seem endless, since there are many excellent websites that focus solely on finding and offering discount hotel deals. 

3. Travel during  off-season – this is one exceptionally easy was to get heavy discounts in the best hotels.  This trick is quickly catching on and many smart vacationers are doing just that.  Visiting a famous tourist destination during the off-season is not as odd as you might think. Check out carefully what the weather would be in the off-season. If the weather seems okay with you, then use that time to enjoy the destination.

In addition to great discount hotels, you get  one added benefit: no long lines and busy crowded tourist areas.  The best of both worlds.