Looking For Lodging? - Part 2

You should consider booking a hotel outside the main part of town but still close to the sights you want to see. By staying away from the more popular hotels right in the middle of the action, you’ll have a better chance of not only saving money, but also getting accommodations at the time you want them.

Know what you are buying, though. Sometimes you can save money by spending a little more. For example, if lodging includes breakfast or has an indoor pool, or has a better location that will cut down on the time and expense of traveling to the attractions you're interested in; the extra expense may be well worth it.

Be aware of amenities that may be extra prices hidden in the price of the room. For example, the hotel may provide a turn-down service for a few dollars and say it’s included in the room rate. If you don’t want turn down service, ask it be removed from your room rate. Not all hotels do this, but it never hurts to ask!

Many people look for a place near the attractions they want to visit so that biking or walking can be the mode of transportation. It can be nice to not be dependent on a vehicle to get you from place to place.

Also, ask if there are any discounts available. Some hotels have children stay free policies or will offer 50 percent off a second room for children 17 and under. If you’re a member of an organization, ask if they offer any discounts. Belonging to a motor club like AAA can save you money too. They often work with hotels to give their members value for their dues.

Although we’ll address ways to save on your meals in a later chapter, you might also want to find a hotel that offers a complimentary continental breakfast.

We recently stayed in a hotel that said free continental breakfast and expected the usual bagels, toast, and cold cereal. Were we surprised to find that their idea of continental breakfast included eggs cooked any way you wanted, bacon, sausage, pancakes, biscuits and gravy all in a buffet style setting.

This writer was blown away and left the buffett full – to be sure! We didn’t have to buy lunch because we were still full from breakfast, so that saved us some money! We just thought “Woo Hoo!”