Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
56
dryer, and kitchenwar e. The range is fr om budget to delux e, so
most pocketbooks can be accommodated. R
entals range fr om
US$150 to US$2,000 per night.
•
Villas of D istinction
(
&
800/289-0900
in the U.S.; www .villas
ofdistinction.com) offers upscale private villas with one to six bed-
rooms and a pool throughout the Caymans. From town houses to
beachfront villas, all their lodgings ar e beautifully furnished.
•
Hideaways Aficionado
(
&
888/843-4433
in the U.S., or 603/
430-4433; fax 603/430-4444; www .hideaways.com) publishes
Hideaways Collection,
a pictorial directory of home rentals through-
out the world, including the Cayman I slands. Rentals range from
cottages to staffed villas. Hideaways International can also help you
charter yachts and arrange cr uises, flights, car r entals, and hotel
reservations. Annual membership is US$195.
SAVING ON YOUR HOTEL ROOM
The
rack rate
is the maximum rate that a hotel charges for a r oom.
Hardly anybody pays this price, however, except in high season or on
holidays. To lower the cost of your room:
•
Ask about special rates or other discounts.
You may qualify for
corporate, student, militar y, senior, frequent-flier, trade union, or
other discounts.
•
Dial direct.
When booking a r oom in a chain hotel, y ou'll often
get a better deal b y calling the individual hotel 's reservation desk
rather than the chain's main number.
•
Book online.
Many hotels offer Internet-only discounts, or supply
rooms to Priceline, Hotwire, or Expedia at rates much lo wer than
the ones you can get through the hotel itself.
•
Remember the law of supply and demand.
You can save big on
hotel rooms by traveling during a destination's off season or shoul-
der seasons, when rates typically dr op, even at luxury properties.
•
Look into group or long-stay discounts.
If you come as part of a
large group, you should be able to negotiate a bargain rate. Like-
wise, if y ou're planning a long stay (at least 5 days), y ou might
qualify for a discount. As a general r ule, expect 1 night free after a
7-night stay.
•
Sidestep excess surcharges
and hidden costs.
Many hotels hav e
adopted the unpleasant practice of nickel-and-diming its guests
with opaque sur charges. When y ou book a r oom, ask what is
included in the r oom rate, and what is extra. A void dialing direct
from hotel phones, which can hav e exorbitant rates. And don't be
tempted b y the r oom's minibar offerings: M
2
ost hotels charge
through the nose for water, soda, and snacks.