Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
booking even 1 day after high season
ends can mean big discounts.
•
Look into group or long-stay dis-
counts.
If you come as part of a large
group, you should be able to negoti-
ate a bargain rate. Likewise, if you're
planning a long stay (at least 5 days),
you might qualify for a discount. As a
general rule, expect 1 night free after
a 7-night stay.
•
Avoid excess charges and hidden
costs.
When you book a room, ask
whether the hotel charges for park-
ing. Use your own cellphone, pay
phones, or prepaid phone cards instead
of dialing direct from hotel phones,
which usually have exorbitant rates.
And don't be tempted by the room's
minibar offerings. Finally, ask about
local taxes and service charges, which
can increase the cost of a room by
15% or more.
• Consider the pros and cons of
all-
inclusive
resorts and hotels. The term
“all-inclusive” means different things
at different hotels. Many all-inclusive
hotels will include three meals daily,
sports equipment, spa entry, and
other amenities; others may include
all or most drinks. In general, you'll
save money going the “all-inclusive”
way—as long as you use the facilities
provided. The downside is that your
choices are limited and you're stuck
eating and playing in one place for
the duration of your vacation.
• Carefully consider your hotel's meal
plan. If you enjoy eating out and
sampling the local cuisine, it makes
sense to choose a
Continental Plan
(CP),
which includes breakfast only,
or a
European Plan (EP),
which
doesn't include any meals and allows
you maximum flexibility. If you're
more interested in saving money, opt
for a
Modified American Plan
(MAP),
which includes breakfast and
one meal, or the
American Plan (AP),
which includes three meals. If you
must choose a MAP, see if you can get
a free lunch at your hotel if you
decide to do dinner out.
•
Book an efficiency.
A room with a
kitchenette allows you to shop for
groceries and cook your own meals.
This is a big money saver, especially
for families on long stays.
•
Consider enrolling in hotel “fre-
quent-stay” programs,
which are
upping the ante lately to win the loy-
alty of repeat customers. Frequent
guests can now accumulate points or
credits to earn free hotel nights, air-
line miles, in-room amenities, mer-
chandise, tickets to concerts and
events, discounts on sporting facili-
ties—and even credit toward stock in
the participating hotel, in the case of
the Jameson Inn hotel group. Perks
are awarded not only by many chain
hotels and motels (Hilton HHonors,
Marriott Rewards, Wyndham ByRe-
quest, to name a few), but individual
inns and B&Bs. Many chain hotels
partner with other hotel chains, car-
rental firms, airlines, and credit card
companies to give consumers addi-
tional incentive to do repeat business.
LANDING THE BEST ROOM
Somebody has to get the best room in the
house. It might as well be you. You can
start by joining the hotel's frequent-guest
program, which may make you eligible
for upgrades. A hotel-branded credit card
usually gives its owner “silver” or “gold”
status in frequent-guest programs for free.
Always ask about a corner room. They're
often larger and quieter, with more win-
dows and light, and they often cost the
same as standard rooms. When you make
your reservation, ask if the hotel is reno-
vating; if it is, request a room away from
the construction. Ask about nonsmoking
rooms, rooms with views, rooms with twin,
queen-, or king-size beds. If you're a light
sleeper, request a quiet room away from
vending machines, elevators, restaurants,
