How to Find Cheap Hotels in Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore is Maryland's most populous city. Founded in 1729, it sits at the top of Chesapeake Bay. By the end of the 18th century, it was a major port for incoming sugar and flour from the Caribbean. It was during the Battle of North Point near Baltimore in the war of 1812 that Francis Scott Key wrote the poem "The Star Spangled Banner" that would later become the United States' National Anthem. On a funkier level, Baltimore, Maryland is now known for its working-class attitude and John Waters movies.

Things You'll Need

• A computer with Internet access

Instructions

Find Your Transportation to Baltimore, Maryland

1. Fly to the Baltimore Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport. Get into the city by shuttle bus, taxi, light rail or Amtrak.

2. Ride Amtrak, which operates trains from Baltimore's Penn Station seven days a week.

Know What to See and Do in Baltimore, Maryland

1. Be awed by amazing marine life at the National Aquarium. They also have amphibians, birds and reptiles.

2. Learn African-American history at the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum.

3. Take in a game. The Baltimore Orioles play baseball in a modern stadium near the harbor that was designed to feel like an older, more intimate park. The Ravens (NFL) have their own stadium in the same area. College basketball fans can check out the UMBC Retrievers.

4. Experience history at the Baltimore Maritime Museum, which has ships and submarines that have served in war, and lighthouses which guided travelers through the bay.

Find Your Accommodations in Baltimore, Maryland

1. To book accommodations, contact the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association at (877) BALTIMORE or visit their Web site (see Resources, below). You can often get the best rates from the city's cheap motel chains. National budget chains are well represented here. You can find rooms near the Inner Harbor for well under $100 per night.

2. Stay in a residence hotel or motel on Baltimore's west side, near Lexington Market. This is the place to be for fresh crab and seafood. Look for lodgings that offer kitchenettes so you can prepare some of your own meals. This feature will save you even more.

3. Hit the outskirts of Baltimore for a cheap motel rate. Try Elridge or Linthicum.

4. Try a Bed & Breakfast near the Fell's Point neighborhood. This area contains many historic homes, some of which have been converted to inns with relatively cheap rates. Near shopping and dining, these B&B's can be had for just under $100.

5. Stay in a boutique hotel near the Inner Harbor. Boutique hotels are usually small and average between $75 and $150 per night. While near the waterfront, you can take a water taxi, see historic ships, shop, and eat some of Maryland's famous blue crab cakes.