How do I Search for Cheap Hotels?

A little research gets you a good deal on cheap hotel prices.

Are you planning a business trip or vacation in the near future? Part of the fun of traveling is finding good deals on flights and hotels. Cheap hotel rooms are not a thing of the past. Even with all the new luxury hotels and resorts around the world, getting a hotel room at a discount or bargain is not impossible if you know where to look. Finding a good price on a cheap hotel means more money in your pocket for sightseeing and meals.

Instructions

1. Grab a hotel with amenities that suit. A hotel close to the airport will save on taxi fare. If you will be traveling with small children, you'll a hotel where kids under 12 stay free. Ask if a restaurant or café is in the hotel or nearb. Look at star rating less critically. Many 2-star hotels have the same good service as the 4-star hotels at half the price.

2. Shop for comparisons on the discount travel websites. You may get a good deal by booking your flight and hotel together. The most popular websites for flights and hotels include Priceline, Expedia, Kayak, and Hotels.com. The time you spend doing the research will get a good bargain.

3. Compare a package deal with booking hotels separately. It is not always cheaper to bundle services together. Try each option to see the difference. Put in your information in the boxes on the side bar and see what come up. Compare those figures with hotels booked separately. One hotel may be offering a special or discounted price at a certain time.

4. Look at backpacking hostels for discounted prices. Hostels are not just for students anymore. Single persons traveling alone have the option of staying in a traveler's hostel in many countries of the world. Some hostels have family-style rooms but they fill up quickly. Hostel World has a large listing of hostels in 180 countries. Dorm-style rooms average around $15 to $20 a night with a private room in the range of $30 a night, in 2010 prices.

5. Check out the smaller hotel chains for travel within the United States. Howard Johnson's, Marriott and Sheraton Hotels have locations in many cities and you can quickly build up free nights with earned points.

Tips & Warnings

• Book flights and hotels early. Many flights and accommodations can be purchased in advance for discounted prices. Discounts are normally available for rooms and flights booked 14 days to 21 days in advance. Hotel rates are cheaper on the weekdays and during the off seasons. Spring and summer rates are higher than fall and winter rates.

References

• Hostels World Wide: Search Over 24,000 Hostels in More Than 180 Countries
• Hotels.com: Search From Over 85,000 Hotels
• Kayak: Hotels
• Expedia: Where You Book Matters