Find The Best Hotel At The Best Price

For the first year of our marriage, my spouse worked for a national hotel chain

, so we were spoiled with incredible suites for unbelievable prices. When my husband's career took a different turn, we had to learn to fend for ourselves, at least as far as vacation accommodations were concerned.

But that means we learned some of the best ways to save on travel, including hotel rooms, just like every other citizen. Let me share some of my top tips so that you can enjoy your next getaway, even on a tight budget.

Don't assume that websites dedicated to making travel arrangements will really help you find the best deals. Now, that's not to say that you absolutely can't find the best deals there; I am just hoping that you know you should not assume you will find the bottommost prices just because you have surfed the web.

If you do feel inclined to check travel sites, check ALL of them. Sometimes you might see the same price tag, but Site X might have higher booking fees than Site Y. Keep in mind that if the accommodations end up being substandard, the customer service function for most sites is by e-mail only, and you have to fight hard to get your money back.

I recommend avoiding sites that specialize in "last minute deals," as they will generally only tell you the neighborhood in which you will be staying, not the name of the hotel itself--until after you've booked, that is. Though they operate based upon the star-rating system, I know from personal experience that quality can fluctuate greatly from one three-star to the next.

In my experience, it is best to make an effort to book your stay directly through the hotel's website. Many hotels are now offering discounts for online booking or paying in full far in advance.

The only disadvantage to paying in advance is that the cost of the stay then becomes completely nonrefundable. So if you go for this route, make darn sure that that vacation is going to happen! But seriously, paying in advance can get you drastically low rates--sometimes from 55 dollars a night, so consider carefully as you make your vacation plans.

One of the best ways to find inexpensive accommodations for a popular vacation spot is to stay outside of the city limits and rent a car for an easy commute. Many people who want to visit New York City stay in New Jersey. As for my part, I love to do a mini-tour of the East Coast whenever I'm staying in hotels around Toms River.

When in doubt, call prospective hotels and ask them specifically what you can do to find the best rate. They will be more than happy to point you in the right direction!

by: Art Gib

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