Spending the night in a hotel before your flight might help you save money at the airport.

Airport parking is expensive.  Long term parking can cost as much as $25 per day at airports in major cities like Chicago, which would add an extra $175 to your budget for a week long vacation.

Granted, you could always ask a friend to drive you to the airport and pick you up when you return home, but that’s difficult to do if you live an hour or more away from your nearest airport.  You could find an off site lot and pay a little less, but you’re still looking at $5-$10 a day plus an extra shuttle ride back to your car after you get home.

Another option may be to check into a nearby airport hotel.  Many airport hotels offer free parking with an overnight stay and free shuttle rides to and from the airport.  If you have an early morning flight, spending the night at a conveniently located hotel the night before can also give you a couple of extra hours of sleep and reduce the risk of you missing your flight due to unexpected traffic delays.  If your return flight is scheduled to land late in the evening, you may be able to get free parking in advance of an end-of-trip overnight stay.

Of course, if you’re looking to save money on parking fees by spending the night in a hotel, you’ll want to check that the hotel doesn’t charge for guest parking.  Look around for hotels near the airport you’ll be flying out of and call to confirm their parking rates and shuttle availability.

Photo credit lrargerich on Flickr.

Most of us are on a budget these days, and a tight one at that. So, looking for affordable hotels in San Diego can be quite the challenge. One solution? Try some San Diego hostels. No, they won’t be glamorous, and no, you won’t be waited on hand and foot – but if you don’t mind casual accommodations, you can save a ton of money, money you can spend on San Diego area attractions! You might find a lot of twenty somethings rooming here, but these hostels are for anyone! Here are some suggestions:

Ocean Beach International Hotel

You’ll be right on the beach! Walk to a variety of cute and quirky shops, cafes and restaurants. It’s a pretty inexpensive cab ride to the heart of San Diego. Rates are $65-$85/night depending on the season, and dormitory style rooms are much, much cheaper. (If you want to stay in bunk beds, you’ll only be paying around $20/person)

Ocean Beach, San Diego

USA Hostels San Diego

Located smack in the middle of San Diego’s exciting Gaslamp Quarter in downtown, this hostel offers private rooms for less than $60/night!

USA Hostel in San Diego, California

  Banana Bungalow

This hostel is literally steps away from the sands of Pacific Beach. Free bbqs on Sundays and $1 burgers on Tuesdays! Pacific Beach has an endless number of restaurants and bars to explore.

Pacific Beach, San Diego, California

Photos: Will Palmer, Jason Pratt, Osbornb

The indoor pool at the Marriot Courtyard in Niagara Falls

When our oldest son’s hockey coach did his research on the best place for the entire team to stay during a Niagara Falls tournament last year, he analyzed 10 hotels in the area and as a group, we decided on the Marriott Courtyard.

For the group discounted rate we managed to secure, the Marriott Courtyard was at the edge of the main streets leading into Niagara Falls excitement and the kids were in awe of their surroundings. Once done at the rinks for the day, all the families ventured into the museums and attractions at night, and all were within a few minutes walking distance.

The standard room with two queen-sized beds provides ample room for families.

As hockey parents lugging equipment, suitcases, younger siblings and all that comes with them, we were overly impressed with the fact that there was more than enough ample parking in such a busy area of town.  The rooms were enormous of a family of four, and ours came with two queen sized beds.  There was more than enough space to spread out hockey equipment between games and the list of things for families to do is long if you’re so inclined and don’t mind spending a few bucks in this tourist mecca.

The staff at the Marriott was ready for anything.  They were courteous and patient with so many kids running around (we weren’t the only tourney parents there and there were a ton of kids in the hotel).  While they didn’t staff the pool with a lifeguard, the staff that did pop in stopped any kids from horsing around in the pool, employing a hands off policy so you know, nobody drowned.  Knowing how the hockey team likes to play wrestle, I was grateful they couldn’t do it in the pool.

The Keg Steakhouse & Bar inside the hotel offered up a breakfast spread that made the boys go wild.  Everything little boys could ever want was there for the taking and the coffee was delicious.

Lastly, the entire staff all seemed to be extremely familiar with the area and were instrumental in getting us to our arenas on time.

We’re looking at Niagara Falls again this year for our hockey tournament and I sure hope we stay at the Marriott again.  It was a 5 star in terms of convenience, customer service and low stress for hockey moms and dads, which is especially good for a 3 star hotel.

Photos credit: Marriott Courtyard

Let me be clear about this. The Howard Johnson Inn on International Drive in Orlando, Florida is not the Taj Mahal. I didn’t expect it to be. In fact, at $38 per night weekdays and $59 per night on weekends I expected it to be a bit of a dump. In truth, it was a tad rough around the edges. The carpet had a long cigarette burn; my TV remote only worked in the “up” direction when scrolling through the channels; the square table/desk had been placed in a corner that was devoid of any receptacle, making it impossible to plug in my laptop; and the room had been overly sanitized, to the point of making my throat sore.

Howard Johnson Inn on International Drive in Orlando, Florida

On the other hand, my room was well-equipped with thick, soft towels; upscale soaps; toothpaste; a mini-refrigerator; ironing board and iron; hair dryer; coffee pot; and keyless safe. Wireless Internet access was included in the price, as was a full breakfast. Other on-site amenities included a large pool, hot tub and sundeck with ample deck furniture, an exercise room, and Read More »

Whenever I book a hotel, I’m looking to get the most bang for my buck.

Actually, whenever I spend a buck on anything, I’m keeping my eye on the bang factor.  But there are some times when quality outweighs budget (like with toilet paper), and other times when price is the deciding factor (like with nail polish remover).

Oh, right, this is a hotel blog.

You can find a lot of information online (and on this site) about how to save money on hotels.  But for some trips, there are more important things to consider than price when choosing a hotel.  Of course, it’s never a good idea to pay more than you have to – but when do you let the bottom line rule your decisions, and when should you be willing to pay a little more for a hotel room?

When To Pay More For A Hotel

When Location Matters – If you’re visiting New York City and all of your must see tourist attractions are in Manhattan, it might be worth spending a little more to stay in Manhattan instead of staying out by the JFK airport.  Or, if you’re attending a conference that will require you to be some place from early in the morning until late into the day, it might be worth the extra money to avoid giving yourself a daily commute to and from your conference site.

When You’ll Be Spending Time In Your Hotel Room – When I visit a new city, my main focus is to see the city – not the inside of a hotel room.  However, when my husband and I get away to relax together, we’re more concerned with relaxing together than sight seeing.  If you’re planning a vacation to get away that will involve extensive down time inside your hotel room, the quality of the hotel room is something to take into account in your planning.

When You’re Pampering Yourself – Along the same lines as a romantic getaway with your loved ones, some vacations are taken specifically because you need a little extra pampering.  If this is your specific reason for traveling, make sure you get what you want out of the trip by investing in a hotel that will make you feel luxurious.  (At the very least, avoid the threadbare flea bag motels.)

When You’re Traveling With Children – Traveling with children is a whole different beast than traveling with adults.  Consider kid friendly hotels that will make your stay more enjoyable for your children and, as a result, the adults in your party.

When Safety is a Concern – Of course, personal safety should never be completely abandoned.  But it’s of special important if you’re traveling alone or traveling as a single adult with small children.  Also, if you’re staying in a major city, you need to be more aware of (and willing to pay for) properties in safe neighborhoods than, say, if you’re traveling to small town Iowa.

As much as I’m a proponent of traveling despite a tight budget, I’m just as passionate about making sure you have the travel experience that your heart desires.  In order to do that, you may need to pay a little more for the right hotel.

Photo Credits (in order of appearance): Photos8.com on FlickR, ukcountryhousehotelsandspas on FlickR

Now you can book a room in NYC and have enough left over to hail a few cabs

According to a recent article in the New York Times, hotel rates in Manhattan have been drastically reduced to counteract sagging occupancy rates.

Now, the New York Times is concerned with whether or not this is a wise move for hotel operators.  They question whether this will actually attract new visitors and ultimately improve the financial health of Manhattan properties.  The article discusses whether there are better alternatives for hotels to entice guests to stay.

I, personally, don’t care if it’s good for the hotel industry or not.

I am simply thrilled that the end result makes Manhattan a more affordable place to visit.

Hotels in Manhattan are, on average, cheaper to book than they were a year ago.  That’s good news for budget conscious travelers with an eye towards the Big Apple.  Period.

How much cheaper?

According to the New York Times article, the average price for a Manhattan hotel room in 2008 was $280 per night.  The average hotel room rate for 2009 is $198 per night.  Spread that out over a 3 night stay, and you’re saving almost $300 for the exact same hotel stay.

You’ll find comparable savings if you choose to stay in a luxury hotel in Manhattan.  Rates for luxury hotel rooms in Manhattan have gone from a 2008 average of $401 to a 2009 estimated average of $289 per night.  Now might be the best time to finally splurge on a little New York City luxury, if your budget will allow it.

How long will these savings stick around?

Obviously, no one can say for sure, and even estimated guesses are still just guesses.  But experts predict it will take years before hotels can get their rates back up to pre-economy crisis levels.  While customers will happily jump on a good deal, they’re much more reluctant to go along with rapidly increasing prices.

The bottom line is this:

If you’ve been considering a trip to New York City, now is a great time to finally book the trip.

Photo Credits: Miss Britt on FlickR

Hello, Cheap.

I have two passions in life.

Writing and traveling.

Unfortunately, Passion A has yet to produce the funds required to do Passion B in the manner to which I would like to become accustom.

Translation: I am too broke to travel the way I’d like to, but too stubborn to just stay my butt home.

As a result, I have had to learn how to travel on the cheap.  I firmly believe that money should not keep you from your passions.  Where there is a will, there is a way, and all that.

7 Ways To Save Money On A Hotel

1. Share a room. The easiest way to save money on a hotel is to split the bill.  Of course, this doesn’t work if you’re sharing a room with your spouse – so I highly recommend you convince them that traveling is stupid.  For your budget’s sake.

2.  The more, the merrier. The more people you shove in a room, the smaller your chunk of a bill is.  Don’t be afraid to cozy up to a girlfriend in a double bed.  Just be sure everyone brings pajamas.  See also: “you’re not too good to spend a night on the floor” and “that pull out couch represents one more person who can pay a share”.

3.  Name your own price on Priceline. I’ve saved hundreds of dollars by using the “name your own price” tool on Priceline.  Here’s an article on how to name your own price on Priceline without getting ripped off or sleeping in the slums.

4.  Eat the continental breakfast. Technically, this won’t save you money on your hotel bill, but it will take away from your overall travel expense.  And if you bring back a muffin for a midday snack, you receive the Official Cheap Traveler Ninja Gold Star.

5.  Book a hotel away from the tourist attractions, but on a bus line. If you’re staying in a city with great public transportation (like New York City), you can take advantage of drastically lower hotel rates by staying farther out from the “hot spots”.  Just make sure you’re saving more on your hotel than what you’ll pay for a subway pass or bus ticket.  Obviously.

6.  Get a credit card with hotel reward points. Visa and American Express (and others, I’m sure) offer membership rewards programs that allow you to use your points towards free hotel stays.  Now, I’m not suggesting you rack up credit card debt.  But if you have the financial discipline to do so, get a credit card that you use to pay bills, buy groceries, get gas, and pay it off in full each month – and save up for free travel bonuses.

7.  Join hotel rewards programs. Hotel rewards programs will also offer perks like free upgrades, reduced rates and, in some cases, free stays.  You’ll build up these points faster if you find a family of hotels that you like and stick with booking within that chain.

Do you find creative ways to stretch your travel budget?  What’s your top secret tip for saving money on a hotel?

Photo by psd on Flickr.

San Diego Skyline

Labor Day is fast approaching, and if you plan to be in gorgeous San Diego for the weekend, there are still some affordable hotel rooms you can scoop up if you move quickly! Check out these hotels – they’re cheap(er), close to San Diego’s best sites and an overall good value. I wouldn’t recommend these hotels for super romantic getaways for couples, but they’re good choices for families and for couples on a budget.

Best Western Seven Seas

This hotel is on Hotel Circle, an area that has tons of hotels near San Diego’s Mission Valley area. You’ll be less than 10 minutes from the beach with a car, and very close to some of San Diego’s best shopping, too. Rooms are clean and basic.

Dolphin Motel

Cheesy name, but this is a nice, basic hotel with a staff that has a reputation for being friendly and helpful. Don’t judge this motel by its website, which needs some work. The rooms don’t have comforters, really, just white sheets – but this is San Diego people, rarely does it get below 65 degrees, and over Labor Day it’s likely to be in the 80s! The motel is located right on the Harbor.

La Pensione Hotel

Totally renovated in 2003, La Pensione is listed as San Diego’s best budget hotel by a number of sites. All the rooms have a Queen bed, and rates for Labor Day are $90/night. I got a total of $300 for 3 nights, which is fantastic for the holiday weekend! There are two restaurants and underground parking spaces, too. It’s very close to the San Diego airport.

Hope these hotels are a good starting point for you! Happy travels.

Photo Credit: WouteR

Duval Street in Key West

Looking for an amazing value for a hotel in Key West, Florida? Check out The Inn at Key West! I was researching hotels for my wedding next year and came across this one. I happened to get an amazing deal of $109/night due to a pricing mistake on the website, but I also just booked a room for $89/night for a scouting trip next week (stay tuned for updates about how the hotel actually is). Here’s what I know so far, which is why I’m so excited about this hotel:

It’s cheap!

Good-quality, cheaper hotels are pretty tough to find during high season in Key West, and this hotel starts out with rooms for about $130/night in high season. That’s very reasonable. If you book during summer, you can snag rooms for as low as $89/night like I did. And, many rooms come with two Queen beds, so you can accommodate two couples easily.

Away From Duval Street Craziness

The Inn at Key West is about 3 miles away from downtown Key West, which can actually be a good thing. Duval Street can be nuts, so if you’re looking for a quieter retreat, you’ve found it.

Largest Freshwater Pool in Key West!

Yep – check out the pics on the website, the pool looks amazing.

Great Food and Drinks Poolside

You can grab breakfast and lunch poolside. Rumor has it that the pina coladas are must-haves.
So there you have it! I’ll report back next week after my stay to see if this hotel lives up to the hype.

Photo Credit: Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar

by Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels

By the time I rolled into the little mountain town of Cashiers, North Carolina, it was after dark. I’d been on the road for three weeks and I was dead tired. To top it off, although I’d been in Cashiers a few years earlier, I was almost totally unfamiliar with the town, had no reservations, didn’t even know where to find a hotel or motel, and was almost out of fuel. First things first, I decided. Pulling into the gas station in the center of town, I climbed out of my car and stretched to get rid of the kinks from a day of driving. While pumping gas, I scanned my surroundings and spied a cute-looking inn across the road, perched atop a hillside.

Laurelwood Mountain Inn entrance and main office

Luck was with me when I pulled into the Laurelwood Mountain Inn. The manager, Eric, was still on site through some fluke – normally he would have been long gone by this hour. I held my breath when I asked the price – from the look of the place, I expected it to be well above my budget. Imagine my surprise when he quoted me $80 per night. “Deal,” I said, delightedly. Even better, the motel provided free high-speed wi-fi.

The Laurelwood Mountain Inn has twenty-four absolutely charming rooms, suites and cabins. My standard room had a queen-size bed and was equipped with coffee maker, mini-refrigerator, cable TV, ceiling fans, air conditioner (although in the mountain air there was no need for it), and built-in writing desk. The recently remodeled room featured tongue-in-groove wooden ceilings and wainscoting with woodsy wallpaper borders adding a homey touch, and the brand spanking new bathroom had granite counter tops and a spacious shower with a great shower head that beat hot water down on my sore muscles.

Standard room

Standard room

What impressed me most about the Laurelwood Mountain Inn, other than the fact that is was one of the cleanest rooms I have ever stayed in, was the obvious thought that had been given to the guest’s comfort. Towels were soft and fluffy, a full complement of shampoo/conditioner/lotions were set out for my use, the bed was firm yet extremely comfortable; even the pillows were fluffy. And to my delight, when I propped myself up in bed and booted up my laptop to get my email, I found a plug right next to the bed (I am constantly amazed by the lack of electrical receptacles in seemingly modern hotel rooms).

Though I chose the most affordable room, the Laurelwood offers a variety of accommodations. Deluxe rooms have full kitchenettes and shower/tub combinations. Three lofted suites in a beautiful log building offers two bedrooms and two bathrooms, a full kitchen, whirlpool tub, cable TV, private balcony, air conditioning, and a large wrap around porch with rocking chairs. Finally, a beautifully isolated cabin has a private king bedroom, bathroom with tub/shower, full kitchen, living room with a romantic gas fireplace, spacious upstairs loft with two twin beds, screened back porch with rocking chairs, and a BBQ grill.

Laurelwood suite

Deluxe two bedroom cabin

In the morning, I happened to meet one the owners of the inn, Bob Dewes. In June of 1995, after spending many years in the corporate rat race, Bob and his wife, Lise, gave up the big city life, moved to the mountains, and purchased the motel. In addition to providing wonderful accommodations, the Dewes are also experts on the area of the Blue Ridge Mountains in and around Cashiers and are always happy to help guests plan activities such as horseback riding along local mountain trails, golfing, fishing, whitewater rafting, antiquing, shopping and more!

Located deep within the Nantahala Forest, Cashiers sits within a glittering emerald valley encircled by 5,000-foot high peaks. Sunshine streams down through crisp pine-scented air, illuminating the distant craggy stone faces of the surrounding mountains, and pine-scented air lures visitors into the surrounding woods, where spongy footpaths carpeted with last winter’s detritus follow rushing creeks to thundering waterfalls. I’ve tried – and failed – to imagine a destination more alluring than Cashiers, North Carolina, or a more perfect mom and pop motel than the Laurelwood Mountain Inn.

Photos courtesy of the Laurelwood Mountain Inn