More For Your Money: Finding Great Hotel Deals

One of the first things people cut back on in an economic recession is unnecessary travel. Recent polls have shown that over sixty percent of Americans have canceled or cut back on their anticipated summer travel this year due to concerns about finances, making resorts, hotels, and airlines across the country groan loudly. In an effort to encourage travel and attract visitors in spite of the tough economic times, many popular travel destinations have created their own stimulus packages by offering hotel deals that combine lodging with airfare, food, or amusement access. So why skip your vacation? Finding a financially viable travel package is easier than you think.
One of the most common types of packages available is the lodging and airfare combination. While these types of options have always been available to tourists, the ones typically available to the average American traveler have included generic brand airlines and bargain motels. However, as the luxury travel options have been hit the hardest during the recession they are now taking a cue from their more thrifty counterparts and pairing themselves in affordable packages. One of the greatest examples of this trend are the myriad luxury resort packages that include deeply discounted hotel deals combined with roundtrip airfare. Another great deal that is becoming more available across hotels nationwide is the automatic upgrade to a suite. Many of the high end hotel chains are now offering guests access to the rooms typically reserved for wealthy travelers at the same price as a double room. Cruise lines are following this trend as well by making their larger staterooms more affordable for individuals with middle class incomes. Hotels around the country are also starting to utilize the word “free” as often as they can to get the attention of potential travelers. A number of resorts, from the Caribbean to Las Vegas, are now allowing kids under a certain age to stay for free. Similarly, many hotels are offering additional benefits, such as tickets to local amusement parks, to kids for free as well. The traditional free continental breakfast, which used to consist of only bagels, cereal, and coffee, has also received an upgrade and now includes waffle stations, eggs, and breakfast meat all free to hotel guests in many hotels.
The best place to find these wide range of enticing hotel deals is to visit the specific lodging’s website. While the main travel sites like Orbitz or Travelocity can put together some packages for you, the sites of the individual hotels can offer more information on their offerings at a potentially cheaper rate since you are cutting out the middle man. Similarly, hotel sites will give you access to their contact information, allowing you to call and bargain your way to a better deal. From Atlanta to San Diego hotels, great hotel deals can be found!The bottom line is that now the balance of power has shifted and the traveler holds all the cards. If you don’t see any hotel deals you like or can’t make any of their prices fit into your budget, it is in your best interest to call up and haggle with the managers. Just as you are looking at a summer stuck at home, they are looking at a long summer with empty rooms, quiet hallways, and no revenue. Wheeling and dealing your way to some financial middle ground is going to mutually beneficial.