Book Hotels Cheaper

Hotel Star Ratings System

Here is a question that seems to vex many people (from my vantage point BEHIND the desk): what is a 2 star hotel?

I found an answer that hits the nail right on the head and I offer it here, titled: Navigating the Hotel Star System. Many people are and have long been confused by 'Diamond' Star ratings, AAA ratings, Expedia and other Third Party ratings and often the confusion is over ratings of reviews and not hotel star ratings. As the article points out, hotel star ratings are not all that complicated (except for the differences found in different countries) but I suspect many people thought that the "3.5" rating they saw on Hotels.com or Travelocity was the hotel rating and not the rating (average) of the reviews.

In simple terms (as the article says) amenities is what makes for higher ratings. You can have a first class boutique hotel/motel but you cannot get more than 2 stars if your property does not have a restaurant on site. Having one means you can go up to 3 stars but just because you get 3 stars does not mean you are a cut above certain 2 star rated hotels - especially when there are plenty of restaurants within 2 blocks of the 2 star rated property.

So check out the star ratings article if you are or ever have been confused by star ratings.

How to Bargain for a Hotel Room

My flagship book was written to advise travelers how to get the best rate for a hotel room. I understand that many people don't want to bother with having to read a book however even if it saves them money for the rest of their traveling years. And while I continue to debate even selling my books online, I do not veer away from my desire to give people the best ammunition I can so they can get a great rate for the hotel of their choice.

Therefore, even though the article I am suggesting here says about 99% of what I wrote in my book, I am passing it along (Bargain Your Way to Better Hotel Rates) for those who simply won't download a book (now about 66% off the original price) but will read a blog.

I found the article extremely on target and worth while to read, as well as bookmark in order to refer to again and again. Of course, you could save all that and simply buy my book and get tons more of valuable information but the choice as always should and does remain with the consumer!

Hotel Sale from Ramada

It is not often that I post information about hotel sales. The obvious reason being most 'sales' I hear of are either too 'time restrictive' (book within 3 days) or they aren't truly sales. But it appears that this hotel recession we are in has finally produced some good sales.

The one I write about here is for all Ramada's. They are offering up to 50% off on certain stays. According to this article from Gadling, some Ramada's are offering rooms as low as $28 per night. Read the article for disclaimers and restrictions to see if there is any chance you could use a good 50% off for a future stay allowed by Ramada according to their parameters.

Also, however, keep in mind the following. Getting a 50% discount may be fine - staying in a dump where no price you might pay would be satisfactory is not fine. My experience tells me that often it is the $40 per night hotels and motels offering these discounts and sometimes the discounts are not much less than they would offer you the room for anyway. Keep in mind that as far as the food chain goes with hotels, Ramada is not exactly near the top. Along with Days Inn, Howard Johnson's and Travelodge's, these brands are in the lower tier of hotels/motels and are already considered budget hotels.

My advice would be to see what kind of discount they would allow (under the 50% off promotion) not only to see if you qualify but if it is available and then go to Expedia or their corporate website to see what the regular rate is. Or simply call the hotel some night and ask what the best rate is that they will give you. If they are offering rooms for $69 and you can get it for $41, that is a good deal. If you call them and they say they can give you a rate of $48 anyway, it is NOT such a great deal.

Keep in mind as well that most likely these reservations are non cancelable and non changeable, so if weather strands you somewhere, you will not be able to cancel or switch check in dates. So check to see what the cancel policy is for this promotion. And as always, remember that $28 per night motels are very likely to be a sad sack motel. Perhaps in bad areas or with tremendously bad reviews. (It pays to read reviews for such hotels on Tripadvisor, Travelocity, Expedia.) So "let the buyer beware" whenever you see a sale almost too good to be true. Make sure it is the recession forcing rates down and not a normally $38 per night hotel offering $10 off (unless you LIKE $38 motels!)

Once Again, Why Hotels Don't SLASH Rates in a Recession

It is quite the common theme these days to pick up a paper or read an Internet Travel column and the article writer boldly predicts lots of sales everywhere and anywhere you want to go. Forget the fact that over the last year airlines have slashed capacity so much and laid off so many workers that fares are more likely to firm up than drop any more. They brazenly say that hotel rooms are going vacant in this recession/depression and that hotel operators would do anything to fill rooms, even by discounting them severely.

While this may well be true for some, it is a limited some in my opinion. Hotels would actually rather chance vacant rooms than to lose the hard earned gains they made since 2001 nearly destroyed the travel industry. Why?

Glad you asked. It's called playing the rate game and it goes like this.

Cheap Hotels in Paris and Venice

Two of the most expensive cities (for hotels) in Europe were targeted with a request to the N.Y. Times by someone wanting 'cheap' hotels in those cities. In a remarkable turn around from the $400-$500 per night rooms in mostly ordinary hotels, the Times answered with rooms costing around $100 and under (and located in town - not 25 miles from downtown) with some between $150-$200 in better locations. Their choices may not be exactly on the Champs-Elysees or near the Eiffel Tower but they represent fantastic savings for in- town hotels versus what tourists have paid in the last 4 years.

The article in the Times also suggests some websites for locating cheap hotels in Europe and I would add to the list the following: HRS (Hotel Reservations Service) and Venere.com. With tourism lagging all around the globe and airfares to Europe fairly cheap (see this article in the Times also) it is a great time to go to Europe. If you want to visit Venice but are not budget impaired, you might be interested in a Times companion article about 4 and 5 star hotels in Venice, found here.

What Hotels.com DOESN'T Tell You

I make no apology for having written a book critical of Third Party 'discount' sites like Expedia, Hotels.com or Travelocity. I post occasionally about matters like how to find the lowest prices online but I have noticed people are loyal to what they know best. Even friends of mine (who I refer to my link which can get a better rate than what you see on Third Party sites) have returned to those sites 'because it is just easier'. Meaning 'they have my info already. (Not true - your COMPUTER has your stored info)

In any event, I wish no ill will against these sites - heck, maybe someday one or all will advertise on my site. Whether I would accept the money and run is a story for another day - for now, I am passing along an interview I came across from the 'expert' at Hotels.com. I pass along the link here (which happens to be from Chris Elliott) in order to present both sides of my coin to you. Read the interview, see what you think. Maybe it will get you to use H.com in the future.

What I will do here is address the 3 points the expert evaded (in my opinion) because he obviously had to be loyal to his company. You will soon see he didn't really answer the questions - he went around them.

Specifically, he responded to Chris' questions (such as "Other than booking a hotel through your site, how do you land a deal this summer?") with some nonsense about researching your choices and looking for package deals - both of which you conveniently do on Hotels.coms site. What he didn't say was "CALL THE HOTEL - tell them you got a rate of $XX on line and can they beat or match it." THAT is how you get the best rate available. Now that Third Party sites are no longer charging a service fee, there may be no big price break for you but sometimes a hotel will entice you NOT to book through a Third Party by beating their rate by $5 or more.

The expert was then asked; "What advantages does someone have booking through a site like Hotels.com, versus a travel agent or directly through a hotel?" His answer was comical, again in my opinion, but mostly for what he DIDN'T say. Great, they have a rewards program - so does every hotel chain I know. Rent ten rooms or nights, get one free is also fine but if you overpay for those 10 rooms by $5-$10 to begin with, the free night is anything but. Every chain ALSO has a 'book a (predetermined) number of nights/rooms and get a free one' policy with their programs. He then promoted the fact that you are entitled to post a review "where feedback is critical in helping travelers make right property choices." Wow, what a treat! You get to spend time writing a review. If you like writing, you can do the same on Tripadvisor for any property and more people will probably read it.

Hotel Reviews: Who Reads and Who Writes

Many of you (OK, maybe SOME of you) know I write and comment on hotel issues most of the time. That is the reason for my being in fact. Even fewer of you know I wrote a book dedicated to Understanding Hotel Reviews. I have written posts about these topics from time to time and have even posted links to valuable articles or other posts I have discovered when I think they will be of value to you.

I am SO SURE you are all falling down with appreciation also that I post this little tidbit written by a REAL author. John Newton, once of Travel+Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler fame, wrote a short piece that I have included as a link here (if you want to see the whole article) but I condensed his research/knowledge and pass it along because I have a special prize for you who are reading my post. More on that below.

Research has varied on the topic of Hotel Reviews. In fact, I recall a big magazine suggesting that upwards of 2/3rds of all travelers read reviews. Some people have said it is 80%. His passed along research says only 20% do. What is of more interest to me is WHO writes them. I wrote in my book that people are more likely to complain than laud a hotel but in reading hundreds if not thousands, I do have to say there are far more positive responses than negative ones. So his sources are probably right. He notes:

• One in five travelers reports reading reviews before traveling; almost one in ten posts reviews after their trip.
• Travelers who post reviews tend to be more satisfied guests than those who do not and more likely to return to a hotel or resort.
• Luxury hotel and timeshare guests are more likely to post reviews than guests in other lodging categories; casino guests are the least likely to post about their stays.
• Older travelers are more likely to post reviews; younger travelers are more likely to read them.
• Travelers headed overseas read reviews more often than those traveling domestically. Nearly half of travelers headed to Mexico and other parts of Latin America reported reading online reviews before reserving a room.

Since age is not defined (who or what is young or old?) it may not matter but I would have suggested that YOUNGER readers who are more internet and Social Media savvy types would post more than older travelers. But again, the point is moot. I do know this - hotels (ours included) NEVER advises unsatisfied guests to go online and post a review but if they LOVE us, we will give them the name and internet address. It's just good business sense, so don't shoot the messenger!

Free E-Book - Hotel Reviews: Finding and Understanding

In the spirit of this economic recession, I have made the decision to give away my e-book Hotel Reviews: Finding and Understanding. I previously charged $12.95 for it alone and it is now yours FREE as a gift.

As a matter of chance, there has been a 'dust-up' recently over reviews posted on TripAdvisor, a source I mention often in my book. It appears Chris Elliott of MSNBC fame has taken TripAdvisor to task over a recent revelation that some reviews are 'manipulated' by hotels. I laughed when I read the whole sordid affair as it was the same thing I mentioned over one year ago in my book! If you would like to see the sequence of comments and the article itself from Chris's blog, look here. (I actually commented on it myself - look for comment from DCR)

If you truly care about hotel reviews and whether or how effective they are, you may also want to read his interview with the CEO of Trip Advisor. I found that interview very worthwhile, perhaps because much of what I wrote is what the CEO says also - not only showing I know my nuggets but that understanding reviews is problematic.

So what have you got to lose (my book is FREE) except a few auto-emails from me till time everlasting (actually a couple months only). Sign up in the column at the right top and download your MP3 or digital e-book immediately!

How to Best Use Priceline and Hotwire

I've cautioned readers before about the dangers of making low-ball offers on sites like Priceline but it probably never hurts to remind people of what they are getting into. This topic was prompted by yet another Priceline report we recently received that shows us how many 'offers' and money we missed out on by NOT participating with them. I suppose this is their way of trying to drum up business - show all hotels what they missed out on.

I'll state again where I see a problem. Admittedly, it may not be a problem for some people but it will be for those who expect a decent hotel or motel room even though they make a low ball offer. Such as the fellow who called me weeks ago and offered me $30 for a room that has a 'sticker' price of $93. He added 'I see it on Priceline for $30' but of course he didn't know which hotel he was really seeing. And therein lies the rub.

The hotel he was seeing rents rooms for $39-44 per night EVERY NIGHT. They end up getting $25-29 net if booked thru a Third Party site like Expedia so getting $23 off a $30 'bid' is nothing out of the ordinary for them. But here are the exact last 5 review headlines for this hotel off of Tripadvisor: 1) "A Cheap Place to Stay", 2) "Price is the Overiding Reason to Stay", 3) "DO NOT STAY HERE", 4) "Worse Than Any Third World Hotel I've Been To", and 5) " I also do not recommend you stay here". Within these headlines, people wrote things like "THe bed and linens were dirty as was the shower stall and carpet", "Bed Bugs devoured my daughter, even though mattress appeared to have a waterproof cover.", " The advertised free internet was way too weak to use in the room. The TV, that I had to plug in, got 4 channels." and "What an unbelievable, decrepit, dump!".

The Ultimate Honeymoon on Any Budget

It was more than 9 months in the making, but our new Honeymoon/Travel book is now available! Spanning over 160 pages, it is filled with hundreds of links to valuable resources concerning the Art of the Honeymoon plus destination ideas for ANY budget. Whether it be $1,000.00 or $50,000.00, we included something for everyone. For instance, for those who wish to avoid the hustle and bustle of Waikiki, did you know you can rent a "yurt" on Maui for only $35 per day? For those "in-the-money", you can rent a yacht for $32,000.00 per week.

We also are including several give-aways for free, which brings our already low price down even more. For instance, I am giving away my Hotel Reviews e-book or MP3 (currently selling for $12.95), a Newlyweds Guidebook, 101 Romantic Ideas e-book by acclaimed author Michael Webb, a "lovers" packing check list and a free honeymoon consultation with me (normally $24.95) for those planning to come to San Francisco.

Highlights of the e-book are the 4 spreadsheets co-author Tim Spooner prepared so you can budget your honeymoon, honeymoon pre-planning exercises, honeymoon timeline and checklist, travel tips and travel ideas for the most sought after honeymoon locales in the world. To name a few: Hawaii, the Caribbean, Canadian Rockies, New York, Africa, Japan, San Francisco, Tahiti, Yosemite, the Bahamas, Jamaica and plenty of suggestions for a European honeymoon of a lifetime. From ideas on how to get married on a glacier in Alaska, to river cruises in Europe, we covered it all.

You can read the first chapter with no obligation - not even your name or email. Just go to http://www.honeymoonsforyourbudget.com/ and click on "View the Chapter". We think even if you are married and need a suggestion for a 2nd (or 3rd) honeymoon, you will be pleasantly surprised at the depth of our research and the ideas we offer. And remember, it makes a great wedding gift as well, since it is something they will re-use over the years and the ability to learn how to book flights and hotels cheaply will be a lesson they can use for a lifetime. It may be the best honeymoon gift they receive!