Save Money on Hotel and Condo Vacations

Save Money on Hotel and Other Accommodations

If you can save money on hotel rooms or condos - even just a few dollars a night - it can add up quickly and make that vacation a lot more affordable.

We can show you how to save money on accommodations - but it starts with deciding what kind of accommodations are right for your particular vacation.

What level of luxury and comfort are you expecting from your accommodations? Look for value, without compromising quality.

For a beach vacation, you might want to splurge on a more luxurious resort, but look for a condo where you prepare your own meals or an all-inclusive plan that can save money on meals.

For a city vacation with mostly sightseeing activities, a basic hotel with breakfast included might be a better choice.

Tips for Saving Money on Hotels, Resorts and Condos

- The large booking engines can give you a good idea of hotel prices. However, once you've chosen your accomodations, check directly with the hotel's website, or call the "800" number. The prices are often better if you book directly with the hotel or resort, online or by phone.

- If you are using a travel booking engine (like Travelocity or Expedia), book your flight and hotel together (you can add a car, too). Packages are usually a bit less expensive than the same flight, hotel and car booked separately.

- Use a meta-search engine like Kayak to find Discount Hotels. Kayak searches hundreds of sites, including Travelocity, Orbitz, and individual hotel chains, and gives you prices for all of them in one click! Once you've found your deal, Kayak takes you directly to the company offering the deal for booking. A great way to save time and money!

- Condos can be money-savers for 4 or more travelers. They are generally not much more expensive than a hotel or resort, but offer more room. Although 4 people can sleep in a standard hotel room, it will be much more cramped than even a one-bedroom condo with sofabed. If you are tempted to get 2 rooms to accomodate 4 people comfortably, consider a one- or two-bedroom condo instead.

- Always check for discounts from organizations you may belong to. AAA, AARP, and the military can often garner a discount. Entertainment books also offer discounts for hotel chains, and if you purchase a book for your U.S. or Canadian destination, you'll get coupons for meals and attractions, too.

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- Consider a budget chain, like Hampton Inn or La Quinta. I save my money for vacations in "paradise" - in Hawaii or Mexico, the resort I'm staying at is part of the destination. But for a city vacation, such as San Francisco or New Orleans, you can find good accommodations for less - and if you're spending the day sightseeing rather than lounging on a beach, do you need an expensive hotel? Many moderate and budget chains are upgrading their rooms and ammenities, too - you might not get room service, but a nice pool, exercise room, and continental breakfast are not unusual.

Hotel, condo and resort accommodations are available in a wide range of prices - shop around and check websites like Hotels.com when planning your next trip.