Ten ways to save on hotels

Yes, it’s nearly time for summer vacation, and for many of us, that means sleeping in hotels. Here are 10 ways to save some green this summer. 1. ASK ABOUT THE LOCALS

RATE >> Got friends or family coming into town? Need to move out of your place for a bit? Stop by and ask your local hotel about their “locals rate.” Most hotels will offer discounts to local residents. My brother’s coming to visit, so I talked to a nearby Best Western hotel manager. She’s not only giving him the auto club discount for which he’s eligible, but an extra 5 percent off, plus a larger family room for the same price as a double. Awhile back, I stopped by a hotel in the Disneyland Resort district and talked to them about my niece who was arriving on her honeymoon, on a tight student budget. Not only did they upgrade her to a suite for the same price as a basic room, but had a chilled bottle of Champagne waiting, too.

2. GET FREE WI-FI >> Before you head out on your next trip, make sure you sign up online for your chosen hotel’s loyalty club. If it’s a national chain, you’ll almost certainly get free wi-fi, which can save you $25 a day at some of the pricier joints. And certain online deals and discounts are only available to loyalty club members. They’re typically free

to join, so there’s no reason not to sign up. Being a loyalty club member can also help get you a better room, if you point that out when you check in. 3. BRING THE PET >>

Many hotels nowadays are letting you bring your house pet for free, though don’t show up with the pony. On the modest side, for example, La Quinta and Motel 6 chains allow you to bring your small pets with no extra fees or deposits. The upscale Kimpton Hotel chain also offers pet visits for free, and will give you some perks, too, including loaner pet beds and food bowls. You’ll need to keep the pooch quiet and on a leash outside the room. Two pets maximum at La Quinta, and you must declare them when you check in. I once stayed at a Motel 6 with my dog, Buddy, for less than it would have cost me just to pay the pet fee for him at a nearby property. Check hotel websites for details. 4. STAY ON SUNDAY >>

Going to New York City? Yeah, hotels cost a fortune. According to the tourist authority, the cheapest night of the week to stay at a New York City hotel is typically on Sunday night, when the tourists have gone and the business travelers haven’t arrived yet. If you’re staying only one night, make it a Sunday. 5. ASK FOR A DEAL >>

Don’t roll your eyes at me, this actually works. Ask at the check-in desk, or call beforehand, and see how you can save on your upcoming stay. Just tell them you love their hotel but you’re on a tight budget, and see what they have for you. Sometimes they have a dark broom closet under the stairs they’ll rent you for cheap. OK, it’s not really under the stairs, but sometimes they have cheap less-desirable rooms that maybe you’d want because then you can use the resort’s great amenities at a discount. Or sometimes there’s a package available you don’t know about. Or you belong to a group that gets a discount, like AAA or AARP. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know. 6. DON’T ASSUME ANYTHING >> If you’re going to a conference or convention, or you’re planning to book through a discounter, don’t assume you’ll be getting the cheapest rate until you’ve checked on your own. Don’t even mention the conference, just call and check the hotel’s website online, and you may find that cheaper rates are available than are offered to attendees. Also, if you checked a third-party seller such as Hotels.com and it shows that rooms are sold out for a particular hotel, that doesn’t mean the hotel is booked solid. It means the hotel has no more rooms to offer to outside vendors. Call the hotel directly and ask.

7. BOOK EARLY >> Most hotels nowadays use computer programmed “dynamic pricing,” which means that, as the supply of rooms on a particular date goes down, the price goes up. So there’s no benefit whatsoever in waiting to book, and it may cost you money.

8. GET A PIZZA >> Why pay premium prices for room service when you can call up a local pizza joint instead? Sign up for email clubs like Pizza Hut, Dominos or Papa Johns and then use the wi-fi to log on and order your pizza at a steep discount with their loyalty club deals. I once just couldn’t face going back out with the kids to eat after they swam at a motel in Wyoming, so we ordered Dominos, and it was a great solution. They delivered to the pool, too. 9. ADD IN THE EXTRAS >> Before you decide on your lodging, add up all the fees you’ll have to pay, including resort fees, parking and such, then compare across the board. In Niagara Falls, I decided on the Holiday Inn By The Falls, Canada, because it offered free parking, free wi-fi, indoor and outdoor pools, and was walking distance to the falls. That saved a considerable amount of money. There was also a good selection of budget restaurants nearby. If I were going today, I’d also factor in the exchange rate, which currently benefits U.S. residents by 30 percent. 10. CONSIDER HOSTELS

AND GUESTHOUSES >> I like staying in cozy guesthouses, and also saving money in hostels, most of which nowadays offer private rooms. You might or might not have to share a bath, but in return you have a shared kitchen to cook meals, a lounge area and the chance to meet other travelers. You may also have other amenities, such as a bargain tour desk or even free tours and shuttles. The website Hostelz.com will search numerous booking engines for you at one time, to find the best rooms for your needs. Then, you can see photos and read reviews from real travelers and see if it’s your kind of place.

Why pay premium prices for room service when you can call up a local pizza joint instead?

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