Guide to Finding the Best Hotel Values

Maximize your hotel budget with these tips and tricks

By Betty W. Stark, Business travel consultant and columnist, Stark Consulting

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Scout out lower hotel rates on the Internet

The Internet shines when it comes to tracking down the best deals on hotels. It’s important to compare rates from one site to another (including the hotel’s own site) because rates can vary dramatically from site to site for the same room on the same date.

I recommend: Check out Hotels.com, Hotwire, and Quikbook for best-available rates at thousands of properties. For speedy searches of multiple Web sites, let SideStep and Kayak do the work for you. Online travel agencies Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz all have good hotel search tools.

Sign up for hotel loyalty programs

First, define what type of hotel room is most important. If price is a major consideration, sign on with a moderate-priced hotel chain where you’ll get a simple, clean room, internet access and locations in safe areas. Do you entertain clients, hold meetings, or want to impress? Choose a full-service chain. The Marriott group, for example, has higher-end properties like Marriott and Renaissance Hotels, and main stream and extended stay properties like Courtyard, Fairfield Inn, Residence Inn, Spring Hill Suites and Towne Place Suites.

I recommend: Enroll in the Cendant TripRewards program to earn when you stay at Days Inn, Super 8, Travelodge, and other moderate properties. Join the Marriott Rewards or PriorityClub Rewards programs to earn points and miles from their broad-ranging family of brands.

Carry the plastic that will boost your point stash

Why not let your credit card work for you too? There are several that will give you a fast track to free room nights, upgrades and special hotel deals.

I recommend: Check out CreditCards.com for a lengthy list of rewards credit cards. If you’re a frequent guest at a large chain, look into their credit card programs.

Stay away from the mega-centers and save

Hotel rates in major cities are skyrocketing, but there are values to be had if you stay in suburban areas away from city centers. This might require flying in to an alternate airport, which can also save you money if you chose a discount carrier. Most online travel booking sites offer the option to “check alternate/nearby airports.” Use it! It’s a quick-and-easy way to find out if by driving a little you’ll save a lot.

I recommend: For speedy searches, let Quikbook, SideStep or Kayak do the work of scanning multiple hotel Web sites. Be sure to click the “show nearby airports” option if you’re using the site to search alternate airports too!

Consider extended stay properties too

If you’re on a lengthy assignment, a homey suite will give you more space and usually the Internet hook-ups you’ll need to work after-hours. There are new players and venerable oldies in the budget extended stay arena. Features and geographic locations vary.

I recommend: Check out details at Value Place, Extended Stay America, Studio6 (the extended stay affiliate of Motel 6) and Crossland.

Book your trip as a “vacation” package and save

When you get right down to it, there is little difference between a business trip and a vacation when it comes to the basics like an airline ticket, a hotel room and a rental car. Major tour packagers (including the airlines themselves) carry the clout to get lower fares and rates on all three---just what you’re looking for!

I recommend: Check out packages to your destination city on Northwest Airlines, Continental, United, American, Midwest Airlines, Southwest, as well as SideStep and Kayak, Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Some Internet sites require prepayment to secure the lowest room rate, and others have a no-refund policy. Be cautious about booking on restrictive hotel sites if you anticipate making changes or needing to cancel.
• •  If a hotel does not have a contract agreement with an Internet booking site, they might refuse to honor your booked rate at check-in.
• •  Be sure to check the hotel Web site too. Often there are deals and specials that don’t make it to the aggregator sites.
• •  Print out and carry all hotel confirmation information with you, and don’t delete your e-mail correspondence for the booking until your trip is complete and your credit card has been charged.
• •  Take advantage of hotel discount rates if you are a member of AAA, AARP or any number of professional organizations.
• •  When comparing the overall value of a room rate, factor in no-cost extras like breakfast, cocktail hour, free Internet access, free parking, etc.
• •  If you plan to book your business trip as a vacation package, be sure to ask about penalties if you have to change any component of the package.
• •  If you and your traveling staff book a lot of room nights at the same property or hotel chain, look into negotiating a corporate discount.
• •  Consider city and room taxes when booking a hotel room. Taxes in major metropolitan areas can be much higher than a comparable room “just across the river” in a suburb.