How to get the best hotel deals

Advance bookings, secondary markets and mystery reservations can be used for deals

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Hotels collected $3 billion in hidden ‘resort fees’: Report

Two members of Congress are taking aim at resort fees. FOX Business’ Susan Li with more.

Planning a vacation usually means you need to find a place to stay. And just like airline fares, hotel rates fluctuate based on timing and demand.

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Booking the first room you see generally won’t yield the best deal, according to travel experts. You’ll need to put a little work in to get significant savings, which may include sifting through several hotel websites and offers or strategically planning your arrival and departure.

To get insight into the best ways to secure affordable hotel rates, FOX Business consulted two travel experts for their tips and tricks for saving money on your stay.

Change how you search

A close-up of the most famous websites for searching travel deals: Hotels.com, Kayak, LastMinute.com, Booking.com and TripAdvisor. (iStock)

To get your best hotel rate, experts advise travelers to adjust their online search habits. This can range between comparing competitors and getting a little tech-savvy.

“If you are looking online it’s important that you are either removing cookies, working on a private browser or using someone else’s computer to do preliminary research. Otherwise, the prices will just keep going up each time you check,” said Margot Black, a founder and travel writer at Black Ink Travel Writing.

Outside of disabling cookies, it’s important to get specific with your search. Bruce Rosenberg, president of the Americas at HotelPlanner reiterated this tip by suggesting key search terms like “cheap rooms in NYC” or “discount hotel rooms in NYC” to see which brands are paying for advertising and which ones are not.

Additionally, he said it is important to know your “budget, preferred hotel type and general location requirements” to narrow down your options as well as the way you want to pay your rate. Hotel guests can usually choose to prepay their stay or handle their balance when they get to their destination.

When all else fails, Rosenberg said, “Consider alternate accommodations, Airbnb and others to see if they can meet your requirements for a specific stay.”

Check out loyalty programs

In case you’re not already signed up for one, it pays off to join a hotel, travel agency or airline’s loyalty program.

Frequent travelers can accumulate points for free hotel stays, Rosenberg said. And Hotel brands charge more points for higher-end hotels compared to limited service and more points are generally charged for resort destinations like Hawaii, he said.

“It’s best to have a goal in mind when focusing on the free stay aspect of each program,” Rosenberg added. “Where do you want to travel? When? How many points will it take to book one or multiple nights? How far in advance do you need to book to get a room in your favorite destination?”

Other benefits that can be included with a loyalty program are free internet access based on the number of stays or a branded credit card with redeemable points. Though, Rosenberg advises travelers to check out the costs, points system and included benefits of these credit cards to see if it’s worth adding an annual fee.

“You should only go towards loyalty programs that actually offer benefits you will easily use and easily redeem,” Black said. “For instance, I have an Alaska Airlines credit card because the first bag is checked free for family members.”

“Our 12-year-old son recently started to ask to bring his skateboard along everywhere we go,” she added, “This perk saves us a good amount of money with each trip, it’s worth the $75 yearly fee.”

Book in advance

It’s no secret that most advise booking in advance to get a good rate. However, there are a few caveats, according to Rosenberg.

“Travelers still need to understand the terms and conditions on each rate,” he pointed out. “Is the rate non-refundable – do you need to pay now – charge your credit card immediately – if you cancel the stay is there a refund option or is there a penalty?”

He added, “Hotel rates are looking a lot more like airline rates these days – pay more and get flexibility – want a deal – book or pay now.”

You can scalp a room

A desktop view screenshot of the Roomer hotel booking website. (Roomer)

Years ago, when a family emergency or a similar event came up at the last minute, some travelers ended up losing money if they missed their reservation. However, travelers have taken their power back from nonrefundable room terms by listing their hotel reservations on booking apps like Roomer, which connects prepaid hotel rooms with travelers who are looking for a deal.

This secondary market allows the original booker to make some money back if their room gets purchased in time. The new traveler also gets the room transferred to them in their name, so there is no headache when they check-in at the front desk.

“If you have a reservation which has a penalty or no refund at all – it’s worth a shot to try Roomer,” Rosenberg said. “If the savings on the resale are low it may not be worth the time investment.”

Try a mystery hotel

Another tactic that has become popular with frequent travelers is booking a mystery hotel through large travel platforms like Priceline and Hotwire,which hide the names of hotels that have the cheapest listings.

“There are many intrepid travelers out there. If you have flexibility, these rates are a good option,” Rosenberg said. “It’s best to book by star category and use the mapping features to narrow down the options. If it’s not the perfect hotel, at least you got the booking at the right price.”

Black said she has had good luck with these mystery travel options. Black said she was able to book a room 20 minutes from Legoland that would have normally cost between $399 and $499 a night for $150 using Hotwire.

“I like Hotwire because each family member can select what is most important to them: our son wants free internet, husband wants free parking and I want free breakfast, and we all want a pool,” she said. “Using Hotwire we can sort from those parameters and see what’s offered.”

We may earn money or other compensation from the companies or products mentioned in this post.

Disneyland Hotel deals are few and far between, but we’ve rounded up a Disneyland hotel promo code you don’t want to miss!

Here’s how to save money and get those Disneyland Hotel deals when booking at the Disneyland Hotel, Grand Californian Hotel and Paradise Pier Hotel.

1. Disneyland Hotel Deals with Promo Code

I rarely suggest you book tickets through Disney and here’s why— the prices they offer for tickets are simply not as low as other authorized sellers, and the same holds true for booking Disneyland Resort hotels.

I partner exclusively with Get Away Today where you’ll get discount Disneyland park hopper tickets and the lowest prices on Disneyland Resort hotels. They can price match if needed AND you can use our promo code DisneylandPlan to save an extra $10 on your stay.

Choose from one of three Disneyland Resort Hotels (with a 4th one in the works!)

Disneyland Hotel is the original, and the classic—full of Disneyland history and nostalgia. Book your Disneyland Hotel deal here and fall asleep each night with the fireworks over Sleeping Beauty Castle as your backdrop. Don’t forget to use Disneyland Hotel promo code DisneylandPlan.

Don’t forget to use Grand Californian Hotel & Spa promo code DisneylandPlan.

Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel is usually the most economical option of all the Disneyland Resort Hotels. It’s home to the famous roof-top pool and character dining option.

Book here to save at Paradise Pier Hotel and enjoy all the perks of staying on-site at a Disneyland Resort Hotel. Don’t forget to use promo code DisneylandPlan.

2. Disneyland Hotel Deals with a One Night Stay

If you just can’t resist the Disney magic and want to stay onsite but need to stay on budget, I suggest staying one night, but arrive early to take advantage of Extra Magic Hour for both days you’re officially a guest of any Disneyland Resort Hotel.

Paradise Pier is usually the most economical option of all the Disneyland Resort Hotels, but my favorite is the Disneyland Hotel itself.

Plus, when you book with Get Away Today you just might be surprised at how you can save.

3. Disneyland Hotel Deals by Cutting Back Elsewhere

If you’re determined to stay at a Disneyland Resort hotel, and I can see why, you might want to see where else you can save to make your hotel stay more affordable.

Here’s some of our top money-saving articles to get you started:

How much will you save with your Disneyland Hotel deal?

2 thoughts on “ How to Get the Best Disneyland Hotel Deals ”

Thanks for sharing such an informative and useful article. Definitely helped for anyone. After reading the article, I decided to visit the Disneyland hotel with our child.

You’re welcome! Disneyland Hotel is fabulous!

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All You Have to Do is Pick Up Your Telephone

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You can shop online all day, looking for a hotel bargain. You can check a dozen websites. You can use one of those sites that won’t tell you the name of your hotel until you’re committed. You may think you did a great job of bargain hunting.

You might be wrong if you haven’t tried one thing that that’s so simple and old school you might think it couldn’t possibly work: Call the hotel on the telephone.

I got the idea from Consumer Reports magazine. They say their shoppers got the best hotel rates by calling the hotels directly. That’s compared to online services that promise discounts, or to using hotel websites, even if they have low price guarantees.

My friends have tried it, and they say it works, too. Last year, one of my pals got nearly 30% off a weekday rate at Disneyland’s Paradise Pier Hotel by calling.

How to Get the Best Hotel Rates With a Simple Telephone Call

First, you need to talk to the right person. Don’t call the hotel’s 800 number. Instead, call the front desk and ask to speak to someone in the hotel, not their central reservation center. Hotel managers may have more flexibility to bargain than a reservationist does. Independent Traveler says: “Many chains allot only a select number of rooms to the central reservations system, so 800 agents may even tell you a hotel is sold out when in fact the hotel is discounting rooms.”

Some people say Sunday is the best day to call. Travel + Leisure says the deepest discounts surface on Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays and right after the holidays.

Use these phrases, questions, and tips to facilitate your discussion:

Know the lowest rate you can get online. You can check that on TripAdvisor. Know what the hotel charges for parking. You may have to dig around the hotel website in sections with names like Amenities or FAQs to find that information. If you can negotiate free or discounted parking, that will also lower your total cost. Know what the best deals are in the area, for hotels similar to the one you’re talking to.

This is not the time to be loud, demanding or pushy. Instead, make the person you’re talking to your friend. Tell them about your plans and tell them how much you want to stay in their hotel. Be polite, but be persistent. Ask every one of these questions if you have to.

• When you ask for the lowest rate, Consumer Reports Money Advisor suggests using these magic words: “cheapest, non-refundable rate.”
• After they tell you that rate, then ask: “Is that the best you can do?”
• If you’re still not happy, ask: “Do you have any specials that I should know about?”
• You’re not done yet. Say: “That’s more than I can spend.”
• Mention better deals you’ve found elsewhere, especially if they’re from a similar property. Say: “The Big Fancy Hotel near yours has a special. Can you match their price?”
• If you reach the lowest price and they won’t go any further, ask: “If you can’t lower the price any further, can you give me an upgrade or free breakfast?” “How about a parking discount?”

Protect Your Bargain

In the best of worlds, you wouldn’t need this advice. Unfortunately, I read about misunderstandings and miscommunication with hotels all the time. And about unhappy travelers who feel like they were cheated. Here’s how to keep that from happening to you.

Confirm all the details. Say “I just want to be sure I get this all correct.” Confirm the rate and dates, extras and discounts. Ask for a confirmation number and the name of the person you spoke to. Ask them to confirm by email or text. When that message arrives, read it and check all the information. Be sure you have all that with you to use at check-in.

Getting an Even Lower Rate

If you negotiated a particularly good deal, it might be a good idea to call again a few days before your trip to confirm everything one more time.

Hotels often get last-minute cancellations, and it’s a good idea also to ask if they have any new deals or lower rates you should know about.

By Paul Thompson

Courtesy of Alexander Chaiken/Shutterstock

Taking a last-minute trip doesn’t have to cost a lot—there are tons of deals you can find, if you know where to look.

Impulsive travel may sound expensive, but it’s certainly doable on a budget. Whether you’re searching for deals on last minute flights, cruises, or hotels, here’s what to know when you’re booking just a few days or weeks out.

F or the uninitiated, choosing the right time to book travel can feel like one of life’s great mysteries. Indeed, prices are constantly moving up and down—and those changes can make or break your travel budget. Happily, for those inclined toward more impulsive last-minute trips, a little savvy can go a long way in not busting your budget.

Our best advice in a nutshell: Have a few potential destinations in mind and enroll in airfare alerts for those places because when it comes to flying, there is little to gain from procrastination. (And make sure your passport is up to date; if that dream trip to a faraway land pops up and you can’t take advantage of it, you’ll be sorry.)

Here’s our guide to getting the best deals on last-minute flights, cruises, and hotels—because even a spontaneous trip can benefit from a little planning.

How to find last-minute flights

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Airfare is typically the biggest single expense of most trips, and its associated price tag boils down to supply and demand. Pricing is determined by several factors, including timing (like the season, day of the week, and even what time of day you fly) and the destination itself. Many airlines put tickets up for sale as far as 11 months before the flight—but you’ll likely be paying a premium for them, because the window from six to 11 months out is typically an expensive time to buy. From 22 to 121 days out, fares are often significantly cheaper, when prices are usually near to their historical average lows; this is the sweet spot for fare deals.

In airline terms, “last minute” is the period less than three weeks before the flight. It’s not recommended to wait any longer than 21 days before your flight to book because prices are unlikely to drop so close to the departure depate. But if you find yourself booking a last-minute trip, your best bet is to compare fares online with an aggregator like CheapOair, Expedia, Kayak, or Travelocity. (Tip: Once you find a fare you like, be sure to check that airline’s own website to see if it’s offered any cheaper directly through the carrier.) Note that no one airline is always going to be the cheapest; even low-cost carriers can sometimes rack up higher rates than traditional legacy airlines.

If possible, be flexible with your airport. Many large cities have at least two options. For example, you don’t have to fly to LAX to get to Los Angeles when nearby Orange County, Burbank, or Ontario could possibly be cheaper if you’re willing to drive a little further into the city.

If you don’t have to book immediately, set up a fare alert to get an email when an airline drops the fare on your chosen route. Good sites for automated fare alerts include Fare Compare, Airfare Watchdog, Skyscanner, and Google Flights. If you have a favorite airline, you can also set up email alerts from your home city on your frequent-flyer profile.

How to book a last-minute cruise

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You can find last-minute cruise deals from about three months out to just days before the sailing date. Unlike airfare, cruise prices are known to drop as the sailing date approaches. While the best staterooms on ships tend to sell out early, and for full price, you can usually still find staterooms in almost any category closer to embarkation (although these deals might be for cabins in less desirable areas of the ship, such as ones that are far from the elevator banks). If you live within driving distance of the departure port, you’ll save a boatload of money, too, because you won’t have to purchase airfare.

Time your last-minute trip to coincide with a “shoulder season” destination when cheaper sailings can be found. The shoulder season in the Caribbean, for instance, includes September through November, when there’s a higher chance of hurricanes, and also the weeks in early December and January that frame the busy holiday season.

Look for discounted cruises on the websites of the cruise lines themselves, along with aggregators like Cruise.com, Cruises.com, Expedia, and even Costco.

How to get a last-minute hotel deal

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Hotels can be inexpensive when you’re booking a night or two in advance, unless there’s a major event in the destination you plan to visit. Hotels.com and Hoteltonight.com are great go-tos for last-minute deals. (As a bonus, when you create a profile on Hotels.com, you get a free hotel night after your 10th-night stay.) Many hotels vow to publish their lowest rate directly on their own site, but it is helpful to be able to look at all of the options in one place. Room77 and Trivago search dozens of sites, displaying the lowest price, and a provide a direct link to make the booking.

One final tip: Make sure to “bundle up”

Most airline sites now allow you to book your full vacation package with them—something online travel agencies like Expedia and Travelocity have been doing for years. You may want to stick with your go-to airline site if you are looking to use points or stay with your preferred airline. You’ll often find significant savings if you’re able to book it all—flight, hotel, even rental car—at the same time, plus there’s the convenience of having your whole trip organized in one confirmation email. (Tip: If you do end up arranging your trip with a combination of confirmations, TripIt is a great resource for keeping everything organized.) Now get going—you’ve got a bag to pack and a plane to catch.

Products we write about are independently vetted and recommended by our editors. AFAR may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which helps support our independent publication.

Travel Tips

Smart tips can help you get a deluxe hotel suite for less. (Photo: Interior of the hotel room image by PaulPaladin from Fotolia.com )

Related Articles

• Where to Find Cheap Hotel Rates
• How to Find the Cheapest Hotels Online
• How to Get Discounts at Hotels
• How to Get a Lower Hotel Room Price

Whether you’re a personal traveler or a business travel planner, it’s desirable to get the best discounts possible for a future hotel stay. Rate cuts during a stay are sometimes possible too. Discounted hotel rooms don’t happen by accident; rather, the best prices go to consumers who do their homework and aren’t afraid to drive a hard bargain.

Christopher Elliot of Microsoft Small Business writes, “There are few travel agents in the business who talk glowingly about their best customers being educated customers. The industry credo is something more along the lines of, ‘ignorance is bliss.'” Be a savvy consumer and use a few smart tips when reserving, staying in or checking out of your next hotel.

Step 1

Utilize memberships in professional or educational organizations to get hotel discounts. Some chains extend a price cut to government employees, postal workers, active duty military members and college students. Simply alert the reservation agent at the time of reservation, or ask the customer service representative about discounts when checking in or out. You’ll need to show an ID to qualify. If you do, the hotel will price your room according to a reduced rate schedule.

Step 2

Search several online sources before booking to find the lowest rates. Major travel sites like Expedia and Orbitz are good starting points, but a price aggregator such at Kayak or Mobissimo will nab the best prices with its bigger result pool. As Sophie Butler of telegraph.co.uk states, “Time spent comparing prices on the web will almost always save money–sometimes a great deal of money, particularly where top-end hotels are concerned.”

Step 3

Ensure your hotel delivers the stated level of service, cleanliness and amenities. If something falls short, don’t hesitate to bring it to a manager’s attention. If the manager wishes to make things right, ask for a discount at that time. This method is most useful for large-scale problems like dirty linens, smoky air in a nonsmoking room or rude customer service providers, not smaller problems like a missing towel or two.

Step 4

Build up a long history of stays with a particular hotel chain as a frequent traveler. These days, some hotel chains have loyalty programs for frequent customers that allow free nights or discounted accommodations. Look on the hotel chain’s website to sign up, or ask to register at check-in or checkout.

Step 5

Cultivate a relationship with the hotel’s management or group travel office if your company is a frequent client. Superpages.com says, “If you organize a conference or meeting at a hotel, they will usually offer you a discounted rate for your co-workers if you ask them about it. You’ll be bringing a lot of business to the hotel and they should cut you a break for that reason.” This method is not only useful for groups; it can also bring perks for leisure travelers who handle corporate accounts or arrangements. With a good enough relationship, it’s possible that staff will swing a courtesy discount as a thank-you gesture, even if you’re traveling alone.

Step 6

Scan the newspapers for the latest hotel deals. Even though many deals come through the Internet, other sources can prove to be just as good. Local free papers and regional magazines can also run ads with great hotel rates.

Step 7

Book directly through the hotel’s website. A hotel chain “typically treats its direct-booking customers better than outsiders. Hotels will deny they do this when they’re on the record. But off the record, they admit it happens,” Elliot advises. Hotel sites also apply discounts for some membership organizations directly through their sites, making it possible to stack up even more savings.

When you think of the best hotel rewards programs, perhaps tranquil spas, hot tubs and upgraded meals come to mind. But if you’re thinking where to book your next stay, more should factor into your decision.

To that end, WalletHub’s annual Best Hotel Rewards Programs report shows which loyalty clubs are the best value when it comes to things like perks per $100 spent, points redemption options and more.

Here Are the 5 Best Hotel Rewards Programs for 2020

In their analysis, WalletHub looked at how the best hotel rewards programs rank across 21 key metrics, including point values and blackout dates.

To arrive at its conclusions, WalletHub created three consumer spending profiles based on income. They are:

• Light Traveler: $40,000 – $69,999 yearly salary — Spends roughly $620 per year on hotel accommodations
• Moderate Traveler: $70,000 – $99,999 yearly salary — Spends roughly $958 per year on hotel accommodations
• Heavy Traveler: Makes $100,000 – $200,000 yearly salary — Spends roughly $1,691 per year on hotel accommodations

WalletHub says those three different hotel budgets encompass what 60% of American consumers spend each year on hotel accommodations, based on data from the Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics.

As you’ll see, we’ve listed the hotel rewards programs by overall rank, overall score and how much value heavy travelers receive per $100 spent. Let’s dive into the numbers, shall we?

Best Hotel Rewards Programs for 2020

There are some other points of interest as well, like:

• Best Western is the only major hotel with reward points that don’t expire due to account inactivity
• Marriott Bonvoy is rated the best for international travel

Here’s Clark’s Hotel Booking Strategy

Money expert Clark Howard foregoes booking with hotels directly. Instead, he usually looks at Priceline and Hotwire.

He’s totally OK with booking a hotel first, then finding out the name of the property afterward.

“The frequent stay programs are nothing compared to getting hotels at massive discounts every single night,” Clark says. “For me, the greatest frequent stay program is only bidding on four-star hotels and virtually never being disappointed.”

To reduce the likelihood that he’ll get a bad hotel room, Clark only books four-star properties (or 3.5 star if no four-stars are available) that are recommended by at least 80% of guests.

And if you’re thinking about a vacation somewhere soon, always remember money expert Clark’s #1 travel rule.

Travel Tips

A hotel might have last-minute discount rooms available. (Photo: Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images )

Related Articles

• How to Search for Discount Hotels
• How to Book a Last-Minute Hotel in Paris
• How to Get Discounts at Hotels
• How to Book Last-Minute Hotels

If you are looking to get out of town at the last minute to enjoy a vacation, don’t be resigned to the fact that you will have to pay a high rate for your hotel room. There are tricks you can use as long as you are willing to put a little bit of effort into your research. Using the Internet and the telephone can save you significant money instead of just accepting what a hotel quotes you as its standard rate. Sometimes just being polite when asking for a lower rate can save you a significant amount per night.

Bidding on Priceline.com

Priceline.com receives blocks of rooms from hotels that can be reserved for discounted rates. Before bidding on Priceline.com, research the prices at other discount websites such as Hotels.com or Expedia and offer a price that is less than what they are offering. Bidontravel.com recommends bidding at least 30 percent less than these advertised prices. You can also check the prices on Hotwire.com before bidding on Priceline.com. Hotwire.com will not reveal the name of the hotel but will reveal its star ranking. Your bid should be at least 15 percent less than the flat rate offered by Hotwire.com and 30 percent lower than the other online websites you researched.

Get On The Phone

Do not rely on the Internet alone when searching for cheap, last-minute deals on lodging. Call hotels directly and ask if there are any last-minute deals available on a room. The rate listed on a hotel’s website is not always the lowest rate that the hotel will offer. If a hotel has a large amount of rooms open for a night and it’s less than 48 hours before that date, a manager at the hotel may be willing to reduce the rates further than what the website advertises. Do not be afraid to ask for a lower rate. The worst the manager can do is say no.

Be Flexible

Be flexible when making last-minute hotel reservations. If you are willing to change your reservations by a day, either one day earlier or later, you may be able to find a cheaper rate. Also remain flexible about the type of room you are requesting. If you would prefer a king-sized bed, but would be willing to accept a queen-sized one, find the rate for both. The same situation applies if you would normally request a queen-sized bed but would settle for two double beds. Being flexible will give the hotel a larger price range that it can offer to you.

Check With Organizations Where You Are A Member

If you are a member of an automobile club, the military or a social organization, check with these groups for discounts they have arranged with hotel chains at your destination. If you are reserving a room on your own, mention that you are a member of the AARP or part of an group such as AAA, and ask if the hotel offers any discounted prices for members of those organizations. These specials are not always advertised online or in the hotel’s advertising fliers. Sometimes you have to ask to find out about them.

• Washington Post: Tips on Last-Minute Getaways
• Bid on Travel: Priceline Bidding Tips & Strategies
• Kids Can Travel: Family Travel Tips: Finding Last Minute Deals

Alan Kirk has been writing for online publications since 2006. He has more than 15 years’ experience in catering, management and government relations. Kirk has a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Maryland.

Jeremy Brooks/Flickr/CC BY-NC 2.0

Getting a California hotel deal means different things to different people.

If you think a deal is the cheapest regular rate you can find, you may also be thinking you have to sacrifice cleanliness or comfort. Unfortunately, so-called “budget” hotels are rarely a real deal, generating the most customer complaints. And you don’t have to stay there to save money.

If you think you have to spend hours to wring the last penny out of the hotel rate, you may be ignoring all the hidden costs that run up the total bill – and using a lot of your time in fruitless searches. We know how to get the best rates – fast.

Use this guide and you can quickly find a nice place at the lowest rate you can get for it.

The size of the California hotel deal you get depends on how much time you spend looking for it. If you have a busy life, you may be happy to find a nice place to stay for a reasonable rate, even if you could have saved a few more dollars by spending a bunch more hours.

What Kind of “Deal” Are You Looking For?

The Deal of the Day, a one-week-only website special or a fleeting coupon code: We wish you luck trying to find them, but we can’t help you. Those seeming deals often include extras that you don’t need or have so many restrictions that you’d never meet them all. And even worse, they can disappear faster than we could post them and you’d just end up frustrated.

A Real Deal That Meets Your Needs With No Useless Extras: You can get real deals on California hotels every day and that’s what we’re here to help you find. Follow the simple steps outlined in the next few pages and you’ll end up in a nicer place than you thought you could afford, paying a fantastic price.

Step 1: Get Ready to Go Deal-Shopping on California Hotels

Find the Most Convenient Area

You may be tempted to say: “I’ll just go for the cheapest place I can find and deal with whatever the location is,” but you might be kicking yourself all the way down the freeway when you’re stuck in a traffic jam on the way to Sea World, Universal Studios or the Golden Gate Bridge. In fact, you can get a good rate almost anywhere in California’s larger cities.

Here’s how to find out what’s where and get an idea of where you want to stay. Each guide includes maps and a discussion of the pros and cons of each area.

Figure Out How Much Money You Want to Spend

It sounds like the standard lecture that some old fogey is always giving to a young whippersnapper, but it’s a good place to start.

When you’re looking at hotels, look at the total cost, not just the room rate. Parking in downtown San Francisco, downtown LA, or San Diego’s Gaslamp adds up fast – and most of those big, impersonal places charge for internet use or even worse, charge all guests a “resort fee,” even if the guest never uses the services it covers. Find out some of the surprising gotchas that can drive up your hotel costs.

You’re Ready to Start Shopping

Step 2: Decide if the lowest-cost approach is for you.

Step 2: Get a Rock-Bottom Rate – If It’s Right for You

No matter what you think about silly commercials featuring former starship captains, Priceline and Hotwire can help you bag the best hotel rates available.

During less-busy times, hotels still want to keep their rooms filled. Not wanting to advertise really low prices and let people start thinking those lower rates can be had any time, they turn to Priceline and Hotwire. By keeping the hotel name a secret until after you’ve made your reservation, they offer rates even lower than what you’d find at the hotel chain’s website, even if they have a low-price guarantee (which only applies to rates that are advertised).

On a good day, you can get a room in a four-star hotel for the price of a one-star by using them. Posters at biddingfortravel.com reported getting rates as low as half of a hotel’s regular rates.

You won’t get that rate in the middle of the busiest time of year or any time a lot of people are in town, though – and this approach does have some downsides.

• You won’t know the exact name of the hotel until after you’ve paid for it. You will know what area it’s in and what level of amenities it will have.
• It’s not for you if you might need to cancel. Reservations are not refundable.
• You can’t ask for a specific room type, roll away bed or other extras. You’re guaranteed a double room, but can’t make any special requests.
• You won’t earn frequent stay points.

Next Steps

If the Cons are a problem for you, move on to Step 3: Get some tips for getting a great rate – quick.

If you’re game to try Priceline and Hotwire: A simple strategy for using them is to choose the nicest hotel class available and bid $10 to $15 less than the best rate you’ve already found.

Step 3: Find A California Hotel Deal – Quick

Get Good Rates on Larger Hotels in California

Consumer Reports magazine reports that they find the best prices three-fourths of the time by going directly to a hotel website. In fact, many larger hotel chains guarantee you’ll get the best rates online by going directly through them.

If you’re looking at larger hotels, play those odds. Most big chains guarantee to give you the lowest published rates through their own websites.

Besides taking advantage of their guarantees, be sure to check for any discounts you’re entitled to. We often find great rates for AAA members, but also try AARP, government, military or corporate rates. If you’re a member of the hotel chain’s rewards program, enter your membership number to check for special rates and extras.

Get Good Rates on Smaller California Hotels

Shop Around: For small hotel chains and independent hotels, best prices are often through a booking site or a specialty price comparison site.

Pay attention to the tax: In San Diego, hotel tax is 2% lower for places with fewer than 70 rooms. In the Los Angeles area, Long Beach hotel tax is 2% lower than most of the rest of the county and down at Disneyland, hotel tax in Garden Grove (which is right next door to Anaheim) is lower, too.

Pick the best rate that meets your needs, but don’t be “penny wise and pound foolish” as the old saying goes. Make your decision based on the total cost of your stay, including all the fees and charges, and the value of anything they offer for free, as long as it’s something you really need.

Make your reservation, grab your calendar and make a note of the last day you can cancel your reservation without a penalty, just in case things change and you forget. Take a copy of your confirmation email with you to the hotel in case of any questions. If you reserve by phone, write down your confirmation number and the name of the reservationist.

Call In Some Extra Savings

You might save a little more money by calling the hotel again on the day you’ll arrive, asking if they’ve lowered their rates. It happens more often than you might think, and they’ll often be willing to give you the lower rate.

Check out Step 4: Some super-saver strategies to save even more.

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Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover.

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• Apr. 13, 2010 /
• 4 min read

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Despite what you might think, you don’t have to spend a fortune to stay at a four-star hotel. A little legwork can score you cheap deals, whether you’re staying at a luxury resort, bed and breakfast, or run-of-the-mill hotel or motel.

With the following tips, you and your companions can trim hotel costs and enjoy a delightful getaway without breaking the bank.