{"id":12156,"date":"2011-02-16T06:00:03","date_gmt":"2011-02-16T12:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=12156"},"modified":"2016-12-15T12:50:08","modified_gmt":"2016-12-15T18:50:08","slug":"5-ways-to-save-on-a-hotel-room","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2011\/02\/5-ways-to-save-on-a-hotel-room\/","title":{"rendered":"5 ways to save on a hotel room"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Chicago biz travelers save at the Hotel Allegro, which sports playful rooms and a theater district address.<\/p><\/div>\n

By Jeanenne Tornatore<\/em><\/p>\n

As traveler confidence returns, so do rising travel prices.\u00a0 And while average daily hotel rates continue to stay below pre-2008 levels, as we head into 2011 rates are up year-over-year in many popular vacation destinations.\u00a0 With the busy spring break<\/a> travel season upon us, here\u2019s some advice on how to stay within your budget and still get a great hotel room.<\/p>\n


\n1.\u00a0Book in the business district.<\/strong>
\nIf you\u2019re planning a weekend trip to a major city like New York<\/a>, Chicago<\/a> or San Francisco<\/a>, find out where the financial\/business districts are and check out hotel rates at the hotels that cater to business travelers.\u00a0 While the rates are typically high during the week when they are full of professionals, you\u2019ll often find great deals on the weekends as most tourists look to stay near the well-known areas for theater and shopping.\u00a0 Also check out nearby residential neighborhoods — like Jersey City in New York or Lincoln Park in Chicago — that may just be a short train ride into the city.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0Get rewarded for your loyalty. <\/strong>
\nDon\u2019t be shy about signing up for hotel reward programs.\u00a0 When the front desk rep asks you to sign up, ask what kind of perks you\u2019ll get.\u00a0 Kimpton Hotels gives all members of its loyalty program free internet access every time they stay at a Kimpton property.\u00a0 That\u2019ll save you at least $15 a day by most hotel standards.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Get it together and save. <\/strong>
\nYou may have heard that you\u2019ll save by booking your airfare and hotel together as a package.\u00a0 But how?\u00a0 Hotels with excess inventory give sites like Orbitz rooms to sell at greatly discounted rates as part of a package.\u00a0 They don\u2019t have to tell you just how cheap their rooms are going for, and you get a great deal.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Be social! <\/strong>
\nSocial media sites can be agreat resource for special discounts and last-minute deals.\u00a0 Nearly every major travel player has a Twitter and Facebook account.\u00a0 And often times they promote limited time deals and even give away free trips just for their followers and friends.\u00a0 Check out www.twitter.com\/orbitz<\/a> and www.facebook.com\/orbitz<\/a> for the latest news and deals from Orbitz.com.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0Go at the beginning or end of a season. <\/strong>
\nWhether you\u2019re planning a ski trip or your summer vacation, you\u2019ll find some of the best deals for hotels and activities if you go during the first and last few weeks of the season.\u00a0 At major ski destinations like Breckenridge<\/a> and Lake Tahoe<\/a>, you\u2019ll find early season sales in November\/December, and late-season deals in April, post-spring break.\u00a0 Come summer, peak rates typically start mid-June for beach destinations, so heading out the first or second week of June or waiting until mid- to late August can mean saving big on your lodging.<\/p>\n

Related resources<\/strong><\/p>\n