From Motel 6 to Cloud Nine by Raphael Baker
About twelve years ago, some friends and I took a weekend trip to Washington , D.C. We were so excited to be out of town that we didn’t properly plan. We ended up at a place that made the Bates Motel look majestic. After I got home from what seemed to be the longest weekend in my life, I made a promise to myself. I would only stay in nice, reputable hotels. I determined to be greeted by concierges, heavenly beds and spa baths, and never again by pests, dirty sheets and broken sinks.
Since then, I have stayed in some beautiful hotels across the country. The Intercontinental, Sofitel and Loews have been a few of my favorite destinations. My friends now see me as a hotel guru, and rely on me for bookings and advice. What they don’t know is that I never pay full price.
Online booking is the key to getting a quality hotel room for a fraction of the price. Although there are many online resources, there are a few sites that are consistently reliable and some to avoid.
Hotwire has been a favorite of mine for many years. Many major hotels utilize this site to book hotel rooms that haven’t already been reserved. You can search and choose hotels based on star level, neighborhood and price. You can even book multiple rooms at a time (good for those church trips). Hotwire requires that you pay up front, so do not choose this site if your trip dates may change. One downside to Hotwire is that you blindly purchase your hotel. That means the name of your hotel is not revealed until you actually make your purchase. Don’t fret! There are not too many bad four star hotels, so be sure to choose the four star hotel, cross your fingers and say a prayer! I have not been disappointed yet.
Priceline is another one of my favorites. If Hotwire doesn’t have anything available that I like, Priceline is my next choice. While these two sites are strikingly similar, Priceline offers you the option to choose your own price. You blindly bid on a hotel room, and you are able to choose your star level and neighborhood. Please do not be crazy and to bid $20 for a four star hotel in New York City . You will swiftly be rejected. Make a sensible bid. If you are lucky, and Priceline accepts your bid, your card is automatically charged. If you aren’t so lucky, dust yourself off and try again. You can place another bid in 24 hours for hotels in the same rating level and neighborhood. Through this site I have gotten four star hotels at $60 per night.
Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity and Hotels.com have been disappointments when trying to find discounted hotels. They give you lists and lists of available hotels, but frankly, the deals are nonexistent.
If all else fails, go directly to your desired hotel’s website. Many hotels post specials on their websites that are not available by calling the reservations line. Additionally, many hotels offer reward programs and chances to earn free nights.
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