Hotel Reservations

written by Sally Black

Know Your Family
The first step in finding the best deal on accommodations is to honestly determine the needs of your family. If you plan to be on the go at sight seeing and will not be spending much time in your room then perhaps a budget chain will suit your needs. If you are getting up early to hit the highway, a place that includes an early breakfast might be of service. If you want to relax at the beach, perhaps a condo or cottage would give all of you more space. A simple hotel room is not your only option. Larger quarters can be found to accommodate all situations and budgets.

How Does VacationKids.com Make Their Money
Every time you make a hotel reservation through one of our hotel partners, VacationKids.com receives a commission. The rates you'll find through our site are exactly the same prices you would see listed if you went directly to our partners. We would appreciate your patronage. These commissions allow us to create and post great content to help you plan the best vacations for your family. Our Partners pay us commissions because we help bring them exposure online. It is a win-win-win situation for all.

Breakfast And Kids Meals Included
If you are staying some place that does have kitchen or cooking facilities, having breakfast included as part of your stay can really save a buck or two. Even a fast food stop or doughnuts and coffee is the better part of a ten dollar bill for a family of four. If you will be on the road for a week or two, well...you do the math. Instead of breakfast, some hotels will offer kids meals free. Figure the savings into your overall travel budget with comparing where to stay. Again, consider your plans and circumstances, but the savings can be substantial.

Timing is Everything
Many properties have advance purchase discounts which require an immediate deposit or full payment to retain that price. Make sure that your travel dates are secure and any flights have been confirmed because often these payments or deposits cannot be refunded.
If your hotel is frequented by business jet setters, then expect to pay more to sleep there on week nights. Sometimes by including a weekend or Saturday night stay, you will be charged at a much lower rate per night for your entire stay.

What Do Blackout Dates mean
This does not mean they turn off the electric on Thursdays. When pricing hotel rates, especially with special offers, you might see fine print that reads “ blackout dates apply. ” This means that those rates might not be available for certain dates. Blackout dates are very seasonal and often include holiday travel. If blackout dates aren't listed, check and ask questions before confirming your reservation.

Does It Pay To Join A Club
There are numerous vacation clubs and timeshare deals. Often the hotels themselves offer membership programs. Just like with the airlines, your rewards are proportionate to the amount of use. Every program is different so check their rules before getting too excited.
Other hotel programs require you to pay a membership fee in order to qualify for half price hotel rooms, when available. When you figure the administration fees against the cost of the hotel rooms, with a little detective work you can usually find the same rates on your own without any further obligations.
You might already be a club member. Airline Frequent Flyer programs, AAA, AARP, military personal, union members, buyers clubs and some credit card companies offer hotel discounts. If someone in your family works for a large corporation, often showing a business card at check-in can get you a better room and/or rate. Compare your clubs, some offer better deals than others and in most cases, you are not allowed to combine discounts.