Tips for finding hotel deals
Penny-pinching travelers got a great ride in 2009 - U.S. hotel rates last year fell nearly 9 percent on average. But don't expect such drastic price drops in 2010, some analysts say.
Average room rates will continue to slide this year, but only by about 2 percent as more travelers hit the road, predicts expert Scott Berman, U.S. leader of PricewaterhouseCoopers Hospitality & Leisure Practice in Miami.
"There will likely be higher occupancy in 2010," Berman said in a recent interview. "And if the past is any indication, that will bring higher rates." That means goodbye to great deals 24/7, 365 days a year. Holiday trips may take a bigger bite out of your wallet as hotels get "more aggressive on pricing" for high-demand dates, Berman said.
Here are five ways to sleep cheap (or at least cheaper):
TRY HOTELS IN FINANCIAL DISTRICTS On weekends, after business travelers have fled, and on Sunday nights rooms can be especially cheap.
STAY IN CITIES THAT HAVE ADDED A LOT OF HOTEL ROOMS This can reduce occupancy levels and bring down rates. Berman suggests Miami, New York and Phoenix. Try Las Vegas, too.
BOOK MORE NIGHTS ON EACH TRIP This can bring down your per-night rate because many hotels offer a third, fourth or fifth night free.
SHOOT FOR THE TOP Luxury hotels took the biggest rate hit last year as businesses, which were tightening their belts and worrying about appearing extravagant (remember AIG?), abandoned them. Berman sees a similar pattern this year. "If they're flexible with dates, leisure travelers will find favorable opportunities at some of the finest resorts in America," he said.
GET SMART ABOUT THE INTERNET By downloading apps onto your smart phone, you can find hotel deals on the spot. To get the jump on short-lived sales, sign up for e-mail alerts from your favorite hotels and chains.
