Cheap hotels

What programs do you use to find good quality inexpensive lodgings when you are traveling? Priceline has been a great boon to artists. I have always said as all the expenses for participating went up the only one that has gone down is lodging.

Recently, Don Ament, posted information on the NAIA forum about a new program at Travelocity.com called "Top Secret Hotels" complete with the price, the star level, and the general location, but not the name until you do the nonrefundable booking. Have you tried this one?

Also, I know Nels uses the CLC program, but recently I heard some not so good results from that one. What is it and what have been your experiences?

Where do you find the best deals?

Replies

Andrea Robinson April 26, 2011 at 2:53pm

I second Red Roof Inn. Not fancy, but cheap and usually has a fridge and microwave. One I stayed at even had a safe in the room. Being a woman traveling alone the desk people usually put me near the front office, too :)

So true about the nicer hotels. They charge for EVERYTHING. Nothing comes with the room except the awful coffee maker and a couple bottles of water. Hiltons have comfy beds, though, and that can sometimes be worth buying breakfast (at the local bagel place, not the hotel restaurant).
Joy Hafford April 11, 2011 at 8:45pm

My husband is a disabled veteran and we travel quite a bit to Phoenix and Tucson AZ to VA Hospitals. We've run the gamet of hotels in the area and after many not-so-good experiences, we found 2 great hotels that we use all the time now due to the the affordability, location and great service. Both are close to the freeway, easy to get anywhere in the city from, well-maintained, nice area, close to stores and restaurants, and offer future discounts and specials. So AFI'ers, if traveling to Phoenix or Tucson I would recommend these to save you some legwork.

In Phoenix: Best Western Inn Suites, 16th St. and Northern

In Tucson: Super 8 (Marana), Cracker Barrell Rd.
Kathryn Riechert April 11, 2011 at 9:11am

I use Priceline. In the past I compared sites and it was always the one with the lowest rates. I use the name your own price feature and can usually get a hotel under $40 per night. Rarely is it over $50. It just depends on how far in advance you book your room, area, and star level.
- Karen Seymour-Ells > Kathryn Riechert April 11, 2011 at 3:37pm
  
  No matter how you find your price...I totally agree on the Trip Advisor.com reviews! I found them AFTER I stayed in a nightmare hotel and looked it up a few years back. I wish I had known about it before!
  
  The $50 hotel room? Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes saving $20 isn't worth the loss of sleep or the anxiety of a scary hotel, especially for a woman traveling alone.
Rick Blalock April 10, 2011 at 4:16pm

Avoid the Extended Stay / Homestead Suites group of suite hotels at any cost. Although sometimes cheap, their rooms are by far, the filthiest, moldiest "I don't even want to walk on the carpet" hovels of any national chain.

Even Nels would not stay in one.
- Geoff Coe > Rick Blalock April 11, 2011 at 5:02pm
  
  Not having seen this post, I stayed in a Homestead Suites in Brandon, FL (Tampa suburb) on Saturday night. Booked through Priceline for $45. It was impeccable.
  
  Which just goes to show you: it's hard to generalize about any chain, even the top-shelf ones. Going to a site like Trip Advisor to check out specific locations isn't a bad idea at all.
- lisa ark > Rick Blalock April 10, 2011 at 6:43pm
  
  i am planning on using priceline need to know what area to bid on i normally go with 2 1/2 stars or3
  
  any ideas?
  - Jim Parker > lisa ark April 10, 2011 at 7:54pm
    
    Lisa did you see this recent post?
    
    http://bit.ly/hhGLoH
    
    HTH
    
    Parker
    - lisa ark > Jim Parker April 10, 2011 at 8:29pm
      
      thanks Jim,,,
      
      Maybe we should start a blog on our worse hotel experience!
lisa ark April 9, 2011 at 9:51pm

While on the subject of hotels, can anyone offer me advice on booking a hotel on price-line for Columbus, which part of the city?

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