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Show C-9 The Park Record Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, November 22-25, 2008 Strategies for booking hotels on a budget New York, $89 from Boston (book by Dec. 18, offer ends Dec. 25, http://www.atlantis.com, NEW YORK (AP) - When blackouts apply). In addition, the the economy was booming, many Nassau Paradise Island hotel companies began building Promotion Board is offering a new properties. Some of those $250 rebate on air-inclusive are opening now, resulting in a packages (three-to-six night 2.5 percent increase in hotel stays, book through Nov. 30, for room supply this year, just as travel completed by Feb. 28). An demand is dropping by around 1 Atlantis package offered this percent or more, according to time last year started at lower Jan Freitag of Smith Travel rates of $259 a person, but did Research. not include dolphins, airfare dis"We're going to see a substan- counts or rebates. tial decline in occupancy this year," agreed Bjorn Hanson, an Rewards programs: associate professor of hospitality Most hotel chains have loyalty and tourism at New York or frequent guest programs that University's Tisch Center. allow you to use points for free Excess supply means opportu- nights. "Every traveler should be nities for consumers. Here are a member of every frequent some strategies for booking guest program," said .Hanson. hotels on a budget. Joining usually costs nothing; points accumulate and often Basics: don't expire; and most hotel It's generally cheaper to stay chains now have no blackout in major cities on weekends, dates for using points to book when there are fewer business rooms. travelers, and in resort areas on » Many hotel chains offer weekdays and offseason, when cobranded credit cards with there are fewer tourists. enough bonus points for a free Visitors to urban centers may night. Sign up for a new Marriott save by booking outside main Visa card and get a certificate for tourist areas. For San Diego, for one free night's stay, plus 25,000 example, "you could stay in bonus points, which are enough Carlsbad or even up as far as for another night's stay at Oceanside," said Joe Mclnerney, Marriotts in many markets, CEO of the American Hotel & including January in Miami, Lodging Association. But where you can go to the beach, or research the cost and time of Salt Lake City, where you can commuting in each day, to make ski. If you travel with a spouse or sure the tradeoff is worth it. friend, that person can sign up Mclnerney pointed out that for his or her own card and get hotels on Long Island or points for free nights as well. Westchester might be cheaper Research how fast points than Manhattan, but your savings accumulate before signing up. might be offset by daily train and Different chains have different cab fare or tolls and parking. systems. With Hilton, you get up You'll also pay less outside of to 20,000 bonus points for signing peak holiday time, and some new up for Hilton HHonors Platinum hotels charge lower introductory Credit Card from American rates. Canyon Ranch's new desti- Express (10,000 points for your nation spa in Miami Beach has first purchase with the card, nightly starting prices at $200 2,500 points for each of your first through Dec. 3. Rates go up Dec. four stays at Hilton Family 4-23, starting at $650 a night, and hotels). Cardholders can also Dec. 24-Jan. 1, to $1,100 a night. earn five points for every dollar Places hard-hit by the down- spent at Hilton Family hotels, turn may also offer deals. The grocery stores, drugstores, gas Bahamas' Atlantis mega-resort, stations, restaurants and on U.S. with nearly 3,000 rooms on postal services and wireless Paradise Island, recently laid off phone bills. 800 workers. It's now offering a For other purchases,1 Hilton three-night package starting at cobrand card holders earn three $299 a person, including two ses- points per dollar. In addition, the sions interacting with dolphins program has an option where you (normally $110 each), and $99 earn 15 points for every dollar airfare each way on JetBlue from you spend at Hilton Family BY BETH J. HARPAZ AP Travel Editor hotels, as long as you choose has a "Winning Bids" advice feahotel-stay points as your sole ture that eliminates some of the reward. Hilton also has an "earn- guesswork by providing examings mall" where you can earn ples of brands for each star rating extra points for shopping at vari- along with winning bids paid in different markets. Hotels accept ous retailers like iTunes. For overviews of what each the discounted bids because hotel credit card offers and how they'd rather fill rooms at lower many dollars you must spend to prices than leave them empty. accumulate more points, check Priceline says its customers pay out http://www.creditcards.com/ 46-48 percent less than if they booked through the hotels travel-rewards.php. But be aware that when you directly. apply for new credit cards, "it Another strategy: See what impacts your credit card rating," rates are offered at specific said Gail Cunningham, spokes- hotels online, "then call the hotel woman for the National directly" and ask if there's a Foundation for Credit lower rate, Hanson said. "A third of the time there will be." Counseling. "When there!s an empty room, For example, applying for four or five hotel credit cards to it's just losing money. Any get several free nights with sign- amount of money you pay for up bonus points "can signal to that room is found .money," lenders that you're desperate for agreed Tim Zagat, who has just credit, that you're just getting published "Top U.S. Hotels, credit everywhere you can," Resorts & Spas 2009." Cunningham said. That can hurt Zagat encourages consumers you if you're looking to get to negotiate hard. "Ask for packapproved for a loan. age rates, ask for the lowest rate, Others who should avoid ask for an upgrade. There are all rewards credit cards, kinds of deals out there. Not to Cunningham says, are those ask is to look stupid," he said. tempted by new lines of credit to Call the hotel at its local buy things they can't afford; and phone number, not the chain's those who carry balances from 800 number. "The branded hotel month to month. Don't let the company has limits on what it va[ue of your rewards get wiped can do, but the individual owner ou,t by interest. Rewards credit can do anything he feels like," cajfds, Cunningham added, are Zagat said. on,Ly for those "with the most Once you make a reservation, pristine of credit ratings." check to see if prices drop, then rebook. "If the booking pace is slower than forecast, hotels Booking: Mclnerney of AH&LA says switch to a lower rate schedule," your first stop should be the Hanson said. hotel's own Web site. "That's Look for free Internet service where you're going to get the and free breakfast; avoid rip-off best price," he said. goodies in the mini-bar, and use In addition, said Hanson, your cell so you don't get charged "most brands have a guarantee for the hotel room phone. that if you find a lower rate, Despite the economy, Freitag they'll match it or pay the differ- of Smith Travel says he doesn't ence, or you can stay for free." think hotel prices will drop the Ask for discounts for AAA way they did after Sept. 11th. But membership, military service or he does think consumers can corporate rates. expect better value for what they Alternatively, figure out how pay - better views, free much you want to pay, the type Internet, free access to the health of hotel you'd like to stay in, and club, pay for two nights and get a bid for a room through a booking third free. site like Priceline.com. You won't "The takeaway for the conknow which hotel you're staying sumer: Don't be shy about asking at until after you've paid, but you for those things," Freitag said. can specify the category of hotel "With occupancies dropping, the using the star-ratings system. most important person in the Note that star ratings are transaction is the man or woman inconsistent. A four-star hotel on who checks you in. Be nice, and one site might only be--a threes ' ask, 'Do you have a nice room :: '"' star hotel on another. Pricelirie f o r r r i e ? " ' • •• •• 435*200-0260 Open Daily At 5 PM LOCATED INSIDE THE GATEWAY CENTER ON THE CORNER OF HEBER AVE. & SWEDE ALLEY COME TASTE OUR NEW MENU... JEAN LOUIS HAS ADDED ITALIAN DISHES! * CHILDREN'S MENU * FREE PARKING AVAILABLE JEAN LOUIS IS OPEN 7 DAYS THROUGH THE FALL! 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