More Bang for Your Buck: Hotel Bargains

WSVN -- Rona Green is shopping for some r and r -- as in reduced rates.

This fall, her daughter wants to tie the knot in Hawaii, but for Rona, the anticipated wedding bells ring big bucks.

Rona Green: "At first I was terrified, because I thought was no way we are going to be able to do this at a beautiful hotel with all These people, but you can. It's not outrageous."

The secret according to Fred Bean of www.lodging.com -- supply and demand.

Fred: "One to the main things that customers don't realize about hotels is that inventory is a perishable product."

He says the best prices often come by picking the right place at the right time of year.

For instance, many luxury hotels are down during the summer because families are travelling together.

As for fun destinations, the month of may is ideal for London, Rome and Paris.

For something more tropical, try the Caribbean from now through August.

Fred: "In the Caribbean and the Bahamas you'll find you can get some four star, five star hotels for pennies on the dollar."

But if you want to stay in the states, viva Las Vegas during the week.

Fred: "If you understand that staying mid week is when you are going to get your best prices, you'll be able to stay at some of these big named resorts on the strip for under one hundred dollars."

If the price still isn't right, try booking through a travel agency - they can often negotiate better deals.

If you want to go online, most major sites offer their best bargains on Tuesdays. Or if you want to do the leg work yourself, look for a package deal with a rental car or airline.

Fred: "Hotels give greater discounts for bundling something as part of other service offering."

Package prices are helping Rona say "I do" to an aloha wedding. She's planning on giving her daughter away in September.

Rona: "If we can get a better rate more people can afford to come. Anything that we can save just enables us to do more in other departments."

Also keep in mind, if you travel a lot, many hotels accept frequent flyer points.

Contact: lgarrigan@wsvn.com

Hotels Information
www.lodging.com