Most travelers stay at motels when they are motoring around by car. That's where the word "motel" came from. It is a "motor hotel." Motels are usually located next to highways so travelers can conveniently stop for the night and be on their way the next morning without delay. Motels charge customers as much as they can for a room. If you arrive when there are few rooms available you will pay more than someone who arrived when the motel was empty. There are ways to avoid this even if your plans are uncertain. Follow these steps to pay the lowest price at a motel.
Join a motel loyalty program. There are several with motel networks all over the country. When you belong to a program you get points for every stay that can later be used for free nights at their motels. The motel loyalty program will occasionally email you special deals and preferred rates at their motels.
Check the Internet for special deals. When you go to the website for your motel loyalty program, look for the link to their web deals. All motel chains encourage customers to book reservations on the Internet since it lowers their costs. Some of the best deals are on their websites.
Book early when you know what city you will be in on a given night. The night before or earlier, search for a motel room on your motel loyalty program web site. You can do this even while traveling. Most motels have free wireless Internet access. Many also have computers for guest use in the lobby. When you see a good rate call the motel directly to see if they can beat it. Often they do. If the price is the same or better online, book it over the Internet. Be sure to note the cancellation policy. It is different for every stay.
Make your reservation the same day when you don't know what city you will be in that night. When you are driving on a long road trip you don't always know how far you will get that day. Traffic, fatigue and weather are unpredictable. About 1 pm take a look at a map and decide where you will stay that night. Plan to get to the motel by 4 pm. That way you can usually cancel the reservation if you can't make it. If you have Internet access on the road look for a motel online. Otherwise, call the toll free reservations line for your motel loyalty program. When they offer you a price ask if that's the lowest price available. Often they will drop it just for asking. If the price still sounds too high call the motel directly and see if they will beat the price. Be sure that it is the kind of reservation you can cancel the same day unless you are sure you will make it to the motel.
Ask for discounts. Many motels offer discounts to seniors with AARP cards, auto club members with AAA cards, and active military with government ID's. They usually won't offer you these discounts unless you ask.
Arrive early in the day when you don't have a reservation. Sometimes it is impossible to plan where you will stay. If you want to pay the lowest price at a motel without a reservation, be sure to arrive before 4 pm. Most motels are pretty empty until then. Motel managers want to fill their motels every night so are willing to give you a good price to get things started. By 6 pm there are lots of travelers arriving so the price goes up. After dark you will pay top dollar if there are any rooms left. Always be sure to ask if they are giving you the lowest price available. You can often save a few bucks just by asking.
Always ask about extra fees. Motels sometimes charge you a few dollars extra for things like local calls and a room safe. They wont tell you they are doing this. It just shows up on your bill. Many motel patrons pay it without even looking at their bill. Tell the motel clerk that you will not be using these services and you want them removed from your bill. Insist on this. They may be reluctant but they usually do it.
