| Four Tips for Frugal Travel | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Tip 2: Make the Motel an Offer | |||||||||||||||||||||
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It's late and you're traveling the highway, searching for a place to sleep. Exit 129 looks inviting. At this particular interchange, there are four motels. Pull into the one that looks the best and perhaps most expensive. Survey the parking lot. Is it full? Half full? Is there a restaurant or other attraction nearby that shares parking space with the motel (and therefore might skew your survey)? |
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You might be wondering why we're so interested in the parking lot. The reason: it provides a clue as to how many rooms might be occupied.
Walk up to the front desk, greet the attendant and ask in a conversational tone if it has been busy this evening. If you're fortunate, they'll answer truthfully. If you're extremely fortunate, they'll say it has been slow.
Now make your rate inquiry. Your plan is to offer the attendant about half the standard (rack) rate.
Before you recoil in fear of humiliation, consider that experienced budget travelers say this ploy works for them about half the time if:
We're operating here on the same principle that made Priceline successful--something is better than nothing at all.
If the attendant refuses, up your offer. Mention that you saw a lot of empty spaces in the parking lot, or that you only want a place to sleep--whatever you think might sweeten the pot for the motel. If you're clearly getting nowhere, try one of the other nearby places. Continue until your weariness overcomes the need to save money.
Next page > Take the Train > Page 4
Photograph courtesy Apple Core Hotels.
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