| When you get off the bus in the Andean | | | | their system. I just did a search for Tucson, |
| Mountain resort town of Banos, Ecuador, | | | | Arizona, for example, on several sites. One |
| you'll see several people quickly moving | | | | or two of the sites found decent prices on |
| towards you. Some of them will be the actual | | | | certain hotels, but I know of several nice |
| owners of the hotels in town, and others are | | | | motels in Tucson that are $15 cheaper than |
| working on commission. They'll all claim to | | | | the cheapest rate they found. Use the |
| have the nicest and the cheapest hotel.This | | | | internet as a place to start, or when you |
| onslaught of salesmen may annoy you at first, | | | | can't get any other information.Get coupon |
| until you realize what it means. There are | | | | books at gas stations along the highways. |
| vacant rooms tonight, and there is real | | | | We've often found good deals using these, and |
| competition! They have tipped their hands, | | | | it's rare that a manager won't honor them. |
| and you are in charge now. Let the contest | | | | Usually only if they're absolutely full will |
| begin!When my wife and I were in Banos | | | | they refuse. Read the fine print, however, |
| recently, we let an older woman drag us off | | | | because they often charge more for certain |
| from the bus station. She showed us two | | | | dates, or for two people.There are promotions |
| hotels she owned, and we preferred the | | | | done where if you "mention this ad" or just |
| second. We were told the room would be $12. | | | | use the right words, you get up to 70% |
| It was clean, with cable T.V. and lots of hot | | | | discount. Talk, talk, talk. Tell them if |
| water. We offered $6 per night, paying for | | | | you're a member of the AARP, AAA or whatever. |
| four nights in advance. She agreed.The lesson | | | | Tell the person on the phone that you saw an |
| is clear if you want the cheapest hotel room: | | | | ad in the "Times," or whatever big paper they |
| Negotiate! The owner knew we were ready to | | | | might have advertised in.Get the receptionist |
| walk away, and that there were others waiting | | | | to help you. Try asking what the magic words |
| for our business. Unfortunately, most owners | | | | are. Some receptionists will tell you. You |
| here in the U.S. would rather let you drive | | | | might also ask "What do I have to say to get |
| away than knock five bucks off the room rate. | | | | the cheapest rate?" They will sometimes tell |
| Even here, however, we have negotiated decent | | | | you, or suggest other options. Ask about the |
| discounts by paying for several nights in | | | | hotel too, of course. You don't want ANY |
| advance. Of course we let them know that | | | | room. You want the cheapest hotel that has |
| we'll be looking elsewhere if they say no.The | | | | nice rooms.Steve Gillman hit the road at |
| Cheapest Hotel Rooms - More TipsYou can use | | | | sixteen, and traveled the U.S. and Mexico |
| the travel web sites to find cheap hotel | | | | alone at 17. Now 42, he travels with his wife |
| rooms, but remember that they only give you | | | | Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. |
| rates for the hotels and motels that are in | | | | |