183709 1574 Travel General Travel Accommodations true Tue, 19 May 2009 12:47:11 -0700 /system/videos/1/09/37/18/183709.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, travel, traveling, vacation How To Book the Best Hotel Room For Your Money http://www.howcast.com/videos/183709-How-To-Book-the-Best-Hotel-Room-For-Your-Money http://www.howcast.com/videos/183709-How-To-Book-the-Best-Hotel-Room-For-Your-Money/edit approved 144 640 360 <object width="425" height="273" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="howcastplayer"><param name="movie" value="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=183709"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=183709" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="273" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" ></embed></object> 9 PEZZY http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/183709/70_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg 1143 false false false 71600 0 22 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/183709/22.jpg Before you begin looking, decide what your dream hotel room would be. Do you want a great view in a high rise, or would you prefer the ground floor of a cozier establishment? Do you need room service? A pool? A location in the middle of a city, or near the airport? What is your price range?

]]> 71601 1 38 Tip Join the loyalty program of any hotel you are considering.

]]> 71602 2 42 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/183709/42.jpg Check the web sites of hotels in the area for their advertised rates. Then go to travel web sites and check their hotel rates, which are often cheaper if you are booking a room well in advance. Typically, you should find rates that are at least 25 percent lower.

]]> 71603 3 56 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/183709/56.jpg If you find a few hotels you like and they all seem similar, check travel web sites to read customer feedback. Still undecided? Choose the newest or most recently renovated hotel – just make sure any renovations have been completed before your trip.

]]> 71604 4 71 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/183709/71.jpg Before you book online, call the hotel and speak to a reservations agent, who might be able to offer you an even better deal, especially if your dates are flexible.

]]> 71605 5 81 Tip If the hotel’s part of a chain, don’t bother with the toll-free number, which probably connects to a centralized call center rather than the particular location you’re interested in.

]]> 71606 6 90 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/183709/90.jpg Ask the representative for a discount or an upgrade, mentioning clubs or organizations you belong to that might entitle you to discounted rates.

]]> 71607 7 98 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/183709/98.jpg Consider the hotel’s amenities, and whether they might save you money. A rate that’s slightly higher than a competitor’s might be worth paying if the hotel includes an airport shuttle, wireless internet or a business center, or breakfast.

]]> 71608 8 113 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/183709/113.jpg If you’re unsatisfied with the offered rate, use your previous research. If you found a cheaper rate online from a competing hotel, mention it and ask if they’ll match it.

]]> 71609 9 123 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/183709/123.jpg Before you reserve, be clear on exactly how much the room will cost, including taxes and any other fees. Then, book away!

]]> 71610 10 130 Fact The Hotel del Coronado, near San Diego, Calif., has hosted 10 U.S. presidents, beginning in 1891 with Benjamin Harrison.

]]> 1574 172734 How To Make a Decent Meal From Convenience Store Food AssignmentGuide 1133 Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:33:21 -0700 8 ijt0107 ]]> 115 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/2/34/27/17/172734.flv cooking, making, preparing, cheap, money, saving, dinner, meal Travel General Travel Accommodations 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/172734/Picture_3_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/172734-How-To-Make-a-Decent-Meal-From-Convenience-Store-Food 1574 188732 How To Get a Hotel Upgrade AssignmentGuide 2635 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 08:34:14 -0700 5 AlexRad ]]> 128 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/32/87/18/188732.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, travel, traveling, vacation Travel General Travel Accommodations 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/188732/Picture_3_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/188732-How-To-Get-a-Hotel-Upgrade 1574 190706 How To Find Cheap (or Free!) Places To Crash on Vacation AssignmentGuide 2238 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:32:59 -0700 13 BatSquid_Studios ]]> 126 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/06/07/19/190706.flv traveling, accomodations, discount, money, saving, hostels, finding, booking, rooms, hotels Travel General Travel Accommodations 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/190706/thumbnail_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.gif http://www.howcast.com/videos/190706-How-To-Find-Cheap-or-Free-Places-To-Crash-on-Vacation 1574 195385 How To Get a Timeshare AssignmentGuide 610 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:03:46 -0700 3 dontwalk ]]> 172 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/85/53/19/195385.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, travel, traveling, vacation Travel General Travel Accommodations 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/195385/get_timeshare_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/195385-How-To-Get-a-Timeshare 1575 1069 How To Get To the Airport on Time AssignmentGuide 2296 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:04:46 -0800 13 Sanchroust ]]> 133 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/69/10/1069.flv airplane, airport, arrive, arriving, DIY, Do It Yourself, early, Essential Skills, flight, get, Instructional, Learn to, make, making, miss, missing, on, plane, prevent, time, Tips, travel, traveling, tutorial, vacation Travel General Travel Air Travel 6 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/1069/hpn_a021_airport_on_time_sd_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/1069-How-To-Get-To-the-Airport-on-Time 1575 176418 How To Fly Stand-By AssignmentGuide 1286 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:47:34 -0700 5 BatSquid_Studios ]]> 122 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/4/18/64/17/176418.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, travel, traveling, fly Travel General Travel Air Travel 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/176418/Picture_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/176418-How-To-Fly-StandBy 1575 185854 How To Cope With a Fear Of Flying AssignmentGuide 5217 Wed, 27 May 2009 14:21:09 -0700 11 texcuda ]]> 167 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/4/54/58/18/185854.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, travel, traveling, air Travel General Travel Air Travel 4 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/185854/Picture_6_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/185854-How-To-Cope-With-a-Fear-Of-Flying 1575 228036 How To Travel By Air With a Pet AssignmentGuide 385 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:48:07 -0700 0 rachybop ]]> 110 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/75/81/26/268175.flv traveling,flying,flight,plane,dog,taking,cat,pets,animals,carrying Travel General Travel Air Travel 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/228036/travel_by_air_pet_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/228036-How-To-Travel-By-Air-With-a-Pet 1576 133819 How To Prepare Your Car For a Road Trip AssignmentGuide 1776 Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:47:28 -0800 6 theprohouse ]]> 105 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/0/19/38/13/133819.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, travel, traveling, road Travel General Travel Automobile Travel 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/133819/Picture_5_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/133819-How-To-Prepare-Your-Car-For-a-Road-Trip 1576 201221 How To Eat Healthy on the Road AssignmentGuide 989 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:17:31 -0700 5 downpourpro ]]> 114 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/21/12/20/201221.flv traveling, roadtrip, road, trip, eating, healthy, dieting, driving, fast, food Travel General Travel Automobile Travel 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/201221/Picture_3_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/201221-How-To-Eat-Healthy-on-the-Road 1581 217442 How To Pack a Suitcase Without Getting Everything Wrinkled AssignmentGuide 2565 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:03:02 -0700 7 michaelrsanchez ]]> 120 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/69/84/25/258469.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, travel, prepare, preparations, packing, pack, suitcase, bag, bags, without, getting, get, wrinkled, wrinkle, wrinkles, wrinkle-free, neat, neatly Travel General Travel Travel Preparations & Packing 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/217442/pack_a_suitcase_without_getting_everything_wrinkled_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/217442-How-To-Pack-a-Suitcase-Without-Getting-Everything-Wrinkled