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