I am currently on vacation up in New England. Mr. S. and I took a road trip from South Florida and we’re currently staying in Eastern Massachusetts. We came for our son’s commencement (FINALLY) and to see family and friends. Of course we traveled the Champagne Living way, paying as little as possible for luxury hotel rooms. There are some GREAT specials for accruing FREE nights quickly and even a cash back card from one of the chains.
If you’re planning on traveling or even doing a weekend drive-away, here are some of the deals that are out there.
Priority Club Rewards – Stay 2 nights/Get 1 FREE
- Join Priority Club® Rewards and register for this offer today.
- Stay any 2 nights from May 4 — July 3, 2009.
- Get 1 FREE night to use from July 3 — December 26, 2009.
- You can earn up to 4 free nights.
- Use your free nights at one of over 4,000 hotels around the world.
Choice Rewards – Stay 3 separate times – earn a $50 Prepaid Cash Card
- Bookings must be made at choicehotels.com or 800.4CHOICE
- Stay three separate times with arrival between May 21 and August 13, 2009
- Receive enough Choice Privileges® points to redeem for a $50 prepaid cash card
Thank you to Sweetie’s Swag for alerting me to that offer.
Don’t forget that you can use COUPONS for hotels. I’m sure you’ve seen those hotel magazines at rest areas and Welcome Centers along the highway. If you’d like to look at what’s available in advance, you can also pull up and print the coupons from their online sites. We used these on the way down. The savings were amazing. At the Wyndham in Mount Laurel, NJ we spent $69 on a $169 room. $169 is NOT their rack rate, but rather the “REAL” rate that they charge customers making reservations. Plus I was able to use my rewards card for points in the restaurant, etc.
- RoomSavers – offers “walk-in” coupons at GREATLY reduced rates.
- Hotel Coupons – view guides online or pick them up on the road at various locations
- Travel Coupons – like the two above, you can pick up their magazine on the road, or print them
Have fun planning your vacation and remember that if you’re a little creative – you can live the good life for less!
Beth says
Sounds like a beautiful time. We are staying at the Radisson Hotel for four nights on barter. Just needed to get away from the poor mattress that is so hurting my shoulders. Now I am laying on a Sleep Number Bed. Take Care
Abby says
Don’t forget! If you use MyPoints to check out their travel center! You get a certain amount of points per dollar you spend booking hotels, airfare, car rentals, etc.
If you haven’t joined MyPoints, but would like to, email me at: abby196{at}gmail{dot}com.
Zippy says
Beth – I hope your back is a little better. Two of the hotels that we stayed at had featherbed mattress toppers, so I was in HEAVEN. I have to buy one when I get back.
Zippy says
Great Point Abby…plus there’s Priceline and a HOST of other places to get discounts. I’ll tackle those in a later post. Just know that you can’t COMBINE points and discounts. Whether it’s points on mypoints, hotel cards, etc. You WILL be paying a higher rate in order to accrue those precious points. You need to do the math to see WHICH is the most cost effective.
Anonymous says
Zippy,
I am in Eastern Mass too and would love to meet you. LMK if you are available.
Judi
Zippy says
Judi, I’d love to – but time seems to be the one thing that there isn’t enough of on this trip. With both families living here (as well as my son’s future in-laws) we’ve been trying to spend as much time with them as possible. I’ll be coming back on my own SECRETLY (at least from my family) to connect with friends, etc. later in the summer!!!
Anonymous says
your secret is safe with me…….
Judi