HOTEL TIPS

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Hotel Room No-Nos <<>> From Mark Kahler <<>> Your Guide to Budget Travel

Five Pricey Mistakes

Hands off the Honor Bar
Would you ever buy a $4 USD bottle of water in the store? How about a $3 bag of peanuts?

Not all honor bars are that expensive, and a few are even worse. The point is to leave them alone.

A few travelers are tempted to take the expensive water and then replace it the next day with a reasonably-priced bottle purchased elsewhere. It usually doesn't work, because inventory is taken each day and some bars are even equipped with motion sensors.

Bring your own snacks and leave the overpriced stuff for the next guest.

Skip the In-Room Movies

Motel porn is a half-billion dollar industry, but we're not just talking about those satellite selections when we say the movie bills are almost always ridiculously expensive.

For the price of some of these movies, you can rent three or four titles at your hometown rental store when you get home.

If you're bored, take a walk around the hotel, or if advisable, the neighborhood. You're on the road to discover new things, not to watch over-priced movies you can see at home, right?

These costs add up quickly, and are often the source of billing mistakes. Order one movie, and guests sometimes are charged for two or three.

It's best to stay out of the movie database altogether.

Many travelers do find in-room computer hook-ups to be a good deal. Some are as low-priced as $9.95 for 24 hours of high-speed Internet access. That's less than most of the movies cost for a two-hour show.

Avoid the Hotel's Expensive Parking Services

My bargain two-star room in Chicago was $48 USD/night. My car's accommodation was less expensive, but not much: $32 USD/day!

Suddenly, the bargain room is $80/night before the tax bill and other extras. Some might argue that's still not too bad for The Magnificent Mile, but you can do better. My space at the Grant Park North garage a mile or two away cost $13 USD/day. The car was in a well-lit, frequently patrolled area. Since I didn't plan to drive during my stay, it worked out well. It won't always work out this well, but it's usually worth the effort to explore other parking alternatives before plunking down what the hotel wants you to pay.

There are still more temptations--click "next" to the right to find out how to disconnect them.

Bewildering Fees

Stay off the Phone
This one is less of a problem than in previous years, because many travelers now carry their own cellular phones. But the temptation still sits on your nightstand. Hotels have a varied and bewildering array of surcharges and fees for using their phones. Some charge for local calls. Some put premium charges on long distance in addition to the standard rates.

If you don't have a cellphone, buy a pre-paid calling card for your long distance conversations. Ask about fees for calling the local pizza parlor or your in-town friends, too.

Keep Close Watch on other 'Extras'

We all know room service is usually overpriced, yet sometimes the convenience outweighs the cost. But if it becomes a habit, it will run your tab skyward.

Some hotels excel at charging us for other habits, too. Those who work out while on the road may find a charge for the privilege.

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