June 28, 2005
Hotel prices on the rise
USA Today notes that more travelers this summer means more expenisve hotel rooms. They have some advice to save money including staying away from the city center. Rates should be cheaper the further you are from the sights.
Personally, I would much rather pay a little more for a hotel room in a nice part of downtown in whichever city I'm staying in. I don't like walking long distances to get to the sights, and I don't think taking taxis will be cheaper than just getting a more central hotel. The remaining option is public transportation. Buses take too long for me to figure out but I don't mind riding subways. Not every city has subways though...
Posted by James Trotta at June 28, 2005 6:49 PM
I feel your pain. I really do. For ten plus years I travelled extensively as a world ranked professional distance runner, staying in the plushest and most expensive lodgings great cities had to offer.AND with a corporate sponsor always kind enough to pick up my bill you'd be forgiven for believing that hotel costs never crossed my mind. On the contrary.
It really bothered me to see well groomed guests trudging across lobbies with shopping bags of twinkies, soda pops and other in-room 'necessities', they bought in near-by convenience stores. Especially families on holiday, they had it real bad. The cost of dinner in hotel restaurants (especially in areas not too safe at night - and the hotels seemed to take advantage of that)for a family of four could cost as much as half a month's grocery bill...
Sometimes business can be cruel.
If you feel that hotel prices are going up, then you should try some new destinations in Europe. You can always get good deals for Prague hotels if you are travelling in July. Besides, the public transport in Prague works really well.
Posted by: Eric Sherman at July 2, 2005 7:08 AM