Where are you going?
Of course, this is a no-brainer. But one thing to keep in mind when travelling is that while staying in a metropolitan area may seem like the best idea, it may be much more economical to stay slightly farther away from the more expensive parts of town. A difference of just a few miles may save you a lot of money!

What amenities are you looking for?
Do you absolutely need to visit the gym in the morning? Or is it more important to get that continental breakfast? Is internet access an absolute must or are you more interested in watching movies from the comfort of your bed? Any good travel website featuring hotels will list all amenities in order for you to compare quality to prices, and to make sure that your life is not too terribly disrupted.

How much are you able to spend?
Many fantastic deals can be found online, with prices drastically slashed. If you're able to do a little research, do it! And make sure you figure in any taxes and fees the website will undoubtedly charge.

Where can you cut corners?
This is an extension of the previous point. Could you survive without the gym for a day? How about that concierge service, could you live if you didn't have it? Be honest with yourself and be as flexible as possible...this could make it a lot easier to find a place that works for you for you.

How set-in-stone are your plans?
Make sure you review all cancellation and confirmation policies very carefully, just in case plans change...as they can do at the drop of a hat.

Some great websites which I'm familiar with are:

Hotels.com
Orbitz.com
Travelocity.com
Cheaptickets.com

Happy hotelling!

Learn more about this author, Jennifer Morgan.
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