How do I get disconts at Motels/Hotels
 

Reading the thread on "Showers", brings up a question that's been on my mind:

How do I obtain a "Check Inn Card" and is that the only way to get discounts at motels/hotels and are there other ways?

Re: How do I get disconts at Motels/Hotels
 

Join an organization that negociates discounts. AARP, AAA, NRA or some that come to mind. Join a hotel chain's membership club where you earn points toward a future stay. Usually it is stay 10 nights and get one free. Use Hotwire or any of the other such services online to bid on a lower rate. If it is a national chain, especially, go online to see if they have any internet specials. Those are some ideas right off the top of my head.

Two ways,

Sign up for the "points programs" or use a big gun during check in.

the quality inn chain of motel/hotels usually all have a deal where if ya stay 2 or 3 days you get one free, everyone i`ve stayed in has been nice enough for an overnight, me and my wife used to stay in em before the kids came along.

Many hotels/motels will give you a CDL discount. Never hurts to ask.

You can book rooms online with the hotel while your outside on your laptop and sometimes get over 25% discount. I'm surrounded by hotels where I work and I'm over an hour away from home. Sometimes I work late and don't want to drive home so I book online with one of the hotel chains around me and pay a lot less then the advertised price.

Re: How do I get disconts at Motels/Hotels
 

Go here and type "friend" for the key code and get the 9.95 fee waved to request a CheckInn card.
http://www.checkinncard.com/indexa.c...5&B=CID&A=7739

BEWARE OF THE CHECKINN PROGRAM... I HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS... IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET A MOTEL TO HONOR THE PROGRAM... CHECKINN OVERCHARGED ME NUMEROUS TIMES... AND THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS TERRIBLE. STAY AWAY FROM CHECKINN DIRECT IF YOU ARE PAYING FOR IT YOURSELF.

Thank you. I was going to request information on this company. Haven't I seen you on television? :D

I have a Check Inn card, and have never had a problem with it. All the hotels that you can use it at are listed on their website, and I have found their customer service to be just fine.

What ever happened to old "Dog" Chapman?? did he get jail time or what??

Room Discounts
 

Ask for 'em. My experience most motels have a "truckers discount" based solely on CDL A possession. If you're over 50, get an AARP card, I get temps in the mail all the time. BOL

I have a buddy who is over 50 and doesnt have an AARP card....he just asked for his "aarp discount" and they NEVER ask to see the card.

Hey ...

Big THANKS to ALL and the spirit everyone posted with.

I now have a much better picture of the issue, the idustry ... and lodging!

Here's hoping there's someone to leave the light on for all of us. (cough, cough...)

I use military discount and they never ask for proof.

I have found out that the price of a room is also negotiable. The later it is the cheaper the negotiated price will be. I never knew this until one of my cousins started working at a Ramada. It works ! try it

Re: How do I get disconts at Motels/Hotels
 

If you're a Veteran and you belong to any Vet organizations they all will give you Discounts on Rentals-Motel/Hotel etc etc.

The worst they can say is No.
 

Hotels will give a 10% maybe 15% discount for any reason. An empty room costs more money than an occupied room with overhead, utilities, etc. Basically, just ask. Explain that you're staying for more than one night, take notice of the number of cars in the parking lot, or the number of lights on in the windows. Never, NEVER EVER say you'll only be there a few hours, or only want a clean shower. If the hotel has of empty rooms and it's 10:30 at night, they'll do what ever they can to get heads in beds. If the hotel has only one room left and it's 8pm, forget it, you'll pay twice what the room is worth.

Points programs are to get you to spend more money at the national level, just like airline miles on your credit card. I only remember Holiday Inn offering discounts for their Priority Club. Everyone else basically gives you enough points so that you can someday get a free night. Even with discounted rates, those points add up and will come in handy around vacation time. Fairfield Inn is built for that purpose. Travelers stay at Fairfields for the lower rate, but cash their points in at other Marriott hotels in the Bahamas, Cancun, etc. Most travelers generally think of it as their tenth night free but most travelers are members of EVERY points program.

Most hotel employees don't know about resets and you really want them to. They understand you have a sleeper an can live in the truck, but to keep from having an empty room, they'll work with you for a two night stay, especially on the slow nights like Sunday or Thursday. Be as nice as you can. Hotel clerks get enough a33holes and won't do anything to help them. Don't invite them to the room either, then they just want you to go away. If you do get a good discount, make sure you tell the manager in the morning how you could have gone anywhere, but the desk clerk at night made you choose this place. Also tell them you have coworkers who come through the area regularly and you can recommend their hotel.

If you can call around before hand, most hotels will match their competition's rates, especially on the slow nights.

Now the Check Inn card is operated by Corporate Lodging Consultants from somewhere in Kansas. Hotel owners nationwide are hoping a tornado will hit that building. CLC operates just like Priceline and Hotels.com. They hustle hotel chains into a bare bones rate, usually about a 50% discount, then brag to the customers how they got a 20% discount for them and they pocket the rest. Plus the hotels have to jump through so many hoops to make sure they get paid, they'll probably be happy to offer a 15% or 20% discount just to avoid the hassle.

yeah dk132 if you look close you might even c their rate negotiation sheet on the lower counter.such as what to do incase of rate resistance &so on.
i think its fair to take their normal rate divide by 24 hrs in the day how many hours left before chck out equals the price. I have always tried to find the cheapest decent hotel alot of them 50to 80 per night is just to much what a rip off.

I always ask for the trucker rate. If they don't have one, ask if you qualify for another one. A lot of the time if you smile at the clerk or start a conversation they will hook you up and give you a good rate, and a better room location.

In Orange county California, I was shocked a LaQuinta was over 100 bucks, so I put on my puppy dog face and the guy gave it to me for 90 flat.

With the rate of motel stays I did during the summer, I should have at least a Bachelor's of Hotel Room Negotiation 8)

But, always ask for the discount. Make it seem that price is the concern, not the ammentities (as long as they have wifi, I could care less about workout rooms, breakfast, etc) because that isn't important to me. Sometimes, I can't negotiate the rate, but I get an upgrade.

Just for the heck of it, I searched LaQuinta for that area, and got a rate of $55 - $60 per night with my Check Inn card. :wink:

Suddath Los Angeles
14221 East Artesia Blvd.
LaMirada, California 90638

Laquinta was >1mi away, Friday night - Sat stay. :wink:

Hell, I'm here in Kenner, Louisiana and I went into a LaQuinta, and for a 1 bed, single smallest sardeen can they could squeeze me into...$139.00...I asked her over and over, and kept re-iterating I wanted a 1 bed...I laughed, told her "eff that shit, and walked out"...another guy heard my convo, and turned around and headed out just as quick as he came in...said they were off their rocker to ask that kinda money.

Rev.....I agree, even though I don't have one or have any need for one........I've heard nothing but positive things from other OTR drivers about it. :D :D