Since the original hotel deals FAQ has disappeared, here’s one I put together for FW to use before posting any requests in Travel Deals.

This is to supplement the FatWallet Travel Deals FAQs. Please also refer to the FAQs/Guidelines.

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Before posting a new topic requesting help on the board, please make sure that you conduct a SEARCH to make sure that it has not been covered previously.

If you are seeking assistance in planning a trip, please include ALL of the following information:
a. Make sure you begin your Title with “REQUEST - …” For example, “REQUEST – Need cheap air/hotel package to Vegas from LAX in Oct”
b. Dates of travel
c. Departure city (and airports)/destination
d. # of people (adults/children) (if children, you may wish to include ages)
e. # of nights
f. Approximate budget for your trip
g. Activities that interest you
h. WHAT YOU HAVE FOUND SO FAR IN YOUR RESEARCH. Please include complete prices (incl all taxes and fees) and where you have located the deal.

Please DO NOT post a new topic until you have done the items listed above. Finally, once you have posted your information, and received feedback from the community for your trip, please try to post a message indicating the details of what you finally ended up purchasing so that others may benefit.

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FW Info Threads

Best Hotel Rate Guarantees

Las Vegas Promos List

Las Vegas Front Desk Tipping

Travel Guides to Popular Destinations

Hotel Search Tools

Kayak.com

Orbitz
Expedia
Travelocity

HRS (good for European hotels)

Hotel Deals & Other Search Tools

Travelzoo.com (lists hotel specials and packages & offers a weekly travel deals email)

Lastminute.com (offers last second deals on hotel + airfare and hotel + car packages)

hotelpricebot.com (hotel price comparison website)

hotelscomparison.com (hotel price comparison website)

Gtahotels.com

Octopustravel.com

Quikbook.com

Skoosh.com

BookIt

SkyAuction.com (offers hotel and vacation package auctions – be sure to factor in the taxes and service charges!)

Venere.com

Vrbo.com Vacation Rentals By Owner

Travelworm.com (Las Vegas deals)

Vegas.com (Las Vegas deals)

Opaque Booking Websites

Betterbidding.com (PL & HW assistance)
Biddingfortravel.com (PL only)

When using Priceline’s name your own price for a hotel, research on betterbidding or biddingfortravel BEFORE bidding on Priceline!

Priceline’s name your own price and Hotwire’s limited rate are non-refundable reservations. Priceline might grant you a one-time exception should you make an error. If they do, they will charge a $25 penalty and will require you to ‘correct’ your error by bidding again.

Priceline guarantees bedding for 2 people, not the type of bedding (king/two queens).
Note that some hotels may only fit 2 people in a room according to fire code regulations.

Hotwire allows you to select more than 2 people when making a reservation.

Also note that Priceline & Hotwire’s total price does NOT include any “resort fees” which must be paid directly to the hotel.

Hotel Reviews & Travel Information

Tripadvisor.com (hotel reviews & traveler photos)

Tripkick.com (online database of hotel rooms)

Smartertravel.com

Budgettravel.com

0rbitz Blog

Hotelchatter.com

Hotel Rewards Program Info

pointmaven.com (lists hotel point promotions)

please make this excellent post a sticky

Thanks for the post, I got a great discount at Porta di Roma

Thanks for this very useful post!

Here is another good source that was very helpful for me...

Smartervegas.com

I use Hotwire a lot - definitely some of the best deals in major cities (though not as much in suburbs/rural areas I've found).

And if you stay in Marriotts a lot, their rewards member forum is one of the best since they announce new deals/promo codes early from time to time: www.MarriottRewardsInsiders.com

here's a great source that I often use:
BroadwayBox.com
It's got many hotel dicount codes such as Mirage, Excalibur, MGM Grand and many more. It also has codes and discounts for shows like "Beatles LOVE", "KA by Cirque" and more...

Go to Betterbidding.com -- an excellent resource that will answer all your questions and give you great advice and help.

There's also DealBase.com - it analyzes hotel deals and packages to show if you're really getting a deal or not. (Sometimes it's cheaper to put a bunch of things together yourself, other times, no...)

They have custom e-mail alerts so you can pick which city's deals you want to be informed about.

How can u select a few days(5) hotel stay when you are selecting a return vacation pacakage ( for 7 days) on Orbitz.
The reason i m asking is that there is a 150$ off code for 5 days of hotel stay and our plan is for 7 days out of which we are staying a few days at freinds..

TIA