The most recent study of hotel rates offered by various websites found AAA.com to be the site most likely to have the best rate for a three-night stay. Harris Interactive says AAA.com has the best hotel rate 64% of the time, outranking AARP, Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia. Actual hotel websites followed AAA.com, coming in second at 61%. AARP was a distant third at 25%.

“This validates the work that AAA has been doing to stay relevant to travelers’ needs. Whether it’s our website or our travel agents, AAA remains a traveler’s best friend,” said Martha Mitchell Meade, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “We strive to provide the best deals possible. We hope that travelers will bookmark AAA.com for their future trips.”

BEST HOTEL RATES FOR A THREE-NIGHT STAY
1.      64% of the time         AAA.com
2.      61% of the time various hotel sites
3.      25% of the time AARP
4.      6% of the time          Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity

The study, which is conducted by Harris Interactive on a quarterly basis for AAA, tracked rates at 36 AAA Two, Three and Four Diamond properties across the U.S. for a three-night stay including taxes. Since Harris Interactive began this tracking in January 2006, AAA has consistently outranked other web sites.

TOP TEN TIPS FOR GETTING A GOOD HOTEL RATE:
1.      Log onto AAA.com.
2.   Go during the off-season. The less demand for rooms, the better the prices.
3.   Consider weeknight stays. Again, the law of supply and demand.
4.   Savings vs. amenities. Do you need a hotel with all the extras - or is a clean, comfortable room enough?
5.   Use a travel agent. Travel agents are privy to special rates you may not find elsewhere.
6.   Don’t forget discounts. Use every discount you have - AAA, military, senior, children, etc.
7.   Stay at a less centralized location. If you don’t mind staying a few miles away from your destination, you may find a better rate. Downtown and airport hotels tend to be more expensive.

8.   Book a package. Pay for air, hotel, and other transportation together and you may find special hotel rates not available if booking only a hotel.

9.   Frequent flier miles and hotel loyalty memberships. Both options can provide discounts on hotel rooms and allow you to earn rewards with every stay.

10. Don’t be afraid to barter. Room rates are negotiable. If the hotel is nowhere near full - make an offer and see what they say.

AAA Mid-Atlantic serves nearly 835,000 members in the Commonwealth of Virginia and a total of 3.8 million members in Washington, DC; Maryland; Virginia; Delaware; Pennsylvania; and New Jersey combined. It provides a wide range of automotive, personal insurance, travel, and financial services through its 50-plus retail branches, regional operations centers, and the Internet. For more information on AAA Mid-Atlantic, please visit our web site at www.aaamidatlantic.com.

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