Saving Money While Staying Offsite

(Short Excerpts From the Book)

Always Look For the "Free Breakfast"

     Most of the offsite hotels offer a continental breakfast with your stay. Make sure to ask what the breakfast consists of. An extra $5 a night could be well spent on a hotel that has more breakfast options than donuts and juice.

     Some hotels will offer “kids eat free”. This is a good deal if you already planned on eating at the hotel restaurant. You need to read the fine print and ask questions when extended this offer. Most of the time kids eat free only if the parents buy a meal, and the deal may be restricted to one child per adult. If you have small children, you won’t save a lot of money if all they eat are a bowl of dry cereal and a doughnut. If you have four children, only two children eat for free. This can save money if you planned to eat out, but if you don’t plan to eat out look for the continental breakfast instead.

     Another thing to ask is if they have a dining room. Many places have been known to convert a motel room or tiny corner of the lobby into a breakfast area just so they can say that they offer a free breakfast.

Free Refrigerator and Microwave

     These are great option to look for. A lot of hotels in the area offer this amenity for free.

     With a refrigerator, you cannot only keep all of your food cold, but you can also take advantage of the freezer. With a freezer you can freeze your water bottles, portable yogurt, or juice overnight. Not only can these items be a replacement for ice in your cooler the next day, but they can also stay colder longer throughout the day.

     With a microwave you can cook hot meals in the room. Ravioli, Easy Mac, oatmeal, Hot Pockets, pizza rolls, personal frozen pizzas, and popcorn are all favorites that can substitute for a meal. Although it is tough (and not very fairytale-like) to eat these types of foods all the time, they can substitute for a lunch or dinner here and there.

If You are Loyal to a Particular Chain You Can Stay There

     If you have a favorite chain that you trust and have a relationship with, you can feel confident staying there. It is sometimes a gamble to stay at a new hotel chain. If you aren’t familiar with their standards and policies, you could get a bad deal.

     Many chains offer free nights to loyal customers. You would be able to apply these free nights to your trip and therefore reduce your overall budget needs. Many chains offer memberships and discounts to their customers. Take these into consideration when weighing the costs.

Most of the Time they are Cheaper and have Bigger Rooms than the Disney Resort Hotels

     Not only are hotels offsite cheaper, but also many times they can have bigger rooms with extras like kitchenettes. Some will offer full suites with extra bedrooms for less than you would pay at the Value Resorts on Disney property.

     It is amazing how much can be saved in hotel expenses alone by staying offsite. Remember the biggest costs that you will incur on your trip will be the price of admission and the price of your hotel. You can’t do a whole lot with the price of admission, but you can make a big difference with how much you pay for your hotel. Take advantage of this if you can.

Rent a Whole House Instead of a Hotel Room

     There are many companies and individuals that offer offsite home rentals. Most of these homes offer 3 or 4 bedrooms (up to 7 or more). Most offer a private enclosed pool attached to the back of the house

     A 3 or 4 bedroom home has an average range of $80-$120 a night. The prices will depend on what time of the year and the source of the quote. During the Value Season some homes have been known to go for as low as $50 a night.

     Check out some great sources for finding a cheap rate on a rental home in the book.

Want More Offsite Hotel Tips and Secrets? Disney on a Dime, The Book-Available Now!!

Look to Disney on a Dime for the latest and greatest ways to Save money on your Disney World Vacation. Look in the Book for more Offsite Hotel tips on: How to Get the Best Rate Location Analysis Campground Listings Best Time to Book The Dirt on Hotel Shuttles Discounts to Non-Disney Parks Renting Condos/ Timeshares Offsite Hotel Watch Outs How to Book Your Room More Hotel Tips and Secrets

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