Hotel Chains Cut Rates, Offer Summer Specials

Ramada and Hilton are making a splash with special summer programs.

Ramada’s “Summer Sale” rates start at $37 a night until Sept. 30. Up to four guests can share a room at no extra cost, and the offer is good throughout the week. Nearly 450 Ramada properties and Renaissance hotels in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean are participating.

At check-in, guests receive a Budget Rent-a-Car coupon good for either $20 off a weekly rental or $10 off a weekend rental of two days or more on a compact or larger car. The car, however, must be returned to the original rental point.

There are more than 60 hotels with summer rates under $40, all in the United States. Rates start at $70 for the hotels in Canada and $65 in the Caribbean.

Hilton has extended its “BounceBack Weekend” to cover weekdays during the summer if stays include a Saturday night. The original program covered only Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

Rates start at $45 per room a night. The number of guests who can stay in the room varies from hotel to hotel, but at least two can stay for the same price, according to a Hilton spokesman.

Children of any age can stay free with one parent or grandparent. A continental breakfast for each guest is included.

Rates of $65 or under are available at 176 of the more than 250 properties participating in the BounceBack promotion, with rates 40% to 50% off regular prices.

The program is available until Sept. 4, but excluding weekdays, the program will continue after Sept. 4.

Contact travel agents or Ramada toll-free at (800) 228-2828, and Hilton at (800) HILTONS.

If you prefer a bed and breakfast inn, the Bed & Breakfast Innkeepers of Southern California are offering a “Mid-Weekenders Discount Coupon Book” for $10. The booklet contains 24 coupons for Sunday-Thursday stays, good until the end of 1990 at more than 20 member inns.

Some of the coupons set a specific dollar discount and others offer a percentage off room rates. Most of the dollar discounts are $10 to $30, with percentage discounts 10% to 25%.

Copies can be ordered through Brookside Farm Bed & Breakfast Inn, 1373 Marron Valley Road, Dulzura, Calif. 92017. For more information, call (619) 234-2926.