Don’t Discount These Hotel and Motel Prices

As the summer travel season approaches, here’s an update on seniors’ discounts at major hotel/motel chains.

Best Western: More than 1,300 independently owned franchise hotels. Offers 10% off to those 55 years and older and members of the American Assn. of Retired Persons (AARP). Reservations required. Call (800) 528-1234.

Budgetel Inns: String of economical motels in Midwest and South. Offers 10% off to those 55 and older. Call Budgetel at (800) 428-3438.

Calinda Inns (Mexico): Affiliated with Choice Hotels International. Gives those 50 and older 30% off on rooms, 15% on meals. Call (800) 228-5151.

Choice Hotels International: Formerly Quality International and now world’s largest franchise chain with 2,500 Comfort Inns, Quality Inns, Clarion Hotels, Sleep Inns, Econo Lodges, Friendship Inns and Rodeway Inns. Offers a 30% prime-time senior discount (if space is available) to AARP members, those 60 and older and members of United Airlines’ “Silver Wings Plus.” Advance reservations required. Call (800) 221-2222 or (800) 424-4777. With no advance reservations, the discount is 10%.

Compri Inns: Offers 15% off to AARP members and those 60 and older at its 24 hotels, including three in California. Call (800) 426-6774.

Days Inn: A straight 10% discount to members of AARP, other seniors organizations and to those 50 and older. A $12 annual charge for its “September Days Club,” offering discounts 15% to 40% at its various hotels, plus savings on hotel meals, car rentals and tours. Call (800) 325-2525.

Drury Inns: A modest-priced chain with 10% off to members of AARP, Sears Mature Outlook and to those 55 and older. Call (800) 325-8300.

Embassy Suite Hotels: Offers 10% discount to AARP members. Check individual hotels. Some provide discounts to those 55 and older, others to those 65 and older. Also, some hotels may have special weekend packages. Call (800) 362-2779.

Exel Inns: Gives 10% off to all seniors. Call (800) 356-8013.

Fairfield Inns: Economy division of Marriott with 50 inns in 17 states. Offers a 15% discount to AARP members, 10% to those 62 and older. Call (800) 228-2800.

Hampton Inns: Offers “Life Style 50 Program” in which up to four adults 50 years and older can share one room with two double beds for the single-person rate. Membership is free. Call (800) 426-7866.

Hilton Hotels: Offers “Senior HHonors” for those 60 and older for $35 a year. Provides up to 50% in discounts, varying with hotel and season at more than 250 domestic Hilton hotels. Program costs $50 a year for domestic hotels and more than 80 International Hilton and Conrad hotels. Call (800) 445-8667, Ext. 901.

Holiday Inns: Offers 20% off on rooms and 10% on hotel meals to members of AARP and other seniors organizations. Call (800) 465-4329.

Howard Johnson: Gives 15% to 50% off, depending on hotel and season, to members of AARP, Mature Outlook and other seniors organizations. Also has “Road Rally” program--stay three nights or longer and get extra deals and a chance to win a new car or other prizes. Call (800) 634-3464.

Hyatt Hotels: Individual hotels offer their own senior rates, mostly during off-season periods. Call (800) 233-1234.

Imperial 400 Inns: Gives 10% off to AARP members and to those 55 and older. Call (703) 524-4880.

Inn Suites: Offers a “Silver Passport” discount to those 55 and older of 10% midweek, 15% weekend. Call (800) 842-4242.

Knights Inn: Budget chain, mostly in the South, gives 10% to those 55 and older. Call (800) 722-7220.

La Quinta Motor Inns: Another budget chain with more than 200 hotels. Offers 15% to members of AARP and other seniors organizations and to those age 55 and older. Also has “Senior Class” ($10 annual fee) membership for those 60 and older. Provides a 20% discount, plus $20 off first-night’s stay. Call (800) 531-5900.

L-K Motels: Midwestern budget chain that’s expanding West. Offers 10% off to AARP members and those 55 and older. Call (800) 262-5711.

Marriott: “Leisurelife Program” for AARP members or those 62 and older provides up to 50% off at most hotels (sometimes limited during peak seasons or special events). Also, gives 25% discount on hotel-restaurant meals, 10% on hotel gift-shop purchases. Call (800) 228-9290.

Omni Hotels: Provides up to 50% off on space-available rooms at its 37 hotels for AARP members with advance reservations. Also 15% off restaurant meals. Call (800) 843-6664.

Prime Rate Motels: Gives 10% discount at participating motels. Call (800) 356-3004.

Radisson Hotels: AARP members get 10% to 25% discount. Same for members of other seniors organizations and those 65 and older. Reservations required. Call (800) 333-3333.

Ramada: Offers 25% off at inns, hotels and Renaissance Hotels in its “Best Years Program.” For members of AARP, similar seniors organizations and those 60 and older. Ramada also has a “4 for 1 Plus Program.” Four people stay in one room for the price of one person, and a $5 discount coupon is given for the next stay. Call (800) 228-2828.

Red Carpet Inns (also Scottish Inns and Master Host Inns): Gives a 10% discount for AARP members and those 55 and older. Call (800) 251-1962.

Red Lion Inns/Thunderbird Motor Inns: Has 59 inns in the West. “Senior Prime Rate” gives 20% off room rates and 15% in hotel restaurants to AARP members and others 50 and older. Call (800) 547-8010.

Red Roof Inns: A budget-priced chain that gives 10% off to those 60 and older. Offers a “Redicard” for $10 annually that gives a 10% discount, five $2 certificates good on five other stays and a newsletter showing other discounts. About 200 motels in the East, Midwest and South. Call (800) 843-7663.

Residence Inns: Marriott’s all-suite hotel chain. A 15% discount to AARP members. Call (800) 331-3131.

Sheraton Hotels: Up to 25% discount on all but minimum-rate rooms for members of AARP or others 60 and older. May be limited at peak seasons. Reservations required. Call (800) 325-3535.

Shoney Inns: A 10% discount at 56 inns mostly centered in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic states. Call (800) 222-2222.

Stouffer Hotels: Has a “Great Years Program” for those 60 and older, offering a room at $59 a day (non-resort hotels could be less). Call (800) 468-3571.

Super 8 Motels: Offers 10% off at participating motels. Call (800) 848-8888.

Travelodge Inns/Viscount Hotels: Gives 20% off to members of AARP, other seniors organizations and to those 50 and older through its “Classic Travel Club.” More than 500 hotels participating. Club cost is $15 one year, $25 two years and $35 three years. Occasional specials up to 25% off at Southern California Viscount hotels. Call (800) 545-6343 or (800) 255-3050.

Vagabond Inns: Heavy on the West Coast. A free “Vagabond 55 Club” provides benefits of $10 in room-discount coupons for a first stay, 10% to 15% off rates, and enables four people to stay in one room at a single-person rate. In addition, offers club packages to their various hotels for those 55 and over. Call (800) 522-1555.

Westin Hotels: A 50% discount for members of UAL’s “Silver Wings.” Call (800) 228-3000.