Hotels Making City Life Cost Less This Summer

If the idea of luxury at less-than-luxury prices sounds good, this may be the summer to head for the big city. From coast to coast, some of the country’s fanciest hotel chains are slashing their summer room rates by up to 60%. The bargains are aimed primarily at vacationing travelers and can mean even greater savings for those who’ve snapped up current discounted air tickets. So now you can indulge your champagne tastes while sticking to a beer budget. Well, almost.

Summer price cuts or other incentives have been announced by Marriott, Radisson, Omni, Wyndham, InterContinental, Hilton and others, all upscale lodgings. In an unusual move, Marriott--which appears to be offering the sharpest cuts--has adopted an airline marketing tactic. To get Marriott’s cheapest rates, you must book your room at least 14 or 21 days in advance, and you don’t get a refund if you have to cancel.

Marriott also is among the chains that are offering lower rates every day of the week, and children under age 6 get free meals when dining with at least one adult who is a registered guest. Other chains have limited the discounts or other incentives to weekends only. Wyndham’s weekend, however, is a full three nights long--either Thursday through Saturday or Friday through Sunday--and you stay three nights for the price of two.

The catch, if you consider it such, to these special summer promotions is that many of the participating hotels are in urban areas rather than at the beach or in the mountains. On the other hand, many of the nation’s most appealing cities are represented, among them New York, Boston, Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, New Orleans, Cincinnati, Hartford, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Chicago, Washington and Baltimore.

Thousands of Americans eagerly fly to Europe each summer to tour the Continent’s old capitals, but the cultural and historical riches of this country’s cities often are overlooked. All of the U.S. cities named above boast beautiful parks, fine art museums, intriguing architecture and distinctive food. You could spend a weekend or a week in any of them, sightseeing as you might in Europe. Many of the hotel discounts also are available in smaller cities, such as Colorado Springs, Colo., and Burlington, Vt.

And as a vacation bonus, you now have the opportunity to treat yourself to plush accommodations at substantially less than luxury prices.

Travelers who take advantage of reduced-price airline tickets in the latest round of domestic air-fare cuts can reap added savings by checking out some of these hotel discount programs. The airlines have extended the ticket sale until June 30.

Urban hotels traditionally cut rates during the summer months because business travel slacks off. But this year, they have even more reason to reduce them. The lodging industry has continued to suffer from the impact of the recession, which hit while many chains were in the midst of a building boom. They now have empty rooms to fill. Their likeliest customers at this time of year are vacationers--especially families, who might be tempted into upscale lodgings by more affordable rates.

Marriott first tested the advance-booking, no-refund idea over the past year-end holiday season. A “surprising percentage” of guests who participated told the chain they might not otherwise have taken a trip or stayed in a hotel without the rate cuts, according to Robert Bloch, Marriott’s senior vice president of sales and marketing. Marriott is looking for a repeat of the program’s success as a way to jump-start this summer’s travel season.

And don’t feel left out if a big city isn’t your idea of a vacation getaway. Most of the chains are also offering lower rates at many resort areas, although the best deals may be limited to midweek periods when leisure travel is weakest. You can find good values at beach hotels in South Florida--Marco Island and Boca Raton, for example--and at golf resorts in Tucson and other southern Arizona communities, where winter is the high season.

As in almost all discount programs, not every hotel in each chain is participating, and the number of rooms at the lower price is limited. At least 10% of the rooms in Marriott’s 192 participating properties (out of 226 nationally) have been designated for its advance-booking, no-refund program, according to Bloch.

Among this summer’s hotel discounts and other lodging promotions:

--Marriott Hotels, Resorts and Suites: Marriott is lowering its rates by up to about 60% this summer, provided you book either 14 or 21 days in advance. Depending on the hotel, you may save $5 to $10 a night by reserving 21 days in advance rather than 14 days. Only a credit card is accepted for payment, and no refund will be made if you change your mind.

To protect the “credibility” of its program, says Bloch, Marriott expects to be very strict about issuing refunds, although some leniency can be expected in the event of a death in the family or similar circumstances. For information: Marriott, (800) 228-9290.

--Wyndham Hotels & Resorts: Noting the trend toward shorter vacations, Wyndham has introduced its “Every Weekend a Three-Day Weekend” program. You get three weekend nights for the price of two through Sept. 30, and room rates are cut by an average of 50%.

The offer, which includes free parking, is available at Wyndham’s 34 hotels and resorts in the United States and Caribbean. A weekend is defined as Thursday through Saturday nights or Friday through Sunday nights. For information: Wyndham, (800) 822-4200.

--Radisson Hotels International: Taking direct aim at Marriott’s new sales pitch, Radisson has introduced a “Shades of Summer” rates promotion by emphasizing that its cheaper rooms come with “no pre-payment requirements or cancellation penalties.”

At many of Radisson’s 250 properties, rates have been cut by 25% to 50%, according to Thomas W. Storey, executive vice president for sales and marketing. Reduced rates are available at Radisson hotels Friday through Sunday nights, and at Radisson resorts Monday through Thursday nights. Only properties in the United States (about 165), Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean are included in the offer. Advance reservations are required. For information: Radisson, (800) 333-3333.

--Omni Hotels: This spring, Omni has been offering what it calls “Emotional Rescue” weekends at a savings of 30% to 50% off regular rates. From July through Labor Day, the same reduced rates are good any day of the week at the chain’s 37 hotels in the United States and Mexico. For information: Omni, (800) 843-6664.

--InterContinental Hotels: InterContinental’s 10 deluxe U.S. and Canadian properties are promoting a “Summer Spectacular,” with reduced daily rates of $79 to $149 through Sept. 8. For information: (800) 327-0200.

--Hilton Hotels: Hilton has dubbed its summer special a “Bounce Back Vacation,” and discounts are available daily through Sept. 2. However, to qualify for a cheaper room from Monday through Thursday, you must stay over a Saturday night. Discounted rates range from $65 to $199 a night, depending on the hotel, and all but a few of Hilton’s 260 U.S. properties are participating. Comparable rates are $75 to $250 a night. While the offer is in effect, children stay free in their parents’ room, and everyone gets a complimentary continental breakfast. For information: (800) 932-3322.

--The spiffy new New York Embassy Suites on Broadway at 47th Street is offering a weekend rate (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) of $129 a night for up to two adults and two children. For the price, you get a private bedroom, sitting room with pullout bed, mini-kitchen, full cooked-to-order breakfast daily and a complimentary cocktail hour each evening. For information: (212) 719-1600.