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How Suite It Is: Summer Room Reductions Across the USA

June 4, 2003 -- Hotel chains are discounting rooms willy nilly and offering incentives to lure summer travelers to their brand of lodgings. Here's a rundown of the best current values for properties throughout the US. All prices listed are pre-tax, which will vary by location, and are based on availability.

You can find single rooms as low as $32 a night with doubles and suites starting from $42 at the Microtel Inns & Suites this summer through August 31 with their "Get Up & Go" rates. The company currently manages 268 hotels worldwide, with the majority in the USA stretching from Charlotte NC in the east to Bozeman MT in the west. If you join their MicroPass frequent customer program and stay nine nights, you get the tenth free. To reserve, visit www.microtelinn.com or phone 800/771-7171.

The Starwood Group (www.starwood.com) operates several property brands, including Four Points, Sheraton, W Hotels and Westin.

  • Weekend rates start at just $49 at participating Four Points hotels. If you spend two weekend nights at any Four Points in the US between now and June 29, 2003, you get a free one-year subscription to Golf Digest magazine. This offer is available for online reservations only. Enter promo code PFGOLF to get it. Four Points by Sheraton hotels are moderately priced, and known for such amenities and benefits as room service, fitness centers, swimming pools and membership in a Preferred Guest program.
  • Sheraton has special "Summer Weekend" rates from $59 a night per room at select properties. Rates are valid Fridays through Sundays through September 14 when you book by June 15. Stays must include a Friday or Saturday night. Added bonus: pay with a MasterCard, and you'll get a room upgrade and a $25 dining credit. Some city and resort rates may start at $109 and up.
  • You can find a similar, but pricier, offer at participating Westin hotels. "Luxury" weekends are available from $99 to $149 if you book by June 15 for stays through September 14. You can also enter their sweepstakes to win some weekend pampering in New York City, Hollywood FL or Scottsdale AZ.

Days Inn isn't necessarily discounting its rooms this summer -- although they're still affordable averaging about $55 a night. Instead, the hotelier, part of the Cendant group of hotels, is offering coupons valued at $120 towards meals and car rentals. As part of their summer "Sizzlin' Summer Days" promotions, you'll receive certificates for free kids' entrees redeemable at Denny's restaurants as well as discount coupons for Chi-Chi's, Mrs. Fields Cookies, Cinnamon and Budget Rent a Car. This offer expires September 4. To book rooms, visit www.daysinn.com or phone 800/DAYS INN.

The Super 8 chain has a tie-in with Denny's this summer for stays through September 4 as well, since it's also part of the Cendant group. Book a room, and you'll get a certificate good for one entrée from the kids menu with the purchase of one adult entrée. The voucher is valid through October 4. To guarantee yourself the best rates at Super 8, go to their "Drive-Inn Summer Rates" section of the website. And if you're an AARP member, you may qualify for a further 10% discount at participating locations. Check out the website at www.super8.com. For all Cendant hotels (Super8, Days Inn, Amerihost, Howard Johnson, Knights Inn, Ramada, Travelodge, Villager and Wingate) go to www.cendant.com/franchising/hotel-franchises for links to individual chains.

The Motel 6 brand has been recently purchased by the French company Accor, and the properties have been completely refurbished, yet they still maintain affordable rates. Make your reservations online at www.motel6.com, and you can save up to 15% on the usual non-discounted rate using the "Find Click 6 Web Bargain" button. At press time, it was valid at some 186 locations around the country.

Finally, don't forget about Marriot International (www.marriott.com; 866/808-PLAY) and its 1,800 plus properties spread across seven brands: Marriott, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn, Renaissance, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites and TownPlace Suites. Its summer weekend rate promotion, called "Come Out and Play," offers rooms from Thursdays to Sundays from $49 per night up to $159 per night, depending on which brand you sleep in. Book with an American Express card to get an additional 15 percent off. Certain city and resort properties are excluded from this offer, which expires September 1.


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