People interested in booking a summer vacation are scouring newspapers and
surfing the Net looking for the best deals possible.
But, the one nagging
question stopping many from pulling out their credit cards is - will the prices
go even lower?
"People would be wise to negotiate," said Bill DeSousa,
spokesperson for the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.
There's a good chance
places will be willing to negotiate early in the summer, especially mid week,
"to get heads in the beds," he said. DeSousa suggests that if someone has stayed
at a place they were happy with in the past, they should call them and tell them
what they can afford and see if they can strike a deal.
"I think a smart and
savvy innkeeper and motel owner will do it rather than have the room empty," he
said. "Once a night is gone, it's lost revenue."
The chamber's Web site,
www.capecodchamber.org, lists specials and three pages of hotels.
For
families on a tight budget, industry experts recommend renting cottages and
condominiums with fully-equipped kitchens to save money.
Travelers interested
in renting cottages or vacation homes on New Hampshire's Lake Winnipesaukee have
more to pick from this year.
"Due to the war in Iraq, many homeowners we
represent have listed later in the season because they were waiting to see if
they were going take a vacation themselves, leaving the property for us to
rent," said Mark Borrin of Preferred Vacation Rentals in Center Harbor,
N.H.
"We are sitting with the largest inventory we've ever seen at this time
of year," Borrin said.
Borrin said they have more listings this year because
property taxes have gone up and more home owners are interested in renting out
their homes.
Homeowners can rent out their homes for two weeks or less
during the year and they don't have to pay federal taxes on the money they
receive, Borrin said.
Borrin said they have plenty of two-bedroom cottages
starting at $600 a week in family oriented communities that share a beach such
as Weirs Beach.
Borrin pointed out that New Hampshire has many scenic
attractions including the White Mountains and the seacoast that don't cost a
dime.
"If they really want a value, come during the off-season for reductions
of 20 to 30 percent after Labor Day," Borrin said.
There are a number of
lodges that are offering a special when people stay two or more nights, said
Sharon Sullivan, executive assistant, Lincoln Woodstock New Hampshire Chamber of
Commerce. Vacationers receive a coupon book filled with free offers at
restaurants, attractions and shops.
Joan Talmadge one of the creators of
weneedavacation.com, offering vacation rentals on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard
and Nantucket, said their Web site matches vacationers' pocketbooks with their
preferences.
Talmadge said they have plenty of two-bedroom cottages that
sleep five within walking distance to the beach for $700 a week.
"Most people
did not raise their prices or they've come down," Talmadge said. "Homeowners
were a little nervous about increasing their prices."
The Internet also
offers information on vacations at state park campgrounds and youth hostels that
can be good options for budget-minded travelers.
While consumers find the
Internet a convenient tool for booking vacations, the Massachusetts Office of
Consumer Affairs warns consumers to thoroughly review properties and the rental
agreement before entering a contract.
Consumers should do their homework on a
property before renting, officials said. They advise consumers to work with a
licensed broker, visit the property before signing the rental agreement, and if
you run into problems with your rental, take pictures to document the
property.
Jean Porrazzo can be reached at jporrazzo@enterprisenews.com