Built in 1886, the Crescent Hotel is widely considered to be one of America’s most haunted hotels. In its early years, the hotel had a difficult time sustaining itself financially and changed roles a number of times, briefly becoming a College, and then Junior College. In 1937 the Hotel was bought by Norman Baker, a self styled “Doctor” (although he had no training), who claimed to have found the cure for cancer. He turned the hotel into a health resort. Needless to say, those who came seeking treatment found no hope in his magic elixirs and quite a few died at the hotel. Since this time, ghosts have been sighted frequently by guests. Below are a few of the most compelling pictures of ghost sightings at the hotel and video from the Sci-Fi channel’s Ghost Hunters which shows a ghost on a thermal video camera. If you are looking to scare yourself, rooms in the lower portion of the hotel where most of the paranormal activity has occurred are available during the month of October. For something a little less spooky, you may want to check out our New York Hotels.

2. The Queen Mary Hotel

This 1,000 ft ship took her maiden voyage on my 27th 1936, and for the next three years hosted the world’s rich and famous on their transatlantic voyages. To get out a bit and see more of the world than their standard London Hotels, many of the upper class sought out these pleasure cruises. Notorious name such as Clark Gable, Mary Pickford, Greta Garbo, and even Winston Churchill took a ride on the beautiful Queen Mary. In 1939 the ship was commandeered for military use as a troop ship and nicknamed “The Grey Ghost.” During the war, on a run across the Atlantic, a tragedy occurred. As the Queen Mary was steaming full speed on its mission, one of its escort ships, a British World War I era light-cruiser named HMS Curacao cut across the bow, was rammed, and cut in two. Around 300 of the Curacao’s crew were killed.

Video Clip: Video clip exploring the history and mysterious incidents aboard the Queen Mary Hotel.

3. Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast

Lizzie Borden took an axe,
And gave her mother forty whacks,
When she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.

On the morning of August 4, 1892 Lizzie Borden brutally murdered her stepmother and father with an axe. Her mother, Abby Borden, was found between the bed and the bureau in the guest room. Her father, Andrew Borden, was found lying with his head on the arm of a sofa in the downstairs sitting room. Although acquitted because of a lack of evidence, there is little doubt that Lizzie committed the crime. After the trial, Lizzie was Ostracized by the Fall River, MA community where she lived until she died in 1927. The house is now a bed and breakfast, where frequent paranormal activities are reported. If you are brave enough, you can stay in Lizzie’s room, or even the rooms of her murdered parents here.

Video Clip: TV expose regarding the Lizzie Borden murders of Fall River Massachusetts. Features interviews with the proprietors of the current bed and breakfast and a reporter’s attempt at spending the night.

4. The Old Spot Hotel

Built in the 1830′s, The Old Spot Hotel located in the township of Gawler in South Australia was actually the town’s first building. Over the years it has housed many different businesses including a Post Office, A morgue, and today a hotel. According to legends, after renovations done to the building to create the hotel, strange things started to happen. Today, many hotel guests report hearing unexplained noises and seeing apparitions of a little girl. In the mid 1990′s a hotel guest caught a bizarre and terrifying image of 3 ghosts on camera. Looked at by several photo experts, the image has thus far not been debunked as fake. Many witch hunters find their way to the mystery capital of the US midwest, Chicago. And when planning your trip, make sure to check out our rates on Chicago Hotels – spend your money on the tours, not your hotel room.

5. Hotel Del Coronado

A luxury hotel just across the San Diego Bay in California, the Hotel Del Coronado is a beautiful example of Victorian Architecture. Famed for it’s historical architectural lines, the Hotel Del Coronado is easily one of the most beautiful San Diego Hotels. Although frequented by many famous people including Thomas Edison, L. Frank Baum, Charlie Chaplin, Charles Lindbergh, and many US presidents, the hotel is best known for a more obscure guest, Kate Morgan. Kate Morgan checked into room 302 (then 3312, now 3327), to meet with her brother who was a doctor and was going to give her medicine for her stomach cancer, but he never arrived. She was found dead on the steps going to the beach six days later. The case was declared a suicide. She had shot herself. Since this incident, her ghost has been seen many times by hotel guests. Also worthy of mention, the hotel served as the inspiration for the recent movie 1408, after the book by Stephen King.

Video Clip: Interview with a hotel guest describing her strange experiences with the ghost of Kate Morgan.

6. The Stanley Hotel

This 138 room hotel was built in Estes Park Colorado in 1909. The first owner, Freelan O. Stanley and his wife are said to have loved the hotel so much that their ghosts remained after their deaths. The ghost of F.O. Stanley has been seen in the lobby, behind the bar and in the Billiards Room, his favorite spots in the hotel. Flora’s ghost is believed to still play piano in the music room; many guests have heard beautiful music coming from the room that stops as soon as they enter to find no one sitting at the piano. After spending a night at the hotel, famous author Stephen King was inspired to write about the Overlook hotel in his book The Shining. The un-cut R-rated version of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining and the ABC miniseries version play on a continuous loop on channel 60 on all guest room televisions. When coming into town, you may want to stop at hot spot, Denver. With it’s restaurants, nightlife and outdoor activities, a good night or two of sleep in one of our Denver Hotels should help get you ready for your sleepless nights ahead of ghost hunting.

Video Clip: Clip taken from the Ghost Hunters second examination of the haunted hotel on Halloween night.

Video Clip: Quick clip from Stanley Kubrick’s film adaptation of the Stephen King novel.

Check out Hotels Cheap for great rates on un-haunted hotels.  The only thing scary are the available discounts.

Fortunately, the situation in Beijing sounds like it’ll be quite different. Although a recent BusinessWeek report carried the headline Prices for Beijing hotels skyrocket , the details make it sound like there will actually be a slight over-supply of hotel rooms come August, and that it won’t be impossible to get a reasonably priced room. You might need to be patient or shop around, though.

Hotels have already dropped the initial requirement that guests book for the full period of the Olympic Games; now you can book for just four or five days. Just the same, with a million Chinese visitors and half a million foreign visitors expected to arrive for the Olympics, it would pay to keep your eye on the hotel prices as they fluctuate between now and the games and grab a booking when you see a half-good deal.

Click here to book the guaranteed best hotel rates in Beijing or anywhere in the world.

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This was actually a welcome change for some travelers as they then felt that the travel agent was on their side, working to get them the best price and not to give themselves the biggest commission possible. This may be partially true, but not every industry has stopped giving travel agents a commission.

Automobile rental companies, hotels, cruise lines, and other travel agencies still routinely pay agents a commission. This means that you may not be getting the best deal for all of your travel plans through your travel agent. If something seems a bit pricey to you, you may want to check online or call a few competitors directly to make sure you’re getting the best price possible. Use the Internet to your advantage.

It’s not coincidence the travel industry encourages consumers to take it easy and let them make your travel plans for you, but you don’t have to fall for this ploy. As with almost everything in life, being educated and informed will leave you in a better position in the long run.

No, travel agents are not necessary in this new information age.  Take matters into your own hands to guarantee the lowest hotel rates…click here.

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The Pod Hotel is made up of a series of modular rooms. If the term sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’ve read articles about Japanese businessmen sleeping in these tiny rooms that are all the trend in Tokyo. These hotels are starting to crop up in Europe and The Pod Hotel is an example of the trend moving over to New York. The American version of the modular room isn’t nearly as small as the Japanese version and is actually quite comfortable.

The Pod Hotel brings together this cutting-edge trend with true New York style. It is located in the Midtown East neighborhood and is designed with modern technology in mind. The small rooms have iPod docking stations, dimmer lights, LCD TV screens, climate control and free Wi-Fi. The furniture is straight out of a modern New York functional art store. And the quarters may be tighter than you’re used to but they’re designed for maximum comfort.

Because the rooms take up so much less space than traditional hotel rooms, The Pod Hotel is able to offer this trendy experience at a bargain. The rates at the hotel are comparable to the average New York hotel and discounts are regularly offered. You’ll be able to afford the rest of your trip and still have a hotel worth writing home about.

Hotels Cheap is your source for the best supply of the most affordable hotels in New York.

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If you’re a budget traveler to Sydney, you should definitely look beyond bed and breakfast or budget hotels and check out a place like Base. For a start, it has 12 private rooms with ensuites, as well as a bunch of double and twin rooms with shared bathrooms. The prices come in much lower than a hotel, but the quality isn’t much different. The recent upgrade of Base, in fact, would put many of its rooms and the facilities ahead of many hotels in the low-star range. For example, the new private rooms have a king size bed and a plasma TV.

The location of Base Sydney is also very convenient, as you can walk to Darling Harbour, the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and also get easy access to bus and train stops. Check their website for other bonuses like a free airport transfer if you book three nights or more.

If you’d like to upgrade from a hostel, check out the Sydney hotel deals at Hotels Cheap.

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Drake Inn – Nashville, TN – from $48.00 a night book it

French Quarter Courtyard – New Orleans, LA – from $68.00 a night book it

Best Western Palm Beach Lakes – West Palm Beach, FL – from $84.00 a night book it

Flying Cloud Resort Motel – Ft Lauderdale, FL – from $72.00 a night book it

Hotel de Maubeuge Gare du Nord – Paris, France – from $122.00 a night book it

For everyday great rates and availability on hotels, check Hotels Cheap.

Luckily, hotels are slowly beginning to offer a service that can drastically reduce the cost of making phone calls from your hotel room. They are incorporating VoIP technology into the services that they offer in their rooms. VoIP technology allows travelers to make calls using a touch screen phone and the hotel’s broadband Internet connection. Often, the calls are free. Otherwise, they are low cost. Even international calls are affordable using VoIP technology.

Using VoIP technology allows travelers to call as many people as they want from the trip. Whether you’re away on business and just want to hear the kids’ voices or you want to call Mom and Dad to let them know what a great time you’re having, this technology presents a way of doing so at a minimal cost. Hotels are just starting to offer this service so it can be hard to find right now; Wynn Las Vegas has the technology. But VoIP is becoming more and more available, check with your hotel to see if it’s offered.

Save on hotels.  Click here.

(cc: photo credit: jackace)

Orlando Grand Hotel – Orlando FL – from $37.00 a night book it

Hacienda Hotel – Los Angeles, CA – from $84.00 a night book it

Imperial Hotel & Suites – Niagara Falls NY – from $46.00 a night book it

Palace Station Hotel & Casino – Las Vegas NV – from $35.00 a night book it

Hotel Merryl – Paris, France – from $118 a night book it

Book these and other cheap hotels at Hotels Cheap.

French Quarter Courtyard – New Orleans, LA – from $62.00 a night book it

Days Inn OHare West – Chicago, IL – from $62.00 a night book it

Drake Inn – Nashville, TN – from $48.00 a night book it

Anaheim Area Ramada Plaza – Garden Grove, CA – from $72.00 a night book it

Cassandra Hotel – Vancouver, British Columbia – Canada – from $57.00 a night book it

Book these and other hotel deals here.

Dallas Plaza Downtown – Dallas, TX – from $60.00 a night book it

Super 8 Universal – Orlando, FL – from $43.00 a night book it

Heritage Marina Hotel – San Francisco, CA – from $84.00 book it

Best Western Airport Plaza Inn – St. Louis, MO – from $64.00 a night book it

Margaritas Hotel – Cancun, Mexico – from $45.00 book it

Book these and other unbeatable deals on hotels here.

Hotels generally begin quoting their rates from the highest price and will work down to something a bit more reasonable. Let the clerk know that you think the first price is a bit too high and ask if he or she has anything less expensive. Also check to see if the hotel offers discounts for seniors, AAA or any other group you may belong to.

Some people recommend negotiating when you book the room, others suggest booking the room in advance and putting off negotiations until you arrive. The best approach is a combination of both. Ask for a financial break when you reserve the room and then try to get an upgrade when you arrive.

Most hotel employees are allowed to deal on price, but if you find one who won’t budge try negotiating on the room. Push for an upgrade or try to stay on the concierge floor. That’s the way to get your money’s worth.

Use Hotels Cheap as your reliable online source for the best available hotel rates.

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Comfort Inn Conference Center – Tampa, FL – from $62.00 a night book it

Howard Johnson Inn – San Antonio, TX – from $60.00 a night book it

Days Inn – Downtown Detroit, MI – from $59.00 a night book it

Guesthouse Inn & Suites – Seattle, WA – from $72.00 a night book it

Days Inn – Toronto, Ontario CANADA – from $75.00 a night book it

Cheap hotels are always available around the world at Hotels Cheap!

September and October bring the warmest weather of the year to San Francisco and a weekend here at bustling Union Square is a fabulous way to kick off the holiday shopping season.

The newly remodeled Sir Francis Drake Hotel, just yards away from Saks, Tiffany, Williams Sonoma and a slew of other retailers, is located in the heart of Union Square. And don’t fret about having to leave your beloved pooch at home; the Drake is pet friendly and welcomes dogs.

At the door to this legendary hotel, you’ll be greeted by a doorman dressed as an English Beefeater. The hotel is also famous for Harry Denton’s Starlight Room, which offers a spectacular view of the city after the sun goes down. The cocktails are legendary, and a “Cable Car” is a perfect way to cap off the evening. On Sundays, Harry Denton’s tears it up a bit with the “Sunday’s a Drag” drag queen performance brunch, which features a 45-minute show at 12 noon and 2:30 pm. The Sir Francis Drake features many package deals for the bargain traveler. Visit their website at www.sirfrancisdrake.com for current deals.

Search for the best rates at the Sir Francis Drake online at Hotels Cheap.

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Comfort Inn & Suites Atlanta Airport – Atlanta, GA from $72.00 a night book it

Travelodge Hotel at LAX Airport – Los Angeles, CA from $71.00 a night book it

Ramada Limited Airport North – Phoenix AZ from $79.00 a night book it

Knights Inn Maingate East – Orlando FL from $38.00 a night book it

Avalon Grand Cancun – Cancun, Mexico from $80.00 a night book it

Book these and other everyday hotel deals at Hotels Cheap.

The secret of Secret Hotels seems to lie in finding smaller hotels that are run by people who love the place where they’ve chosen to live and open a small hotel to make a living there. These kind of people are perhaps not in the habit of trying to get large amounts of money out of others, and don’t have the bargaining power of a big chain of hotels. The difficulty sometimes lies in finding these hotels, which are not always well-advertised or don’t naturally rise to the top on an internet search list. Perhaps that’s where Budget Travel’s book comes in, with tips on locating and booking these small but reasonable hotels.

But remember that this kind of travel does come with a risk; if you book into the Hilton or the Marriott you usually have an unofficial guarantee of quality. Reserving a room in a small, no-name hotel might come with the bonus of delightful hosts or a super-cheap price, but you can’t really be sure until you get there. Then again, isn’t that half the fun of travel?

No matter what quality or price range you so desire, click here for your best hotel room rates and availability.