A question that comes up often around holiday or vacation time is, “how are we going to get a good hotel discount?” Nobody wants to pay a ridiculous price to have a place to stay but at the same time no one wants to stay at a lower quality place for affordability reasons. Finding the perfect hotel to stay at for your “weekend getaway” could be a very unnecessary stressful process that could be simply solved by doing the correct research online. Most discount hotel companies are not giving you the best deal that you can come out with. When you go to google and type in “How to get the best hotel discounts” there are numerous links and websites where people advertise phenomenal looking prices for hotels. Although, you will rarely see a place where there are customer satisfaction comments to allow you to see if the company is legitimate so you do not waste your time or money.
The internet is a tricky place because most websites can feed you everything you want to hear about hotel discounts but it is not what it first seemed like after you’ve given up your time and most cases, even your money. Today, I am here to tell you that there is a legitimate company that will give you the vacation you’ve always dreamed of for an affordable price. Here at Hotels Etc., we will beat any other discount travel company that you have ever been to with your choice of 151 different countries to travel to or any of the 50 states in America. The thing about our company that differs from others is that we back up our information that we tell you with testimonies on our site at, hotelsetc.com. The testimonies on our site is to show new customers that we truly want the best for our every customer by previous members sharing their experience that they had by taking advantage of our company and our deals. We also allow you to demo our system before you join to allow you to see how much money you would be saving as a member of our prestige club.
We believe that each customer should know everything about a company before they commit to a decision to use them. In other words, every customer should know what they are getting in to before they actually get into it. There are many disadvantages with other travel discount companies including leaving out small details or some maybe even big details about their policies. One thing that is very frustrating when searching for hotels is that it takes a hundred clicks to find out the exact price for the property. Hotels Etc. gives you the exact price upfront without going through all the unnecessary clicks.
Hotels Etc. will provide you with more than hotel discounts, we also supply discounts on numerous other things that come with a vacation. Things such as restaurants, theme parks and concerts can come with a vacation package here at Hotels Etc. which previous members have taken advantage of. This is something that you will only find at Hotels Etc. and that makes us stand out over the other companies you will come across. We hope that you have a chance to research Hotels Etc. or call us at 1-877-967-7283 and take advantage of our hotel discount membership.
Originally published July 15, 2015 | Updated August 2026
The best way to save on Thanksgiving travel is to compare more than one booking option. Travelers should compare public hotel rates, eligible private member offers, flexible dates, room types, taxes, fees, cancellation policies and the complete value of each reservation before booking.
Thanksgiving travelers can make smarter booking decisions by comparing rates, travel dates, booking terms and eligible private member offers.
How Can You Save Money on Thanksgiving Travel?
Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel periods of the year, which can increase demand for hotels, flights, rental cars and other travel services.
Rather than relying on one website or one type of offer, compare several options before making a reservation.
Look at:
Public hotel rates
Eligible private member offers
Nearby travel dates
Different room types
Taxes and fees
Cancellation terms
Refundability
Included amenities
Transportation costs
Final checkout price
Start Planning Thanksgiving Travel Early
Starting your Thanksgiving travel research early can give you more options to compare before hotel inventory becomes limited.
Planning early does not guarantee the lowest possible price, but it can provide more choices for destinations, room types, travel dates and booking terms.
As Thanksgiving approaches, availability can change quickly in popular destinations and along heavily traveled routes.
Compare Different Thanksgiving Travel Dates
Flexibility can be valuable during Thanksgiving week.
If your schedule allows it, compare hotel pricing and availability for several nearby arrival and departure dates.
A stay beginning on Tuesday may have different availability or pricing than one beginning on Wednesday or Thursday.
The best option depends on your destination, hotel inventory and travel plans, so compare multiple combinations whenever possible.
Compare Public Hotel Rates and Private Member Offers
A public hotel rate is generally available through an unrestricted booking channel without requiring membership in a particular private program.
A private member offer may be available only to eligible users through a membership, loyalty or other qualified environment.
Depending on the program and supplier requirements, travelers may need to sign in or verify eligibility before accessing certain private offers.
Simple Thanksgiving Hotel Comparison
Public rate: Generally visible through unrestricted booking channels.
Private member offer: Available to eligible or authenticated users through a qualified environment.
Best approach: Compare all offers you qualify for and evaluate the complete reservation before booking.
Are Private Member Hotel Rates Always Cheaper?
No.
Private membership does not guarantee that every hotel will always be less expensive than every publicly available option.
Thanksgiving hotel rates can change based on:
Destination
Travel dates
Hotel occupancy
Demand
Room type
Available inventory
Special events
Supplier availability
Cancellation policy
Refundability
The advantage of private membership is access to eligible private offers and benefits that provide another option to compare.
Does Hotel Rate Parity Mean Every Website Has the Same Price?
No.
Hotel rate parity generally refers to contractual provisions, pricing practices or distribution arrangements affecting how certain hotel rates are advertised or distributed across specified sales channels.
It should not be described as one universal worldwide law requiring every hotel rate to be identical everywhere.
Public rates and eligible private member offers can operate through different distribution environments.
A Closed User Group, commonly called a CUG, is a defined group of eligible users who can access certain offers inside a restricted environment.
Membership, authentication or another eligibility requirement generally separates the private environment from unrestricted public access.
Hotels Etc. operates as a private membership program. Eligible members can log into the private platform and search participating travel offers based on destination, dates, supplier availability and other booking conditions.
Compare the Final Hotel Price
Do not compare only the first room rate you see.
Review the complete booking, including:
Base room rate
Taxes
Resort or destination fees
Booking fees, if applicable
Parking costs
Breakfast or included amenities
Cancellation policy
Refundability
Room category
Final checkout price
A slightly higher room rate may sometimes provide better overall value if it includes benefits or more flexible booking terms.
Compare the complete Thanksgiving hotel reservation, including room rates, taxes, fees, cancellation terms and eligible member benefits.
Consider Staying Outside the Busiest Areas
If your Thanksgiving destination is experiencing high demand, compare hotels in nearby neighborhoods or surrounding communities.
A property slightly farther from a city center, airport or major attraction may provide another option.
Make sure you include transportation time, parking costs and convenience when comparing the overall value.
Holiday travel plans can change because of weather, flight delays, family schedules and other unexpected circumstances.
A lower nonrefundable rate may not always provide the best overall value if there is a reasonable chance your plans could change.
Review the cancellation deadline and refund terms before completing your reservation.
Compare the Same Room Type
When comparing hotel offers, make sure the room types and booking conditions are similar.
One offer may include a standard room while another includes a larger room, different bedding or additional amenities.
One reservation may be fully refundable while another may require advance payment and be nonrefundable.
For the most accurate comparison, evaluate equivalent bookings whenever possible.
Don’t Forget the Rest of Your Thanksgiving Trip
Hotel costs are only one part of Thanksgiving travel.
Your total trip budget may also include:
Airfare
Rental cars
Fuel
Parking
Dining
Entertainment
Attractions
Local transportation
Reducing costs across several parts of the trip can sometimes create more savings than focusing only on the hotel rate.
How Does Hotels Etc. Help Thanksgiving Travelers?
Hotels Etc. has been serving members since 1996.
Hotels Etc. provides eligible members access to participating travel and lifestyle offers through a private membership environment.
Members can search available travel offers for their Thanksgiving destination and travel dates and compare those options with other available booking channels.
Hotels Etc. does not guarantee that every hotel search will always produce the lowest price available anywhere.
The membership provides another qualified travel channel and access to participating private offers and benefits that members can evaluate as part of their Thanksgiving travel planning.
Thanksgiving Travel Savings Checklist
Start researching early.
Compare several travel dates.
Check public hotel rates.
Compare eligible private member offers.
Review equivalent room types.
Check taxes and additional fees.
Review cancellation and refund terms.
Compare nearby hotels and destinations.
Include transportation costs in your comparison.
Review the final checkout price before booking.
The Bottom Line
Finding better Thanksgiving travel value starts with comparing more than one option.
Public hotel rates, private member offers, loyalty programs and other qualified offers may provide different booking opportunities.
Compare dates, room types, taxes, fees, cancellation terms and the total reservation value before making your decision.
Hotels Etc. gives eligible members another private travel channel to include in that comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions About Thanksgiving Travel Deals
When should I book Thanksgiving travel?
There is no single booking date that guarantees the lowest price. Starting your research early can provide more destinations, hotels, room types and travel dates to compare.
How can I save on Thanksgiving hotels?
Compare multiple travel dates, public hotel rates, eligible private member offers, room types, taxes, fees and cancellation policies before booking.
Are Thanksgiving hotel rates more expensive?
They can be higher in destinations experiencing strong holiday demand, but pricing varies according to location, dates, hotel inventory and other market conditions.
Are private member rates always cheaper?
No. Private membership provides another category of eligible offers to compare, but hotel pricing and availability constantly change.
What is a Closed User Group?
A Closed User Group, or CUG, is a defined group of eligible users who can access certain offers inside a restricted environment.
Does rate parity mean every hotel rate must be identical?
No. Rate parity generally refers to certain pricing and distribution arrangements and should not be described as a universal rule requiring every hotel rate to be identical everywhere.
Should I book a refundable Thanksgiving hotel rate?
That depends on your travel plans. A refundable rate may provide additional flexibility if weather, transportation or family plans could change.
How long has Hotels Etc. been in business?
Hotels Etc. was founded in 1996 and has provided private membership discounts and travel benefits for decades.
More Holiday Travel Planning Resources
For additional holiday travel planning strategies, read:
Hotels Etc. is a private travel and lifestyle discount membership company founded in 1996. Eligible members can access participating travel and lifestyle offers through the private Hotels Etc. membership platform.
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