After almost a year of the world being under extensive quarantine protocols, the United States is finally ready to open back up and allow businesses to run again, but with some covid restrictions still in place. With businesses opening up, however, this also opens up travel and vacations for families to take and have a great time again. And what better way to celebrate getting out of a major pandemic than to take an amazing vacation to a place you have never been to before?
The effects of this pandemic on people’s attitudes and mental health have been atrocious. Stressed, not knowing what was next and if the world would ever become a safe place for their kids again. Waking up every day not knowing how to put food on the table because they can’t go to work and make a living to support their family. Another metaphorical “giant” people faced was depression. After a recent study from the CDC, it states, “Younger adults, racial/ethnic minorities, essential workers, and unpaid adult caregivers reported having experienced disproportionately worse mental health outcomes, increased substance use, and elevated suicidal ideation.” This may not come as a surprise to many, since almost the entire world was a part of this quarantine effort to rid the coronavirus.
However, when zoomed out through an existential lens, you see where people took a major emotional shot that was impacted solely by this pandemic. People not only lost their lives, but they lost their drive. Lots of people deal with their “inner demons” through entertainment and socialization with people publically.
Travel, entertainment, and doing the three most profitable businesses each year in the world. It’s what people live for. How do you think people get through 9-5 jobs every day? They have their vacation of a lifetime in the back of their mind. How do kids get through school? “I can’t wait. Three more weeks till summer break when I and my family take a vacation to the beach!”
Losing this impacted people in a negative way and with travel opening back up, the world will shift into a new age and explosion of new travel locations and entertainment options.
If we go back and take a look at when the last major pandemic the world faced the Black Plague, we can get an idea of what will come out of today’s major pandemic with the coronavirus. An explosion of art, music, and entertainment ideas.
We can expect almost the same thing to happen in today’s climate with the pandemic but on a larger scale. The world’s population has grown a lot since then and travel has come a long way and is a lot more efficient now. With new ways of entertainment, comes new resorts, rides, and vacation homes. With this huge explosion, we are surely set to see the best vacation spots pop up in history, and it will only get better from there.
Now, we all know everything is starting to open back up which means that the prices will go up as well. Gas, airfare costs, and hotel expenses. What better way to take advantage of these skyrocketing prices than to use a Hotels Etc. membership? With a Hotels Etc. membership, you can get deals and discounts on all vacation locations ranging from the casino resorts in Las Vegas to the prominently highlighted beaches in Orlando Florida! Take a trip today and save tons on a vacation of a lifetime. Not only will you save on travel, but you will also save on Entertainment, Recreation, Dinning, Restaurants, Golf, Theme Parks, movies and more.
Plan on taking a vacation? Book your trip early to make sure you have a place to lay your head, hotels are booking quick. To learn more about Hotels Etc. visit www.hotelsetc.com
One of the most frustrating parts of travelling is the inflated hotel prices. No matter where you go, in every corner of the world, you will find hotel bookings to be expensive. The travel industry has boomed so much in the past decade or so, that it is hard to find a cheap and affordable hotel whether you are travelling for business or leisure. Even though some of those expensive hotels do not even offer the quality of services deserving of the money they charge their customers. There is, however, Choice Hotels and they offer affordable rates for everyone. Their services are exceptional, and they do not cost an arm and a leg. This article will explain exactly how to get Choice Hotel discounts.
Apart from their inexpensive rates, they also have special rates programs which allow government employees, seniors and anyone else to receive great discounts and offers. Their special rates programs are:
Hotels Etc. members receive up to 20% off all choice hotels 365 days per year. Bases on our research, Hotels Etc. will provide you with the deepest choice Hotel discount.
AARP Travel Discounts: If you are an AARP member then you can avail a 10% discount on hotel bookings. You can enjoy this at any of the affiliated hotels around the world. Being a member also gets you other travel deals, free local calls, and free continental breakfast.
AAA Rates: If you are an AAA member, then you can enjoy up to 10% off at affiliated hotels even though they already have quite affordable prices.
Business Travel: With this business program, many companies can save money on corporate travel on over 500 hotels worldwide. You can become a member and get Choice Privilege points or Airline Rewards.
Lowest Price Guarantee: If you find a cheaper rate online, then Choice Hotels will match it. International guests will get to stay for free the first night, and US citizens get a $50 reward card for their stay.
Government and Military Hotel Rates: This program is eligible for active duty or retired military personnel, federal employees, foreign government employees, and cost reimbursable contractors who are on official travel business.
Kids Stay Free: This program works for children 18 or under who stay with their family in the same room. These affiliated hotels are family-friendly and located near top attractions like zoos and parks.
Special Rate ID: You get a special rate ID if you are a part of any of the eligible groups for discounts or if you are using a promotional offer. This ID helps you book your hotels.
Senior Rate: For people above the age of 60 or who are members of AARP, there is a 10% discount on advance hotel bookings. You will also get the amenities and service you require for your stay to be more comfortable and enjoyable.
Advanced Purchase Rate: If you want to stay at one of the affiliated hotels, then you can enjoy up to 20% off on bookings that are placed seven days in advance. Just enter the destination and a date of reservation that is seven days ahead, and you can get incredibly cheap rates. Go ahead and book now by becoming a member and enjoy all the discounts and offers. Keep in mind when using advance bookings you may experience still cancellation policies.
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.
Travel discounts, Travel Tips 
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