In a life that is dictated by routines, vacations and travelling is a thing that helps keep us sane. The idea of taking annual leaves regularly makes a lot of sense. The last thing any of us want, on his or her travel, is a non-compatible travel partner. If you are on your own, traveling with a friend or looking for a travel companion, a few tips might help you from having a trip to hell. Here are seven tips for traveling as a couple:
• Decide upfront why you are going and what you want to get out of the trip.
• Money has the potential of destroying the best of friendships, let alone create problems if your travel companion is a mere acquaintance. Its best to decide what, where, and how much you will be spending on mutual expenses. Be sure to look for good travel discounts
• Prepare a tentative itinerary; places you want to visit, things to do and time to be spent at each location.
• Travelling with some one has benefits, but even then, you should get sometime to yourself. Make allowance for time that each will be spending on their own.
• Every one enjoys different aspects of travel. It’s good to figure out each others preferences before getting stuck together on a rather costly trip. Some of us are night people while others can’t keep their eyes open after dark. Some like everything decided and planned, others are more spontaneous. Some like to indulge in the culture while others prefer to immerse in the sights only. Make sure you and your companion share some views, if not all, regarding travelling.
• Unless you are a 100% sure about the person you are travelling with, pack some earplugs, they can be a life line during an otherwise sleepless night.
• Have an open mind & a generous heart. Give the other person some space & make the most of your solo time as well. Have fun and keep it enjoyable for both.
Planning your summer vacation can be very time consuming when searching for the best vacation savings. This is why travel clubs are making a strong comeback.
How would you like to vacation and spend less and save more money? There are some little known secrets that can help you save a lot of money on vacations.
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.
So you’re planning your next summer holiday and you don’t want to have to worry about the cost. You want to give your family the ultimate experience, the best holiday they’ve ever had and one that they’ll remember for years and years. But to do that it can be hard work and expensive too. You’ve got to try and find the greatest experience on the market.
Well at Hotels Etc. we’re pretty sure we’ve got exactly what you’re after. To get what you need all you have to do is sign up to Hotel Etc.’s travel club. Once you’re a member you’ll have access to the lowest rates from across both the globe and the web. With a portfolio of over 300,000 hotels and resorts we’d be amazed if we don’t have what you need. From big to small, luxurious and expensive to simple and sleek, or range of hotels have no boundaries.
But a hotel is just where your holiday begins. You need to rent a car, you want restaurants to feast at, and you want tickets to the latest and greatest events and you want to visit the most exciting theme parks. Well it’s a good job we can offer you all this too. With discounts to suit whatever your needs. Together we can build you your perfect holiday.
We’re not just about your accommodation at Hotels Etc. like many other websites and travel agents are. They often want to make a sale and shift you out a door so they can move on to the next customer. At Hotels Etc. we’re all about the whole experience, from the moment you land and your feet touch the ground to the moment your plane leaves the runaway on the way back home.
We’ve been finding holiday goers that greatest deals and discounts since 1996. And since then we’ve helped countless individuals plan their dream getaway. With so many years of experience we’ve seen it all and we know we’ll have what you’re looking for.
Surely 4 million members can’t be wrong? Because that’s how many memberships we’ve had since the beginning. That’s a lot of happy travelers and undoubtedly millions saved in whatever currency you choose.
You can check out our testimonials for examples of the work we’ve done and the people we’ve worked with. Plenty of stories where people have had tons of fun while making huge savings, which is what we’re all about.
So to find out what we can do for you sign up for a membership at Hotels Etc. today. You’ll only end up regretting it otherwise, when you’re paying so much more. After all, we tend to beat public rates 9/10 times by up to 70%. There are too many benefits for you to miss so please sign up today!
Travel discounts, Travel Tips 