Dear Joel,

We're planning a 3-week trip to New England this fall (coming from France). The accommodations seem expensive to I've been researching prices on the Net. Everyone asks [for] extra money for each extra person in the room. [There will be three of us] and I was wondering if you could advise me as to a strategy that might allow us to get rooms for all three for the price of double occupancy. We will probably be staying 2-4 nights in each place. I'll be calling them on the phone and using my credit card to reserve the rooms.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Valerie

Dear Valerie,

I find the policy of hotels charging on a per person basis, versus a per room basis, to be one of the most annoying encounters in my travels. My suggestion is to book a room with twin beds, and then, after arriving at the hotel and checking in, to request a rollaway bed. More than likely, after youe checked in, the hotel staff will not be concerned with the number of occupants in the room. In addition, try to stay at a hotel that offers a concierge floor. These floors offer complimentary food service throughout the day. This can save you quite a bit of money, especially for breakfast.

All the best,
Joel