Cheap hotel rooms for guests?

eacosta1120 · October 2009

So I've been booking hotel blocks lately and can't seem to find any cheaper hotels. We have college students and young professionals flying in for our wedding, so we want to make it inexpensive as possible for them to come out for our wedding. Right now, I'm suggesting that they look in house rentals or B&Bs, but I'd love if anyone could send me some cheaper hotel recs. I'm not from the area, so I can't check the hotels out, so it'd be great if people have personal experience with the hotel. Thanks so much!

jonnysbride2010 · October 2009

Any hotels in Newport are going to be very expensive. We chose to go to Middletown and are very happy. We like the Hampton Inn & Suites, the Holiday Inn Express and there are a couple of great hotels across from the Atlantic Beach Club but I forget the names right now.

sweetiepie3395 · October 2009

I called quite a few hotels in Newport and Middletown about hotel blocks and found that the Best Western and the Howard Johnson in Middletown were the two with the lowest rates. The Best Western is right across from the casino, so it's just a short drive from downtown Newport. They do charge you a one-time non-refundable $50 fee for a block, but my FI and I thought it was worth it because they were about $30-40 less a night than most of the other places we called, and they block of 20 rooms, whereas most of the other places only block 10. They also told us that if our guests called the hotel directly to book, they would be given a 10% discount.I don't know when your wedding is though. Mine is at the end of September, so the hotel rates are going to be cheaper then compared to the middle of the summer.As for the hotels across from the Atlantic Beach Club, I believe there is a Comfort Inn and a Quality Inn right next to each other. They have reasonable rates also.

EileenK1984 · October 2009

We also booked hotels in Middletown because they are cheaper (and closer to where our venue is) at a variety of price points: Courtyard by Marriott, the Howard Johnson, and the Econolodge, which is by far the cheapest (for our starving grad student friends!) I'm not from the area either so I couldn't visit it, but they have a website. I will just warn you though- the Econolodge might be really cheap (I think around $70 for the rooms in the block, with 2 beds so people could share) but they weren't as nice to deal with as the fancier hotels that are more used to these sorts of requests, and obviously it has no frills at all.

umasskdome · October 2009

I am not from Newport either - about (1hour 45mins away) and the first time I stayed overnight my mom and I stayed at the Econologde. IT WAS SCARY!!! I would highly suggest not recommending this hotel for your guest. I realize that it is a cheaper alternative compared to most hotels in Newport, that is why we stayed there, but I think there are better choices. It was so bad we considered moving hotels. The HoJos, Holiday Inn Express, Residence Inn (highly recommend - just stayed there two weeks ago. Nice b/c each suite (which can be one or two bedroom/bathrooms) also has a living room with full kitchen. I'll be recommending this for some of my younger friends b/c they can split the suite with someone but still have their own space and fill the fridge with food/drinks of their choice), Courtyard and Hampton Inn are cheaper alternatives we are going to suggest!

EileenK1984 · October 2009

Uh oh... Umasskdome, what was so scary about the econolodge? bad part of town or just bad service? it hadn't gotten bad reviews online...

eacosta1120 · October 2009

Thanks so much for the recs! I'm going to get in touch with many of those hotels and see what their prices are and what the deal is with hotel blocks etc.

Mrkyrain · October 2009

I was married at Regatta Place also on Goat Island. For our hotel blocks we decided to go right over th Newport line into Middletown. Across from the beach there are three hotels ranging in prices. Quality Inn, comfort Inn, Newport beach Hotel and suites. It's also nice for your guests because they have free parking for the beach and there's a few bars within walking distance. Good luck.

umasskdome · October 2009

To answer your question: We read the reviews too and that's why we stayed there - decent reviews, cheap rate. It may have just been the night we where there - not sure - but it was a collection of things. The first was that the front desk lady was basically, well, incompetent. It took her FOREVER to check everyone in. Not being bitchy, it literally took her 20mins or more to check us in - maybe she was new? Then, we get to our room and the key didn't work. Went back to the desk and she walked us back to the room. The room across the hall had blaring music - she said "oh sorry, that's staff that lives in the room!" Basically implying not to complain! The room itself wasn't bad, but due to the look of the place overall, the other people that were staying or living there, we just didn't feel safe. Maybe I'm a wuss - I'll admit to that! But I'm normally not overly picky about where I stay, if that helps gauge my review. It may be fine for some - but for two women by ourselves we didn't feel comfortable.

SummerBoston10 · October 2009

Check out the Best Western Mainstay. I haven't blocked rooms there but they were fairly cheap at $185/night for the 4th of July weekend. The Quality Inn, Comfort Inn and and Newport Beach Hotel and Suites were $250-$280.

bombdiggitydes · October 2009

I think Aylee has something on her blog, I believe she did quite a bit of research. You cxan also have them go back over the bridges and stay in SK or NK area