Hotels (Maybe Near You) Offer Resident Rates

With fewer people wanting to deal with the costs and hassles of air travel, and rising prices of everything from gas to groceries cutting into many people's budgets, it's no wonder "staycationing" is the latest invented-word trend. Hotels, especially those in destinations that depend on air travelers (like Hawaii) are fighting low occupancy rates. To further complicate matters, a record number of hotels are opening up.

In response, many hotels are offering special low rates to residents. Cutting back on driving time and air travel mean you can still take a vacation with lower costs, less hassle and more time to relax. A few of the current offers out there:

• Florida: Marriott Hotels & Resorts are offering 25 percent off regular rates for residents at hotels like the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort. Locations include Orlando (and the Disney World area), Tampa and Fort Myers. Rates start from $79 per night (promo code: FR6).
  One of my all-time favorites, the Mandarin Oriental Miami has Florida resident rates from $269 that include breakfast for two each morning, complimentary valet parking and discounts on spa treatments.
  Also, Boca Resort & Club has $128 Florida resident rates that include parking; a two-bedroom bungalow goes for $199.
• Colorado: USA Today reports Aspen's Sky Hotel has a rate of $109 that includes valet parking to residents of Pitkin, Eagle and Garfield counties; Denver's Hotel Teatro offers 20 percent off regular rates for Colorado residents.
• New York City: Many hotels in the city are offering a third night free.
• California: San Francisco's swank Huntington Hotel has a rate of $499 for a city-view suite and limo service.

Not all hotels advertise resident-only specials, so it doesn't hurt to call the one you've been wanting to spend some time in and see what they've got to offer.

Related: Hot Hotel Deals