Branson, MO

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Heath Hawkins: A Branson Vacation - Part 4: Picking the Right Hotel or Motel

I hope that these columns have been helpful in planning your trip to Branson, Missouri. In this installment I will discuss hotels and motels and how to select one. In the next part, Part 5, I will look at the infamous timeshare package and tour. If you have any questions, you will find my e-mail address at the end of this column.

When you are thinking about the hotel for your vacation in Branson, you have to decide how you feel about hotels. Will the hotel just be a place to sleep after a long day of touring Branson or will the hotel be a major part of your stay, meaning you plan to spend a lot of time at hotel relaxing.

Regardless of the category you fit into, I would suggest that you wait and find a hotel or motel when you arrive in town. Don’t worry about a reservation. The Christmas Season is about the only time you see NO VACANCY signs, but even then there are still hundreds of available rooms in Branson. Arriving without a reservation was a hard thing for me in the beginning. I am a planner and liked to know where I was staying when I arrived. However, I always wished I did not have reservations because when I got to town I would always find something I liked better for less money.

I have stayed in enough rooms in Branson to honestly say that there are not too many nasty rooms. Some are smaller or poorly decorated, but with all the hundreds of hotels in town, even the cheapest room has to be clean or people will just go somewhere else.

Category 1: Hotel Is Major Part Of My Vacation

Let's start with the category that includes those of you who think of the hotel as a major part of your vacation. You plan to relax at the hotel and be there for large portions of time to enjoy the facilities.

You will be the group that will have the most difficulty traveling to Branson without a reservation. Most of you will probably make a reservation anyway. If you do, that will be fine. You will not make a bad choice. I hope to give you some guidelines as you make your decision.

I do have a few lodging reviews under Heath’s Reviews and would have no problem recommending any of those hotels. Outside of those, here are some general rules:

(1) Hotels in Branson are cheaper per night than in most places. Do not let a low price scare you. A family of four should be able to very easily find a great room in a good hotel for $65 per night or less.

(2) Almost every hotel in Branson has a pool. Some of the better hotels will have an indoor pool, outdoor pool, hot-tub and workout facilities. Just ask!

(3) You should also ask what is on the continental breakfast. Most hotels over $40 have a FREE breakfast, but hotels in Branson that cost $65 per night should offer more than coffee and donuts. Many will have biscuits and gravy or waffles. Look for a hotel with a Full Breakfast or at least Extended Complimentary Breakfast. This is a great way to save a little money on food.

(4) Find them on the Internet. Use the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce website or a Branson Travel Guide to find the hotels with a website. You will be able to see pictures and check the amenities. Many may even have a coupon online.

Know that there are a few luxury hotels in town, but you do not have to stay there to get a great room. You might even choose to rent a condo. Condos are definitely more expensive, but you will get larger or multiple rooms with kitchens and all the resort amenities.

I still hold fast to finding a hotel when you get to Branson. Drive the strip and see what catches your eye.

Category 2: I’m Here For Fun – A Hotel Is Just A Place To Sleep!

The other category of people coming to Branson are here to enjoy all the town has to offer. You might use the hotel pool, but you will more than likely spend all day running around. You are just looking for a clean bed.

This is my group of travelers. You will kick yourself if you make a reservation ahead of time. There are thousands of great rooms in Branson and many of them are less than $40 per night. Here are a few rules to insure a good room:

(1) As soon as you get on Hwy 76 in Branson, start looking. You will see tons of hotel/motels advertising unbelievable rates. Some rates are as low as $22 per night. You should know that these rates are for two people, but even adding $10 more for the kids means the room is still cheap.

(2) Once you find a motel that looks good to you stop by the office to check it out. Know that there are hundreds of hotels in Branson; you do not need to stop at the first one you see. Ask the clerk about the room rates. Sometime they will only have a couple rooms at that super low rate, but often their regular rate is not much more. If it is, just say 'I will pass'. Several times I have done this and the clerk will called me back before I was out the door and give me a room at that rate. But if not, I would find a room on down the road.

(3) Know that the super-cheap rooms will always be on the top floor and there is usually not an elevator.

(4) If you even question the quality of the room, ask to see it before you pay. With so much competition in Branson, every room must be clean or the hotel will not make it. Some rooms are smaller or have older furniture, but almost all are very clean.

(5) Even cheap hotels should have a pool.

(6) Many hotels under $40 per night will not have a complimentary breakfast. If they do it will be small. You should factor this in. Try to find a hotel with a breakfast, if not you will have to remember that you will need additional money for meals.

My wife and I once stayed three nights on the weekend in Branson for $94 total. The motel was right in the middle of Branson. We had a king size bed, access to an outdoor pool and a continental breakfast. The room was on the third floor, but it was very clean. This just proves that if you are willing to shop around and take your time, you can find a GREAT deal on lodging in Branson.

Do your homework ahead of time. Have a cell phone with you and call hotels on the strip as you are driving past them. Ask about discounts and three night specials. Branson has the perfect hotel for everyone; you just have to find it.

If you are interested in how to get a really good deal on a Branson Vacation including lodging, entertainment and food read Part 5: The Infamous Timeshare Package.
The price is right, but are the strings attached worth it? You decide in Part 5.

On to part 5