Hoteliers struggling to fill rooms have been dropping rates nationwide, which means deals for vacationers on a budget. And since the price of a hotel room can often be the most expensive part of a vacation, lower rates could mean the difference between a staycation and a vacation. According to Hotels.com, the deals are driving travelers to a number of popular U.S. cities wherewhere average hotel room rates fell significantly between 2009 and 2008. Here's a list of some of the most popular travel destinations in the U.S., along with the average price of a hotel room there. Photo Credit: skyseeker

New York hotel rates dropped the most among the top U.S. travel destinations as business travelers went on fewer trips. That means hotel rates during the middle of the week dropped 24% in 2009, according to Hotels.com. “Tourists … realized they could afford more for their money, and luxury hotels saw bookings rise accordingly,” says Scott Booker, Hotels.com Vice President of Worldwide Retail sales. Average price for a room: $199 a night. Photo Credit: Francisco Diez

With fewer people interested in gambling during an economic downturn, there were fewer visitors to Vegas and hotel prices dropped 18% to about $85 a night last year compared with $103 a night the year before. “With hotels offering attractive deals for travelers, Las Vegas was the second most-popular U.S. destination amongst travelers to the country,” Booker says. And after all, there’s a lot more to Vegas than gambling. Average price for a room: $85 a night. Photo Credit: joanna8555

Families hit by the recession opted for staycations over visits to Disney World (Stock Quote: DIS), leaving vacancies at Orlando hotels, Hotels.com notes. That meant deals for those who could afford the trip there. Room rates were down 12% in 2009 from an average of $106 a night in 2008. Average price for a room: $93 per night. Photo Credit: Allie Caulfield

Visitors to the windy city saved money on hotels last year as an ailing economy meant fewer travelers to the area and a strain on local businesses, Hotels.com says. Chicago visitors paid 18% less last year than they would have the year before. Average price for a room: $137 per night. Photo Credit: cikaga jamie

L.A. might strike outsiders as one of the more expensive U.S. cities, but with carefully-chosen accommodations and restaurants, it can actually be affordable for those on a budget. And last year, “with fewer business travelers and vacationers visiting LA, the city offered great value in 2009” in terms of hotel room rates, according to Booker at Hotels.com. Average price for a room: $119 per night. That’s 12% less than in 2008. Photo Credit: AndrewGordon

San Francisco attracts both business travelers as well as vacationers, but cutbacks on travel expenses meant hotel vacancies, and as a result, 17% cheaper rooms. Average price for a room: $127 per night. Photo Credit: http2007

San Diego also lowered hotel prices to lure in more travelers. Hotel rooms at the California destination for beach-goers, shoppers and outdoorsy types fell 18% from 2008 to 2009, according to Hotels.com. Average price for a room: $127 per night. Photo Credit: Lyndi&Jason

Hotel rates in hot Miami were a “better value than ever,” Booker says, as Miami responded to the economic downturn by lower room rates. Prices were 14% lower last year. That’s a significant benefit to sun worshippers, Miami Beach-goers, shoppers and Cuban food lovers visiting the city. Average price for a room: $140 per night. Photo Credit: joiseyshowaa

Business travelers and tourists may have cut down on trips to Boston last year, but that meant a 14% drop in hotel rates for those who had the money to spend on travel and lodging there. Average price for a room: $158 per night. Photo Credit: Werner Kunz (wernkunz1)

Business travel to Atlanta has dropped off in recent years, and “In order to compensate for a lack of business travel, Atlanta’s hotels reduced hotel rates,” according to Hotels.com. Rates fell 10% between 2008 and 2009, meaning visitor to “Hotlanta” enjoyed a double-digit discount on their hotel rooms at the home of CNN’s world headquarters and the Delta Airlines hub. Average price for a room: $100 per night. Photo Credit: coka koehler

Visitors to the Alamo and other San Antonio destinations last year saved about 12% on hotel room rates as the city aimed to stimulate tourism there. Average price for a room: $116 per night. Photo Credit: qthrul

Visitors to the Space Needle and Pike Place Market had a little more money to spend on souvenirs and food in Seattle last year, when hotel room rates were down 14% from a year before, according to Hotels.com. Average price for a room: $129 per night. Photo Credit: Kiwi Flickr

Houston is usually a popular destination for business travelers, but companies have been cutting down on their visits there, leading to an 8% drop in hotel room prices. Average price for a room: $113 per night. Photo Credit: eflon

New Orleans has always been a popular destination, especially thanks to Mardi Gras festivities, and even more so now thanks to the popularity of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints. “Prices fell, but not as significantly as other cities,” because it’s still relatively popular. Hotel room prices fell about 6%. Average price for a room: $122 per night. Photo Credit: Caitlinator

Less frequent business travel also hit Dallas, leading to lower room rates in an effort to stimulate hotel occupancy, according to Hotels.com. That means more money to spend at the city’s theme parks, museums, tours and other attractions there. Average price for a room: $102 per night. Photo Credit: Big C Harvey

Skiers, snowboarders and other Colorado visitors saved money on hotel rooms in Denver, according to Hotels.com, since business travel and tourism saw a broad drop-off. Hotel prices there fell 10%. Average price for a room: $119 per night. Photo Credit: dagpeak

There’s always been significant business travel to the nation’s capitol, but the city still felt the effects of the economic downturn. Hotel room rates fell 11% there from 2008 to 2009, according to Hotels.com. Average price for a room: $144 per night. Photo Credit: foxypar4

Visitors to this cheese steak Mecca had 13% more to spend comparing rivaling gooey steak sandwiches from Gino’s and Pat’s last year than they would have had in 2008. Average price for a room: $127 per night. Photo Credit: bigbirdz

The Sacramento economy hasn’t only been hit by real estate woes. Business travel to the California capital has also fallen. But that means travelers who did go to the northern California area spent 7% less on Sacramento hotels last year compared with the year before. Average price for a room: $102 per night. Photo Credit: Paraflyer

“Prices held up in Jacksonville better than in other cities in the state” of Florida, according to Hotels.com, but visitors there did enjoy an 8% drop in hotel room rates last year. Average price for a room: $98 per night. Photo Credit: efleming

Well, now you know what some of the cheapest travel destination in the U.S. are, but that doesn't necessarily mean that flying into them will be affordable. MainStreet recently profiled the most expensive airports in the U.S.Check it out! Photo Credit: Pingnews.com

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