The price of oil has fallen recently, cutting the price of petrol at the pumps to around £1 a litre.  Airlines have followed suit, with BA and Virgin Atlantic also cutting fuel surcharges as competition tightens.

It should therefore be no surprise, that hotels are also doing a little bit of competitive price dropping themselves, such as the recently featured 50% OFF Hilton Hotels, advocating many Britons to spend a night in Paris.

But Paris is not everyone’s cuppa tea (and on this occasion, I am also referring to the heiress), so what other hotel deals are going on right now?

Our dear and beloved reader Lam, who recently gave you all some excellent info on free airport parking with the Holiday Inn, has done it yet again.  He emailed me some dirt on hot hotel deals happening right now as we speak, and after a bit more research, I think they may indeed be worth a look.

So here is our (very subjective and biased) hotel comparison analysis on 6 of these best hotel online deals as of October 16, 2008.  Terms and conditions may apply:

6. Travelodge
Offer: from £19 per room per night
Validity: December 08 – January 09

BW comments: HUKDers know the Travelodge only too well. The £19 per room per night offer is only available 21 days in advance.  For procrastinators, you might still be able to bag a £29 room 7 days in advance.  Currently, you can also get €20 rooms in Spain, and €39 in Ireland.  I am not the biggest fan of their search engine (nor of most other major hotels for that matter), but for those planning to escape to sunshine, christmas shopping and a bullfight this December, this may be worthwhile considering.

5. Express by Holiday Inn
Offer: £20 per person per night
Validity: From now until 14/12/08

BW’s Comments: “Holiday Inn Express”, as the Americans call it (for some reason outside of America it’s “Express by Holiday Inn” until 2010) provides standard and straightfoward accomodation.  There are over 1,500 Holiday Inn Express hotels worldwide.  “Leisure Saver” weekends away offer incl continental breakfast – based on 2 people sharing.  As an ‘express’ hotel, their amenities lean toward the convenient and practical (translation: cheap) to cater for short term stays and travelling salesmen alike.

At £20 per person per night = £40 per room per room per night, it’s still a bargain, especially with complimentary hot breakfast and their award winning cinnamon rolls.  Consider avoiding this in the US if on-site restaurants and lounges are important to you, as most US properties don’t have this.  Most express inns worldwide including those in the UK have food & beverage on site.  Many often have a fitness centre, swimming pool indoors, and a hot tub for these cold winter nights.

4. Innkeeper’s Lodge
Offer: From £29.95 per room per night.
Validity: From now until 18/12/08

BW Comments: Innkeeper’s Lodge has 88 hotels across Britain.  However, very few are located in city centres, or prominent places.  The company has some pretty nice touches that go beyond that of a standard budget hotel, such as Sky TV, power showers and free newspapers.  All Innkeeper’s Lodges have a company pub that are open to hotel guests, and available to the public from 12pm-10pm daily.

This offer is based on the “Advance saver offer”, which means you must book 7 days in advance prior to stay, and cannot be cancelled or amended without charge.  And note that there is a 100% non-smoking policy.  So for those that plan to leave their nicotine patches at home, best to avoid this one.  There is also a no cancellation policy, so buyers beware.  For those that know 7 days in advance and knowing that plans won’t change, this offer could be for you.  Deal includes free continental buffet breakfast, regardless of location or price.

3. Holiday Inn Hotels
Offer: £25 per person per night.
Validity: Now until 14/12/08

BW Comments: A big list of the participating hotels can be found here. The deal is the “Leisure Saver” Autumn offer, which includes “FULL English”breakfast – based on 2 people sharing.  At £25 per person per night, that works out at £50 a night, so slightly more expensive than the Holiday Inn Express, in exchange for a bit more creature comfort, perhaps.

The lowest per person rate available is £19 a night in Washington.  That’s the British one, by the way, before you end up a bit too close to ‘the world’s biggest polluter‘ before the end of his term.

2. Purple Hotel
Offer: from £39 per night
Validity: All year long! (Purple Autumn ends on 31/10/08)

BW Comments: There are technically 2 different offers. Purple Weekend (at £49 B&B per night including VAT per couple per room) runs all year long offering great rates from Thursday to Monday, breakfast included, as long as you book a few days ahead (you can cancel up to 3 days ahead of time).  Purple Autumn starts from around £39 for single occupancy, to around £67 for 2 adults and 2 kids, all you can eat breakfast for the entire family.

The small print to watch for is that while breakfast is included, in some locations, this is served at nearby diners. But with Purple’s claim of “big beds, supersize showers, and a cool cafe bar”, it may be cool.

How cool?  You’ll have to tell us.  With all hotels equipped with WiFi, that shouldn’t be too difficult.

1. Ibis Hotel
Offer: From £27 per room per night.
Validity: From now until 2/11/08

BW Translation: Zee Ibis hotel Frenchmen says “everything’s tickety boo”.  I have no clue what that means, apparently the French mean it translates to ‘£10 OFF per room per night’.

Hotels are generally close to city centres, airports, or rail stations, and are equipped with WiFi.  At £27 per room per night, this is probably the cheapest of the lot. But this deal ends in less than 2 weeks, so hurry…

Final Notes:

Before you go dashing to book the rooms, make sure you read the small print.  Some per room rates claim only allowance for single use (even though I doubt it, and even if they catch you with your mistress, it’ll only be an extra £10 to keep the bell boy’s mouth shut.  Don’t ask).  Some per person rates often include 2 children (yours, not the ones that come with the shampoo) sharing with the adults.  Pre-payment is normal, along with no changes, cancellations or refunds.  So crack on with the searching, and let us know what you get!