Raleigh Hotels

How to Find the Best Hotel Deals in Raleigh

Finding hotels in Raleigh can be quite overwhelming. After all, being the 10th-most populous city in the southeast, there are a lot of hotels available – and some are much better than others.

So, whether you’re looking for a cheap, budget-friendly hotel or a five-star luxurious plaza with 24/7 room service, we’ve got you covered here at Enjoy Travel. While our algorithm does all of the heavy lifting, there are a few steps that you can also take to find the best hotel for your own needs:

Hotel Comparison Platforms

Using our hotel comparison platform here at Enjoy Travel, you can use our own filters to determine exactly what you want from a hotel. Amenities, prices, reviews, locations, star ratings, and more all come into play when choosing a hotel through Enjoy Travel, taking the stress of hotel-hunting away, and giving you more time to focus on packing your bags.

Travel Newsletters

Keep up-to-date with any changes to accommodation prices, exclusive deals, and more with Enjoy Travel’s newsletter. We’ll include the latest hotel openings, as well as some unique discounts and promotion deals that you won’t find anywhere else.

Flexibility on Dates

The time of year can vastly affect the price. Of course, weekends are much more popular times to visit the City of Oaks, but if you can be flexible with your dates and opt for a mid-week stay, then we highly recommend this as the hotel prices will be significantly lower. Tuesday and Wednesday nights are the best nights to stay in Raleigh for cheap hotel deals. Go on, treat yourself to a mid-week getaway – you deserve it!

Discover Raleigh’s Secrets and Surprises

Dining Out in Raleigh

Raleigh and comfort food go hand-in-hand, that’s no secret. North Carolina is home to some of the best barbecue food in the country, with their specialty being pulled pork – and Raleigh is no exception. You can expect tender, juicy, mouth-watering pulled pork, smoked for over 12 hours, complemented with fresh ’slaw, fluffy bread buns, and a heavy side dish of mac and cheese – just like Grandma used to make!

Even if you’re not into barbecue food, there are plenty of international cuisine options – ranging from authentic Japanese restaurants, American fast-food chains, and Italian food. However, we highly recommend trying some authentic NC-style barbecue while you’re in Raleigh – a pulled pork sandwich smothered in sweet, sticky, and spicy barbecue sauce is just the ticket for the authentic Raleigh experience.

Drinks and Nightlife in Raleigh

If you’re looking to party the night away in Raleigh, then you’ve come to the right place. Loaded with southern charm, the City of Oak's downtown region is home to some of the best bars in North Carolina.

Whether you want to watch a genuine live country band, or a solo acoustic singer playing some of country’s greatest hits, there’s no shortage of live music in Raleigh’s downtown bars. And what’s even better is that the live music scene rarely stops – you can expect to see musicians playing live from around 12 pm most days (even weekdays) until the early hours. They love their music almost as much as they love their food down in Raleigh, so it’s no surprise there’s such a large live music scene.

There are also lots of nightclubs and late bars in Raleigh, which are definitely worth a visit. Whether it’s a couple of tequila slammers on order or an ice-cold beer to welcome in the early hours of the following morning, most nightclubs in Raleigh stay open until 2:30 am, meaning you’ve got plenty of time to dance the night away.

The legal drinking age in Raleigh is 21 years old, meaning you must be at this age to both buy and consume alcohol in Raleigh.

Must-See Sights in Raleigh (What Not to Miss!)

Packed with cultural, historical, and modern sights, Raleigh offers some of the best tourism in the southeast – here are just a few must-see sights when you visit the City of Oaks.

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences: Located in central Raleigh, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is a must-visit when in the area. Packed with information on everything from dinosaurs to decibels, this museum is great for adults and kids alike. Many of the displays are interactive, meaning the kids won’t get bored and feel like they’re being dragged around another boring museum. The museum is also home to numerous live animals, including butterflies, turtles, snakes, fish, and more – feeling like you’ve combined a museum visit and a trip to the zoo in one go. Entry to the museum is free, too – so it’s definitely worth a visit, even if you’re on a budget.

Pullen Park: For those wanting to make the most of the sunshine that the Carolinas are so famous for, we highly recommend a visit to Pullen Park. Situated in the west of the city, Pullen Park is a great place to spend a lazy afternoon, enjoying a picnic. Gifted to the city of Raleigh by Richard Stanhope Pullen way back in 1887, this park has been in use ever since – it’s home to more picnic benches than you can count, as well as an indoor heated swimming pool, and traditional fairground rides such as a merry-go-round.

State Farmers Market: Found on the aptly named Agriculture Street in the south of the city, the State Farmers Market is simply unmissable when visiting Raleigh. Open seven days a week, the market showcases home-grown North Carolina produce, from fruits and vegetables to flowers and meats – much of which is produced directly within Raleigh itself. You can also grab a bite to eat here, whether it’s a freshly baked pastry or a simple locally-produced coffee that takes your fancy, the State Farmers Market is an excellent place to visit when in Raleigh.

How to Choose the Best Raleigh Hotel For You

It’s so important that your accommodation fits all of your needs, otherwise, it can put a negative spin on what may be the best vacation you’ve ever been on. So whether you want a power shower in your room, round-the-clock room service, or perhaps just something that won’t break the bank, we have a few tips for you here at Enjoy Travel that can help to make your Raleigh hotel experience as best as it can be:

Budget:

This should be at the top of your priority list when looking for a hotel in Raleigh. There’s no point in forking out hundreds of dollars a night for a five-star hotel if you’ll only ever be in it for a few hours overnight. Make sure you know what you want from a hotel, or how much you’re prepared to spend on it before you start looking at them.

Location:

Where your hotel is located can greatly affect its price. While downtown Raleigh offers some of the best nightlife in the state and is a hubbub of activity, the hotel prices are much more expensive here than on the outskirts of the city. However, as mentioned above, must-see locations such as the State Farmers Market are not downtown, so it may be worth staying on the outskirts of the city and commuting in to save a few dollars.

Amenities:

Make sure that you know what you need from the hotel too. Perhaps there’s a kids club on offer or a concierge service – maybe you need handicapped access or would like to start your day off with a quick workout in the hotel’s fitness center. Whatever you need from your hotel, ensure that you use Enjoy Travel’s filters to find the very best hotel for your Raleigh vacation.

How to Choose the Cheapest Raleigh Hotel for Your Stay

There are many airlines that operate regular daily flights to Raleigh – both national and international – so flight prices are not really going to be so much of an issue when it comes to budgeting for your vacation. However, it’s still worth taking into account a couple of bits of advice when booking a cheap Raleigh hotel:

Flexibility:

This is key. Midweek is always cheaper than weekend dates, so if possible, use your PTO and get yourself down to Raleigh for a couple of nights midweek! In addition, avoiding public holidays can also help to make sure that your stay is cheaper, as prices tend to rise on dates such as the 4th of July and Thanksgiving.

Visit Out of Season:

Springtime (specifically March-May) is the peak season in Raleigh. Tourists flock for the warm weather after bitterly cold winters up north, so this is generally the busiest time to visit Raleigh. If you can visit outside of these months, you can not only expect a less-hectic visit but also cheaper hotel prices.