Let KAYAK do the searching
Based on KAYAK hotel searches, the most popular destination is Stansted (59% of total searches to Essex). The next most popular destinations are Southend-on-Sea (21%) and Chelmsford (11%). Searches for hotels in Saffron Walden (9%) are also popular.
KAYAK users have found double rooms in Essex for as cheap as $93 (Clacton-on-Sea) in the last 3 days. The average price is $174.