Get the Best Deal Booking a Hotel

Do you want to get the best rate possible on hotel rooms? Different guests staying in the same hotel in identical rooms are likely paying very different prices. Make sure you are paying the best price.

Steps

Using Traveling Sites

  1. Use an opaque travel site. These offer the best price. Many modern opaque sites will allow you too choose everything you want by showing you the best deals.
  2. Search for hotel deals on major travel sites. Enter the location and arrival and departure dates, and then browse the results. You can often narrow the results by free accommodations, cost, and rating. Motels and inns are often cheaper than hotels, and free breakfasts are usually cost- and time-efficient.
    • Major travel sites. You can also compare all the major travel sites at once with hotel comparison sites. You can even compare hotels within each site by checking the box next to hotels you like and then clicking on the 'Compare' button. This way, you will have page view of three hotels side-by-side that you can also print for later review. Some hotels do not include free internet, breakfast etc. That can be seen using this 'Compare' feature.
  3. Check one of the "Hotel Search Engines". These sites are very popular today. They allow you to instantly search hundreds of different travel websites and then post the lowest rates. Using these search engines to find and sort hotel rates can save time and money. Don't forget to check DealAngel to make sure the rate you book is actually a bargain.
  4. Join a members-only club for special deals. These sites can offer lower prices because the rates aren't available to the general public. Vacationist is a members-only site that holds special sales on luxury hotels around the world. Hotel Engine is a members-only site that offers discounted rates on a ton of hotels and claims to beat the prices found on other sites most of the time. Membership in both clubs is free.
  5. Use any flexibility you might have. If you are flexible about the date of your stay, investigate different days of the week or an alternative week.

Choosing the Right Hotel

  1. Consider price and fanciness. If the hotel is merely a place to stay, consider a motel or inn instead, with a free continental breakfast so you can continue with your trip quickly. If you'll be staying at the hotel with loved ones for two or more days, consider spending more for nicer stays.
  2. Consider location. Sometimes it will pay off to pay more for a hotel nearer your destination.
  3. Consider accommodations. These include free breakfasts, Wi-Fi, elevators, and swimming pools. Most places offer a free breakfast and Wi-Fi, both make your stay more convenient and efficient.
  4. Keep the hotel's cancellation policy in mind.

Getting the Best Deal on the Hotel

  1. Go directly to the hotel's website. Investigate the prices on the site. Do they have any specials? Sign up to be notified of any specials by email. Note the prices for the date you'll be traveling.
  2. Call the hotel directly, and negotiate with them for the best deal.
    • Tell them you are interested in getting a good deal. When they say the price, make a counter offer and take a hard line when negotiating. Most hotels will offer very good deals for the night after 6:00 P.M. if they have a lot of unsold inventory (otherwise the revenue will be lost on those rooms). After 8:00 P.M., you may be able to negotiate to a 75% discount, especially with smaller, owner-managed, hotels.
    • Ask for any discounts. Most places don't advertise the discounts, but will offer them upon being asked. There are multiple types of discounts, so see if you'll qualify for one or two of them:
      • Automobile association cards
      • Senior rates
      • Entertainment cards
      • Business traveler rates
      • Government/veteran rates
      • Discounts for booking more than one room, or staying more than one night.
    • Ask if the hotel will match its price with a cheaper hotel of similar quality.
  3. Book your room. After you've gathered the details, you can book your room and be confident that you are getting the best rate possible.
  4. Negotiate your rate at the hotel. If you are a walk-in guest (meaning you don't have reservations at the hotel) take advantage of the front desk staff. Tell them you're only looking for a place to sleep, and ask them for the best deal they can give you. Chances are, they'll lower their advertised price in order to keep you from walking out the door. Most hotels are willing to negotiate their rates down by about $20. In the eyes of the business, selling a room for $20 less than planned is better than not selling the room at all.
  5. Ask for an upgrade. If a hotel isn't full, you can often get an upgraded room, like a king bed or corner room, just by asking. This may not save money, but it will get you more for the money you are spending.

Tips

  • Before calling to book a reservation, have all of your questions ready and, again, do not take any longer than absolutely necessary to place the reservation. Desk clerks are masters at multi-tasking, and just because they are friendly on the phone (which they are paid to be), does not mean they have the time nor inclination to chit chat.
  • Trying to negotiate your rate after you have made a previous reservation often will not work. By making a reservation with your credit card you have already committed to pay that rate!
  • Most hotels have some less preferred rooms which they are willing to offer at a lower price. For example, there may be a room with a blocked view, one near the elevator or an odd shaped room or which is slightly noisy etc. If you do not mind the small inconvenience, you may be able to strike a bargain.
  • Be polite to the front desk clerks. A good clerk is happy to assist in any way possible, but please do not monopolize their time. At any given time, a clerk may be doing paperwork, answering the phone and needing to assist the guest behind you.
  • Hotels will not always negotiate a rate. For example, if a hotel has only one vacancy, the hotel staff is not going to be very inclined to lower the rate because they are more than likely to sell the room to another person walking in after you. If the hotel is nearly empty, they're much more likely to lower their rate for you. Just the simple "Law of Supply and Demand."
  • Use a meta-search engine like Kayak or sites like Booking.com which 90% of time has the best rate. But how you can guarantee the price won't get cheaper after booking? Easy, send your confirmation to rooomstracker.com and this service will watch for price drops and alert you to re-book!
  • If you don't mind being away from popular areas (like the city center) then try looking for hotels a few miles away. Many hotels away from popular attractions will charge less for their rooms.

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