tips to get the best hotel deals

Tips to Get the Best Hotel Deals

Getting the best hotel deal can be challenging, especially when one doesn't know what to look for. This Buzzle article will give you some useful and practical tips, which can help you pay less on your hotel deals.

A Bit of Advice
It is better not to use certain facilities offered by the hotels. One of them is the telephone, while the other is the room service. These can add a hefty amount to your final bill.
If you are planning to go on a vacation or business trip any time soon, one of the most important things you will need to do, apart from booking your travel tickets, will be to look for a nice accommodation that can fit into your budget. The good news is that this is possible! Even if you are traveling with limited funds in hand, there is absolutely no need to stay in a cheap motel. You can also manage to find budget accommodations in good, business class hotels, where you can not only enjoy your stay, but also save a substantial amount of money, which can then be utilized for other things such as shopping and food. For this, all you need to do is to learn some clever tips and tricks that will help you get some of the best hotel deals that are out there.
How to Get Great Hotel Deals
No matter where you plan to go for a holiday or how long your trip is, the desire to get a good accommodation deal with tidy rooms and an at-home service is universal. Here are a few things that you can do, in order to pay less and save more.
Compare Prices on Different Websites
This can really help you get some of the cheapest hotel deals available. Look through different websites, such as Expedia, Travelocity, and Quikbook, and compare the prices. Believe it or not, you will find huge differences. It is also a good idea to visit the hotel's own website. You can then choose whichever price suits you the best.
Call the Hotel Personally
Internet is always helpful, but it is advisable not to rely on it completely. It should be noted that websites don't always mention the add-on expenses, which might be included in your final bill, while checking out. Therefore, even if you think that you have found the best deal online, it is still advisable to call the hotel personally and ask about the additional/hidden costs. Also, note that not all hotels have an online presence. So, do not hesitate to look for cheaper options elsewhere.
Be Flexible
It is always good to be flexible about your travel dates. Different date options may help find some of the best bargains. Moreover, you may also be able to crack some last-minute deals, wherein hotels may be eager to fill up their rooms. In such cases, they might offer you a lower price. On the other hand, if you have a fixed travel schedule, you might not be in a position to negotiate, as there would be lesser options.
Check Room Types
If you have been quoted a room rate on the phone, and you are still looking for a lower price, you can always ask if the hotel has any other kind of room, cheaper than the one quoted. Asking for a least expensive room helps to a great extent to save some more money. Moreover, it needs to be noted that the hotel will give you their standard rate, and will not even mention about the lower rates, unless you inquire. So, do not hesitate to ask for the lowest rates.
Negotiate
It is possible to bargain, even in reputed business hotels. Especially, if a hotel has a lot of empty rooms, they will be desperate to fill them up. In such cases, you will be in a better position to negotiate your deal, and ask for facilities such as free parking, free Internet, etc. Hotels would prefer to give out a room at a cheaper price, rather than leave it empty altogether.
Look for Package Deals
Package deals are, by far, considered to be the best bargains. These deals offer numerous additional facilities, apart from just accommodation, and at good prices. Most hotels have a lot of packages to offer all year round, and these are particularly popular as people always like to have something extra, over what they are paying for. Moreover, the package rates are often so competitive that even if you don't need all the facilities offered, they still tend to be good deals.
Join a Loyalty Program
Many hotels have their own loyalty programs, which entitle their customers for numerous freebies and benefits. If you have a favorite hotel, where you love to stay each time you travel, joining their loyalty program can reap you a lot of benefits. You may get a number of perks, including discounts on your stay and a lot of free facilities to use, every time you visit the place.
Make Use of the Hotel Credit Card
It is a very good idea to use your hotel credit card, owing to the various perks that it may offer. Most of them offer benefits such as free nights, free breakfasts, etc., which can indeed save you a substantial amount of money. Plus, these cards can also entitle you to free upgrades, whenever you use them.
Remember to Sign Up for Email Notifications
If you are a regular customer of a certain hotel and/or a member of their loyalty program, it is a good idea to sign up for their email notifications. More often than not, the discounts that the hotels offer are not announced publicly. Most hotels prefer to first inform their dedicated pool of customers. So, such emails can help you learn about the latest discounts being offered by your favorite hotel.
Inquire About Special Discounts
Many hotels offer a number of special discounts to various groups of people. If you happen to fall in such a category, you might be entitled to good discounted rates. For instance, numerous hotels in the US offer special discounted rates for military personnel. Moreover, corporate discounts are always available. Check with the hotel about such discounts, and you might just land up paying lesser than you had expected.
Aim for a Business Hotel
This is one of the tricks that you can use, especially when your travel dates are flexible. Business hotels keep busy throughout the week; however, over the weekend, many of their rooms become vacant, which are then offered at highly discounted rates. So, if you choose to travel on a weekend, why go for cheap hotels when business hotel rooms will be available to you at virtually the same rates? You can also enjoy all the business class facilities.
Look for a Newly Opened Hotel
Newly opened hotels are eager to gain a good reputation and attract more and more customers. Owing to this, they also have a lot of promotions, wherein they offer accommodation and services at heavily discounted rates. If you come across such hotels during your quest, know that it is just the right place for you to get the best facilities at really cheap rates. Plus, the hospitality they will show will be unparalleled.
Use Your Club Memberships
There are certain clubs, which have their own chain of resorts and hotels at different locations. If you are a member of such a club, you can avail the discounts offered by them. This is another good way of saving money on hotel stays.
Choose Hotels on the Outskirts
If you are planning to go to a big, expensive city such as London for your vacation, it is needless to say that the hotels there are bound to be extremely costly, irrespective of whether or not you get discounts. Owing to this, it is actually better to look for hotels on the outskirts of these cities. These will not only be cheaper than those located within the city limits, but will also have state-of-the-art amenities.
Ask for Serviced Apartments in Three-star Hotels
If you are looking for a lavish holiday, and are aiming for a three-star hotel or even better, see to it that you specifically ask for serviced apartments. These are particularly designed for business travelers and have numerous hidden benefits and bargains. For instance, you might be able to avail free services, such as access to gym, free laundry, etc.
Don't Go for Rooms with Grand Views
Remember that all you need is a safe place to stay, with good basic facilities. Numerous hotels have rooms which offer grand and majestic views. Though these may be attractive and pleasing, such rooms are expensive. So, it is advisable not to go for such rooms and save a little more bucks.
Opt for the Bed and Breakfast Option
Opting for B&B accommodations can really save you a lot of money. If you are going to a big and an expensive city, this is the best choice to opt for. You will get a comfortable bed and a hearty breakfast, and then you can be out all day.
It is essential to note that looking for a cheap hotel is always an option. However, there is absolutely no need to compromise on comfort and facilities, if we can get all of them fitted within our budget. Instances wherein we are in a better position to negotiate are numerous. According to Robert Dee, the Sales Director of the Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the simplest ways to know whether or not the hotel authorities would lower the rates at spontaneous events, is to check how many lights are switched on in the hotel. If there aren't many, the hotel is probably empty, which puts us in a better position to bargain. So, we just need to know what, when, how, and where to look for, and things will become much easier. There are various ways to save money on hotel deals, so do your research, and choose wisely.

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