When vacation time rolls around, it is time to find hotels in all the exciting places you plan to visit. Proper research, planning and a little bit of hotel savvy can help you save money on hotel costs.
Use the Internet
The Internet is a hotel bargain shopper’s best friend. You can hop online and find numerous Web sites that offer hotel bargain-hunting services. These sites have special ways of getting lower rates if you book the rooms through the Web site, and then the company books the room with the hotel. The problem you will run into, though, happens when you need to make a cancellation. With most Web-based hotel booking companies, you cannot receive a refund once you have paid for your room, whether you stay there or not — even if you fall victim to an emergency.
Plan Ahead
If you have your trip planned out to the day and far enough in advance, research the hotels in the places you will be staying and find vacancies for the days you will be in the area. Call each hotel and make reservations as soon as possible to avoid last-minute hassles and to give you peace of mind. When you talk with the hotel associate, ask about special rates for making reservations so early.
Let’s Make a Deal
Many people do not know too far in advance exactly where they will be staying. For these people, we suggest some good old-fashioned bargaining. Have the person in your family or group who is the best with the car salesmen walk in the hotel and go up to the front desk clerk. Ask if he or she has any vacancies, and if so, what the rates are for the rooms. When you get the answer, squirm a pondering or desperate look on your face (whichever suits you and/or your situation better) and request a lower rate. In most cases, the clerk will feel obliged to lower the rate one or two times, depending on how long you hold out.
Be a Night Owl
The later you check in at night, the more bargaining power you will have with the desk clerk. You can say (in a nice tone, of course), “Look, it is 11 p.m. I’m not even going to get a whole night’s sleep. You can cut a few dollars off my bill.” This tactic is especially helpful if your family is going to have a full day of sightseeing or driving before hitting the hotel.
Join the Club
Hotels give special discount rates to members of clubs like the AARP or AAA. When you make your reservation or check-in, ask about any club discounts offered by the hotel. If you are a member of the club, you are in luck. Many of the clubs also give you discounts for other goods and services as well.
Be Loyal
If you visit the same place often, stay in the same hotel. When you receive a discounted rate, whether on-line or through bargaining with the clerk, the hotel usually keeps a record of it for a certain period of time. The next time you call to make a reservation, tell them your name, the date you last stayed with there, and the rate you paid. Most hotels will honor the discounted rate each time you return.
By D. Blair Thompson