It can be fun to go on a trip and
enjoy staying in a luxurious hotel room. Yet many people have to pass up that
option and go for a more moderate hotel because of the expense involved. There
are some good ways to get the hotel you want at a price you can afford though.
It does take some research and planning but it can be done.
Regardless of the hotel you are
looking at, weekends are generally their busiest time. Planning your stay
during the week will help you get a much lower rate. You also need to do
research to find out the slowest time of year for that given hotel. They will
offer lower prices during that time period so that they can sell rooms rather
than leaving them empty.
If you have any type of
membership such as AAA or military, you may be eligible for discounts on
various hotels without even knowing it. Call the hotel and ask them what
discounts they offer. While you have them on the line ask them to quote you the
very lowest price they can offer. Then compare this price to different online
sites.
Sometimes the hotel offers the
best price and other times you will find it online. If you are more comfortable
booking with the hotel directly, ask them to honor a price you found somewhere
online. Many hotels offer discounts for people who have stayed with them
before, even free nights or upgrades after you have stayed with them a set
amount of times.
If you will be staying at the
hotel for several days at a time you will likely get special treatment. This could
be a room close to the elevator or with the best type of view. Make sure you
mention the length of your stay and what you are interested in when you make
the reservation. There is generally no extra cost for such features but make
sure you ask before you agree to the reservation.
When you arrive at the hotel you
can ask them for a free upgrade. If they have the room available they may be
able to honor your request. There is no guarantee that it will happen though so
be prepared that you will be in the type of room you paid for. If you are
visiting the hotel on the off season or during the week you are more likely to
get such an upgrade at no extra charge. You may mention that you would really
love one of the balcony rooms if they could offer you an upgrade if you want a
specific type of upgrade amenity.
Many people plan their hotel
arrangements way in advance. This is good so that you are guaranteed a room.
However, if you can get away with flexible days to stay then you can keep a
watchful eye on the very best prices. You can grab some great last minute deals
on hotel rooms online at different travel sites. You have to be careful though
because you don’t want to end up with no hotel room at all.
You can try to work out a deal by
simply walking into a hotel in the late evening to see what is still available.
You have a good chance of working out a good deal since the room may go unused
if they don’t offer it to you. However, they may be viewing it as a chance to
get more money for the room since you are looking for one at the last minute.
Don’t be afraid to say no to their offer and try to renegotiate it. Too many
people simply walk into a hotel, as the price, and then pay for it without any
negotiating taking place whatsoever.
If you know several other people
who will be staying at the same hotel you can ask for a group discount rate. In
some cases the rooms all have to be paid for together but the majority of
hotels will accommodate individual billing.