Grabbing a hotel deal can mean different things to different types of people. If your idea of a deal is the lowest regular price available, you may also think that cleanliness or comfort should be sacrificed. Or you may think a deal something that gives you decent accommodation for a price that is below the average price. All you should do is research online, focusing on reviews posted by customers.
The good news is, whether you’re planning to stay at a large hotel or a smaller one, there are nice deals that you can avail of to keep your costs low. Here are pointers that can help:
Large Hotel Deals
Among the best things you can do to locate some great deals at big hotels is going to their websites directly. In fact, a lot of hotel chains would guarantee the best rates online for those who book right in their websites. If you intend to stay in any of those hotels, don’t lose out on that opportunity.
Aside from jumping their guarantee, explore their website for any discounts that you could qualify for. Some examples are discounts for AAA and AARP members, government employees and military personnel. And if you’re a member of the hotel chain’s rewards program, you can also explore their special rates and other offers.
Deals with Small Hotels
In the case of small chains and independent hotels, you can usually get the best prices are through a booking or price comparison website. Hotel tax is something you have to consider too, depending on the location. In certain areas, this would be less if the number of rooms in the small hotel is within a specified limit.
Go with the best rate that aligns with your needs, but don’t save money for the pure sake of it. Make your decision based on the overall cost of your booking, including every fee and charge, and the value of things they might offer you for free, provided you actually need it.
After making your reservation, get your calendar and encircle the last date that you will be allowed to cancel without penalties, just in case you forget about it or your trip isn’t pushing through. Should there be any questions, bring a copy of your confirmation email to the hotel. If you book via phone, write down your confirmation number as well as the name of the person who received your reservation.
Saving a Little More
Lastly, you could be able to save a little more cash by calling the hotel again on your day of arrival, asking if they’ve reduced their rates. It does happen more often than you’d expect, and they actually could offer you the lower rate.