Even if you think that the price listed
on a hotel web site is the absolute best
you are going to get, you can still find
discounts above and beyond to help you
save even more money. Although it seems
that the hotel web site is the likely
best place to find a great deal, calling
the toll free number may net you a
deeper discount. Despite that, there are
also great deals on the web as long as
you know what to look for.
The most obvious means of saving money
on a hotel room is to book it during the
off season. Although a trip at that time
may be a bit inconvenient for you
depending on what you want to do,
booking during off peak calendar dates
can save you hundreds of dollars over
the course of your stay. Discounts are
almost aways offered when the hotel is
not at its full capacity, so try to
avoid going during the busy season if
you can.
When you contact a hotel, question them
about certain standard discounts like
AAA auto club or AARP senior citizen
discounts. Even military personnel can
get a discount if the hotels offer it
for them, and many do. Normally they
offer a flat rate if you don’t ask, so
it is important to mention any clubs or
affiliates to which you belong before
getting the final price.
Another way to squeeze a discount is to
be flexible about your arrival dates. If
you are traveling for pleasure, then
consider checking in on a Monday instead
of Friday. Weekends are usually the
busiest for tourist hotels; by traveling
during the week instead of a weekend you
can save a considerable amount of money.
If you stay at a hotel that caters
mostly to business people, then the
opposite stands true. In that case, you
can get a discount for traveling on a
weekend since those are the times they
lack for guests.
It may suit your budget better to
purchase a package. Many hotels offer
discounts with certain packages which
include the use of their spa, free
meals, and amenities that may not be
offered to the general public. If you
are going to take advantage of their
offer anyway, you might as well book a
particular package and save money off
the separate price of each.
Last but not least, when you get to the
hotel and you see that it is not as full
as management may have expected, you can
certainly ask if they would consider
upgrading your room for the same price.
The worst they could say is no, and in
many instances they will give you a
better room that normally costs more to
leave the less expensive rooms available
for walk-in guests. You don’t have to
be pushy, but just making friends with
the hotel manager or employee is a great
way to secure a better room or discount.