Have you spent too much money on your online hotel booking, only to realize that there were other hotels in vicinity at much lower rates? But, do not panic. We bring you the 8 ways on how you can save money on future hotel reservations.
1. Don’t put all your coins in one bag
Book a cancellable hotel reservation and check with the hotels nearby by giving them a call to see if they might offer you a better deal. You can pitch something like,” I’ve booked a double bed deluxe room in the hotel next to you, I was just going through your hotel reviews on TripAdvisor and now I am having a second thought. Your services are really cool. Is there anything you can do to get me a better room or offer a lower rate? If you are lucky enough, you will get a better offer.
2. Compare other sites for overseas tickets
Formerly, online travel websites relied heavily on boring and overlapping list of hotels prepared by American chains and a few large listing databases (also referred to as global distribution systems). Now-a-days websites like Momondo are using new search tools to make their international listings strong by sourcing its hotels from different retailers like Escapio and Hotelopia. They provide completely different list of hotels from the one you will find on U.S. websites.
3. Know the right language
Hotels talk in their own language. Most of the travelers are unaware of their lingo and lose out by paying too much on online hotel booking. Communicating with the hotel clerk in his or her own technical language can increase your chances to get the correct quote. For example, while asking to upgrade your hotel room you can pitch something like “the cheapest nonrefundable rate.”
4. Make a deal without prepaying
There is a fresh concept called “Dibs” which is catching up in the hotel industry. You already know that the price of a typical hotel goes up and down every week for exactly the same room and on any given date. How would you know if you are getting your room booked for a higher or lower price? The answer lies in the “dibs”. You can buy the dibs option from TripsDibs.com at an expense of $5 to $10 per night. For example, let’s say you lock in a rate of $110 at Hotel Taj for a rate of $6 per night rented. TripDibs will hold your lock in rate for a period of few months. When you are ready, you can log back into the site and book the room.
5. Get a membership
You can get membership that can provide you special rates for online hotel booking. You can mention your membership number and get discounts upto 50 percent on published rates at some of the major hotel chains like The Mariott and Sheraton. Membership rates have often been found close to the lowest rates that you can cancel. Membership will cost you something around $8- to $150.
6. Check for corporate perks
Your employers can offer you deep discounts for your friends and family. For example, there can be an offer for friends and family of a particular organization who can save upto 40% as discounts on online hotel booking for hotels booked worldwide with the help of a search tool and filling out a form which proves their relationship. You can also take help of your human resource representative to see if you are eligible for any travel discounts.
7. Travelling on your own, try independent hotels
Most of the chain hotels do not entertain solo travelers and quote them higher rates without offering any discounts. Yet there are many smaller hotels that aim at solo travelers and offer them rooms at lower rates. These smaller hotels and inns are often negotiable about the nightly rates in case you mention that you are travelling solo (and if they have vacancies).
8. Book your tickets through Priceline
Priceline offers bidding services where travelers can bid blindly on airfares, hotel rooms and more. They also sell travel tickets at standard retail rates and as it turns out they provide the most up-to-date service of major online travel agencies for booking group travels, such as for family reunions. You can access the service by clicking on “groups” on top of the Priceline homepage.
