Full-price lodging can break your budget really easily. Use our tips to save money on your hotel then spend this cash on something much more pleasurable.
1. Compare the rates
To begin with, visit sites like Expedia, Kayak, or Priceline.com to understand your options, but don’t stop there. Search for hotels on your own. Try to find promotion codes and bonuses like free parking, breakfast, etc. Visit some hotels’ websites – often times you’ll find the best deal there.
2. Negotiate your price
When your research is done, choose some hotels and make a few phone calls. Ask if they can give you a better offer. Surveys have shown that more often than not, you’ll get a better deal.
3. Check out last-minute deals
There are some apps like HotelTonight, which help travelers find low rates last-minute. Sometimes the discount can be quite impressive. Similar apps are Priceline.com, in which you can find “tonight only” offers at 11 a.m. daily and One Night (available in 14 cities). However, be careful with such bookings, as you might not find a good option. This way you’ll end up paying more.
4. Use bidding
Bidding on a hotel room can save you money, but you have to take some risk. There is a feature of naming your own price on Priceline.com’s, it gives you a chance to choose a neighborhood and star levels before you bid, but you won’t know the name of the hotel up until the moment when your bid is accepted.
Lemarchand-Wood from Priceline.com suggests checking out the site’s listings to get the idea about the available hotels. Also, she advises being flexible.
An obvious disadvantage is that once your bid is accepted, they charge you, and changing, or canceling your reservation is impossible.
5. Think about other options
Nowadays there are some alternatives to hotels. Sites like HomeAway and Airbnb allow you to rent a room, house or apartment. For those on budget, hostels are a good option. No worries – you don’t have to share a tiny room with a dozen people in their 20s. Often there are options for private rooms with bathrooms.
6. Don’t focus on just one neighborhood
Hotels in the city center typically are not cheap. Instead, pick a place with easy downtown access via public transport.
7. Check for possible discounts
If you are a student, government employee, or a senior, you can sometimes qualify for a discounted hotel rate. Enquire the information in the hotel before you book a room. If you are a member of the military or an AAA member, check websites AAA.com, AARP, or Military.com for potential discounts.
