Dewi Suryani
Your guide to booking a stay in the best resorts and hotels without spending a bomb.
Traveling to a new place often involves spending money on accommodation which could take your expenses a notch higher. And if you’re one of those who doesn’t like spending the night on someone’s couch or in a hostel, you can end up spending quite a few bucks on hotel rooms. Yes, hotels and resorts do come with their own set of comforts but we often have to shell out more money to experience these. The better the hotel, the higher the cost. But you don’t always have to spend a bomb on hotel bookings. A few hacks can help you cut this cost. We give you 10 of these to crack the best deal the next time you book a stay.
1. Sign up for hotel newsletters to find promotional deals
Most top hotels have a newsletter or a loyalty program that you can sign up for to avail discounts and promotional deals. Many hotels come up with packages during festive seasons to stay ahead of their competitors. You can make use of these deals and get a great bargain in return. Make sure you sign up for it to keep a tab on their latest offers.
2. Call up the hotel desk for discounts
Calling up the hotel desk and asking them their rates can certainly benefit you more than simply booking online on their website. They can not only create an exclusive package for you but also give you an additional discount. Things like late checkout, free breakfast or WiFi can be asked when you speak to the hotel staff rather than booking online.
3. Mention if you’ve stayed in their hotel before
Hotels are likely to give you a discount if you’ve stayed with them before. Brand loyalty always wins customers brownie points, so make sure you choose a chain of hotels you like and stay in their properties wherever you go. Let them know that you’ve stayed with them before even if it was part of a business trip or a company offsite. This should help in getting a good deal.
4. Check fare comparison websites
Before you book a hotel room, make sure you check websites that offer a comparison of rates for the same hotel room by different agents. Tripadvisor and Trivago are a few of them. This will ensure that you don’t spend extra and get the best deals. At times these rates are cheaper than those shown on the hotel website.
5. Try hotel booking apps
Apps also offer cheap hotel bookings which can come in handy especially when you have to book a hotel room at the last moment. Download a few of these such as Skyscanner on your smartphone and keep checking them every once in a while to get the best tariff.
6. Off-season travel
Going during the off-season is one of the best ways to save money on accommodation. If you have a hotel in mind that you’d love to stay in but is out of your budget, go during the off-season. You will get discounts and many additional benefits too for when they don’t have too many guests.
7. Book in advance during peak season
And if you vacation only during the peak holiday season, you should make sure that you book a room in advance. While last moment booking works during the off-season, the prices generally soar during peak season. So once you decide your destination, make sure you book a stay at the earliest.
8. Stay during weekdays instead of the weekend
Weekend stays tend to be more expensive because of the high demand. If you can, try and book a stay for weekdays instead of the weekend and you will surely save up. Or, if you can’t, book a room Thursday onwards. Many hotels offer one night free if you book two or three nights with them.
9. Stay in a family room or opt for extra bedding
If you are more than two people, you can save money by booking a bigger room that allows four to five people to stay in one room. Some hotels also have connecting rooms for families and you may be able to get a discount if you book these. If it is three adults, you can book an extra bed in the same room which turns out to be cheaper than booking a separate room.
10. Negotiate to get the best deal
Lastly, learn the art of negotiating. Haggle your way to get a good deal. Be polite and ask the hotel staff if they can offer any discount as it is slightly over your budget. The worst thing that can happen is that they say no. And if you don’t get a discount, you might be able to get a few things that are usually chargeable in the bargain.