Tips on Finding Cheap Hotel Rates
Providence Hotels September 5th, 2009
1)Priceline.com – Priceline.com has a unique bidding system where you can bid for hotel rooms for up to 50% off regular rates. In most cases, this is the way to getting the absolute cheapest hotel rates available anywhere. The drawback is that you only get to pick the area and the minimal star-rating of the hotel you wish to get, but won’t find out which specific hotel or what amenities are available until AFTER your bid is successful AND you’ve paid for the room. There are bidding strategies you can use to maximize you chances of getting the lowest rate possible. *UPDATE* Please see this post for priceline hotel bidding strategies.
2)Hotwire.com – Hotwire.com has a selection of discount hotel deals where you can truly get “4-star hotels at 2-star prices” (a Hotwire slogan). See this post for more information on hotwire.
3)More Stars Isn’t Always Better – The more expensive hotels may be more extravagant, but will you really be using all of the amenities and services that justify the room cost? In many locations, you can find lower-rated hotels that provide the same level of service and comfort as, or each better service and comfort then, higher star-rated hotels, and at a fraction of the price. Many travel websites have customer reviews written by actual customers that have stayed at the specific hotels. For example, Hotels.com is a popular site with lots of “Guest Reviews”. Read those reviews and make note of the pros and cons, then choose a hotel that’s clean, comfortable, and cheap in price. See our top ten picks on cheap but great hotels in Providence.
4)Compare Prices Across Sites – Also, even rates for the same hotel can differ widely from travel site to travel site, so be sure to compare rates using price comparison sites such as HotelsCombined.com.
5)Book As Part of Packaged Deal – You can save money by booking your flight, hotel room and car rental together as a travel package. However, before going this route, make sure that you actually need the car rental because, although booking the flight and hotel and car together may be cheaper than booking them separately, booking all three will almost certainly cost more than booking just the hotel and flight alone.
6)Consider Less Popular Locations – If you know your way around the area and don’t mind walking or driving a bit to and from the hotel, please consider hotels that are not situated in a popular area such as a city’s downtown area. Considering hotels a mere 10 minutes away can make a big difference in pricing.
7)Travel During Off-Peak Times – Hotel prices fluctuate due to supply and demand, so most often than not, you can get cheaper rates by choosing to travel during off-peak season.
8)Call the Hotel Directly – Some hotels have special promotion deals that they run from time to time that not a lot of people know about, so it wouldn’t hurt to call up hotels directly to ask if they have any current deals available.
9)Talk to Front Desk Personnel – Even after you’ve arrived at the hotel, it may not be too late to save. Ask the front desk if there are current promotions running. Also, sometimes if you ask nicely, some hotels will give you free room upgrades if they have rooms available. Lastly, if you’re staying at a hotel for extended periods of time (for example a week or more), be sure to ask for a discount.