Hotels and the Secrets That Can Save You a Bundle

Mar 1
07:32

2012

Ace Abbey

Ace Abbey

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If you make a habit of staying in hotels, you understand how hard it can be to find a good deal. Here are some secrets that will help you save some money.

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If you make a habit of staying in hotels,Hotels and the Secrets That Can Save You a Bundle Articles you know how hard it can be to find a good deal. This is especially true if you have certain standards about where you will and won't stay. And why not have some standards? Even if you're just staying overnight to attend a business meeting, you don't want to sleep in a place that makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. If you're on vacation, you might find you spend more time in your room than you thought. You should enjoy yourself while you're there. You can stay in luxury and still save some money. Here are some secrets that will help you do just that.

Call Directly

If you're thinking of staying at one of the chain hotels and you hope to get a bargain, you're probably wasting your time by calling the toll free number. More often than not, this number is going to send you to the home office and the call will be taken by someone with absolutely no authority to negotiate. If you want to get a deal and save a few dollars, try calling the front desk directly. When it comes to chains, however, you could be wasting your time anyway. Most of their employees have very little leeway (or interest) when it comes to getting their guests a better deal.

Circumvent the Booking Sites

Online booking sites are popping up all over the place, and they certainly serve a purpose. But, do they really give the customer the great deal they think they're getting? In some cases, you can certainly get a better rate than you would if you'd gone straight through the hotels. But what you have to remember is that these booking sites are paid a commission for every reservation their complete. This commission is sometimes as high as 30%. If you go straight to the manager of the establishment and offer a rate 20% below their standard, they are still coming out ahead and you'll get a better deal. It won't always work, but it's worth trying.

Negotiate Privately

Whether you're booking a room at one of the chain hotels or a small bed and breakfast, you'll be far more likely to succeed in your negotiations if there are no other guests standing within earshot. A manager isn't going to give you a special deal if it means upsetting everyone else in line behind you. If you approach him person-to-person, however, he may be able to accommodate your desire for a better deal.

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