3 Ways To Save Money On Your Next Hotel Room
Posted on: 27 June 2016
Summer is a popular time for family vacations. The kids are out of school and the weather is perfect for a stay on the beach. If you're planning your family's summer vacation, you're probably looking for ways to squeeze in as much fun as you can at the most affordable price you can manage. One way to do that is to find a way to save on accommodations. Hotel rooms can be expensive, but you have to stay somewhere when you travel far from home. Take a look at some strategies for saving money on your hotel stay for your next vacation.
Book Directly With The Hotel
Do you usually book your hotel rooms through one of the many online travel sites? You may be costing yourself more money than you need to spend. Hotels pay online travel agencies an extra 15% fee for their listings, and rate parity rules prevent those hotels from offering a cheaper price on their own websites. As a result, it looks like you'll pay the same whether you book with an online travel agency or directly with the hotel.
However, there's no rule that prevents hotels from offering a cheaper rate over the phone or via email. And as a matter of fact, many hotels do offer lower rates through these methods in order to avoid paying the fees associated with the online travel agencies. Subscribe to the newsletters of hotels in the area that you want to stay in, or just call them directly and ask for a rate. You might be surprised at how much you can save just by contacting the hotel directly.
Negotiate For A Lower Rate
Another advantage of dealing directly with the hotel is that you can try to negotiate for a rate that's closer to your budget. Not every hotel will lower its rate just because you ask, but some will. You won't know whether it's a possibility unless you try.
If you know of a nearby, competing hotel that's offering a lower rate, try asking the hotel that you'd prefer to stay at if they'll match their competitor's rate. If you visit the same area every year, it's also worth mentioning that – if the hotel believes that you'll be a repeat customer, they may be more likely to oblige you. If you are a repeat customer, make sure to point that out as well – loyalty has its perks. If you can't come to an agreement on a lower rate, try asking for a free upgrade, such as switching to oceanfront rooms on a more convenient floor, instead. That way you'll still be getting more for your money.
Make Your Memberships Work For You
Check your wallet – chances are that you have some sort of membership card for a professional group or another organization in there. Some of those memberships may work for you in getting a cheaper rate. AAA is a good example – AAA members receive discounts on any number of travel-related expenses, including hotel rooms. However, AAA isn't the only organization whose members get discounts.
Are you a veteran or an active military member? A teacher, nurse, or employee of a nonprofit organization? Are you in a union? Do you belong to the AARP? Are you a member of MENSA? Any of these memberships could shave a few dollars off of your hotel rate. If you have any kind of membership, ask the hotel if they offer discounts to members of that group. The worst they can say is "no", and in the best case scenario, you may be pleasantly surprised to find out that the dues you've been paying to an organization entitle you to a discounted rate.
The more money you can save on your hotel room, the more cash you'll have available for entertainment while you're on your vacation. It's worth taking a few extra steps to save on your hotel room if it means that you'll have a better, more affordable vacation.
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