Today it is easier and cheaper then ever to make a hotel reservation. Knowing where to look online can help get you a standard room in a hotel far nicer than you might have thought your budget would allow. For your next trip, try these tips:
Check the Hotel's Home Page
This may sound like a no-brainer, but many people forget to check a hotel company's own web page when searching for hotel room rates. No matter which online service you use to book your hotel, check the hotel's official web site first for deals and discounts. Many list Internet-only specials that are not available anywhere else.
Hotels may also offer their own promotional rates. Promotional rates are short-tem prices available to the public during temporary or traditionally low periods. You would have to check with the hotel directly to determine if there are any promotional rates at the time you are travelling.
Compare your Options
You might think, with real-time information available on the Internet that all of the online booking web sites would have exactly the same rates. That is not the case. In fact, you can find vastly different rates for similar rooms at the same hotel on different sites such as Travelocity, Expedia, and Quikbook. It's worth taking the few extra minutes to pull up the same hotel on several different web sites and see what rates you are offered.
Deals and Discounts
If you are going to a popular destination like Disney World, there are often a number of sites that can help you find the best hotel rates around. For example, MouseSavers.com lists the discount codes for Disney World as well as information on which online booking service has the best prices. There are also several online sites that offer discounts and specific deals for hotels and resorts worldwide.
Associations and Affiliations
When you call a hotel, remember to ask about any special rates offered to you in connection with your membership in a professional association or AAA. Many hotels will have lower rates available but won't remind you to ask.
In addition to knowing where to look for the best deals, it's helpful to be familiar with some common hotel lingo. Awareness of these terms will help you reserve the type of hotel room you really want.
- Rack Rates: The full retail price of the room before discounts are applied.
- Standard Rooms: At some hotels all guest rooms are quite special, while at others they are ordinary at best. Check a recent brochure or visit the hotel online and see examples of their standard room.
- Suites: Suites can be quite elaborate, perhaps with an in-room Jacuzzi and large sitting room, while junior suites usually have a small sitting area, not a separate room.
- Transfers: Shuttle transportation to/from the hotel to airports or local attractions. Often transfers are complimentary. Ask.
