22 things you should do when you book a hotel to score the best deals
This list can save you bundles the next time you plan to stay at a hotel
Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts
Get Simon Calder’s Travel email
You don’t have to overpay for a hotel room.
There are tricks and tips you can use to find the best room rates so you can enjoy your trip guilt-free.
We spoke to Jeannette Pavini, a savings expert at Coupons.com, Josh Belkin, the Vice President and general manager of Hotels.com’s North America branch, Cheryl Rosner, who is the CEO of Stayful, and Ivy Chou, the content and marketing director for DealsPlus.com, to get their best tips for booking a room.
From when to book to how to find hidden discounts, this list can save you bundles the next time you plan to stay at a hotel.
Look into business hotels.
According to Pavini, business hotels can provide great deals, especially when traveling within Europe.
The reason is because business can often be slow during summer months and on weekends at hotels that cater to business travelers, which can lead to lower prices.
Ask for a corner room.
Pavini also recommends opting for a corner room, since you'll typically get more square footage for the same price.
If you're looking to upgrade to a corner room, Pavini suggest that you be discreet and avoid asking at times when there are several guests waiting to be assisted.
Check in near the end of the day.
If you're hoping to snag an upgrade, checking in towards the day might be your answer.
According to Pavini, since hotels have a better sense of occupancy by that point, they are more likely to offer upgrades that are still available.
Instead of calling the 800 reservation numbers, call the hotel directly.
The reason why Pavini suggests doing this is because often, people who are working directly at the property have a greater ability of upgrading you when possible.
If you stay at a hotel regularly, keeping a friendly relationship with them and booking directly can also increase your perks.
Book within their cancellation period.
According to Rosner, when it comes to hotels, sometimes waiting until the last minute can help you snag a better price tag.
Typically, a hotel's cancellation falls anywhere between 24 hours to 48 hours in advance, at which point rooms become available at lower rates.
Bundle your hotel and flight booking.
Booking your flight and hotel together can sometimes lead to savings.
It’s a tip that Belkin recommends as well, as it can often lead to savings on both hotels and flights.
Sign up for a hotel's loyalty programmes.
“One of the best ways to receive free upgrades is to sign up for a loyalty program and stick to it,” Pavini says.
Marriott's loyalty program includes a best-rate guarantee for guests, free Wi-Fi on each trip, and access to exclusive events and experiences, while other programs include free nights or free items with bookings.
Or opt for a loyalty program through booking websites.
While hotels directly offer loyalty programs, third-party booking sites do as well.
For example, loyalty members with Hotels.com can book 10 nights and get one for free.
The 10 nights can be mixed and matched in different locations.
Sign up for alerts on price drops.
When you don't have the time to keep a close eye on prices, sign up for alerts through websites like Hotels.com and Kayak.
They'll take care of the work for you, emailing you when the prices start to drop while ensuring that they don't flood your inbox.
Let them know if you're an influencer.
According to Pavini, if you happen to be active on rating websites like TripAdvisor or Yelp, or have a large presence on social media, let the front desk know.
This is not to say you should expect perks, but sometimes the hotel will make the trip extra special.
Check to see where prices are increasing and decreasing.
If you're not set on a particular destination, take a look at Hotel.com's Hotel Price Index, which provides information on where hotel prices are increasing and decreasing.
The results are based on bookings made on the website and prices paid by customers per room per night, including taxes and fees.
Tap into apps.
Apps can help you unlock a world of discounts.
Apps like Hotel Tonight can get you top-notch last minute discounts on rooms, while loyalty members can access a secret prices section within the Hotels.com app to get rooms for $200 and under during peak times like weekends.
Book a room at a new property.
Pavini also recommends booking a room at a new hotel, since this can sometimes lead to lower rates.
This is because typically at these times, the hotel will be looking to increase business and get the word out, which can often lead to the ability to snag upgrades according to Pavini.
Use coupons codes.
Coupons might not be the first thing you think about when looking to book a room, but websites like Coupons.com and DealsPlus.com have entire sections of coupon codes for travelers.
These include both discounts on hotel stays in various destinations and on flights.
Mention when it's a special occasion.
Whether it's your birthday, anniversary, honeymoon, or the first time at a hotel, it never hurts to mention that you're there celebrating a special time.
Sometimes, it can lead to upgrades or amenity kits that help make your stay all the more special.
Follow the rule of opposites.
Rosner recommends going with “the opposites”—booking opposite to when the majority would.
Rosner mentioned that hotels in business districts can offer great deals during the weekend, while resort areas should be booked midweek for savings.
Look for reciprocal opportunities for earning points.
Hotels work with various companies to offer guests the chance to earn points.
For example, Starwood Preferred Guests can earn points when using Uber during their stay, and Marriott guests can earn points for shopping for flowers, gifts, and wines on select websites.
Refer your friends.
Hotels like referrals that bring in new business and often reward guests for it.
Marriott will give guests up to 50,000 bonus points for referrals, and a free 10,000 bonus points for the referred friends.
Similarly, websites like Stayful offer $25 off each time you refer a friend.
Book a secret hotel.
Secret hotel rooms are essentially rooms that are being sold at a reduced price from hotels who don’t want the rooms left empty.
You won’t know which hotel you’re booking the room in upfront, but savings can often be as much as 20-50 per cent off the original listed price.
Examples include: lastminute.com's Top Secret Hotels section and Hotwire's secret rates.
See what perks your credit card offers.
Most credit cards like Discover and Capital One Venture offers travelers everything from cash back, to bonus points or miles.
That's why Chou suggests checking what your credit card can provide, in addition to the rewards programs hotels have themselves.
Use membership programs and special offers.
According to Chou, members of programs like AAA, AARP, ADP, and even the American Bar Association can access special discounts.
This can include 25 per cent off bookings, free activity vouchers, and up to $100 off Disneyland Resort hotels.
Follow up if there are any problems with your stay.
Often times, issues like noisy neighbors or a messy room can ruin your hotel experience. If this happens, Pavini urges that you speak up.
“It could be an upgrade for the rest of your stay, a credit to your account, or drink vouchers for the bar,” Pavini told us.
Score the best hotel deals with our Hotels.com discount and voucher codes websites
Read more:
• Police report shows how the Paris attacks were planned
• 10 features you should expect in the new iPhone
• The 13 cheapest European cities for a weekend break
Read the original article on Business Insider UK. © 2015. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies