Want to save money when booking a hotel room? Be a genius with these 21 hotel hacks to help you save money while booking your hotel and on your next trip. Just keep reading to find out.
1. Book Your Hotel and Flight At Once (Then Pay With an Airline or Travel Rewards Credit Card)
Incredible hotel discounts await when booking your hotel room and flight together! Companies offering travel services like Travelocity or Expedia often offer these. But, the catch is you need to pay in advance for everything. Changes like cancellations can also cost more. You might be uneasy with these, but if you are sure of your dates, youāll definitely save money!
A plus is paying with an airline or travel rewards credit card that offers you bonus rewards and flexible ways to redeem those rewards.Ā
2. Be an AAA MemberĀ
Members of AAA earn significant discounts from many hotels in the US and abroad. Your savings from travel discounts might be more than enough to pay your membership fee.
With the US, AAA issues driving permits that can be used internationally. This is a great help for those who rent cars during their travels. You may also present your AAA ID while entering another country. Being an AAA member is a money-saving hack even if you never drive.
3. Maximize Your Elite Traveler Status
Having an elite status in at least one loyalty program in hotels can provide you many benefits. Some of these benefits are early check-ins, free room upgrades, and late check-outs.
Hotel staff and management may easily grant your special requests, like waiving those hotel mini-bar charges if you have an elite status.
4. Directly Book Through the Hotel
One phone call direct to the hotel can translate into savings in discounts or upgrades. Do this, especially during the off-season, when many hotels have empty rooms.
5. Haggle Directly with the Hotel if You Plan to Stay Long TermĀ
If your trip is at least a week, ask for discount rates for long-term stay. Who knows? Directly contact the hotel and you might get a discount rate. Though you may be required to pay ahead of your stay, various hotels allow guests to make installment payments on their balance.
6. Be Aware of Perks that Go with Credit Card Sign-Ups
Take advantage of bonus(es) when signing up for a credit card. Get huge hotel discounts or free airfare for a companion. To avail, you need good credit. Also, make sure you have enough time to get your credit card and avail of your perks.
7. Compare Status Perks Across Different Customer Loyalty Programs
If you want to transfer to another customer loyalty program, reach out to request a status match. Often, youāll receive a favorable response.
Many hotels are part of a chain. Booking for a few nights often grants you a travelerās elite status – not just in that hotel but across the hotel chain.
8. Book Your Hotel Stay Dates Before or After the Peak Season
If youāre willing to have an off-season trip, this can easily save you money. Traveling during peak season translates to costly airfares and high hotel rates. So if you travel off-seasonsāyou might save tons of money. Not to mention that you will also enjoy more benefits like less crowded tourist spots.
9. Choose Hotel Refundable Rates and Check Back Periodically
Nonrefundable rates are often cheaper than the ābest availableā or even discounted AAA or AARP rates. But act wisely. Besides being nonrefundable, that low rate might be higher than the rate you could ultimately receive. Choose the best refundable rate available for your room instead. Avail of hotel discounts or promotions by making sure to check back often.
10. Earn Miles with Every Hotel Booking
If you choose to collect frequent flier miles over hotel points, Rocketmiles is for you. As a frequent traveler, you can earn up to 80,000 miles per year, which may outweigh the extra few bucks you paid more for a night compared to booking directly.
You may also avail and use airline cards which let you earn miles when you pay for your booking. An example is that of American Express.
11. Check Hotel Websites Incognito
When traveling outside the US, you may want to compare the rates of a hotelās foreign website and its domestic counterpart. Just use your default browser setting and incognito option. You may see that the foreign site rates are much lower compared to rates published on domestic websites.
12. Propose to Write Reviews
If you love to write and are active on Yelp or Tripadvisor, mention to the manager that you plan to submit a review. You can also offer to make a blog article if you own a travel blog.
But never do bribery using a positive review. Dishonesty will lead to your review being turned down by the hotel. Also, if you write about your stay, be honest and say that they gave you a discount if you received one.
13. Get Returns for Past Mediocre Experiences
Missed your flight because the front desk forgot the wake-up call after accepting your request? Politely complaining to the manager will often lead to discount vouchers or free future room upgrades.
14. Check Rates Using Booking Aggregator Websites
Aggregator sites like Kayak, Trivago, and others compare hotel room prices on many different booking sites in just one click. This is like the airfare aggregators that lets you see and choose flight prices for different airlines.
Just have in mind where and when to go. This hack saves you both money and time!
15. Pack a Handy Cooler, Plates, Hot Pot, and Utensils
Hotel room service makes you spend more for sure. If you donāt mind bringing extra, get a handy cooler, disposable utensils and plates, and a hot pot.
Enjoy local shopping and save big bucks by cooking your food, even if there are no kitchen facilities. Most hotels are fine with guests bringing in beverages and food. If in doubt, just ask in advance.Ā
16. Let the Hotel Know Youāre Celebrating a Special Occasion
Are you planning for a celebration? Let the hotel know. You may get a big group rate discount or an upgraded honeymoon suite for free.
17. Request for a Room Upgrade
Go ahead and request for a better room or an upgrade before you check-in. You may also ask to be shown various rooms prior to your check-in, if youāre not brave enough to ask directly. Donāt spoil your stay if you are unhappy with a room facing a wall.
18. Donāt Save on Location, Save on Amenities
If you have a tight budget, give up on amenities instead of location. A simple, clean room with an easy access downtown saves you more money than a better room that is far from places you plan to visit.
19. Do not Use the Hotelās Laundry Service
Laundry service is pricey. Save money by doing it yourself. Use the lavatory and dry them overnight. Just bring a small pack of detergent.
20. Make Sure Thereās Wi-Fi
Internet connection is a need wherever you go. Always check the hotel amenities in advance for Wi-Fi access. Many hotels offer guests free access to Wi-Fi.
21. Connect Your PC to the TV for Your Favorite Netflix Shows
If you have to watch your favorite shows, use the hotelās TV. As long as there is Wi-Fi access, use Google Chromecast to connect to the TV and watch your favorite shows from your PC, tablet, or smartphone.
Take It Easy!
Though some hacks in the list may need some extra effort, many require little to none. Flexibility and planning may lead you to a wonderful hotel room with a discount. Who doesnāt want more bucks to spend on their next trip?
