Sunday 22 March 2015

11 Clever Tips for Bagging a Hotel Bargain

Accommodation is one of the principal costs travellers face and there are countless strategies that can be used in order to cut costs and find the cheapest hotel room available. Whether it's telling the reception clerk that it's your honeymoon, or waiting until the very last minute to book, we've all tried one way or another to reduce the cost.

It's a time-consuming project and no matter what budget you are travelling on, finding the ideal lodging at the best price can be a challenge.

To help travellers save money on their hotel booking, HotelsCombined has released a clever list of booking tips and tricks:
  • Be flexible. Flexibility with your travel dates will allow you to take advantage of fluctuations in room prices. Rates change and you may find that it's cheaper to stay at a hotel from Saturday to Tuesday than from Wednesday to Friday.
  • Book via mobile. Try booking using your mobile phone or app – some hotels offer “mobile only” rates. By using the HotelsCombined mobile app to compare your hotel options,  you just might find a cheaper price.
  • Who doesn't love a free extra?Keep an eye out for hotels offering complimentary breakfast, WIFI or cancellation. These added elements will save you a few dollars when it comes to settling the bill. 
  • Book the Standard. Standard rooms are generally the most affordable hotel rooms.
  • Think independent. Look beyond the big hotel chains. Independent hotels can offer excellent rates and services and are often up to 50 per cent cheaper than major chains.
  • Show you are loyal. Joining Hotel Loyalty programs or membership clubs can be your ticket to discounted rates or upgrade offers. These programs are usually free to join and you'll be able to take advantage of the benefits (better room placement or amenities, discount codes and sales) for your next stay.
  • Check your rate. Make sure the rate you are being offered includes taxes and additional fees. The prices listed on HotelsCombined include all of these fees so you know what you are in for, upfront.
  • Know your seasons. Understand the peak seasons and the low seasons, and the events that will be occurring in the city you are travelling to at that time. These factors will affect the rate and availability of hotel rooms. 
  • Plan in advance.  Booking at least 30 days in advance will ensure you get the pick of the widest range of hotel room options. Not only can room prices can jump in the lead up to a particular date, but the availability and room choice will be limited.
  • Extend your stay. While it's not necessarily cheaper to book more than one night at a time, occasionally hotels do offer a fourth or a fifth night free.
  • Shop around online. Research is the key and you should be sure to check out as many options as possible. There are hundreds of sites out there that offering different rates and options. HotelsCombined compares them all, simply and efficiently. You'll find the best room rate every time, guaranteed.

For travellers planning on booking their accommodation soon, Global PR Manager at HotelsCombined, Alycia Simons, says that thinking outside the square will often help to save money.

“Accommodation can be an expensive element of a holiday. While it is easy to book the first hotel available, travellers that shop around and compare their options will find they can save up to eighty per cent on the cost of the accommodation,” she said.

“Some users have told us they search for accommodation using our map function, which allows them to find hotels that are nearby but not located in the city centre. These are generally cheaper and just as easy to get to. Other users travelled just outside of peak season. There are plenty of ways to save and ensure you have made the best possible accommodation decision,” Ms Simons finished.

Avid Australian traveller, Caitlin Robinson, says that when travelling around Malaysia in 2014 she was keenly aware of how accommodation ate into her budget.

“As a way of cutting back on how much I spend on hotels when I travel, I look for smaller boutique-type hotels that are a little outside of the city centre. The service is as good as the larger chains and can be considerably more affordable. Often these places will offer a fantastic breakfast to start the day and friendly, personalised service – I've had some great experiences,” Ms Robinson said.

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