If you like to travel a lot, you may find yourself staying in a hotel an awful lot. The nice thing about hotels is that they're a very competitive field and are willing to drop their prices in a heartbeat. The worst thing a hotel can do is have empty rooms for the night. If you think about it, they want something for that room instead of nothing.
Below you will find a few tips that will help you find the cheapest hotel room possible. If you follow these guidelines, I can assure you that you will find the cheapest hotel in your area that you plan on staying in.
Do your research first
If you're planning ahead of time for your trip, this is the best thing you can do. The best thing to do is research your hotels online such as Travelocity.com or orbitz.com. The nice thing about booking a hotel online is that you'll usually get a better price. With websites such as Travelocity, you're able to sort the hotel by price, ratings, reviews, and other features.
These travel websites usually tend to be very informative. They will provide reviews from actual guests that stayed at the hotel and they will also provide pictures so that you can get a feel for the hotel itself. A word of advice is to usually use Travelocity to find your hotel and then book from the hotel directly either via their website or phone. This way you'll avoid the middleman and get the best price possible.
Negotiate with them
Let's say you're going on a road trip and you can't plan ahead time with your hotels. Even though you're not going to be able to research, this doesn't mean you won't be able to get the best deals. As you drive, you may notice that many highway exits have at least three to four hotels. When you check out each hotel, make sure you attend each one and ask for a quote. Be sure to tell the clerk that you will be looking at your neighbors. Most of the time, they will negotiate a deal. If they don't budge, tell them that you already wend and the other hotel offered x amount of dollars. Depending on the hotel chain, they'll usually budge.
Save with hotel credit cards
If you frequent hotels often, a hotel credit card is a great way to save money. A lot of the times when you sign up for a credit card, you will instantly get enough points for three days for free. This isn't bad for just signing up for a free credit card. The nice thing about most of these credit cards is that it allows you build up points as you stay at the hotel. Even if you don't use your card at your hotel, the points will still add up, which then you can turn in for more free nights.
As you can see, there are a few alternatives to saving when it comes to staying at hotels. It's your duty to be responsible before you travel. If you can't plan ahead of time because of road trips, etc., this doesn't mean you can't save money. Be smart and you'll be able to save.
