How do you cut the cost of staying in a hotel?

Former_MSE_Rebecca · 9 April 2015 at 5:22PM

We want to tap MoneySavers' collective knowledge on booking cheap holiday accommodation. We all know about checking comparison sites and staying on a Sunday, but what are the really clever ways you've found to bag a room for less? Are you a member of a hotel loyalty scheme? Do you know where to find special opening rates? Or do you avoid hotels entirely and use spare room rental sites?

tain · 15 April 2015 at 10:21AM

Kind of opposite to what the thread is about, but we heard loads of stories of how hotels in Thailand give you awesome rates if you just rock up on the day and haggle.

Tried this at a bunch of hotels, and the best we got was free breakfast on top of the normal internet rate. And I'd like to think I was a decent haggler!

I'd be interested to hear if others had better success with this.

paddyrg · 15 April 2015 at 12:32PM

Be flexible. Flexible with dates, where you stay, etc., and you stand a chance of getting a bargain. These internet days, though, with everyone trying to get an 'edge' on a deal, there's not a lot you can do beyond every other open secret that's already out there. Be friendly and polite at check-in, and ask the receptionist if you've a preference for a quiet room/whatever. If they want to help you, they generally will.

If you want to upgrade a room, you can always ask about it at reception so you have cards to play. If you are staying for a fortnight, and ask if there's a room upgrade available, the hotel stands a chance of getting some more money from you. If you've prepaid, staying for a night, you're just a body for a night.

I've seen people feel entitled to a hotel discount because 'we want lots of rooms', then want some kind of block booking discount on three rooms for a weekend. Three rooms isn't a lot. Nor is six, or ten. Booking 5,000 room/nights is a lot, that gets you into a real discussion - wholesale, not retail. Three rooms for a weekend is bread-and-butter, you're not a special snowflake ;-) If you are discussing a genuinely big order though, you may be able to pay less cash if you don't want people to get 'points'.

People use hotels for different reasons. If you want a luxury break, you don't stay in a commuter hotel, and vice versa. Don't expect luxury treatment for Travelodge prices, it's not going to happen. If you do want luxury, or at least to get the best available room in a price band of a leisure hotel, get a friend to call up and ask if they can pre-pay for a bottle of champagne and some flowers to be left in your room, mentioning if it happens to be your anniversary/honeymoon/etc. At least that tips off the hotel as opposed to looking pitiful at reception pleading for a nice room 'because it's my birthday', or whatever.

Leisure hotels can be more remote, so breakfast on-site is a good idea. Commuter hotels are often more urban, so there are more breakfast options locally - frequently cheaper than in-house, although some of the lower-end multiples/chains have good value breakfast buffets.

InsideInsurance · 15 April 2015 at 12:34PM

Not so great at getting cheap but ok at getting good value by getting extras thrown in for free.

The key thing, from my experience, is (a) to know and understand offers they may have with certain distributors and (b) simply ask the place directly what they can do given you know (a)

Loyalty schemes are good again for extras, and again its worth checking the promos out there and who matches who. So found a promo for Hilton Hhonors Gold status which was fine but didnt want to stay at a Hilton. Googling I couldnt find the same for Hyatt, which I did want to stay at, but found out about their "challenge" where they will match your status at other hotels temporarily giving you a higher tier with reduced targets to maintain it.

Didnt get close to maintaining the higher Hyatt level but enjoyed the free upgrade to a suite/ breafasts etc.

Some hotels say no, they dont want to cut the throats of their big suppliers but a lot of them will match them and of course they dont ever check if you actually had an AmEx Platinum/ Centurion card who's benefits you're asking them to mirror etc

NancyH · 15 April 2015 at 1:49PM

I use AirBnB and trip advisor. I'm usually a lone traveler and I like the flexibility and security it gives me. Also the main advantage I've found from staying in a room let out by a local is that they know bus/train routes, good cafes and restaurants, etc. I've never got the same service from a hotel, nor have I felt as safe in a hotel.

I know this thread is about cost, but it's not the only consideration for me and I find it all balances out in the end - local knowledge vs hotel restaurants, transport, etc.

John259 · 15 April 2015 at 2:13PM

To save money on a road trip in the USA and Canada:
Stay in motels instead of hotels.
Stay in small or medium sized towns or on the outskirts of big cities, not in city centres.
Stay in nearby towns, not inside national parks.
There's no need to eat where you sleep (not even the same town).
Give the budget motel chains and independent family run "mom and pop" motels a go. You can move upmarket the next night if you wish.

prowla · 15 April 2015 at 2:16PM

You can try booking via a cashback site.

silvercar · 15 April 2015 at 2:27PM

Hotels.com give you one night free for every 10 booked - across multiple bookings.

charliewocka · 15 April 2015 at 4:21PM

Hotel loyalty schemes - I just stayed 3 nights in Paris free of charge in a 4* hotel. I've also stayed in NYC, gotten free gift vouchers (£300 from one), have room upgrades etc.

USe Quidco - I have literally just booked a 3 night stay in Cape Cod, USA, and received £103 cashback (well, it's tracked already!) for an £800 hotel stay (that work are paying for regardless and getting AMEX loyalty points).

Be flexible with location - do you have to be right in the centre of an area. If you can be a little further form where you need to be but have good transport links, consider it.

eDicky · 15 April 2015 at 4:51PM

Substantial discount is available in some city hotels for airline staff, especially in Asia where it can even work for non-uniformed 'ground staff' who walk in and flash an airline id card. This once caused me great hilarity after checking out when I looked at my receipt and saw that my name and job title had been confused - I had been registered as "Mr Cargo Steward"!

skintpaul · 15 April 2015 at 6:51PM

look out for any travel forums, specific to the area- may have some local deals that travel agents don't get to see!

Eg- Ibiza Spotlight is great one, for up to date advice/info- from travellers, and locals!

How do you cut the cost of staying in a hotel?

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