Finding the Best Room Rates
by Katherine Winters
If you're planning
on staying in a hotel anytime soon, be sure you know the
tricks for getting the rock-bottom rate.
Hotel reservationists are trained to offer you the
highest rate available. But most hotels are rarely full,
so you can be almost sure that there is a lower rate
available.
And rest assured that the hotel would certainly prefer
to give you a steep discount than to have the room go
empty.
Call Hotel Directly
First, call the hotel directly
rather than the nationwide 800 number. The local
reservationist is privy to promotions and discounts
about which the 800 operator will not know.
Ask Questions
When you call, ask a lot of
questions. Ask what promotional offers are occurring,
whether the hotel offers family discounts, and whether
the hotel offers special rates for extended stays.
Before You Check-In
The day of check-in, call and
inquire about the lowest rate before giving your name.
If the rate is lower, switch to that rate.
Ask For Special Rates
Also ask the hotel for a corporate
rate, a AAA rate, senior citizen or AARP discounts,
Entertainment Card discounts, and other special rates
for which you qualify.
Remember that travel agencies often have access to
discounted hotel rates at 20 to 60% off. You may also
save money by booking your airfare and hotel together
with a travel agent.
Check With Consolidators
Finally, call a hotel
consolidator. Consolidators buy blocks of hotel rooms to
resell to the public. They then pass their volume
discounts on to the consumer. You'll usually save 20 to
50% off the rack rate by buying through a consolidator.
Here are a few numbers of consolidators to try:
Hotel Reservations
Network:
800-964-6835
Express Reservations:
800-356-1123
Central Reservations
Service:
800-950-0232
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$17.95/Pack of 24
