Staying in a hotel room during your vacation costs an average of $137 per night per room. For larger families and longer vacations, hotel room costs can add up quickly and drain away vacation funds from other activities. Fortunately, there are a few ways to limit your costs when booking hotel rooms for your stay. These tips will help you save money and avoid overpaying for the rooms.
Call The Hotel
People do not realize that booking hotel rooms online, while convenient, limits your options on pricing. Calling the hotel and speaking with an actual person that can make decision is a much better avenue for getting a deal. You may be able to beat the rates you find online by asking nicely when you call the hotel.
Ask For Price Matching
Many hotels will match the lower price of a competitor if you ask them to. The competitor typically must be in the same area and be of a similar quality level for the hotel to match the price. This allows you to save a considerable amount of money while staying where you really wanted to stay.
Ask About Fees Before Booking Hotel Rooms
Some hotels offer a low price on the room, but then jack up the price with various fees for amenities that you may not even use. Before booking hotel rooms, ask about or research the additional fees you will have to pay for your stay. You may find that another hotel without as many fees would be a better deal.
Do A Local Google Search
Many of the most popular travel search engines focus solely on big hotel and motel chains. Youi may be able to get a better deal by choosing a smaller boutique hotel, which might not come up on search sites. Once you have chosen your destination, do a local Google search for lodging in the area. You might find a hidden gem that few tourists are aware of.
Consider Other Lodging Options
If you are planning on staying at a location for more than a few days, you may be able to get a better deal on lodging with a house rental, a condo rental, or renting lodging through Airbnb. A seven-night stay at the average room rate for two rooms would be nearly $2,000. Renting a two-bedroom home for the same seven-day period would cost you roughly half of that. In addition, you’d have a kitchen that you could cook in instead of eating in a restaurant for every meal, lowering your vacation costs even more.