I tell you, expedia.com can’t get rooms at the rate I could get just phoning around.
What’s the best Web site for hotel deals?
I don’t think there’s a concrete answer for this one. In my experience, prices tend to vary widely. ABC.com may have the best price one week, but XYZ.com will beat them the next. I guess it depends on demand, location and what sort of deals each company makes, which seemingly change from day to day.
It’s a pain in the ass, but if you want the best price, you have to do the grunt work yourself. Check the hotel’s website, the travel sites, and then call the hotel yourself. Often, desk clerks will work with you on rates if you ask nicely.
The best price that you can get is obtained by showing up at a hotel with your bags late at night and asking the desk clerk if she/he can give you a deal. They usually have wide discretion if the hotel isn’t booked although the technique isn’t foolproof.
I’ve had some great success with Hotels.com, but it’s pretty hit and miss. They’re on my list of sites I check for rates when I’m traveling (particularly last-minute).
The difference between Hotels.com and other booking sites is that Hotels.com actually has the inventory locked in. Due to a glitch, I once stayed in a huge suite in one of Chicago’s nicest hotels for two days at $130/night. I couldn’t see that room going for under $349/night under normal circumstances. No way.
One of the techniques recommended by the Travel Channel was to shop as many discount websites as possible, call the hotel you’re interested and get their rates from them, then tell them the lowest price you found on a specific website. Ask them if they’re willing to match it. Since part of their fee goes to the website in question, they’ll be getting more from you than if you book through a service. Most hotels are usually willing to do that.
We have had very good luck with priceline. We have never paid over $50, and have stayed in some nice hotels.
If you don’t plan to use it very long, ask if they rent rooms by the hour.
Hostels are also an option. They run the gamut from cold dorm-room style to pleasant and snug. Prices are usually very affordable. My favorite hostel website is: www.hostelz.com
I’ve been using Travelaxe for the past few years and have had some success with it.
I ditto this, as long as you’re careful. You can specify the area, and I would always specify a 3-star hotel or better. Then you can bid a ridiculously low price and if they don’t have anything, no harm no foul; you can keep upping the ante by $5 at a time until you’re past your limit. If they have one, it’s almost certain to be well worth the price.
Note that this method does not work well during peak seasons at highly desirable areas. But even then you could get lucky.
Priceline is great, especially in larger cities. In smaller places it isn’t so great, and in fact I don’t think there is any good way to get cheap hotels in small places. I did a road trip last week and I paid less for a Marriott in Salt Lake City that I did for an EconoLodge in Vernal, UT (pop 7700).
I recommend going here first - it will give you a good idea of what people are getting through Priceline, and use those prices when bidding.
Good luck!
I just tell the hotel I’m on Navy business, and tell them to give me the government rate.
'Course, I don’t do much pleasure travel anymore, what with the three very young kids and all.
I’ve consistently found remarkably good prices on hrs.com, mostly in Europe but also in the US and Canada.
Well, I never book anything on a website (not for any particular reason) but if you phone and get a price list, make your second question about their corporate price list.
In my experience they tend to knock about 20% off the price.
While I readily admit I haven’t done what you suggested, wouldn’t this method be most likely to open you up to paying the highest possible rate?
Priceline has worked well for me in the past, too. Hubby and I stayed at the Holiday Inn North in Lexington for ~$34/night a couple of years ago. Rack rate was four times that.
Check on multiple websites, and check for several days. When I was planning a trip through Albuquerque, I found what appeared to be a great hotel right on my route. The website (Orbitz, I think) listed the rate at about $85, and when I called for their rates, I was quoted $96 on the phone. That was more than I wanted to spend, so I kept looking. When I checked the very next day on the same website, the price had dropped to $55. So, I booked it then. Yep, it was a nice hotel, with a kitchen in the room and everything.
All websites charge hotels a 10% commission, which the hotels pass on to you as higher rates. You will almost never get a better price than negotiating directly.
Showing up late at night will often get you a rock-bottom price. If they have open rooms and it is after nine or so, they don’t care what you are paying. Anything is better than nothing. But this can backfire if the hotels in town are filling up and people are getting desperate.
Yes, sometimes it will.
But other times, as even sven has said, you will sometimes get a great rate.
It’s a dance. Do you HAVE to be there at a certain time? A certain location? How much do frequent stayer points matter to you? etc.
I love that site in combination with Priceline. You get some great information. Just make sure that you read the forum rules before you go and post. The board admin there runs her board her way and will let you know it. Don’t get me wrong, the service is worth it, you just have to understand that Sheryl is…different.