Traveling the world is fun, but it can be expensive if you don’t know where to go and how to find the best deals. One of the most crucial factors that you can consider when it comes to planning a trip is finding the best deal on a hotel room. Although you can usually reserve a room on the hotel’s website, is it the best way to book a room?
Here are some tips for saving money while booking your next hotel room.
Sign Up for Discounts
Taking one minute to sign up for a hotel or travel website can lead to significant savings. Several online travel agencies have various rewards programs that allow members to earn free nights or credit and exclusive discounts. If you’re hesitant to sign up due to the number of e-mails that your inbox is constantly bombarded with, then don’t hesitate to click the “unsubscribe” button after signing up.
Get a Credit Card that Offers Hotel Rewards Points
Getting a credit card that offers hotel rewards points is one of the easiest ways to save on travel. Numerous card issuers are competing for your business, and there are tons of bonuses just by signing up for the card.
Use Discount Rates
The AAA or AARP can provide you with special rates on travel. They also have a variety of travel benefits, such as discounted flights with British Airways, so be sure that you’re taking advantage of all the discounts these programs offer.
Negotiate
Before planning a trip, start by selecting a few hotel favorites and then pick up the phone to ask the hotel to match the price you found on other sites.
Check Prices on Different Services
These days there are about a hundred different booking services available. Don’t be afraid to check hotel prices on several of these sites to see what deals you can find.
Hunt Down Coupon Codes
After you’ve found the best price, try to find a coupon for that hotel or the website that you found it on. When hunting coupons, double-check the date to ensure that you didn’t just score an expired code. Finally, consider checking out sites like RetailMeNot and Coupons.com to help your search.