8 Tips to Save up to 50% on US Hotel Rates
This may very well be old news to people who live in America, but over the first few weeks of travelling Route 66 I learned the hard way that there are far cheaper ways to book a hotel than over the internet! Over 10 weeks, I stayed in 22 hotels, but as I got better at getting better rates, the hotels we stayed in got cheaper even though we were heading West. Here are my tips for getting the best possible rates.
Once you’ve decide which town you want to stay in:
- Look on roomsaver.com for hotels within your budget.
- Look on hotelcoupons.com, and see if you can beat that rate. Generally if you see the same hotel, the coupon rates will be the same, but sometimes you’ll find a similar hotel nearby for less.
- If you are planning to travel at a busy time, call the hotel and ask for a manager. Tell them you have a coupon, and ask what’s the best rate they have for reservations.
- Otherwise, clip the coupon and take it with you to the hotel. It’s probably wise to have a second choice too, just incase this one is fully booked when you arrive. Or worse, if you get there and don’t like the look of the place.
- If you are staying for a week or more, you can probably negotiate the coupon rate even over the weekend without too much trouble.
- Most hotels have a continuous cycle of maintenance working through the hotel refreshing and redecorating the rooms. Ask not to be next to that room.
- Don’t bargain too hard though, or you’ll end up with the room next to the elevator, or the laundry
- If you like the hotel you’re staying at, make friends with the manager and some of the staff. If you’re passing through the area again, they’ll probably remember you, and you can ask for the same rate again.