| Getting discount hotel reservations when you travel is | | | | free night or some other benefit such as a free |
| not really that difficult when you know how. | | | | breakfast every day. Hotels offer this to encourage |
| Booking early is one of the best ways to get a | | | | customers to stay longer as it saves the hotel money. |
| discount hotel reservation. And the earlier you book | | | | A hotel would rather check-in one customer for five |
| you hotel room the more discount you may receive. | | | | nights than check-in five customers one for each night. |
| Hotels manage their reservations to ensure that the | | | | The hotel would save substantial check in and out |
| hotel books the maximum number of rooms at the | | | | costs, administration costs, cleaning costs advertising |
| maximum room rate possible. And the hotel will | | | | and agent booking fees. |
| certainly make sure that the number of bookings | | | | Stay during the week and not on weekends can result |
| exceeds the hotel's break even point so that it is | | | | in a significant discount for customers. This is very |
| profitable. Hotels regularly release blocks of low cost | | | | evident at entertainment hot-spots such as Las Vegas |
| rooms to the market to encourage people to make a | | | | and Macau where gamblers fly in for the weekend. |
| reservation. These rooms will only available several | | | | The hotel rate on Friday and Saturday nights is often |
| months into the future. The hotel will have blocks of | | | | double the Sunday to Thursday night rate. Many other |
| medium priced rooms and blocks of high priced rooms. | | | | international locations also have this weekend premium |
| As the demand for rooms increases the hotel "sells" | | | | where travellers arrive for a weekend escape from |
| the cheapest rooms first leaving the blocks of higher | | | | the city. For example many Londoners travel to Paris |
| priced rooms. Also as the demand for rooms | | | | for the weekend and many Greeks visit the Greek |
| increases the hotel will increase their room rates to | | | | Islands on the weekends. |
| match the demand. | | | | Stay a little further away from the centre of the action. |
| Booking at the last minute can sometimes result in a | | | | When travelling to major cities and attractions, the |
| significant discount for customers. When a hotel has | | | | nearer the hotel to the city or attraction the more you |
| not received enough bookings to be profitable, then the | | | | should expect to pay. If booking a hotel in a major city |
| hotel may release a number of rooms to the market | | | | consider staying in the suburb just outside the central |
| at a discount. However, customers may not be able to | | | | business district. If visiting a major tourist attraction, |
| book the hotel of their choice. If you are not too fussy | | | | such as Disneyland, consider staying in the next suburb. |
| about where you stay booking a hotel at the last | | | | The down-side, of course, is the extra travel cost but |
| minute can sometimes work in your favour. | | | | a $10 taxi fare may be a lot cheaper than the extra |
| Avoid travel on religious, public or school holidays. | | | | cost of the hotel room. |
| There will be increased demand for hotel | | | | Booking on the Internet is the best way for customers |
| accommodation which leads to higher room rates. | | | | to compare and shop for a hotel in any location in the |
| Hotels tend to receive bookings many months in | | | | world. There is huge choice for customers meaning |
| advance giving hotels the chance to maximise their | | | | huge competition for the hotels which keeps prices |
| room rates to ensure the hotel is fully booked well | | | | low. Also many of the best hotel deals are only |
| before the holiday period. | | | | released on the internet and are often only available |
| Avoid travel in Peak Periods such as the middle of | | | | until sold out. The internet allows you to enter your |
| summer when visiting a beach resort or island. | | | | travel dates, check availability, compare prices, view |
| Likewise, avoiding the middle of winter if going on a | | | | photos of the hotel exterior and interior and read |
| skiing holiday. The Greek Islands are a very popular | | | | reviews hotel reviews from other travellers. |
| destination during the summer months with the peak | | | | The booking is made in real-time so you know that |
| during August when the Greeks are on holiday. I visited | | | | once it has been confirmed the booking is complete. |
| the Greek Islands during June; there was plenty of | | | | Most importantly, making a prepaid reservation will get |
| affordable accommodation and the weather was | | | | you the cheapest hotel rates available. As your credit |
| beautiful. | | | | card is charged at the moment you make the booking |
| Avoid travel during a major event such as The | | | | everything is confirmed and arranged for you |
| Olympics. For example, when the Sydney 2000 | | | | immediately. |
| Olympics were being staged I travelled to New | | | | And once the booking is complete the hotel check-in |
| Zealand. The number of tourists visiting New Zealand | | | | voucher is sent to your email address and can be |
| was at a low point and I booked some very good | | | | printed out for presentation to the hotel on check-in. If |
| bargains and had the pick of hotels. Also there were | | | | you lose your voucher, don't worry, simply go to your |
| no queues at any tourist attractions which makes your | | | | email and print another one. Bookings can be altered or |
| holiday so much more enjoyable. | | | | cancelled at any time however if the booking is |
| Booking multiple nights at the same hotel often results | | | | changed within 72 hours before the check-in date |
| in a discount for customers. I cannot count the number | | | | there may be an administration fee charged by the |
| of times I have booked 3 or 4 nights and received a | | | | hotel and this will vary from hotel to hotel. |