Earlier at the coffee shop, I overheard (see ‘eavesdropping’) two ladies who seem to be here for a business trip, talk about their stay. They seem to enjoy their leisure time, including shopping of course at Bloomingdale’s but they find their hotel room rate to be quite expensive.
Most people really expect high hotel charges when staying in the city, but I think that shouldn’t always be the case.
While published rates are really high for walk-in guests, I know that there are ways on how you can get a good hotel deal.
- Last minute deals – Most hotels tend to slash off their room rates when you are booking a few days before your stay. Because of competition, hoteliers know that when people need a hotel room fast, they tend to opt not for the amenities but for the price. When you need a room tomorrow, why click on “Reserve Now” for a room that charges the regular published rate of $300/night when the hotel on the other block can give theirs for $200?
- Promos – Particularly for bookings done online, promos and other deals are available for prospective guests. Most hotels rely on online reservation to sell rooms. Because people who look for hotels tend to go to sites where they can see other available accommodation options for them, hotels draw attention to their rooms by giving promotional rates.
- Tour package – At times, it is a lot cheaper to get a tour package than a DIY tour. If you are going on a city tour, get a tour package with accommodations included. Travel agencies get to enjoy discounts directly from hotels, they can include it in a package just so the guest would avail the tour. Sounds just right and perfect for you if you want to go on a city tour.
- Travel agencies – You can also rely on tour operators to give promo rates on hotel bookings. Particularly during peak season, there is significant difference in hotel rates when booking through travel agents.
- Group bookings – If you’re going to attend a convention or any special event in the city, ask for group bookings and group discounts that are available. For some, they have a 10 + 1 room deal where you can get 1 room accommodation for free when you book and pay for 10 rooms.
- For leisure, try traveling off the peak season – You can get the same level of service and amenities without having to pay for the regular rate. If you have no schedule to follow or agenda that’ll push through, booking off peak can get you almost half the price of the regular room rates.
If you can’t get discounts at Bloomingdale’s for items off the rack, you can get good deals though on room rates even in the most expensive cities. And whether first class or economy class hotels, they offer all these deals during any time in the year.
Those two ladies could really use my advice – and save on room rates wherever they travel.
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