Find
a package deal
There are many offers for hotel and flight packages that are
sometimes really cheap. Compare the price offered to taking a flight
and a hotel separately, because sometimes a package deal is not the
best way to go.
Be aware of your needs
Beautiful decoration, luxury and large rooms are great to have, but
they come with a cost. Think what your minimum requirements are.
Some people don't mind sharing a shower, while for others it could
ruin the trip. For some, internet access is a must while others
couldn't care less. The less you need - the less you pay.
Are you really going to use the swimming pool or the gym? They look
lovely in the pictures, but if you intend to spend all day
sightseeing you may not need them.
The one thing I wouldn't recommend to settle on (apart from
cleanliness) is location. Living far from the center of the city you
are visiting means you are going to waste time and money on
transportation every day.
Wait for the last minute
This one is a bit risky, especially if you are visiting a popular
tourist site during high season. If you are willing to take a risk,
you may find a room that was left vacant due to a cancellation. The
owners will be willing to lower the price rather than stay with an
empty room for the night.
Book in advance
It is a bit ironic, because it is the complete opposite of the
previous advice, but it makes sense. Imagine that it is now March,
and you own a hotel in a summer vacation area. You had hardly any
income during the winter. This is expected, but it still feels bad.
You hope that the coming summer will be good, but how can you tell?
If you have the opportunity to make a booking now for August, and
maybe get a small down payment, you would be happy to lower the
price for the security. By June or July, when most of the rooms are
booked for the summer, owners will feel more confident about
charging full rates.
Rent an apartment
Holiday apartments normally cost less than hotel rooms with
equivalent rating and similar location. You get more space, privacy
and the possibility of preparing your own food. On the other hand,
you get fewer services - normally apartments are not cleaned daily
and there are no meals served, no concierge etc.
Check discounts and corporate rates
Check if the hotel you want to go to has a discount for credit card
holders, members of any clubs you belong to or corporate rates you
may be able to use.
Can you change the length of your stay?
Most hotels offer reduced rates for longer stays. The total sum you
pay will be larger, but the cost per night will be lower. If you are
planning a trip to several places that are not very far from one
another, and you wanted to divide your stay between the places, you
may want to consider staying in one place and making day trips.
How to save after you arrive
Check the small print. If breakfast is not included, check the price
of breakfast compared to having breakfast in another place (a coffee
shop or diner). Check the price of local and long distance phone
calls compared to using cellular phone or a calling card. Check the
price of internet access. You may prefer to use an internet cafe or
wait for your next stop.
When you check out carefully read your bill and make sure you are
not billed for services you didn't use.
About the Author
Rachel Deutsch is the owner and writer of
http://www.dream-vacation-in-Tuscany.com. On this site, as in
others, she shares her experience in travel, and the interest in
Italy, its history and its pleasures.
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