Stay for Cheap - Tips on Finding Hotel Deals

As airline prices countinue to rise, more and more travelers are looking for discounts on their hotel stays. While the days of cheap airline tickets may be over, there are still some key ways to save on hotel rooms.

What hotels don't want to tell you is that deep discounts can be had if you know where to look. Many upscale hotels are hesitant to advertise their discount prices. But with less people traveling, more of their rooms are sitting empty - and that means they are usually willing to discount through certain channels.

Tip One:

One of the surest ways to get a deal on a hotel, along with your entire vacation package, is to buy a vacation package. Packages help hide the price of each individual item (air, hotel, car, etc.) from the consumer. Many hotels that are less inclined to discount may do so for a package offer. This helps keep the true pricing transparent to the public.

Tip Two:

While not always practicle for non-leisre travel, sometimes you can save by booking your travel in the off-season. Most destiniatios have high seasons, low seasons and what the travel industry calls shoulder season. Shoulder season is that time right before and right after high season. The crowds are smaller, occupancy is lower, and the weather is usually still desireable. These can be great times of the year to save big.

Tip Three:

Buy through an online hotel discounter. Many online hotel sites have specially negotiated nightly rates for both chain and independant hotels. Hotels have contracts with these websites that allow the sites to sell rooms for less than the normal advertised prices. Some hotels sell their distressed inventory (unsold rooms) through internet sites such as Priceline and Hotwire. It may take some digging to find the best online hotel deal, but check out three or four well known hotel sites and also search for the hotel by name.

Tip Four:

Just Ask! If you're calling the hotel direct, many times they can give you a rate lower than what is advertised - especially in slow seasons. Ask them directly if they have any promotions or if they offer any special discounts (AARP, AAA, etc.). If you're calling ahead of time, tell them the lowest price you've found the hotel for online and ask for a better deal. If you're walking up to the front desk, smile and just ask if they can give you a better deal. Many times they would rather keep you there then to lose you to their competitor across the street.

Happy Travels!