Always recheck hotel reservations

[disneysteve]

I've learned over the years to never just make a hotel reservation and forget about it. You can frequently save money by periodically checking the rates right up to the day of your arrival.

We are going away for the weekend. I made the reservations back in August and the 2 nights were booked for a total of $328.90.

I just checked the current rates for the hotel and was able to rebook the same room for $297.85, a savings of $31.05 just for spending a few minutes on their website. That'll go toward dinner tomorrow night.

[creditcardfree]

Good plan! A savings of nearly 10% is very good and nothing to sneeze at.

[disneysteve]

I once cancelled and rebooked a hotel stay 3 times over the course of a couple of months. It was for a luxury hotel in Manhattan (the old Rhiga Royal) so it was not cheap but the rate kept dropping so I kept rebooking. I ended up saving a couple hundred dollars. It definitely pays to stay on top of this stuff.

[rennigade]

Good point steve. I also do the same things for rental cars. I usually book really far in advance then will cancel/rebook as long as the price keeps going down.

Just recently my parents went out west and I rebooked their rental car 2 different times and saved around $100 from the original price.

Also with rental cars...the price can actually decrease as it gets closer to your travel date. Keep checking!

[disneysteve]

Also with rental cars...the price can actually decrease as it gets closer to your travel date. Keep checking!

The same for hotels. They don't want vacant rooms so the prices drop as the date approaches.

This is unlike airlines, of course, where the price rises as the date approaches. They prefer to rape last minute customers.

[greenskeeper]

The same for hotels. They don't want vacant rooms so the prices drop as the date approaches.

This is unlike airlines, of course, where the price rises as the date approaches. They prefer to rape last minute customers.

no it's called scheduling flights, the airlines wouldn't function without having booked passengers ahead of time.

[disneysteve]

no it's called scheduling flights, the airlines wouldn't function without having booked passengers ahead of time.

I understand that, but if a flight is scheduled and has vacant seats, how is that any different than a hotel that has vacant rooms? Isn't it better to sell those seats even at a discounted rate? Why do they need to charge a super high premium to get those last minute seats? Hotels don't do it. Rental car companies don't do it. Cruise lines don't do it. They all offer last minute discounts. Only the airlines have a last minute premium - and a pretty steep one - instead.

[disneysteve]

I'a savings of $31.05 just for spending a few minutes on their website. That'll go toward dinner tomorrow night.

I was close. Dinner tonight was $32.00.

[Like2Plan]

I do this, too. Recently, I was trying to get a special rate (they had a limited inventory of rooms with the discount), but was unsuccessful. When we checked in I asked again-- and we were able to get it! We saved $140 over the time frame of our visit.

Another area I have saved in is rental car prices through costco. Quite often I have found some pretty awesome deals. I always recheck prices closer in because there can be savings there, too.

[Bright]

Nice savings! I have never thought of this. Thanks for sharing.

[elessar78]

I use priceline when I can and try to bid low for a hotel room.

[rennigade]

I use priceline when I can and try to bid low for a hotel room.

You cant actually pick the hotel you want to stay at though right? From what Ive heard you pick a 2 star rated hotel, or 3 star rated hotel, etc...and throw a price out to see if any of those xstar rated hotels accept. Problem is you're not sure what hotel you could end up at. Unless this has changed?

[disneysteve]

I use priceline when I can and try to bid low for a hotel room.

You cant actually pick the hotel you want to stay at though right?

That's true. You pick an area and a star level but not a specific hotel, which is why I have never used them. I'm always very deliberate when choosing a hotel based on some combination of brand, location, amenities, and price. It isn't all about price. I'm willing to pay more for a better location or a nicer breakfast or an indoor pool or whatever factor appeals to me. I'm not willing to just take my chances and not know where I'm going to end up.

[elessar78]

True enough. When I travel for work, someone makes the reservations for me so I don't necessarily look. When I'm traveling for personal reasons I'm usually just looking for a place to lay my head down. 3-star/4-star tends to be pretty standard so I don't really worry too much about it—just more about the price. Personal preference.