If you're planning a trip, chances are you've spent a fair bit of time already getting organized. The good news is that finding a great hotel deal doesn't have to be another problem for you to sort out. The travel industry has been suffering in recent years, so it's fair to say that many hotels are keen to get you to stay with them. That means there are some great deals available. Even better, if you manage to save yourself some money on your accommodation, you'll have more money available to splurge on eating out and other fun activities.
So why do hotels offer these deals? The hotel management knows that if you enjoy your stay, you will stay again if you come back to the area, plus you will recommend them to friends or family. In the end, too, they're better off having someone in a room, even if you're on a deal, than to have the room vacant and earning them nothing. In the end, it's all about word of mouth advertising.
When you know roughly where and when you want to travel, getting on the Internet is always a good place to start looking for deals. There are plenty of sites online that specialize in finding great deals on hotel rooms, so do a search and start looking. You may even find that one site has a much better deal for where you want to go, perhaps because they have a special connection with that hotel. So it's worth looking at more than one site. Remember, though, that a lot of these sites charge a handling fee, so add that to the cost of the hotel room rate to make sure it's still a great deal.
If you've decided exactly which hotel you want to stay at, go directly to the hotel's website. A lot of the time all you'll find is the standard room rates and nothing else, but some hotels will advertise great deals when they're looking for extra bookings, and generally there's no handling fee if you manage to book a room.
It's also a good idea to think about where you want to stay. Most of the hotels that are near major attractions or in downtown locations are likely to have higher booking levels, simply because of the convenience factor. Many people don't have a car when they're traveling, so they're willing to pay a little extra to stay close to where they want to go. So if you're traveling with a car, consider looking for hotels a few minutes drive away. It can make a big difference to the rate you pay.
Also, weekends are the most expensive nights at hotels. So if you have a choice, avoid booking a hotel for Friday or Saturday night. Generally you can get great deals on hotel rooms if you book well in advance; don't fall into the trap of thinking you have to leave everything to the last minute. Maybe you'll save a few dollars more by waiting, but you'll also cause yourself a lot of stress worrying about whether you'll be able to book a room. Having said that, if you are making travel arrangements only a week or two ahead of time, do an Internet search for websites that specialize in last minute hotel room deals. You may draw a blank, but sometimes you can pick up some great deals at the last minute.
Finally, if you travel regularly, ask about membership deals. Several hotel chains have membership programs that give you reduced room rates if you stay with them regularly, as well as other membership benefits. Many hotels will offer discounts if youre a member of triple A (American Automobile Association) or AARP.
Finding a great hotel room deal isn't difficult, but you do need to spend some time looking around. If you really haven't got the time to do that, you can always talk to your local travel agent. They have access to plenty of great deals too, and it will certainly save you the hassle of doing it yourself.