TIPS ON HOW TO FIND A HOTEL DISCOUNT

Planning for your next vacation or business trip can be a money-saving process. Whether you are travelling to a neighboring country for a quick getaway or somewhere more exotic, you can save money on your accommodation and focus on the activities of your trip instead.

Discount accommodation which offer regular discounted rates can easily be found if you know where to look. It does not matter whether you are looking for a motel, budget hotel or even a luxury hotel - discounts are offered by different accommodation types. By following the simple tips below, you can be assured that you will not ever have to pay the full price for any hotel stay again.

Last minute deals

If you are travelling at the last minute, chances are that you will get to enjoy last minute discounts from hotels which are not fully booked during the particular time of your stay. This is because hotels might be desperate to find guests to fill unoccupied rooms, especially during the off-peak travel seasons.

Booking at the last minute would especially be recommended if you are flexible with your travel dates and can thus travel during periods when these hotels are unlikely to be overbooked. Just keep a look out oflast minute hotels through the newspapers or online to enjoy the best deals.

Location

Sometimes hotels which are slightly further from the main tourist attractions offer better discounts than those which are closer to these hotspots. Hence it pays to be more flexible and consider other hotels a street or two away. You may just need to walk a little further or take public transport, but the discounts that you can enjoy may even save you enough money for your next trip.

Ask around

Asking around can also help you gamer information on which hotels offer the best discounted deals. You can ask friends or relatives who have stayed at a discounted hotel about the deals on offer.

You can also ask the hotels themselves for any other special rates or discounts when before checking in. There may also be special discounts offered in conjunction with certain events or festivals, so be sure to ask if there are any.

Use coupon codes

Discount coupons are your best friend in gaining you big hotel discounts. The hard copy versions can be commonly found in newspapers, magazines, entertainment directories or hotel coupon books obtained from welcome centers. Just tear or cut them out and present them to the hotels upon check-in.

The Internet is also a rich resource for coupon codes. You can do a web search on coupon websites for your specific destination or selected hotel to obtain the coupon codes. Then, enter these codes in hotel booking websites just before you confirm your booking.

However, do pay close attention to the fine print as you may have to meet certain requirements before you can use the coupon such as having to fulfill a minimum number of nights' stay. A little effort on your part can thus go a long way in obtaining substantial savings on your hotels.

There are three major sources of hotel discount coupons.

Travel books:

Some are free while others can be purchased. These travel guides can be found in almost all shops at airports, convenience stores, restaurants, supermarkets and attractions. Check out the pages and look for hotel discount coupons to major hotels.

Online:

The web is filled with online travel booking sites that compete to offer quality low cost lodging. Book through anyone of these sites and save on rates. You can also visit the website of chain hotels to look for discount coupons. This is actually a better move than reserving through third-party websites. By going directly to the source, you eliminate possible booking problems.

Travel groups:

Travel clubs often offer hotel discount coupons to their members. Ask your local chapter when and how you can get these discounts.

Some considerations when using hotel discount coupons

Remember that hotel discount coupons have restrictions. It is important to know any limitations before you book a room or check-in. For example, you typically pay less than the standard rate on regular days, but most hotels do not acknowledge discount coupons during holidays or special seasons when they are near full occupancy. You see, hotels set their rates based on supply and demand - they charge higher during peak periods, but are also very willing to offer discounts during off-peaks when the fall of demand leave plenty of rooms unoccupied.

Also remember that some coupons are for walk-ins only. Make sure that your hotel discount coupon allows you to call ahead to make a reservation at discount rates. In some cases, the hotel management may agree to honor the advertised rate for advance bookings.