Tips for Hotel Bookings

fivespice on 21/05/2018 - 18:02
Last edited 21/05/2018 - 19:35 by 1 other user

Hi all,

Not sure if the best place to post this but I am booking hotels for Europe and have found a couple of little tricks that has saved me a bit of money as follows:

• Most hotels have been booked through cheaptickets.com or orbitz.com with 15%/16% off codes, they have come out much cheaper even after USD/AUD conversion compared to agoda/expedia/wotif etc.(I'm assuming most probably already know this?).

• Sometimes the code won't work for cheaptickets but will work for orbitz so always test both.

• The mobile app has sometimes given me cheaper prices than the website so always try this at the same time, for me it made a difference of approx. $15 aud per night for one of my hotels.

• I do understand that when using the app you forfeit cash rewards but I would rather just have the saving straight off hotel price as its easier for budgeting.

• Sometimes AirBNB is just a better and more cost effective option and sometimes it isn't. I.e. Berlin had cheap hotels and expensive AirBNB's whilst Cinque Terra in Italy was the opposite.

Hope somebody finds some value in this.

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  No on 21/05/2018 - 18:24

  +1

  Some apps you can still use cash rewards.

  I found another thing that saved me a few dollars, I noticed the price goes up and down constantly. So I would make a bookmark folder with all the booking sites and with one click you can open the whole bookmark folder then check what the price is doing.

  Another one is if your going to book with Amoma, put all your details in but don't pay and 20 minutes later you'll get a call with a better offer.

  • 

    fivespice on 21/05/2018 - 18:48

    Really great suggestions, thanks! Will definitely try those.

  • 

    wantitforless on 30/05/2018 - 19:29

    all online booking sites do is push prices up, by either adding a fee, demanding huge commissions or both. Have a look at this email today from a Falls Creek apartment manager below.

    Book direct with Cedarwood this Winter and Save!
    Don’t flush your hard earned dollars down the drain! Book your accommodation directly with Cedarwood via the phone, email, or online and avoid the extra charges.
    If you book via online booking services such as Booking.com you will pay their 12% commission (“resort”) fee on top of our accommodation rate

    So not only do bookings.com charge a resort fee, but also demand huge commissions, much more than traditionally trabvel agents have charged,

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  FoxJump on 21/05/2018 - 21:17

  If you have access to a Visa platinum card you can get 8% off hotels.com
  Call your visa concierges and they'll send you a link.

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  Eeples on 21/05/2018 - 21:43

  I’ve been finding booking.com really good for booking in South America.

  I often check in hotelscombined to get a general feel for the prices.

  I also like checking the tonight price of a hotel to get an idea of its true bargain rate.

  On cheaptickets sometimes(always?) to use a code you gotta pay upfront. That’s good if you want to lock in the exchange rate.

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  esty on 23/05/2018 - 09:52

  Booking direct with the hotel is also cheaper than booking through 3rd party sites (Booking.com, expedia, etc etc).

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    knobbs on 23/05/2018 - 09:55

    +1

    Not that I have tried a lot but when I do it has always been more expensive. Due to using a discount code on the broker.

    • 

      samfisher5986 on 23/05/2018 - 10:56

      I've had the same experience.

      Not sure why this always comes up in general tips, when I've never found it to be true.

      • 

        shadowangel on 23/05/2018 - 13:17

        Did you call or just email? You may have to call or do a walk-in.

      • 

        samfisher5986 on 23/05/2018 - 15:37

        @ndreamer:

        I just used the hotel's website.

        Would calling or walking in be cheaper then that?

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        knobbs on 23/05/2018 - 15:45

        @samfisher5986: I lied in my above post actually. It was a B&B in the Blue Mountains (looking at you @mskeggs) that I called asking if they could match a discounted rate I found online. The guy was happy to match it. Online wanted a CC fee whereas the B&B did not.

        I think if you call and ask if they can match/beat a discounted rate online it may work sometimes. I wouldn't say all the time though.

      • 

        shadowangel on 23/05/2018 - 23:00

        @samfisher5986:
        Yes. They are under contract not to price beat these booking websites online (I think that may include email )

        Phone , walking in or try email you may have some luck.

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    esty on 24/05/2018 - 12:32

    Used to work for a hotel, the brokers and 3rd party sites charge a commission. Which is why its generally advised to book direct.

    Its good to check directly nonetheless.

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  Tasmaniac on 29/05/2018 - 20:20

  Just buy the Qantas $30 vouchers posted here for $5 and save yourself $25 a night. I've traveled Asia and stayed in three star hotels for $10.