The Top 10 Tips to Getting Discounts at Five Star Hotels
Do you travel a lot? It doesn't matter if it's for business or pleasure, no matter where you go and why, you need accommodations when you get there, and if you're like most people, you like having nice accommodations so that your stay is pleasant and as comfortable as possible. Many people like to even be more than comfortable and have more than an average stay at their hotel when they travel. When you're away from home and out of town, if you enjoy luxury and like to feel a bit pampered while you're at a hotel, then you are probably looking for at least a five-star hotel, but those can come with some pretty pricey price tags that may be a bit out of your budget. If you want the five star treatment but don't want to pay five star prices, there are some tips that can help you get five star accommodations at these high-end hotels without paying their average going room rate. So, for your next trip and need to book a hotel, keep reading to get ten tips for getting discounts at five star hotels.
1. Discount coupons
Coupons are one way companies, including hotels, help to bring in customers and interest them in using their company for their needs. Some people love to cut coupons for things like groceries, electronics, clothing, home furnishings, cars, and even hotel accommodations. You may not find a coupon for a luxury hotel in the daily or weekend paper like you would find with grocery coupons, but if you Google the specific hotel plus discount coupons, that is one way you may find deals they're offering. Also, hotels.com is another source that often offers coupons on hotels, typically 10% discounts, however, one thing to consider is they do not offer coupons for hotel chains.
2. Newsletters
If you have a specific hotel, or a couple of hotels that you prefer to stay at, one way you may obtain discounts is to sign up for the hotel's newsletter. Often times, hotels will put out coupons in their newsletter or offer discounts through their mailing, or put out a notice when they will be offering discounts or sales.
3. Book through third party booking
Rather than going directly to the hotel's website to book your room, try using the hotels.com website. Your hotel rooms may be cheaper, for one, because they match hotel prices you found elsewhere online. They also let you accumulate credits toward free hotel stays and offer room discounts. Keep in mind that they do not apply toward the big chains, such as the Marriott, Hyatt, etc.
4. Best room rate deals
As just mentioned in #3, best rate deals are happening with a lot of companies anymore. Hotels will often match your best offer you found online, and one of the biggest sites that will give you a great deal for price matching, is Best Rate Guarantee. If you let them know that you found a better deal for a room elsewhere, they will not only match that price, but they go above and beyond and give you an added discount, and it can often be as much as an additional 25% off.
5. Take advantage of promotional deals
Companies are always trying to draw customers in to their business. Hotels are no different in trying to entice customers to use their service. One way hotels try to get customers in the door, is through promotional package deals. This means that they may throw in some extras with their stays, as well as offering rooms at a discounted rate. Follow your favorite hotel brands and watch for promo deals you can take advantage of.
6. Spontaneity can pay
If you are a spontaneous kind of person, you may be able to get some real deals at small luxury hotels. How does this work? An example would be, if you are on certain hotels' newsletter mailings, say a tour group wound up cancelling their trip and left a block of rooms vacant at the hotel. They would need to fill them, and as quickly as possible. Many hotels will send out a notification like this to their newsletter recipients, so join hotel newsletter mailings and keep an eye out for last minute cancellation deals, then pack your bags and off you go.
7. Hotel loyalty programs
Not all big chains offer this type of deal, but smaller luxury hotels are known to offer hotel loyalty deals. This where you can accumulate points for your stays with the hotel. After you accumulate a certain number of points or credits, you can use them to trade in for a free night at their hotel. If you have credits or points sitting there in your account, don't forget about them, but take advantage of them. This can save you a lot of money on a weekend getaway or other trip.
8. The timing is right
If you live close to a big city, or are planning to be in a big city over a weekend rather than during the week of Monday through Friday, you may be able to get better rates due to business men going home and leaving rooms empty and needing to be filled. A lot of hotels that are located in the downtown area of big cities, are full of business men and women who are traveling for work. Of course their business usually only keeps them there through the week days and suddenly, the weekend brings many empty rooms. They will many times offer good room rate deals to keep their occupancy up on the weekends. Check with hotel brands in the big city you plan to visit to see about these weekend discounts.
9. Clue them in on your event
If you plan to stay at a particular hotel for a specific event, such as booking a block of rooms for a wedding or other occasion, let them know. Many times, hotels will be thrilled that you are staying with them for your special event and not only will they offer a discount for the room, or block of rooms, but they may hand out a little extra attention to you and your guests.
10. Check Flyertalk.post
Flyertalk.post is a site that posts highly discounted rates. You can keep an eye out for really great deals on this site and may even encounter a deal like, "stay for free," at particular hotels. Searching the web is one great source of deals on hotel rates, and a couple have been listed in this article that can help get you started in finding lower rates and good room rates at luxury hotesls.
Written by Maria McCutchen
Read more posts by Maria McCutchen