Try
Quikbook
I use Quikbook on almost
every business trip I have to plan. Quikbook lets me choose a hotel
by inputting my dates of travel and my price range. Even in larger cities,
I can find a room in a really nice hotel for as little as half of the
rack rates. For example, on a recent trip to San Francisco, I was able
to stay at The Clift in a Superior
King for $195 (usually priced at $350). Standard Kings were listed at
$175; the only difference (according to the Clift's front desk) is 40
square feet of space.
Check
the Hotel's Home Page
This
may sound like a no-brainer, but many people skip this step. No matter
which online service you use to book your hotel, check the hotel's official
web site first for deals and discounts. Many list Internet-only specials
that are not available anywhere else. It's prudent to compare the deals
you get directly from the hotel before you book, although it may require
a phone call to confirm availability. For example, I found a great deal
on the Anaheim Marriott's
site last summer ($325 for two nights, Disneyland park tickets for three
days, free breakfast and $50 in dining credits). Although the deal is
still on their site, I have not been able to book it again this spring.
Compare,
Compare, Compare
You might think, with real-time information zooming across
the Internet all the time now, that all of the online booking web sites
would have exactly the same rates. Not so. In fact, I've often found
vastly different rates for similar rooms at the same hotel on Travelocity,
Expedia, and Quikbook. It's worth taking the few extra minutes to pull
up the same hotel on a few different
services and compare the prices.
Deals
and Discounts
If you are going to a popular destination like Disney World, there are
a number of sites that can help you find the best hotel rates around.
For example, MouseSavers.com lists the discount codes for Disney World
as well as information on which online booking service has the best
prices. (Check the Disney World
section of this site for links.) If you're traveling somewhere else,
Hotels/Resorts/Inns also lists discounts
and special deals for hotels and resorts worldwide.
Before
You Bid
I'm not a big fan of Priceline, although I've used it a few
times. I like a little more control over which hotel at which I'll be
staying. However, it can come through with ultra-low rates in a pinch.
Before you bid on any hotels, I recommend you check Bidding
For Travel, a forum that can help you greatly increase your odds
of getting a good Priceline value. Other travelers will tell you what
prices they're getting successful bids on with particular hotels and
cities. The advice there is invaluable and should always be your first
stop before you place a Priceline bid. Also, be sure to see Beat
the Bidding System for a few tricks to getting the most out of Priceline.
