Savvy Travelers’ 10 Hotel Tricks

Looking to maximize your hotel experience as you travel? Here are a few tricks to enhance your stay.

1. Constantly search for the best hotel rate. Even if you think you’ve found a rate you can live with, continue to search and cross check until you leave for your trip. Don’t settle for the rate you locked in at the time of your booking. Assume the rates fluctuate daily. It never hurts to search the web again or to make a direct phone call to ascertain the current rate status.

2.  When using discount search sites, cross check against other websites. Travelocity and Expedia don’t always have the lowest rates. Visit the hotel’s own website or call the hotel directly.

3.  Factor in discounts such as AAA, military, and AARP. If a hotel’s website doesn’t indicate these discount statuses, make a phone call to double check.

4.  Use caution when booking a reservation that can’t be cancelled or is non-refundable. This may provide security for your plans, but it also locks you into a reservation. If a cheaper hotel or one in a better location becomes available later, you won’t be able to take advantage of the benefits.

5.  Booking on an Internet discount site may get you a discount experience. Hotels earn a lower profit on rooms from discount sites, so they give better rooms and service to the guests who chose the hotel for more than just price.

6.  Be an intelligent complainer. When issuing a complaint or asking for a particular service, be clear, concise, and polite. Acquire the name of the hotel employee who helps you and use it when speaking to management about your experience. These strategies will be more effective than screaming or rudeness.

7.  Confirm reservations in advance. Hotels purposely overbook by ten percent which helps them keep a full house considering there will be no-shows and cancellations. If you stay just one night or you booked on a discount Internet site, you’re more likely to get bumped than those who’re paying a higher rate and stay for multiple days. Worried? Call ahead to confirm your reservation.

8.  Join a rewards club. Frequent travelers can join a rewards program and earn status with hotel chains. Not only will you be a preferred customer, you’ll earn free or discount nights that you can use for more travel.



Not all hotel rooms are the same. Tipping your desk agent may score you a
bigger room or a better bathroom.

9.  Tips can make a difference. Want a bigger room, one with a great view, or one with a better bathroom? Tip the desk agent. Desk agents are authorized to make upgrades, and some extra cash in their pocket can mean a better room for you. Tipping can also make a difference with maids, bellmen, and the concierge. Don’t be afraid to share a bit of your wealth in hopes for a better experience.

10. Location matters. Do your research and choose a hotel that’s close to your activities. A cheap hotel that’s miles away from the action might save you money, but you’re losing time and convenience. Factor in the cost of traveling for the day, and you might as well have booked a slightly more expensive hotel that’s closer to the fun. Time is money, so chose your hotel location carefully.

Be a savvy hotel customer on your next vacation and see how much better your experience can be.