Posted in Travel Tips
November 27, 2017
This Is How To Score The Best Hotel Room Every Time
When it comes to booking hotels, getting a good room for a fair price can feel a bit like rolling the dice. With so many booking websites, loyalty programs and price fluctuations, how can you be sure you’re getting the best deal and the best accommodation? Follow these tips to increase your chances of snagging a great room.
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With so much competition these days, hotels are really leaning on their loyalty programs to keep customers keen to stay with them. Join any loyalty schemes available with hotels you may stay in more than once and use any hotel credit cards for the precious points that accrue.

There’s nothing like simply being a decent and friendly person. Being nice to hotel staff (or anyone you speak to on the phone) will always leave a good impression and make them more inclined to help you out when it comes to moving you to a quieter room or upgrading your stay. Also, hotel staff talk – snapping at your housekeeper could mean less luck getting extra pool towels from reception.

You might think that you could score a better rate at a hotel during the week, but this is generally not true in city centers. Weekends are actually normally the cheapest "off-peak" times to book, since many hotels experience higher amount of business travel between Tuesday and Thursday. To take advantage of this, book a hotel in the main business district of a city for your weekend escape. Management will be looking to fill rooms during this lull and prices will likely be cheaper.

If someone helped you with a special request over the phone, ask for their name and make a note of it. If a member of staff pushed out your checkout time so you could visit one more local attraction, remember who they were and perhaps mention them in a positive review. Building relationships with hotel staff goes a long way towards making sure you’re not just a nameless face yourself and you’ll be more likely to be treated well.

Leaving a positive review can result in extra hotel points or a complimentary upgrade. Similarly, speaking up about less-than-stellar experiences can also turn an unpleasant stay into a great one. Hoteliers are generally keen to make sure their guests have happy stays and will go out of their way to rectify problems like a smoky room or a noisy room location.

For more travel intel, check out how to score a first class seat on a plane without paying a cent.