Hotels. For the business traveler, they are a second home. And whether you're footing the bill or not, getting a discount on a hotel room makes smart business sense. Save money on the bottom line with these tips for booking hotels at a discount.
1. Comparison Shop
Don't just take the first price for a hotel room that you come across. Check a hotel website's price against an online booking site (like Kayak), and call the hotel's reservation number, as well. After checking the prices for rooms at a variety of sources, you'll know where to look first the next time you go to book a room.2. Choose Your Location Wisely
Your instinct may be to book a room near the airport to save money, but if getting into a city center is a hassle (in terms of time, money, or navigation), it might be worth it to spend a little bit more to be nearer your business. Likewise, staying in a downtown area is more fun, but may not be practical if your meetings take you out of the immediate vicinity. Factor time and transportation costs before you book!3. Sign Up for Hotel Rewards
Signing up for hotel rewards programs means access to deals and promotions you might otherwise miss. Additionally, the free programs will let you earn points towards free/reduced hotel stays for your vacation, taking the sting out of all that time spent on the road.4. Visit an Online Bidding Site
A bidding site such as Priceline.com offers the potential for a serious bargain on a hotel room. You'll need to be flexible about where you stay, and have up to 24 hours to wait on a response on your bids. Check the terms of cancellation carefully before bidding!5. More Ways to Save on Hotels
- Use discount hotel coupons
- Check the cancellation policies and call if you are going to be late
- Use a travel agency (this may or may not save you money)
- Negotiate (a hotel may match a price you saw advertised elsewhere, or a hotel manager may grant you a discount if he/she thinks you are ready to take your business someplace else)