Travel Deal of the Day (November 13, 2008)

If you are looking for a fall hotel deal, here are three strategies that I think will work particularly well given the current economic climate:

(1) Keep Checking Rates at The Hotel: During times with strong hotel demand, the hotel is less likely to lower rates as your arrival date approaches – with the current economic slowdown, many hotels will lower rates as they realize that people are not purchasing rooms at higher rates. You should verify the cancellation policy that applies to your reservation and check rates at least a day or two before the cancellation policy kicks in – you may save a tremendous amount of money due to a rate decrease. It is not a bad idea if you book far in advance to check rates every couple weeks as rates may fluctuate tremendously based on expected demand for your dates. Also, experiment with booking the hotel with different check-in dates – sometimes rates vary based on the date of arrival. For instance, an arrival on Friday may allow you to obtain weekend rates, whereas weekend rates may not be quoted to you if you ask for rates with an arrival on a Wednesday.

(2) Negotiate with the Hotel: With strong hotel demand, the hotel had all the power. People are not traveling as much now, so you have far more power. Tell the hotel about the more competitive rate you found at a neighboring, comparable hotel or ask if your rate can include breakfast or some other perk.

(3) Try Every Possible Booking Channel: You may find that rates vary dramatically based on how you book a room. The hotel website, an internet travel tool such as Expedia, the hotel’s in-house reservations department and the national (800) reservations department may all quote you different rates. Be sure to check all these channels. Note that some national travel websites such as Expedia may negotiate rates that are better than what you will find at the hotel directly. Also, check the package section of travel websites – sometimes a package with a hotel and car is cheaper than the hotel room alone.