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How could a stay at
a more expensive Hotel provide an even cheaper vacation than staying
at a discount Hotel?
How can I save money on my room rates?
What other types of special discount programs
are available?
How can I find other businesses that have
partnered with my Hotel to provide me even greater rewards for using
their services?
How can I get a good rate if I don’t have
a reservation?
What does the term "rack rate"
mean?
What should I know about rack rates and
discounts?
What does it mean if I have a coupon that
states a rate "with coupon at check in", "space available"
and/or walk-in only?
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How could a stay at a more expensive
Hotel provide an even cheaper vacation than staying at a discount
Hotel?
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When comparing rates, look at the whole
package. The answers to the questions below could reveal that
the more expensive Hotel has included many services in their
rate that will reduce other areas of your vacation budget. So,
depending on your plans, the more expensive Hotel might provide
a less expensive vacation.
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Are any meals included with your stay?
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If the breakfast is included, does that
mean cold cereal or a whole buffet?
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Are there any special deals for children?
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Are there any special deals for seniors?
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Does the Hotel provide free in room coffee,
morning newspapers or complimentary evening cocktails?
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Does the Hotel have excellent pool, fitness
or tennis facilities that could provide a cheap day of entertainment
by just hanging around the Hotel?
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Does the Hotel have a golf, tennis or spa
package that will save you over booking these items separately?
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Is the Hotel’s location particularly good,
or does the Hotel have a shuttle service that could save you
lots of cab fare or even eliminate the need for a rental car?
Remember a shuttle service will also save you parking fees and
gas.
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Does the Hotel have laundry services or
the ability to loan out irons, ironing boards, hair dryers or
voltage converters if needed to help lessen your luggage needs?
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Does the Hotel have other amenities available
such as in room coffee makers, refrigerators or even kitchenettes
that could save you money in your food budget?
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How can I save money on my room
rates?
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Make your reservation as soon as you have
decided on travel plans. A limited amount of the cheapest rates
are only usually available to the first few that reserve on
a particular date; and they go quickly.
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Being flexible about your travel plans can
save you money.
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The best rates are found during the off-season
and at other times when the Hotel tends to have empty rooms.
Business Hotels in the downtown area will often have specials
on the weekend when their customers are home. Resorts often
have specials during the week.
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Ask about weekly rates or weekend specials.
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Ask about suites. The Hotel might have a
suite available to meet your needs that would be less expensive
than two separate rooms. Remember to check on the bathroom arrangement,
you may find having only one bathroom too limiting.
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Shopping the Internet can be the quickest
and easiest way to compare many Hotels’ rates to find the best
deals.
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Check into booking your room through a consolidator,
they buy large blocks of rooms and often will pass their large
discounts on to the individual consumer.
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You can check the national chain’s 800 number
and also check with the Hotel directly, since one operator may
be offering a special of which the other is unaware. ASK, if
this is the best rate they have available.
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Check into booking your vacation as a package.
You might be able to save by booking your room along with a
certain airline, rental car or attraction ticket package.
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You can apply coupons, but read the coupons
carefully for exceptions and their terms of use.
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Apply any special discount programs for
which you are eligible.
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What other types of special
discount programs are available?
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Check for special deals with your memberships,
associations or clubs.
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Memberships in premium clubs, loyalty or
frequent flyer programs can offer discounts.
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Some credit cards have special discount
agreements with certain Hotels.
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Package discounts can be found when booking
your room with a certain airline, rental car or attraction ticket
package.
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Discounts are often available for age groups,
young and old, as well as, for students.
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Group discounts are available if you are
bringing your friends.
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Discounts are often available for government,
military or corporate employees. Some Hotels will even extend
these discounts during leisure travel.
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How can I find other businesses
that have partnered with my Hotel to provide me even greater rewards
for using their services?
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Check out your Hotel’s web site. They should
have a list of other businesses they have partnered with that
can reward you with bonus points or miles and discounts or other
special offers. These other businesses are usually found on your
Hotel’s web site in a special travel partners section or they
can be listed under their membership program section as participants
or partners.
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How can I get a good rate if
I don’t have a reservation?
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Calling rather than showing up can be a
better way to get the cheapest rates when you don’t have a reservation.
If you’re calling, they know it’s easy for you to keep calling
around to look for a better deal so they may encourage you to
come in by quoting their best deal. If you come in, the Hotel
might quote a higher rate. They know you’ll be less likely to
leave just to shop around for a better rate, especially if you
have that sleepy face.
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Tell them you are calling around and ask
for the best rates that they have available.
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If there are extra rooms out there, you
can remind the Hotel that something is better than nothing.
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What does the term "rack
rate" mean?
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A rack rate refers to the maximum or full
price the Hotel will charge for the room. Of course, you'll want
to avoid paying the full rack rate and try to find a discount
on the room. You should be able to find the rack rate posted in
the room, it is usually on the backside of your room’s door.
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What should I know about rack
rates and discounts?
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Some coupons are only good for a percentage
off the highest full or "rack" rates, so using them
might end up costing you more than making a regular reservation
without them. When you find a coupon or discount program that
gives you a discount off the full or rack rate, check the currently
available regular rate for the room. The current rate may already
be lower than what the discount or coupon offers.
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What does it mean if I have
a coupon that states a rate "with coupon at check in",
"space available" and/or walk-in only?
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This is a coupon with limited uses so you’ll
need to read the fine print for exceptions carefully. The rate
probably won’t be honored with a reservation.
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Note that space available may not be the
same as rooms available. Hotels will often limit the number
of these coupons that they will accept at any one time. Even
though they may have rooms available at walk-in, they may still
deny the rate on the coupon since the space available for the
coupon rate is full.
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Section: SPECIAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS
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