When it’s time to pack your bags, make sure you’re armed with a budget. You can save a lot of money by knowing the best times to book your flight. You can save a lot of money by comparing hotel prices online too, but that isn’t the only way to look out for your money when it comes to your hotel room.
There are many hotel tips that will save you money when you travel that you may not know about. Here are a few of the best tips to get you started.
Keep the Cash You Have Safe
Everyone always thinks of ways they can save, but they don’t necessarily think of ways to keep the cash they have safe. It’s an important consideration, no matter what hotel you book.
Keep your cash safe by:
- Never leaving cash out in your hotel room
- Storing cash in different areas of your hotel room
- Avoiding the hotel safe
- Having someone send you money from home when you need it
Skip the Fancy Hotel
Looking for the perfect hotel can be a lot of fun. It’s easy to get excited about that perfect view or that extra sitting room. Before you fork over the extra cash for that hotel room, consider how much time you’re going to spend there.
No matter how nice that view is, it isn’t worth the extra money if you’ll never be in your room to enjoy it. Instead, skip the fancy hotel and book a more modest room. You may not get a mint on your pillow when you arrive, but you’ll be able to spend the cash you save on a hotel on memorable experiences where you’re vacationing instead.
Look for Discounts
You probably already know to compare hotel prices online, but there are many other ways you can get a discounted rate on a room.
A few discounts include:
- Booking with the hotel directly to ask for special deals
- Corporate rates
- Senior rates
- Military rates
- Memberships that include AAA and AARP
Don’t be afraid to speak with the staff at the hotel when you get there. You may discover that the receptionist can reduce the price further just because you asked. They may also offer to upgrade your room at no extra cost.
Be on the Lookout for Hotel Fees
When you stay in a hotel, you’ve got more to worry about than just the cost of your room. There are many other services that will cost you big if you aren’t careful.
Hotel fees to look out for include:
- Early check-in and checkout fees
- Cancellation fees
- Minibar fees
- Gratuities
- Baggage holding fees
- Transportation fees
- Valet fees
When in doubt, ask someone behind the desk if that service or item costs extra, and if so, how much.
Don’t let the hotel be the reason why you return home with a drained bank account. With these tips, you can go beyond comparing prices online and find new ways to save big when you stay in a hotel.