Hotel deals
are reduced room prices that are generally found through discount Internet travel agencies or strategic booking times.
Time Frame
Hotel deals are most often the result of a hotel not filling to occupancy. While hotel deals may be found year round, one of the most common times for hotel deals to appear is during the months of August and September. Rooms are in less demand during this time because school terms start during these months, making it an inopportune time for families with children or college students to travel. Also, August and September are unpleasantly hot for tropical areas and are the height of hurricane season, making them unfavorable choices for travelers.
Types
One of the most common ways to find hotel deals is to search through the various online travel agencies. Priceline.com, Expedia.com, Hotwire.com, and Travelocity.com are the most popular sites on the Internet for locating discounted hotel rates and usually feature price reductions of 15 to 40 percent.
Warning
Using the Internet to locate hotel deals can be unpredictable and frustrating for travelers. For instance, the Priceline.com and Hotwire.com websites became famous for their "name your own price" programs. Customers enter the price they are looking to pay for a hotel room, and the website returns the possibilities for hotels that match that price. The potential source for frustration is that the website doesn't reveal to the customer the identity of the hotel until the customer completely checks out and signs a no-cancellation policy. If the customer is unhappy with the hotel that matches her price, it is too late to cancel and rebook.
Considerations
However, there are other ways to take advantage of hotel deals, like making your reservation directly with the hotel far ahead or just before your vacation dates. Booking your stay with a hotel between six and nine months in advance is a common strategy used to earn a rate deal, as the hotel is usually not close to occupancy that far in advance. Similarly, many travelers find great hotel deals by booking their rooms less than a week before their vacation. Using this strategy, customers are able to take advantage of any remaining occupancies at a discounted rate. However, it is risky method because there is no guarantee there will be any occupancies left.
Potential
Another effective way to lock in a hotel deal is to book a hotel room as part of a travel package. Many travel agencies and resorts partner with air carriers to offer discounts when the customer buys airfare and hotel occupancy at the same time.
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