| Should I book through an agent to get a hotel deal? | | | | not? |
| This really depends on where on the world you want | | | | Of cause you it does; I expect the same service in |
| to travel, what time of year you want to travel, and | | | | any case. Do you really think that the hotel staff |
| how far in advance you can book your hotel | | | | carries around a printout showing which customers |
| reservations. You already checked the popular travel | | | | paid which rate? Do you get fewer peanuts on the |
| web sites. Try checking the hotels' web sites directly. | | | | airline flight you booked 60 days in advance, also? |
| Sometimes, you can get a better deal by booking | | | | What kind of room can you expect when you got a |
| directly with a hotel than through a booking agent. | | | | hotel deal? |
| Which website to use finding hotel deals? | | | | What is up with the way hotels and motels assign |
| No one site will always have the best hotel deals. You | | | | guests their rooms? In all of our travels we've been |
| have to check around to find the web site for the | | | | amazed at how, when checking into nearly empty |
| hotels you're interested in, call the 800 number and the | | | | hotels/motels, we're always given the least convenient |
| hotel itself. A lot of deals are unique to one venue or | | | | room while the rest of the property remains empty. |
| another. Also, ask about AAA, AARP rates etc. And | | | | If you don't state a preference, then you generally get |
| then check a week or two beforehand to see if | | | | whatever the desk clerk spots first, or you get the |
| anything new has popped up. | | | | least desirable rooms, so they can keep the better |
| Most people do not know about hotel deals. | | | | ones available for people who care enough to request |
| Everyone seems paranoid about getting the best | | | | them. People who get the worst rooms are often |
| airfares when in fact we find that the lodging costs | | | | those who: 1. The check-in person think will not |
| are usually the biggest expense when we go on | | | | complain about it, 2. They got a good internet deal or |
| vacation. Maybe it's because airline travel is much | | | | other deal. |
| more a commodity: there's much less variation (and | | | | Most people make their preference known when they |
| much less choice) among air carriers than among | | | | make their reservations if they have one. Each |
| hotels, so it makes more sense to compare them on | | | | designation has its advantages and disadvantages; |
| price. | | | | upstairs at the back is usually quietest. "Down and in" |
| A lot of people seem to go out of their way to $25 on | | | | (downstairs on the non-parking-lot side) usually has |
| an air ticket but ignore the fact that they could also | | | | easy access to the pool, and no headlights in your |
| save $25/day on a hotel room. The same hotel room; | | | | window. "Up and out" lets you keep an eye on your |
| e.g. AARP rates are typically a 10% discount. | | | | car, but again, with less headlights and slightly less noise |
| What service to expect from a hotel deal. | | | | than the "down and out" that you can park right in front |
| Someone paying rack rate would expect the top | | | | of. |
| quality service. If you pay at a discounted rate, should | | | | Final word about hotel deals. |
| you expect less? | | | | So don't be shy or embarrassed about getting a |
| If you get lower-quality service because of the | | | | discount from your hotel deal. And don't be afraid to |
| discount, is that really a discount at all? Discount means | | | | expect the same service. |
| you pay less and still get the same service, does it | | | | |