The ultimate money-saving hotel tips

HOTEL room rates are on the rise. Thankfully, there are plenty of savvy ways to save money — you just need to know the insider tricks.

Hotel tricks you need to know about

WHAT everyone wants to hear is that there’s one simple website that always offers the best deal on hotel rooms.

But sorry, it’s not that easy.

If you got a bargain deal at a five-star hotel in Sydney last Christmas, it may not work for this holiday season.

That’s because the hotel industry is constantly in a state of flux. The price of hotel rooms are always changing based on demand.

Sometimes a website — such as Booking.com, Expedia or Hotels.com — has the best deal, but the next time you check it might be the hotel’s website that offers the lowest price. The website HotelsCombined allows travellers to compare prices on Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com and all the other major booking sites too (Agoda, HotelClub, etc).

Often you can get the best rate by picking up the phone and talking to the check-in attendant — or by booking months in advance or by showing up at the hotel at the last minute.

But never fear, here are some sure fire ways to save money on your next hotel reservation.

STAY IN A NEW HOTEL

Similar to how introductory offers work at supermarkets, hotels often offer their rooms for a discounted rate when they first open. Before word has spread about how great they are, this is the optimal time to book yourself in. If you’re heading to Brisbane in 2016, search online for news stories about new hotels opening in the city.

STEP OUT FOR BREAKFAST

TripAdvisor has just done a study on the price of a hotel breakfast versus a local restaurant breakfast in 37 destinations around the world. The TripIndex Breakfast study shows for most destinations, opting for an accommodation-only package and heading to a local restaurant for breakfast will save you money.

For example, the biggest saving can be made in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where travellers can save an average of $36.80 by opting for a hotel package without breakfast and then dining locally, versus an overnight stay with hotel breakfast included. In Sydney the study revealed you can save $29.95 by opting for a hotel package without breakfast and instead dining at a local eatery.

IF YOU MISS BREAKFAST, GET A TAKEAWAY BOX

On a recent trip to Fiji I had to check out at 5am to get to the airport. The staff at the Hilton Resort and Spa packed my four-person-family to-go boxes to take to the airport. So it’s worth asking the night before you leave if the hotel can bundle up some muffins or the like for you in the morning.

Excellent, I’ve got the pool all to myself.

SIGN UP FOR REWARDS PROGRAMS

In Canada I was staying at the Fairmont Chateau at Lake Louise and was about to pay through the nose for the internet. Fortunately the concierge told me to sign up for hotel’s free loyalty program, the Fairmont President’s Club, for free Wi-Fi. Other perks of the club included a yoga mat to use during your stay and new Reebok shoes to wear. All the big hotel chains have these loyalty clubs and they’re worth signing up for to get perks, such as free local phone calls or 10 per cent off spa treatments.

THINK ABOUT CLUB MEMBERSHIP

If you stay in one hotel chain frequently then a paid club membership could be worth purchasing. I bought an Accor card (Accor has a range of brands — Sofitel, Ibis, Mercure, Novotel and more). The card costs about $300 a year and gives you a discount on food (sometimes 50 per cent), a free night’s accommodation and complimentary drinks.

Not a bad place to cool down — the swimming pool at the Shangri-La Hotel, Paris.

EARN VIA SOCIAL MEDIA

Hotels love it when their guests do their advertising for free for them — and they’ll reward you to do it. So before you head off to your next hotel, check if you can earn points on your hotel loyalty cards for ‘liking’ the hotel on Facebook or win a night’s accommodation for posting a pic on Instagram or Twitter.

For example, in Sydney at 1888 Hotel guests have the chance of winning a free night at the hotel for taking a great Instagram shot and mentioning the hotel in the hashtag.

ALWAYS CHECK THE HOTEL’S WEBSITE

If you’re using a booking website, such as Hotels.com, Booking.com, Kayak or Expedia, always check the price on the hotel’s website before you book. The hotel might offer discounts, for example Starwood Hotels and Resorts offers 15 per cent off if you book 21 days in advance.

JUST ASK FOR AN UPGRADE

When you arrive at the check-in desk, greet the person behind the counter in a friendly manner. Tell them your name and that you’re here to check-in. Then the very next topic of conversation should be your potential upgrade: “Do you have an upgrade available?” If they do, say a big thanks and do a happy dance.

Feeling relaxed now I’m at the Hotel Icon in Hong Kong.

IF YOU’RE GRUMPY STAY AWAY

If you’re checking in with your family or a friend make sure the grumpy person does not do the check-in. If you’re tired, holding a crying baby or about to cry because of your shocking delay, don’t go anywhere near the reception or you’ll have no hope of getting an upgrade.

TRY NOT TO TOUCH THE MINIBAR

The opposite of “cheap” is “minibar”. If you feel like you’re about to cave in and consume all the chips, chocolate and alcohol you can get your hands on then go outside, go to the corner store, and buy your snacks.

Now this is the room that dreams are made of — take me to Touessrok Resort & Spa, Mauritius.

BOOK A HOTEL WITH AN AIRPORT SHUTTLE

Check before booking if your hotel runs an airport shuttle. The money you can save on the taxi to and from the airport could go towards booking a better room.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS DISCOUNT

Your employer, your spouse’s employer, or your sister’s or friends’s employer, may offer discounts for friends and family. For example, family and friends of employees of International Hotels Group qualify for savings of around 15 per cent off hotels worldwide using a search tool and filling out a form proving the relationship.

Continue the conversation on Twitter @newscomauHQ | @LeahMcLennan