Healthy competition amongst companies who are competing for your business is often a good thing if you are a consumer as it can mean that you are able to shop around and get a deal that allows you to get maximum value for your money.
That’s especially true when it comes to booking a hotel and vacation package as you should be able to find a deal that combines excellent upscale amenities at competitive rates.
Not that you need an excuse to book a vacation, but getting a bit of luxury for less cost than you imagined is a persuasive reason to start checking out what is on offer.
Here some tips and pointers to help you find the best possible deal and get the most bang for your buck.
Don’t discount business hotels
Some hotels are geared up for serving business travellers and what you can find is that in periods during the summer when their flow of customers might be a bit slower you might be able to book a great rate if they start discounting the rooms to drive up the numbers.
You often get great facilities at hotels that are orientated toward satisfying demanding business people, so you could get a winning deal if you don’t disregard business hotels during your search.
Getting upgraded
If you are staying at a highly-rated hotel like the Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf, for example, you can expect all the rooms to be of a certain standard, but there is also a way of getting even greater value for money when you check in.
A great way of increasing your square-footage and maybe even improving the view is to ask for a corner room.
A discreet request when you are checking in or during the booking process might yield a positive result and you will end up with a potentially bigger and better room for the same rate.
Asking for an upgrade is not a precise science and you won’t always be successful in your quest, but if you don’t ask you don’t get.
Leaving it to the last minute
There are definite risks attached to the strategy of leaving your booking plans to just 24 or 48 hours before you want a room, but with risk comes reward sometimes.
A typical hotel cancellation policy falls within this period of time so if you call them a day or so before your intended arrival you might find that they offer you a great deal in order to ensure that the room gets filled rather than stay empty because of a cancellation.
The danger is of course that you might miss out on the hotel you want if they are full, but if you can be flexible with your plans it can result in some steep discounts being achieved.
Stay loyal
Another no-brainer tactic is to sign up to the hotel’s loyalty program if they have one.
This will give you access to exclusive deals and can often improve your chances of getting an upgrade or some freebies like Wi-Fi access, which all help you to get the most for your money.
It is definitely possible to enjoy upscale travel and accommodation at great rates, you just have to hone your skills to access these offers and special deals.
