travelers

“Even the haughtiest hotels, which are famously loath to cut prices in
bad times for fear they will not be able to raise them in good times,
are in a deal-making mood…”
– New York Times

Tough times often mean GREAT travel deals. People stop flying. Staying
in hotels.  Renting cars. And travel companies compete for our dollar.

** 1. Book directly with the hotel. This can be tricky, so call the
hotel front desk and ask to speak with the “on-site reservationist.”
Use these words to avoid being sent to the reservations 800-number,
which is generally a separate company that isn’t open to negotiation
and can’t access the best deals. Booking online can get you a good
deal, but you can’t negotiate, and you’ll likely be placed in a
lower-quality room.

** 2. Appeal to the “human factor” for negotiating power. Once you get
an on-site reservationist on the phone, let her know why you’re
excited to go to that hotel. Going on your honeymoon? Let your
excitement show. Most reservationists want your business… but they
also want to make you happy.

** 3. Be nice. When I asked Wendy what hotel workers would want the
public to know, she said, “If you’re nice, you’re much more likely to
get what you want. If you’re unkind, you’ll pay full price for the
room by the elevator.”

** 4. Ask for the price you want. Most reservationists are trained to
keep you on the phone. Three phrases they respond to are: “That rate’s
a bit much,” “I’m going to look around,” and “I’ll call you back.” Go
ahead and let your reservationist know that you’re looking for
something cheaper.

** 5. Try someone else. If you still don’t get the deal you’re looking
for, call back a few hours later to see if you can catch someone from
the next shift (if it’s someone else from the same shift, it might not
work). Last time Wendy booked a room, she tried this. Talking to a
second person saved her $80 a night.

** 6. Ask for a nicer room. If you’re already getting a discount,
you’ll be less likely to get upgraded to a nicer room for free. But,
if you didn’t get a discount, you can try paying the standard rate and
asking for a room upgrade. Specify that you’d like to get a room away
from the elevator, if possible (elevator rooms are noisy). And tell
the reservationist why. Do you have insomnia? Or maybe a job interview
early in the morning?  Stating a reason for your request often helps
in the persuasion process.

** 7. Sniff out freebies. Wendy says the first rule to getting
freebies from hotels is to avoiding using the word “free.” It won’t
get you on your reservationist’s good side. Instead, try asking for a
“Bed and Breakfast Rate,” which (at some hotels) gives you a 10%
discount and a free breakfast. Or, if you’re booking more than one
room, but not enough to qualify for a group rate, try asking your
reservationist for complimentary drink tickets for the bar.

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