1. Research Source of Review
Don’t believe everything when you come across a highly rated review on a travel website. Some unscrupulous web-savvy hotel owners actually use Tripadvisor to self-promote their properties and rate them highly. If it sounds too good to be true, insepct the post carefully and see if the author has been an active forum contributor or is just a one-off contributor. If he is an infrequent comment contributor, chances are that he may have his own selfish agenda to pursue. It may take a little bit of effort but it is worth it to do some research on the user to ensure the authenticity of his identity and make sure he is what he is.
2. Read Testimonials from Other Travellers
Sometimes, the best endorsement of a hotel comes from the guests who have stayed in it before. Read their testimonials to gain a better picture of the hotel you are planning to book. Look for pictures taken by people who have stayed there Every hotel looks nice on its website. Sites like Tripadvisor allow travellers to upload photos. If you prefer videos, head over to YouTube and search for the hotel’s name using Youtube’s search engine, you may come across videos uploaded by previous guests.
3. Cancellation
Read the fine print for cancellation policies. Nothing in the world is free and there is a catch for capturing a super cheap deal. Similar to cheap flights, there is a high probability that cancellations will not be attended. Even a change in the booking may result in a forfeit of the deposit. In case in which you have strong reasons to make booking changes or cancellations, keep persisting when asking for refunds. Hound them using email or phone. Be prepared for longer response times as online travel booking websites may not have the bandwidth to response to customers’ requests due to heavy traffic.
4. Understand Niches of Websites
Not every online travel website is the same. Find different websites with different strengths Some sites have stronger links with hotels in certain regions. For example, Wotif is reputable for Australia while Orbitz is stronger in the US.
5. Get Discounts
People say ‘ask and you shall be given’. Email to the hotels and request for a discount directly. In off-peak or low occupancy periods, they may give you a better rate. Look for coupons online and quote them to enjoy discounts. Use flattery by sending an e-mail telling the hotel owner how much you’ve heard about it but can’t find a good rate on the Internet. This is more applicable for smaller, family-run bed and breakfast types who are more personal than the bigger chains.
6. Visit Disney
Visit this website to see how you can plan your entire holiday in Disney and save lots of money.
7. Visit Las Vegas
Viva Las Vegas! If you can save money before hitting Las Vegas, you can spend more in Las Vegas. Click here to find out how you can save money in Las Vegas.
Do some research when on holiday and visit many hotels to get a first hand understanding of what the hotel is like so that you can decide whether to stay there next time
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