Best Last Minute Hotel Room Deals and Tips
Last summer my girlfriend and I decided to pack up our car and take a drive across the country from New Haven to San Francisco. We had ideas of where we wanted to stop along the way, but no hotel reservations. We did not even have a place to live once we finally did get to San Francisco, but finding housing will be left for another post. Anyway, our trip was quite the adventure, but I never realized how tough it was to find a place to lay your head at night. After 10 hours of driving the last thing I wanted to do was deal with the hassle of finding a deal on a last minute hotel room.
I have some tips for best lat minute hotel room deals that can save you up to 30% off your nightly hotel room stay. Just follow some of these tips that I developed over my trip and you will never end up paying full price for a hotel room.
Just a word of advice most of these last minute hotel deal tips have to do with the computer. In the first part I will discuss the tips and in the second I will show you how to get around not having a laptop with you.
1. Book last minute - A hotel room that is not being used for a night is loosing money. Do not be fooled into thinking you can get 1/2 off but usually if you keep your cool, and do not look desperate you will get a discount. You can use the, I have a reservation next door, but I like this hotel better line. It doesn’t hurt to try what do you have to loose?
2. Book Online - One of the funniest things that happened was in some random town in Texas right outside of Austin. Basically, my eyes were closing on me fast so I stopped at the first town that looked like it was not too shady. I rolled into the hotel and asked for their rate. I knew $70 was a rip off and asked if she can cut me deal. She said that is a big no dice. So I asked whether if booking online you get a deal on the hotel room. She told me yes you do. I went outside sat in my car, fired up my laptop, and logged in to the hotel internet. The passwords are usually as easy as the town name, or the hotel name. Not the brand, but the specific name. If you can’t figure out the password simply ask a guest or someone at the front counter.
3. Save between $20 and $100 on ALL Hotel Bookings with Hotels.com - The way hotels.com works is they book hotel rooms in bulk and get the discount. Anyone who had to find deals on hotel rooms for a dance, bachelor party, reunion, etc knows that the more rooms you get the more you can save. Those saving are passed to you by Hotels.com. Simply login and browse by city. Unlike the hotel rooms they have an even bigger incentive to fill the rooms so don’t be afraid to ask for a deal as well. Try the line ” The lady at the counter offered it at X can you beat it?”
4. You Lost My Reservation - this is one of the most ballsy moves you can do, but can result in a four star hotel at a discount rate. Just act like a big shot and as if you have a reservation. When the person at the front desk can’t find your name stay calm. Slowly escalate your panic and frustration. Do not be a jerk about it, but show your irritation and frustration. Explain that you understand these things happen and admit it may have been your fault. Tell the clerk that you still would like to stay at the hotel because they dealt with your so calmly. Ask if they can “help” you out. From my experience if you try this 9/10 times they will comply.
Now how to deal if you do not have a computer or internet access.
Most hotels have a “computer lab” right next to the lobby so go explore and book your last minute hotel room there. If you are stuck in the middle of nowhere, you can always find a gas station, restaurant, bar, etc and simply ask. You can always call your buddy and tell him to call 3 nearby hotels and run this scam “can you beat the price from X”
Hope this helps. Be creative, push your comfort zone, and simply ask for a discount. Hotels are a racket, up there with air fare, mattresses, car dealerships, cell phone plans, etc. DO NOT LET THEM RIP YOU OFF. Good luck on finding the best last minute hotel room deals.
