How to get the best hotel deal online

A hotel room is an essential part of your travel itinerary. However, it is one of the most difficult choice that could either cost you a lot of money, or a few discomforting nights. Well, I’ve had my share of such experiences. But, not any more. I have found out the trick for not only identifying the most comfortable stays, but also getting the best deals possible.

Follow the simple steps below, to ensure that you get the best that you can-

       1)  Decide what part of the city you want to stay in-

 Look at the places you want to visit in the city, and select an area which is equidistant from each of   them. If not, choose an area next to the place you would travel most frequently. This would not only   save you a lot of time and energy in traveling, but also save you the cost that comes along.

2) Use filters well-

      There are various filters on the online websites, in order for you to get the most comfortable stay within your budget. Set these filters well to be able to shortlist the best suitable property.
      Viz. min-max budget, location, star hotels/brands, facilities available, breakfast availability, user  rating etc.

      3) Read reviews-

      Checking online reviews is an important aspect to consider, in order to ensure that your stay does not turn out to be a nightmare. Read the most recent reviews by logging into TripAdvisor or the hotel aggregator you are using. I generally use TripAdvisor. You must understand, that it is not easy for the hotel to please each and every visitor, hence there would always be a few average and below average reviews. You must read at least 10 recent reviews in order to be able to come to a conclusion. I once came across a rating of 1, stating that the person was charged for the extra bucket of ice he called for. I’m sure, it was done so, in accordance with the rules of the hotel. 

      Fact- the owl on the tripadvisor logo, has a red and green eye. Representing reject and booking choices that travels make after reading on the reviews

4) Check traveler photographs-

      The hotel generally uploads only professionally clicked and enhanced photographs, which may be far away from the reality. Do check for the various photographs uploaded by the travelers. This would give you an idea about the current state of rooms and condition of the hotel.

      5) Check for offers-

      Every online hotel aggregators runs it’s own offers. It is a good idea to shortlist a property, and check for the price on all the platforms. You would get an exact idea about the best price, only on the final payment page, after choosing the best available offer. Websites like makemytrip & GoIbibo offer online wallets and cash, whereas, hotels.com racks up nights to give you a free stay in exchange. You may choose an offer according to your wish. I generally pick the one that saves me hard cash today!
      Offers available are: buy 2 get 1 night, % off, cash back on the amount spent, special dates discount etc.

      6) Check for inclusions-

      Check for all the inclusions in the tariff. Components like airport transfers, breakfast, accommodation for one/two, discounts on food/beverages etc. ultimately make a huge difference on the overall cost of the trip. If you plan to have 1 of your meals at the hotel, look for meals inclusive deals. Do account for the money you would save/incur with these.

      7) Check for room types-

      Each hotel has various types of rooms available, and the cost would vary accordingly. Do check for the consistency in the room being offered on various sites. Many a times, you can get an upgraded room for just Rs.200-300/-

      8) Payment options-

      Depending upon the mode of payment you use, you can gain further benefits on the total amount payable. Choose the best option that you have and make good use of the credit cards, as there are a few, which give you extra points/cash backs. E-wallets also are to be considered here.
      Tip- You can also book hotels through PayTM, and get instant cashbac

     

      9) Time of payment-

      Always choose the payment at source option if it is available with all the listed benefits. Money in hand is always worth a lot more ;)

     10) Be good during check-ins-

     Always be very humble to the receptionists. As it's completely at the discretion of the front office staff to give you a room category upgrade. Guests who are generally more pleasant during the check-ins, have a higher chances of getting a better updgrade :)