How can I plan my trip to save money?

What are the best strategies to use?

What is the Rack-rate?

What are hotel-chains?

When is a 25%-50% discount not good value?

What should I know about using a Hotel Consolidator before I make reservations with them?

Should I confirm my Consolidator reservation directly with the travel industry supplier?

How can I plan my trip to save money?

• Being flexible about your travel plans can save you money.
   
• The best room-rates will always be found during the off-season and at other times when the Hotel tends to have empty rooms. Business hotels in city centres will often be cheaper on the weekends when their customers are home. Country hotels near large cities and resorts often have specials during the week, and are more expensive at weekends.
   
• Investigate making your Internet reservation as soon as you have decided firmly on travel plans. A limited amount of the cheapest rates are only usually available to the first few that reserve on a particular date; and they go quickly. Most services charge cancellation fees, so check the conditions carefully before booking in case you need to make changes.
   
• Preferably use the services that don't charge your credit card straight away, but either charge it a few days before your arrival date or even better leave it to the hotel to charge you.
   
• Check suite prices. The Hotel might have a suite available to meet your needs that would be less expensive than two separate rooms if you are a family group.
   
• Some American hotel chains often have two king-size beds in their standard room. This may cater adequately for a family of two adults and two small children instead of having to pay for two rooms.
   
• If you travel a lot consider the loyalty cards on offer by hotel-chains you like. These may be free or you may pay a annual fee.
   
• All other things being equal, choose hotels that will give you frequent flyer points on your card if you have one.

   What are the best strategies to use?

• Once you have decided on where and when you want to be in a particular place, check the Internet Booking Services we recommend for the dates you want.
   
• Generally Consolidators have contracted blocks of times up to several months in length for a specific price. The best web-sites show you date ranges and the prices they have. This is good to get an idea of their contract rate and when the hotel is busy. You then can adjust your holiday itinerary to best fit if necessary.
   
• Last-minute sites usually list the next 7-21 days ahead on a daily basis and prices can vary quite a bit between days. With these sites if you see what you want, buy it there and then as the number of available rooms will usually be small. If they don't show this type of information try a few false dates closer than when you want to be there and see what the prices are like. This will give you a better feeling for what is happening.
   
• As well as utilise the Internet Booking Services, you should check the hotel chain’s toll-free phone number and also check with the Hotel directly, since one operator may be offering a special of which the other is unaware. The operator almost certainly won't know the Internet Booking Services rates. Balance up which one is the best deal for you.
   
• Of a telephone operator always ask if this is the best rate they have available.
   
• If you are stuck in a city and want a room, use the telephone to ring and ask for their best rate. It is often more effective than walking into a hotel and asking. This way they know you can more easily say no and try somewhere else.
   
• Independent hotel and some chain websites are good to get a better feel for the hotel you are looking at with photos of rooms, lobby, etc. They are often of limited use to get the best price as they usually just show the Rack-rates which is the worst-case rate!

   What is the Rack-rate?

• The rack-rate is the maximum price payable for a particular hotel room. It is set by the hotel as the rate they start negotiating. Unless it is in peak-season with a special event on, you should not have to pay rack-rate. The rack-rate is what is often shown on the the back of the hotel door in some countries. It is also the rate shown on most hotel web-sites, as these sites are probably static in nature and rarely gets updated. They are not going to post a discount rate there as they could get stuck with it.

   What are hotel-chains?

• There are three basic kinds of hotels within a chain: owned and operated by the chain, NOT owned but managed/operated by the chain and neither owned nor operated but franchised by the chain. In all cases, the hotels must meet the same standards of the chain in order to remain "branded".
• The chain provides some value-added features for the hotel, such as joint marketing, single branding with a well-respected name and usually a integrated centralised electronic reservation system.

   When is a 25%-50% discount not good value?

• Be careful of hotel discount coupons. They can look very attractive with a 25 to 50% discount off the room. But off what? Almost certainly it will be off the Rack Rate, as the coupons are generally marketed by the hotel-chain - and all they want you to know about is the rack-rate!  If the discount is off a rack rate of $250 and you can advance purchase the same room for $100 - the coupon looks pretty sick. Not a good deal at all... Look those coupons over really well, as many are not what they seem. Even the buy one night and get one free coupons tend to be at rack, but if there is a special event on in town you may not be able to get any discounted rooms - then the coupon takes on some real value.

   What should I know about using a Hotel Consolidator before I make reservations with them?

Using a hotel consolidator can be a great way to save money, but as with any service, we recommend you carefully investigate the details so you can find the best reservation service for your particular circumstances.

• As with any online purchase, you should evaluate the site's security to make sure your credit card numbers and other private information are secure. All the sites we recommend use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) - the Internet standard for sending encrypted information.
• Again, as with any online purchase, NEVER give your credit card to a site that is not prepared to give you clear detailed contact information, including their company name and physical address. Take that contact information with you on your trip. Make sure that they have a customer support system with which you are comfortable.
• You should read the site's privacy policy to see how they can use the information you turn over to them.
• You should also read the site's terms of use policy to see if you are comfortable with the site's terms of use.
• You'll also want to read all the fine print and disclaimers since you'll be bound by those terms. Consolidators can sign agreements with hotels that add additional restrictions on top of the general policies of the hotel. Those restrictions will vary from Consolidator to Consolidator, from hotel property to hotel property and can even vary from reservation to reservation so it is important that you read all the terms of the purchase to make sure you can live with the restrictions.
• You may not be able to get a refund or change your reservation once you have purchased and, if they do allow a change, most Consolidators charge a penalty fee.
• You usually must pay for your entire hotel stay at the time of reservation.
• Make sure you know what items are included and what items are extra, including processing, booking and/or shipping and handling charges.
• Make sure to check to see if the rates are "per room" or "per person, based on double occupancy". The second rate is twice that of the first. Check whether local taxes are included or not.
• One Consolidator may have a contract rate which includes breakfast, while another may be for the room only. When comparing companies make sure you are comparing the same thing.
• You may not be able to use frequent flyer miles or other points programs and regular coupons certainly won't apply to the special prices offered through a Consolidator.
• Know how they will confirm your reservation. Be sure to request and record your reservation confirmation number.

   Should I confirm my Consolidator reservation directly with the travel industry supplier?

• Yes, whenever you make reservations through a third party it is a good idea to confirm those reservations directly with the company that will eventually provide the service. In fact, confirmation is a good idea even when you are dealing directly with the company that will supply the service. However, note that if you make your reservation through a third party, there may be a delay in time before the travel industry supplier can specifically identify your particular reservation. For example, many Consolidators hold a group of reservations in advance and may only notify the travel supplier of your name a few days before your reservation date.

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