Get A Good Travel Rate While Getting Away from It All!

Getting a good deal on your trip is as important as the trip itself. You don't want to worry about whether or not you got a good deal while you?re trying to relax. Also, that exhilarating feeling you get from a getting a bargain can be almost as uplifting as a Swedish massage at a fancy spa. To help you achieve that little slice of nirvana, we've gathered a few tips to help you book a great room at a great rate.

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· Timing is Everything

When booking a hotel room, being flexible on dates is a great way to save money. Different days of the week can mean different prices in different places. Obviously weekend vacation spots will be cheaper Monday to Thursday, but business districts will be practically empty on Saturday nights. Times of the year are important too. Spring and fall are popular times for big conventions and the winter months are a busy time for tropical locales. Lower occupancy means better rates for you. Check with hotels directly for days with lower rates, and contact a local visitor bureau to find out when big events or festivals are scheduled.

· Use the Internet Wisely

Travel websites are great for customer reviews of hotels. Once you figure out where and when you want to travel, make a list of hotels in the area and start looking for reviews, reading the negatives as well as the positives. Reviews can give you a feel for location, facilities, cleanliness and comfort. Find out the base prices and standard amenities from the actual hotel websites.


· Straight Talk

Advertising wants you to believe that the only time you can get a good deal is when booking online. Maybe in the early days of travel websites, that was true, but now hotels have gotten wise. Rooms have a base rate set for each day based on supply and demand. Standard discounts, like car clubs, military, and AARP bring those rates down about 12-15%. Sales offices, not front desk staff, have the authority to discount those rates even more, but they want you to book in bulk. That's where group or block rates come in. Know in advance approximately how many rooms you'll need for how many nights and ask to speak to the sales office or a general manager when you call the hotel directly. You probably won?t get a 50% unless you're booking half the hotel, but if they won't go lower than 15% of the base rate, don't be afraid to move on to a different hotel.

Hotels want to have people in their rooms. There are different schools of thought for those last minute rooms, though. Some will give a very low price to get a body in the space. Others will hold out, knowing the demand is high enough to charge a higher price. Be smart, do your research, don't be embarrassed to ask for a better deal, and keep your options open.

Heather Johnson is a writer for the leading online honeymoon planning resource. Learn all about the best honeymoon destinations today!