Paying less for a room rarely comes down to luck. Most of the saving sits in three choices: when you stay, where you stay and which rate you take. Make those well, then let an agent find options that fit.
How to find cheap hotels: begin with the calendar
- Know who the hotel is built for. Hotels that fill with business travelers on weeknights often have spare rooms at the weekend. Leisure spots tend to work the other way around.
- Check what's on in town. A conference, a festival or a big game can lift every rate nearby. If your dates can move, a week either side can look very different.
- Try a night earlier or later. Shifting check-in by one day sometimes changes the price more than switching hotels does.
- Ask about longer stays. Some hotels price a week differently from a few nights, so it's worth the question.
Pick the area with the whole trip in mind
The cheapest rooms are often a little way from the center. That can be a real saving or a false one. Before you decide, add up what it costs to get in and out each day, in money and in time. A room near a train or metro line can beat a cheaper one that needs a taxi every morning. For an early flight, a night near the airport can be simpler than a dawn ride across town.
Read the rate as closely as the price
Two rooms at the same nightly figure can cost very different amounts by checkout. Look at:
- Cancellation terms. Prepaid, non-refundable rates are usually lower, and you give up flexibility in return. If your plans could move, a rate you can cancel up to a set date is often worth the difference.
- What's included. Breakfast, parking and nightly hotel fees can turn a low rate into an ordinary one.
- Taxes. Ask for the total for the whole stay, with taxes, so you're comparing finished numbers.
FlyLemo hotel deals: how an agent helps
FlyLemo books hotels by phone, not online. Describe the stay on the hotel request form, or over the phone at 1-856-513-6369: destination, dates, number of guests and a budget. An agent follows up with options and a price.
That conversation is where you shape the deal. Say what you'd trade for a lower price, such as a different area or a non-refundable rate, and what you won't. If you've seen a price somewhere else, mention it so you're comparing the same room, dates and terms. When one option works, the agent books it.
Need wheels as well? Ask for a car through the rental car request form in the same way.
Five questions to ask before you agree
- What is the total for the whole stay, including taxes and fees?
- Until what date can I cancel, and what happens after that?
- Which room type and bed setup is this price for?
- How far is it from where I need to be, and how do I get there?
- Is breakfast included?
Ready to price a stay? Put it in the hotel request form, or dial 1-856-513-6369 for an agent right away.