Booking a hotel is the first thing I do to feel like my vacation is actually happening. After I receive the confirmation email, excitement begins to build, and I am able to start researching my itinerary. What can you expect to learn from my hotel booking tips and tricks?
My favourite tips for booking a hotel.
- Get the best rates by booking your hotel rooms up to two months in advance.
- Be aware of time zones and departures at night. You may be surprised to learn that your check-in/check-out dates are not what they seem (at least at first glance)!
- Take into consideration the country you will be visiting. You can accept a lower score if you are travelling to a country like Japan, which has a stricter review system.
- If I really like a particular hotel, I will save it and come back later. I do this by selecting the “heart” button.
- Incognito Mode is nonsense. Incognito search does not offer any discounts.
- Travel shoulder seasons whenever possible. Hotels are up to 50% less expensive outside of the peak tourist season.
- Look for rooms that are larger than 20 sq.m or 200 sq. feet. If the room is smaller, you will have a difficult time moving around. In Scotland, I learned this the hard way.
These hotel booking tips come from my travels in more than 50 countries.
Full disclosure: You know I love comfortable hotels but don’t want to spend a fortune on them. This is why I share my tried and tested strategies for booking hotels that actually work. You won’t find any theoretical or fluffy tips here. Real methods I use for better deals to keep more money in my pocket. My sleeping quarters must be as comfortable in every way as the Business Class of Air France.
You can also read our Premium Economy reviews on Austrian Airlines, Air France or KLM if you don’t want to pay for Business class.
Aside from that, I assume you’ve already purchased your tickets. This article on airline cabin classes might help you decide whether to upgrade to premium economy.
1. When is the best moment to book a room in a hotel?
The lowest rates are usually found two months before you travel. As the 2-month magic barrier approaches, hotels are afraid they will not sell enough rooms, so they lower their rates.
As your vacation date approaches, you may encounter overbooked and fully booked hotels. If you are feeling adventurous, however, you may want to wait until 1-2 weeks before your arrival date. This will give you the best chance of getting the lowest prices.
Every time I tried to do this, I had bad luck. I either got a worse hotel or none at all. If you’re lucky, however, you might be able to get the best rates on hotels because they are desperate to fill up their vacant rooms.
Pro Tip: When planning my itinerary, I base it on my travel dates and fill in the dates one by one with the hotels I will be staying at. This way, I avoid unpleasant surprises of bad hotel bookings.
- When is the best day to book a hotel room?
KAYAK’s research indicates that reservations for Sunday check-in are 7% less expensive than those made on other days. Avoid checking in on Friday, as prices are 8% higher than the average.
- Can I book a hotel to save money on a certain date?
It didn’t help me find better deals to try and find the day that was the cheapest of the week or anything else like Sunday as the most expensive. It’s not possible. But I do believe dynamic pricing is effective if you put off your hotel booking. Booking systems will usually confuse you with high demand, full capacity, and rising prices.
Check these things before booking your hotel room:
- Book a hotel with cancellations that are free up to 3 days prior to your arrival. If you’re not 100% sure that you’ll be there, don’t pay upfront.
- If you are travelling internationally and you plan to book a hotel, consider whether you will be crossing a time zone. You may also find that you’re taking an evening flight which lands past midnight. This could make it difficult for you to enter the correct arrival and departure date. You could also get a double-whammy by flying at midnight and crossing time zones. This little incident has left me staring at my clock on several occasions, scratching my brain.
Hotel Pricing Game – How to get the best price when booking a room
I’ve seen hotels raise rates because of a small festival. Once you know their tricks, it’s possible to use them in your favour. After booking hotels all over the globe for years, I can share with you what I have learned.
How hotels set their rates
It’s amazing how many factors influence the final price. Location is an obvious factor—properties will charge more simply because they can. Here’s the interesting part: Hotels use fancy software that can change prices faster than a person could say, “Book now.”
These systems are very clever. They look at previous bookings, trends, and the number of people they expect to have. They’re also constantly tracking their competitors’ rates. Sneaky, right?
Examples of dynamic pricing policies
- What would you like to hear? When LA or San Diego experienced cloudy weather, but Palm Springs was sunny, a hotel in Palm Springs could fill 20-30% of their rooms.
- Hotels usually increase their prices when they see an airline booking a certain place jump by 13%.
- During my trip to Warsaw, I noticed that the off-peak-to-peak reservation fees changed from USD 166 to USD 319 in three weeks on the same weekday.
Peak vs Off-Peak Dance
It’s simple: Hotels charge more for holidays when everyone wants to be there. (Hello, New York Christmas! When things are quiet, hotels will lower their prices. A hotel room that costs USD 200 in peak season suddenly goes up to USD 330. That’s a 67% increase!
Some hotels mark only 4% of the calendar as “off-peak”, 13% as “standard”, and everything else as off-peak. Peak pricing. What a waste of money!
Price Comparison
Compare prices between hotels using online travel agencies such as Expedia and Hotels.com. Do not forget to check directly with the hotel website. Many hotels have exclusive offers or discounts that aren’t offered on third-party websites. I haven’t found any.
The incognito-mode myth
Remember when everyone told you to use the incognito mode on your browser? Guess what? It’s a total myth! Recent studies have shown that hotels don’t track your searches in order to increase prices. Open an incognito browser. Wasting time.
2. Don’t overthink it.
Booking.com is the most popular hotel booking site. After years of travelling around the globe, I have come to love and trust it. I use it whenever I travel, and I will tell you to follow suit. You can save time by compiling all of the hotel options into one place. It’s well-known, so you already know that all hotels are listed. You can also save money by using it frequently, thanks to its loyalty program.
A language barrier is not an advantage. It’s not frustrating until you try to talk on the phone with someone who speaks Spanish (no offence). When you can get all the information in English, it’s an entirely different experience. The hotels will fill out with a lot more details so that you won’t need to ask any questions.
Does it make sense to book directly with the hotel?
I don’t believe so. You’d lose out on customer protection and have to communicate directly with the hotel in order to resolve any issues.
You can make a direct booking on the hotel’s website if you insist. Be open-minded, and look around. If you don’t have a specific reason to choose that hotel (like other members of your group already staying there), then be flexible.
Staying at a hotel chain is not the best option, especially if you are travelling to places that are more remote (i.e. not in a big city). You might miss out on some local gems. I always choose to stay at a chain hotel.
Owns around 30% of other booking sites. It doesn’t matter what name the site has; there’s an excellent chance that it’s owned.
3. How to manage check-ins and check-outs like a professional
What is the normal check-in/check-out procedure?
Most hotels’ Standard Check-in Time is between 2 and 3 pm Check-out Time ranges from 10 to 12 pm. When booking, keep this in mind and plan for your arrival.
In most hotels, you can request an early check-in or late check-out . However, it will not be guaranteed without paying a fee. You may want to reconsider paying that fee, as you could have had a great lunch at a nearby restaurant for the same cost.
Common mistakes when checking
Tip: If your arrival time is after 8 pm, check to see the latest check-in possible time before booking your room. I’ve been in this situation before and had to run from the airport in a mad sprint to get the latest check-in. Since then, I have learned to check things beforehand because it is not fun to worry if you will be allowed in.
If you have already made a reservation, you can check in at the hotel. Check-in hours are listed under your booking, right below the property’s name. You can also contact the hotel directly. The information on the website is sometimes different from what you see. One hotel in South Africa I stayed at said check-in was until 10 pm, but I found out when I called them directly about the information that they had a 24-hour reception.
When you browse hotels, you will find the check-in info when you click on the hotel information and scroll down until you see “property policy”.
4. How to cancel your hotel reservation
You can contact an accommodation directly by phone or email if you have already made a booking and need to cancel it, despite the fact that it says there is no cancellation fee. Since I’ve tried it a few different times, they have always allowed me to cancel my reservation without any hassle. What are their other options? You can either cancel your reservation and payment, or they could risk you being “accommodated” and then give them a bad review. This is something that no good hotelier or service provider would want to take on.
5. How to choose the best hotel room
Word of caution. I’m not the type of person who is overly cautious, so I do not need to check out every hotel to find the best one. I also don’t fear making mistakes to save time. My filtering and selection of hotels is based on my efficiency.
I hate being disappointed with my hotel room. Imagine that you were looking forward to a hotel stay and discovering that it was completely different from the pictures.
When I begin my search, this is what my filter looks like. It has already reduced the number of hotels in Warsaw to 12 from thousands. Imagine how much I can save using these filters.
My logic and my process
- Filter only for hotels. I am very frustrated by the inconsistency of quality and service in private accommodation, including bed and breakfasts. I’m more of a hotel guy. I love Hilton and Marriott Hotels, especially in cities.
- Parking —My hotel must have parking, preferably for free. Parking is usually free if you park a little further away from the city centre.
- The distance to the centre is not important to me.
- You can save a lot of time if you only look at reviews that are above a score of 9.0. You know that other people aren’t stupid. If you can benefit from their experience, then go ahead.
- I would prefer a 24-hour reception because it would relieve me of the stress from the previous day, and I wouldn’t have to worry about planning extra time to get to my hotel on time.
When possible, I try to choose an international hotel rather than a domestic hotel. The standard is generally higher, and international hotels tend to offer better guarantees because they strive to maintain good booking reviews.
- Optional—Breakfast included—This option depends on the number of hotels in the area. If there are too few, you can limit your choices by selecting this option. Only about 20% of hotels include Breakfast as part of their package.
- Optional: Spa and Pool –I prefer hotels that have pools, as I usually need a pool after a long day of travel. When I choose a hotel that does not have a pool, it is more than likely that I will be disappointed with my choice.
- Optional 5-star Hotels — If I still get a list of hotels after filtering out all the options above, I will filter again and only include 5-star hotels. This should reduce the number of options to something manageable.
- Separate beds are optional, but I often choose two separate beds over one large bed “by mistake” because I sleep better alone. This is a mistake that my girlfriend will not approve of.
I rank the hotels in order of the highest rating and then quickly look at the pictures of the breakfasts and the hotel room sizes. All the candidates are saved and will be viewed later.
Then, I’ll read the reviews of all the hotels that I “hearted” and decide if I agree with the criticisms. Pro tip extra: You can choose the most recent ones from the list of hotels since these are usually the best.
What to look out for in hotel room photos and descriptions
When choosing my bedroom, I look for a few things:
- How does the Breakfast look? Is it appetizing looking? Are there many options?
- Room size: always 20m2+ (215 sq ft+)
- Blackout curtains: Do the blackout curtains block all light, or will I wake up at five in the morning because someone cut corners on them? Check for gaps on the sides, tops, and bottoms.
- Can you tell if the room is new? You can tell if the carpet is new by looking at it. If it is stained or worn out, then it has passed its prime. Check the bathroom. Is it well-equipped and modern?
If a room ticks all of these boxes, then it’s the right choice.
What do I look for in the worst reviews of a book?
In general, I scan negative reviews to find the things that bother me. These include:
- Did the reception staff behave rudely? I’m not a fan of too many complaints of this nature.
- Has anyone had the experience of being charged more without authorization? Red flag.
- There are not many options for Breakfast.
- Problematic cleaning services, such as entering the room without knocking. It’s a big red flag.
- You can mention noisy rooms, or too bright lights at night. Jan needs beauty sleep!
All of the above is a no-go for me.
If I see an array of nonspecific, hysterical reviews, that’s a good sign. No matter the hotel, there will always be people like that. I don’t listen to them.
There will always be some disturbing reviews. You choose the least disturbing one.
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A comment about guest ratings
This is probably the most useful of all the filter options. All good hotel search engines include guest ratings. The scale may vary, but it is usually a scale of 1-10, where 10 represents the best and 1 represents a complete failure.
After you’ve looked at the 9ers, anything less than that should be your second choice. If you want to book a high-quality hotel, aim for nine or above.
The more expensive the hotel, the greater the standard the guests expect. They are also stricter in their reviews. If you are looking for a 2-star or 3-star accommodation and you see a score of 9.5, then you will still get a 2-star or 3-star accommodation.
At a 5-star rating, guests don’t hesitate to take a point off the score for that croissant that wasn’t crunchy enough. The higher your goal, the lower the guest reviews can be. 8/10 would be a reasonable.
The answer also depends on where you’re going. The Japanese, Israelis and other people are very strict when it comes to their hotel reviews. So, you can choose to opt for lower scores and still get the same service you would get in any other country.
Google Maps is a good place to find reviews. Find the property on the map and click it. Then, read the reviews on the left-hand panel. Here, you’ll find the best pictures.
These two options also include user-generated photos, which can be a nice contrast to the perfectly curated images on many websites.
6. Select your hotel amenities, including Breakfast and accessibility
While a pool isn’t necessary, it does help when you are in Thailand.
You can use many other filtering options in your search. I prefer to keep my options wide open and not limit myself. However, if you are too picky from the beginning, you may not have any options.
This is more common in destinations that are less populated and/or poorer. If the only pool option is an old room that smells of mould, you have to give up the pool. Priorities.
Tip: Speaking of pools, be sure that you want one. It all depends on where you’re going and what time of the year you visit. In some countries, such as Africa, it is just too hot for you to want to sit in the sun and bake. An indoor pool would be the best option. Sometimes, when visiting northern California, you imagine yourself lazing by the pool every afternoon. But you find out that it’s too cold.
If you can choose, go for it!
You can also choose from the list of amenities and facilities. You might think air conditioners are a given, but they are not available in all destinations. You may need parking or travel around the globe with a pet. You should filter out any hotels that cannot accommodate your requests. If you are going to a destination with fewer tourists, check out the hotel’s excellent restaurant on-site. You may only have one chance to eat a decent meal.
I also consider heated towel racks. These are common in European hotels and can be used to warm towels and dry clothes, enhancing comfort during the colder months.
7. Choose the right location to save money
If you have your car or a rental, you can choose a hotel outside the city. You’ll find it easier to leave or take day trips. Parking is a problem in hotels located centrally, and the rooms are often too bright and noisy at night.
Google Maps can show you the exact location of your hotel and tourist attractions.
It’s also great to have the map. You can customize your search by seeing not only where the hotels are located but also a summary of their price and ratings. You can even know if they’re available on your dates. Click on the little arrow, and a new page with the hotel’s details will open. You can then make a reservation. Easy as pie.
8. How can you save money on hotel rooms, and why do they differ?
The same hotel room can be priced differently depending on your level of flexibility and what is included. You may be surprised to find that your booking contains fine print clauses.
The cheapest rates are usually nonrefundable. Pre-paying and paying extra for Breakfast are common. If you are still undecided, pre-paying is a risky move. You may have to wait days for a refund, and if paying in another currency, you will likely receive less money.
Flexible Rates allow you to cancel later, sometimes for free. However, they are more expensive. Paying for peace of mind and less hassle when your plans change is worth it.
How can I manipulate the payment system in order to save money on my bill?
Easy. It’s easy. When I am 100% certain that I will be going, I cancel the booking and book the same room at a cheaper rate.
By switching to nonrefundable, I can save 10-20% on my room. Hotels reward your loyalty with a discount.
9. Score free upgrades without being the guy
Do you want to know how the real game of upgrades works? Travel pros know how to get free upgrades. What are those fancy American Express Fine Hotels programs all about? These programs basically guarantee upgrades if they are available.
Here’s my best trick for the front desk: never ask for an upgrade. Try: “Is there a chance that the room has a better view?” Or “Are there rooms on higher floors?” When hotels overbook their standard rooms, guess who gets upgraded? Nice, flexible people.
The timing is crucial. Hotels assign rooms at least 24 hours before check-in, so it’s best to mention an anniversary or birthday then. I was able to get a suite upgrade at a Bangkok hotel by simply offering to change rooms mid-stay in the event that something better became available.
What is the real secret? Develop relationships. This hotel in Rome treats me like family because I return there so often. Some hotels even mark repeat customers as VIPs. Keep in mind that city hotels may have less fancy rooms than resorts, so be realistic.
It is more important to be genuinely nice than to have a loyalty status. I’ve seen “elite” entitled members receive nothing while friends get surprise upgrades. The vibe you create is everything!
10. Special requests should be communicated to the Front Desk
It is important to notify the front desk about any special requests. This will help you enjoy your stay. These are the special requests that I normally consider:
- Upgrades to Rooms If you are celebrating a special event or would like to reward yourself with a luxurious experience, then consider asking for a room upgrade. Some hotels upgrade suites and rooms to include additional amenities. Asking never hurts!
- Special Features If you are looking for a particular amenity, like a coffeemaker or ironing board, when booking your hotel room, make sure to ask. Ask if your hotel offers additional amenities such as a dishwasher or microwave.
- Dietary Restrictions: Be sure to inform the front desk if you have any dietary restrictions. Many hotels have special menus and accommodations for guests who have dietary restrictions. This ensures that you can enjoy meals without worrying.
- Accessibility: Please notify the front desk if you have any mobility issues. Some hotels have rooms equipped with grab bars or roll-in showers to make it easier for you to navigate. You can make these requests in advance to ensure that your room will be ready.
- Quiet Room: If you’re a light sleeper, consider requesting a quiet room. Some hotels have rooms that are soundproofed or equipped with white noise machines, which can improve the quality of your sleep.
You can make your hotel stay more enjoyable and comfortable by communicating with the front desk.
Top Tip: Hotel confirmation may also be needed when immigrating to some international airports. If you are preparing for an international trip, read my travel document checklist and FAQs.
1: How can I get the best discounts on hotel reservations?
Join hotel loyalty programs to earn points towards free stays. Many loyalty programs offer exclusive member rates and benefits like Breakfast or free upgrades. Direct bookings with hotels provide the best rates and the most flexibility.
2: When should you book your hotel to get the best rate?
Booking 2-3 months ahead is the best way to get a good deal. Some cities that cater to business travellers may offer better deals at the last minute. You can save a lot of money by travelling during shoulder seasons, such as spring and fall.
3: Where can I find hidden hotel discounts?
Set up alerts for price changes and compare rates using price comparison tools. Look for deals on opaque booking sites that offer up to 60% off. Check multiple sources before booking, including the hotel’s direct website.
4: Is it better to book directly with hotels or through third-party sites, and why?
Booking directly can provide more flexibility in terms of cancellations or changes. Also, you’re more likely to get room upgrades, receive better customer service and collect loyalty points. Booking directly with some hotels can get you a better rate or match third-party prices.
5: How can I negotiate better hotel rates using strategies?
Ask about available discounts or promotions by calling the hotel directly. Mention memberships (AARP, AAA) or special circumstances. The more flexible you are, the more likely you will be to receive a complimentary upgrade or other perks.
