6 Tips for Scoring a Better Hotel Rate

With your travel dates set and flights booked, it’s time to tackle the final item on your checklist: reserving the hotel. While Dinogo offers recommendations for properties and reviews of top hotels worldwide, there are numerous strategies to secure the best room rates.

Whether you’re planning a spontaneous weekend getaway or booking a romantic honeymoon destination well in advance, travelers looking to snag a hotel discount can benefit from these six tips to maximize their budget, no matter where they’re headed.

Utilize Google Travel for Price Comparisons

Knowledge is essential; thus, comparing prices and reviews among various hotels (and across multiple platforms) is crucial. Google Travel stands out as an excellent online tool, as it checks rates from various sites and offers unparalleled ease of use. The interface integrates seamlessly with Google’s search results, allowing travelers to quickly view vital information such as rates, reviews, location, and amenities.

If you find a property that catches your eye, and the booking price is comparable on an online travel agency and the hotel's direct site, it’s advisable to book directly. This approach typically simplifies reservation management and allows you to earn and redeem hotel loyalty benefits.

Enroll in a hotel loyalty program or leverage credit card rewards

Numerous hotel chains provide their best rates to members of their rewards programs. The good news is that joining most of these programs is free. Alternatively, you can use credit card points or hotel rewards, including free night vouchers, to reduce your accommodation expenses. Be sure to check your loyalty account balances; hotel points usually expire after one to two years of inactivity, so now might be the perfect time to redeem them. Additionally, specific hotel credit cards—such as those offered by IHG, Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott—grant an annual certificate for a free night just for keeping the card active.

Monitor hotel prices with HotelSlash

Imagine having a service that tracks hotel prices for any potential drops, allowing travelers to save money when it happens. Here’s how HotelSlash operates: Users create an account, enter their travel destination, dates, and number of guests. While HotelSlash does add an extra step by sending an email with a link to the results, it actively monitors bookings for any price reductions. If a lower rate is discovered, users receive an alert and can cancel their existing reservation—provided it’s penalty-free—and rebook at the new, lower price. It’s a clever tool that saves both money and the time usually spent hunting for better deals. After all, many hotel booking platforms offer price guarantees, but it’s up to the traveler to locate the lower rate.

Utilize benefits from organizations like AAA, AARP, Costco, or others

Simply being a member of a wholesale club, AAA, an alumni association, or another professional group can lead to savings on travel expenses, including hotel stays. The discounts will vary based on the organization you belong to, so it’s crucial to look into the specific offerings. For instance, AARP members enjoy exclusive deals at more than 4,000 hotels—and you don’t need to be retired or even over 55 to join.

Reserve a ‘hidden’ hotel room with Priceline or Hotwire

A commonly shared piece of advice in the hotel industry is to book your room early to secure the best rates. However, this isn't always possible, and that’s where the following tips come into play. ‘Hidden’ hotel rooms are offered by online travel agencies (OTAs) at reduced prices when they haven’t been booked yet (usually at the last minute). Although you won’t know the exact details of your accommodations until after booking, the uncertainty can lead to savings of 50% or more. Each OTA has its own name for this program; for example, Priceline calls it “Express Deals,” while Hotwire refers to it as “Hot Rate” hotels. A word of caution: These offers are almost always nonrefundable.

Seek out last-minute or mobile-only offers

Similar to hidden hotel rooms, HotelTonight provides travelers with last-minute discounts on accommodations worldwide through what’s known as “distressed inventory.” This term refers to hotels eager to earn at least something for a room that would otherwise remain vacant. These deals often involve less desirable rooms, such as those located next to elevators or with views of a parking lot. While travelers can reap the benefits, remember that last-minute bookings are a high-risk, high-reward proposition.

Certain online travel agencies, such as Booking.com, which also owns Priceline and Agoda, provide mobile-exclusive hotel discounts, featuring reduced nightly rates that are only available to users on mobile devices. According to Booking, 50 percent of its searches and reservations for accommodations occur via mobile.