Planning a trip should be exciting. But watching hotel prices can feel frustrating. I get it; I’ve spent years analyzing the travel market, and prices can seem random.
You see one price one day and a totally different one the next. It makes you wonder if you’re getting a good deal on your hotel bookings at all.
The good news is you can get control back with a few simple hotel booking tricks. Whether you’re searching for Waterton places to stay or planning a city getaway, it’s not about luck—it’s about knowing how the system works and using smart strategies to your advantage. These travel tips will help you feel confident in every booking you make.
The Timing Game: When to Book Your Hotel
You’ve probably heard conflicting advice on when to book hotel rooms. Some people say to book months ahead. Others swear by last-minute deals on cheap hotels.
Booking far in advance, often three to four months out, can secure you a good price. This is especially true if you are traveling during peak travel season. Think about visiting a popular destination during the summer or over school holidays, when demand is at its highest.
Waiting until the last minute can also pay off sometimes. Hotels want to fill every single room because an empty one generates no revenue. According to a study from NerdWallet, you can find deals by booking on the day of your stay, although this is a bit of a gamble if your destination is popular.
This strategy works best if you’re flexible and traveling during the off-season or the shoulder season. The shoulder season, the period between peak and off-peak seasons, often presents a sweet spot for lower prices and pleasant weather. A spontaneous trip might be perfect for this strategy, but it’s not ideal if you need a specific type of accommodation.
The Day You Search Matters
Does the day of the week you hit ‘search’ on a booking engine really change the price? Sometimes, it does. Many people plan their vacations over the weekend, causing a spike in search traffic.
Because of this, some data suggest that hotel prices can be slightly higher on Fridays and Saturdays. Demand is high, so prices often follow. The entire booking process can feel different depending on the day you start your search.
Try looking for your room midweek. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are often quieter for online travel planning. You might find that the exact same room is a little bit cheaper, making it an easy way to start saving money.
Go Undercover: Your Browser is Not Your Friend
Have you ever looked at a hotel, left the site, and then come back to see a higher price? It’s not your imagination. Many travel websites use cookies in your browser to track your activity, a practice known as dynamic pricing.
They see you’re interested in a specific hotel, so they might bump up the price to create urgency. This makes you feel like you need to book now before the price goes up again. It’s a common tactic used by many online platforms.
The fix is simple: always start your search for flights and hotels in incognito or private browsing mode. This opens a new browser window that doesn’t save your browsing history or cookies. Every time you start a search, the website’s search engine thinks you are a brand new visitor, with no prior history of what you’ve looked at.
Use a VPN for Geographic Savings
Here’s another trick that sounds technical but is quite simple. A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, can hide your location. This lets you search for hotels as if you were in a different country.
Companies sometimes offer lower prices to users in different economic regions. For example, a hotel room in the United States might show a lower price to someone searching from a country with a lower average income. As a PCMag article explains, using a VPN can sometimes help you find a better deal on your booked hotel.
You could save a noticeable amount of money just by changing your digital location before you book. It’s worth trying this method to see if you can find cheap hotel rooms that aren’t advertised to users in your region.
Booking Direct vs. Using Comparison Sites
Comparison websites from online travel agencies (OTAs) are amazing tools. They let you see dozens of hotel options and prices in one place. They are perfect for the research phase of your trip planning, as you can compare prices for multiple hotels at once.
But you shouldn’t always book through them. Once you find a hotel you like, open a new tab. Go directly to that hotel’s own website to explore your booking options.
Hotels have to pay a commission, often 15% to 20%, to third-party booking sites for every room booked. They would much rather have you book directly with them. To encourage this, they often offer small perks to guests who book on their own site, like free Wi-Fi, a free breakfast, or even a better chance at room upgrades.
| Comparison of Booking Methods | ||
| Feature | Booking Directly with the Hotel | Booking with an Online Travel Agency (OTA) |
| Price Comparison | Only shows prices for that specific hotel or chain. | Allows easy comparison of prices across many different hotels. |
| Loyalty Points | Earns points directly with the hotel’s loyalty program. | May earn points with the OTA’s program (e.g., Genius), but usually not the hotel’s. |
| Perks & Upgrades | Higher chance of receiving perks like free breakfast, late checkout, or room upgrades. | Perks are less common; upgrades are rare. |
| Customer Service | Easier to handle special requests or resolve issues directly with the hotel staff. | Must go through the OTA’s customer service, which can add a layer of complexity if plans change. |
The Power of the Price Match
Found a great price for your perfect hotel room on a comparison site? Don’t book it just yet. Check the hotel’s direct website to see if they offer a best-rate guarantee.
This means if you find a lower price on another website, they will match it. Sometimes they will even give you an extra discount or bonus points on top of that. This is one of the best booking tips I’ve learned over the years.
You get the best price available while also receiving all the benefits of booking directly. It’s a win-win for finding cheap hotels without sacrificing service. This simple check can make a big difference.
Loyalty Pays: Sign Up for Hotel Rewards Programs
If you travel even once or twice a year, you should join a hotel loyalty program. They are almost always free to join. Signing up can give you immediate benefits, like member-only rates or free internet during your hotel stay.
Over time, you earn points for every stay at a qualifying hotel. These points can be redeemed for free nights, making future travel cheaper. Sticking with one or two hotel brands helps you accumulate points in their loyalty programs faster.
Even some OTAs have their own rewards systems, like the Genius loyalty program on Booking.com, which offers discounts and perks after a certain number of bookings. Don’t dismiss these programs, thinking you don’t travel enough. Every single stay counts towards a future reward.
My Favorite of All Hotel Booking Tricks: A Simple Phone Call
In our digital world, we sometimes forget how powerful a simple conversation can be. I’ve spent years honing my travel hacking skills, and this remains a top strategy. Once you’ve done your research online, pick up the phone and call the hotel directly.
Don’t call the corporate 1-800 number; that will connect you to a central call center. Instead, search for the hotel’s local front desk number. The person who answers the phone at the front desk often has more flexibility than a website.
You can politely ask if they can offer a better rate than what you see online, mentioning the price you found. If the agent can’t help, you can even ask to speak with the hotel manager. Being friendly and personal can lead to great deals you would never find online, especially at a smaller or boutique hotel.
Flexibility Is Your Superpower
If you can be flexible, you can save a lot of money on your hotel. The more rigid your travel plans are, the more you are likely to pay. Flexibility can mean a few different things when it comes to travel.
First, be flexible with your dates. Sometimes shifting your stay by just one day can dramatically lower the price. If you’re flying to your destination, check hotel prices before you book your flight, as it might be cheaper to arrive on a Thursday instead of a Friday.
Second, be flexible with your location. If you want to visit a popular area, hotels right in the center will be expensive. Consider staying in a nearby town or neighborhood, as the short commute could save you hundreds of dollars on your accommodations.
Finally, be flexible with the hotel itself. While a 5-star hotel is a luxury, a 4-star hotel or a well-regarded 3-star hotel might offer a fantastic experience for a fraction of the cost. Hotels aren’t all the same, and sometimes a less expensive option can be a hidden gem.
Other Smart Tips and Tricks
There are a few more strategies you can use to find great deals on hotel bookings. These might not work every time, but they are always worth checking. Finding cheap hotels is often about using a combination of these tactics.
Use Credit Card Points and Portals
Many travel credit cards offer points that can be used for hotels. Sometimes, booking through your credit card’s own travel portal can unlock special deals. These are often cheaper than what is available to the general public, so it’s worth a look.
Look for Package Deals
Sometimes bundling your hotel and flight together can save you money. Travel agencies and sites that offer these packages get bulk discounts and can pass some of the savings to you. This works especially well for popular vacation spots.
Consider Non-Refundable Rates Carefully
You’ll often see two prices for the same room: a lower, non-refundable rate and a higher one with free cancellation. If your plans are 100% firm, choosing to book non-refundable rates can be a great way to save. Hotels offer this discount because it guarantees their income.
However, be cautious. If there’s any chance your plans change, that money is gone. Paying a little extra for a refundable option is smart if you’re booking non-refundable far in advance or have any uncertainty about your trip.
Check for Price Drops After Booking
If you book a room with free cancellation, your job isn’t done. Keep an eye on the price. If you notice any price drops before your cancellation window closes, you can cancel your original booking and re-book at the lower rate.
Conclusion
Getting a good deal on a hotel doesn’t have to be complicated or feel like a gamble. You don’t need to spend hours searching dozens of websites for your perfect hotel. By using a few of these proven hotel booking tricks, you can complete your booking with confidence.
From going incognito during your search to simply picking up the phone, you have more power than you think. Now that your hotel is booked, you can focus on the fun parts of your trip. I’ve spent years traveling, and these methods have consistently helped me save.
Use these tips to lower your costs on your next Waterton hotel stay. That way, you can spend the money you save on what really matters: enjoying your vacation. Happy travels.