Three Reasons to Book Your Hotel in Advance
With the recession behind us, we will soon see a spike in family and multigenerational travel. Perhaps we’ve been sluggish to take our spring breaks and summer vacations. We may also see more traditional hotel properties pivoting to operate like private villas, selling entire floors, and staffing handlers to separate lounge chairs from bed-side tables. The hotel room may sit unused for several days before disinfection and cleaning.
Booking in advance
During peak travel seasons, booking your hotel in advance is essential. Not only will you avoid last-minute hassles, but you’ll also ensure you get the room you want. Often, this is possible at less than half the cost. Here are three reasons to book in advance:
You will save money on the price of your hotel if you book early. This can be achieved by reserving a room as far in advance as possible. Furthermore, reserving a hotel well in advance will give you the flexibility to make changes to your plans. In addition, reserving your hotel early can help you secure special requests. For instance, booking your hotel two weeks in advance will save you as much as 20 percent on average.
Booking with a meta-search website
One of the key benefits of using a meta-search website for travel and hotel bookings is that it gives hoteliers the ability to manage their rates across multiple channels, including travel sites, online booking engines, and meta-search websites. However, managing rates across so many channels can be time-consuming and error-prone, resulting in double bookings, overbooking, and missed booking opportunities. While many independent hotels limit their distribution channels to one or two websites, this significantly limits their revenue opportunities. The good news is that most of these meta-search websites require you to work with connectivity partners, who can handle all of the integrations and management of your meta-search advertising campaigns.
Meta-search websites for travel and hotels use price feeds from different sources to give you the best prices. Many advertisers pay for prime placement and encourage users to book directly through their platform, which means featured listings are not necessarily the cheapest. As a result, these featured listings may not always be the lowest rates, but they are the ones that pay the highest price for placement. However, recent meta-search sites such as Google and TripAdvisor have changed the game by offering instant booking options and a commission per booking model.
Booking with a last-minute consolidator
When you travel, one of the best ways to save money is to book with a last-minute consolidator. While you can always book a flight online, agents are often more competitive and may be able to beat their competition. Travel consolidators work directly with airlines to offer lower prices. However, you will still have to pay a fee if you cancel your flight. Whether you choose to book directly with an airline or book through a consolidator, here are some reasons to book with them:
When traveling internationally, you want to look for the cheapest airfare possible. Many people check various travel websites to look for airfare deals, but the savings can be minimal if you travel during peak seasons. Other travelers turn to consolidators to find a great flight at a low price. Consolidators purchase seats in bulk and help airlines fill empty seats. They can help you save money by offering discounted flights for many destinations.
Booking with a guesthouse
Guest houses are different from hotels. Unlike hotels, guesthouses are owned and operated by local families. Rules are less rigid, and guests don’t have to worry about a hefty bill. This makes them an excellent option for travelers looking for an informal, relaxed atmosphere. Depending on your needs, you can stay for one night, one week, or even an entire month. You can even negotiate prices if you don’t like the location, or are willing to share your room with another traveler.
Most guest houses offer breakfast, and some even provide it as part of the nightly rate. They typically don’t offer as many amenities as mid-tier and upper-tier hotels. Regardless of your needs, there are a few things you should pack to make your stay comfortable. Most guest houses have private rooms, though you can also find dorm beds if you’d prefer more privacy. If you’d like to cook for yourself, you may be able to find a guesthouse with a communal kitchen.