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Step 1
Start the search early. Just as you would when reserving tickets for a trip, beginning your search for a hotel early will allow you to make a choice without the typical worries. When you wait until the last minute to book rooms at a hotel you will often make a rushed decision instead of shopping around to find the best price versus acceptable quality. While some websites specialize in finding the cheapest hotel rates at the last minute, it will still be cheaper to book earlier when using them.
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Step 2
Configure your stay. Try to find out when a hotel has a lower attendance because this will mean they will offer lower prices. For instance, if there is an event in town that will draw many customers, you will in turn pay more because the hotel will be at a higher capacity. Some hotels cater to business stays, which means the majority of their down time is on the weekends, while others, near theme parks for instance, are generally busy on the weekends. During lulls in business hotels will often lower their rates to attract customers.
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Step 3
Perform a combination search. Use all the current tools available to perform a search for a hotel. A combination of search methods, using either online searches or a telephone directory to call the hotel's service desk may produce a cheaper rate. Using both of these methods during your search for cheaper rates will give you the advantage of price comparison on your own and shouldn't take a lot of time. Some businesses offer a lower rate for using their online booking or call in reservations that they do not offer to walk-in customers.
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Step 4
Take advantage of discounts and group or extended rates. Ask the hotel if they have discounts for larger groups of people if you are going with a group. If you plan on staying for longer than 3 nights, also ask if they have an extended stay discount for longer termed occupancy. Beyond these discounts you will always want to use age specific discounts, or military discounts if you are able to in order to save money. Hotels will not likely offer these freely without inquiry, so be sure to speak up.
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Step 5
Become a loyal member. After you have decided on a hotel, joining their membership (if applicable) will often yield better rates. These are relatively inexpensive and will save you more than you spend on the membership if you do a lot of traveling. It will also help to build a rapport with the hotel if you have special requests and are a frequent customer.
