Holidaying with my dog

Travelling to new destinations often involves accommodation costs. And if you are among the people who don't like spending vacations in a hostel or someone's couch, you can end up using a few bucks on motel rooms. Resorts and hotels come with comforts. Hence, you have to shell out more to experience these. You can, however, reduce the hotel booking costs using the following hacks:

• Book with the hotel directly.

Booking directly means that you don't involve an agent. To encourage direct booking, many hotels offer discounts to clients who book through the hotel's website. 

Some hotels, especially the well-established ones, have their own apps. Most of the apps provide cheaper hotel bookings, which comes in handy when you need to save. Apart from saving, booking directly may earn you loyalty points.

• Inform hotels about your social occasions.

Special occasions, such as honeymoons, wedding anniversaries and birthdays, can help you save on costs. The main advantage of this hack is that it helps you to keep your romance alive while still maintaining an excellent relationship with the hotel. 

To do this, you must communicate professionally. If possible, send a formal email to the hotel notifying them of your occasions and the offer you want. 

• Counter-check all details before booking.

This might seem a little bit obvious, but it's not. Some features included in the accommodation package may be helpful when it comes to saving.  

For instance, does your motel offer free meals? Does it provide a complimentary airport pickup? Some hotels offer free shuttle services, where others don't. The cost will often be lower when all prices are inclusive.

• Book in advance.

This is particularly important when your vacation takes place at a particular time. During some seasons, such as the holiday season, most hotels tend to be fully packed. 

The hotels increase their costs with time as the demand increases. To ensure that you don't get caught up in the last-minute rush and pay double the price, pay in advance and wait.

• Learn to negotiate.

Negotiation is an art, and it can secure you good deals. When negotiating, be polite and be reasonable on the discount you need. Although you might not always get a yes, the hotel management might be fair to you and reduce other expenses, such as WiFi.

Final remarks

Anyone can book a motel accommodation, but not everyone can save enough while doing it. Learn how to talk to people, and maintain a discipline whenever you are in a hotel. Act like a genius, and you will always save enough cash for your next visit.