There’s little that makes me more anxious than speaking on a telephone with a human being, so believe me when I tell you that this advice comes from a place of love: It’s worth it to call the hotel before booking a room online. You could save yourself a lot of money and even a bit of heartache.
Call for not-so-secret hotel deals
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When I was price comparing hotels for a recent trip, I decided on using Priceline and had the whole thing ready to book in my cart when I noticed an obvious bubble on the screen advertising to “call for great rates.” I initially thought it must be a scam, but as flights were exceptionally expensive for this trip, I was also curious. I called, and the man on the line said, “You absolutely did the right thing by calling,” as if he was my doctor telling me I would have died had I not come in.
I was sure I was about to be up-sold, but instead he booked me the exact room that was in my online shopping cart, but for $200 less over four nights…and $200 is absolutely worth speaking with a stranger on the phone for five minutes.
Tripsavvy suggests calling the hotel directly to ask about deals and offers some phrases to use to help butter up hotel managers for better deals. As with many things, being a sociable and friendly person might earn you a cheaper price, upgrades, or hotel benefits.
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Verify the fees and extras
Once you get to the end of a long booking process, you might wonder if, after all the taxes and fees, you might not be getting the deal you thought you were. When you call, verify the cancellation policy, fees for pet-friendly hotel rooms, parking fees, late check-out possibilities, or what exactly is in the “complimentary breakfast.” It might make you rethink your choice.
Calling someone on the phone can also help you get the best room available for what you want. Professional hotel room photos can be misleading, but speaking with a real person can help you gauge what phrases like “partial ocean view” really means. You can also learn about last-minute openings or available upgrades due to cancelations. With a barrage of information swarming your inbox about ways to save money on travel, booking the old-fashioned way is sometimes the best way to actually hack the system.