Great advice on Hotel deals from AARP

[Bill4728]

The following is some neat advice off the AARP web site re: hotel pricing.

Originally Posted by AARP website

Don't be fooled that you're getting the best hotel bargain by booking online. Websites such as Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, and hotels.com buy rooms from hotels at a discount price but then charge you a markup of 24 to 48 percent, says Greenberg. "Instead, if you see a hotel room advertised online for $100 a night, call the hotel directly and offer $85. At the typical markup, you have to figure the hotel is offering it to the discounter at about $65. The hotel still stands to make a $20 profit by booking it from you rather than through the website." Tip: negotiate directly with the on-duty manager or sales director rather than a lower-level reservations operator or desk clerk.

[#1 Cowboys Fan]

I'm curious how many have been successful doing exactly what the above advises.

I have called before, and mentioned to Hotel staff that I can acquire a room through Priceline, or others at a certain rate---MUCH lower than what they are offering---but I have never been successful getting them to 'match' such a price.

Then again, I have probably never spoken to a person important enough to MAKE THAT DECISION.

So, have any TUGgers used a Hotwire/Hotels.com/Priceline low price to get the Hotel to give you that price???

Pat

[Bill4728]

Priceline is different, The price is much lower than Expedia or Travelocity.

The advice is ask for a discount off the travelocity or expedia prices.

[nightnurse613]

When I needed a night at Disneyland, I called the Candylane Hotel (or something like that). I had found an $85 dollar hotwire rate and figued I'd try to get it cheaper-must have got that lower level res clerk. They told me $100 and when I asked if I should book it on-line they said-that's the only way I was going to get that rate! P.S. Stayed elsewhere but someday I'll go there, I hear it's pretty unique.

[Luanne]

Originally Posted by nightnurse613

When I needed a night at Disneyland, I called the Candylane Hotel (or something like that). I had found an $85 dollar hotwire rate and figued I'd try to get it cheaper-must have got that lower level res clerk. They told me $100 and when I asked if I should book it on-line they said-that's the only way I was going to get that rate! P.S. Stayed elsewhere but someday I'll go there, I hear it's pretty unique.

Do you mean Candy Cane Inn? Stayed there with dd in March. It was nice, don't know I'd say it was "unique".

[nightnurse613]

Right, Candy Cane Lane. It sounded kind of cute (compared to the Holiday Inn or the Castle Inn down the street). Doesn't it have gardens and stuff?

[Luanne]

Originally Posted by nightnurse613

Right, Candy Cane Lane. It sounded kind of cute (compared to the Holiday Inn or the Castle Inn down the street). Doesn't it have gardens and stuff?

I don't remember seeing any gardens. There is a pool area. Of course we didn't spend much time at the hotel at all. Just there to sleep, have breakfast, and then we were off to the parks.