How we book hotels cheaper than the price you see first
Loyalty tiers, free-cancellation rebooking and one email to the hotel. None of it is exotic, all of it adds up.
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The first price you see on a hotel is rarely the price you need to pay. Here is the sequence we go through for every stay longer than a night.
1. Book free-cancellation, then re-check
Lock in a refundable rate early, then check again two weeks and three days before. Rates drop more often than they rise outside peak season. Rebook, cancel the old one, done.
2. Use the loyalty tier you already have
A couple of stays a year is enough for the mid tiers on the big platforms, which quietly knock 10 to 15% off and sometimes upgrade the room.
3. Email the hotel
Independent hotels pay 15 to 20% commission to platforms. A short, polite email asking whether they can match the online rate with breakfast included works surprisingly often.
Is it rude to ask a hotel for a lower rate?
No. Hotels would rather have your direct booking than pay commission. Ask once, politely, and accept the answer.
Are 'member only' prices real?
Yes, they are a real discount in exchange for a login. Create the account.
Written by
Editorial team
We travel on our own money, test what we recommend and say so when something is not worth it. Replace this bio with your own in Admin → Authors.
