Cheap hotel rates, without compromising
quality is something we all want. Either planning that dream holiday, work
event or even weekend getaway the average person often finds themselves
balancing quality vs cost.
With the power of the internet the consumer
now has the ability to shop around for great deals like never before, but this
doesn't always translate into a great experience. Often 'cheap deals',
'discounted rates' or other similar advertising terms hide the real reason for
such discounts or cheap rates.
This article will highlight some of the pros
and cons for the various schemes that advertise cheap accommodation or cheap
hotel rates.
Off-peak / shoulder
peak travel
Most tourist destinations have prime times,
where the conditions are perfect for the experiences the traveller seeks.
According to the laws of supply and demand, when demand is high prices will
also be high. Conversely, if the conditions are poor and demand is low many
hotels will offer hugely discounted rates as inducements to maintain customer
flow and low vacancy rates during these off-peak periods. In these
circumstances the traveller will find themselves compromising their holiday
experience just to secure cheaper hotel rates. So what other options are there?
Club membership
You can join a club and use the power of
traffic volume to get access to these cheaper rates. Every hotel likes high
occupancy rates and will combine with travel agents, airline companies etc to
offer preferred customer programs. Membership fees can vary from several
hundred dollars a year to even thousands, depending on whether you want
Accommodation discounts, Dining discounts, Beverage discounts, Leisure
services, Beauty treatments, Secretarial services or other exclusive offers.
Many also offer reward points as an incentive to keep you in their program. The
biggest hint here is do your homework and conduct a cost benefit analysis of
each program before you join. Your analysis must be based on:
- The combined costs of the club membership,
your holiday/s and all the extra activities; against
- The cost of your holiday/s and the extra
activities without the benefits of the membership.
This research can be difficult because many
clubs will not advertise their fee structures openly on the internet or in
brochures. Be patient, and work it through - because often the benefits of club
membership are not what they are purported to be.
Discount accommodation
websites
There are literally hundreds of websites that
service the discount accommodation industry. For the lazy traveller they are an
easy way of finding cheaper rates, however they do not offer deals for every
hotel. They are limited to offering deals on the hotels they have pre-existing
contracts and arrangements with, so be aware that there will be many other
hotels in the area that may meet your needs and desires.
Before you book, telephone the hotel yourself
and try to negotiate a better rate. You see hotels pay these websites for
driving traffic to their door and direct negotiation may secure you an
additional discount, which is effectively a reduction, equivalent to the
website's payment. There are contractual issues at play here so don't be
surprised if you are not successful - but it is worth a try.
Marketing companies
Another, rarely known option is travel and
leisure marketing companies that offer free membership as a reward to you
recruiting additional members. These schemes are not everyone's cup of tea, but
the incentive of free membership and reward points can truly combine to produce
great savings.
Conclusion
There are many more methods to finding cheap
deals for quality hotel accommodation. The main point to note is do your
homework and make sure you won't actually end up paying more over the long
term.
Do you love travel? Do you want to combine
this passion with network marketing? Would you like all the benefits of the
2013 World's Leading Travel Club? For more information about becoming an
Independent Representative with Worldventures checkout my page: https://www.facebook.com/DreamTrotters?ref=hl
Would you like a FREE Guide and a 30 day plan
to getting started? All you have to do is register your name at http://www.travellingsoles.com/
I look forward to working with you in
achieving your success.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Farrands
No comments:
Post a Comment