Budget Travel - Always Call Booked Hotel - Cheaper Rate?

Most hotel bookings are done over the Internet, using the hotel's WEB site.

If you have a reservation that is not guaranteed and can be cancelled, call the hotel directly a few weeks ahead of time and ask their rate for your stay. They may have a lower price. You can then cancel the 1st reservation and make a new one.

Hotel WEB sites do not reflect the current status at the hotel; deals are often available by contacting them directly.

I have done this with several international hotels, and the savings have been well worth the telephone bill cost.

Seniorlady,

Your suggestions were valid several years ago, but in my experience, most large chains in the US no longer give their local management the option to offer lower prices when you call them (or stop in). To the contrary, I actually got online and booked a "Web Rate" from the lobby of a hotel two months ago because it was $20 cheaper than what they were able to offer me at the front desk.

And yes - I've played this game at sites with low (<70%) occupancy.
And yes - I've talked to managers not just the lackey standing behind the counter.
And yes - I've tried a range of angles, including walking out and going to my original reservation (or my second choice for the evening).
And yes - I've tried this at several different chains with slightly varying results, but generally ending up somewhere around the web rate....

Ten years ago, I used to get discounted rates pretty regularly - especially when trying this in the 9-10pm space when it was clear they wouldn't be filling their rooms with full paying guests. In that ten years, the prospects of cheaper-than-listed rooms has evaporated.

I'm assuming there is a correlation to the uptick in priceline/hotwire offerings (i.e. all their discretionary inventory goes there), but that's probably related to my irrational fear of William Shatner.

I would tend to agree with the last post.

Well with domestic Marriott's it's not going to work. I tried to book directly with a local one last week and they just kept sending me to the main office. (I was trying to get my company rate. Finally succeeded at getting someone at the 800# to look it up, but......)

Most hotel bookings are done over the Internet, using the hotel's WEB site.

If you have a reservation that is not guaranteed and can be cancelled, call the hotel directly a few weeks ahead of time and ask their rate for your stay. They may have a lower price. You can then cancel the 1st reservation and make a new one.

Hotel WEB sites do not reflect the current status at the hotel; deals are often available by contacting them directly.

I have done this with several international hotels, and the savings have been well worth the telephone bill cost.
...alternately, use one of the last minute sites which names hotels. For example:
www.laterooms.com

Usually you get a higher rate when you call the hotel, as they now tend to offer their specials over the internet. And most large chain hotels will simply transfer you to the chain 800 #, they don't have in-house rez clerks except for group sales, etc.

Best bet for a cheap rate is always priceline, but then you don't get to pick the hotel...