Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: SFO, MNL, SIN, HAM
Programs: UA GS, SQ PPS, IHG Plat Amb, Marriot Gold, Hilton Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Accor Plat
Posts: 488
Agreed - Hilton, SPG, Marriott, Carlson are all guilty of these "fake" sales that promise huge discounts that end up not being discounts at all. Don't book a "sale" blindly!
I agree with others - if I know the typical price for a hotel/season and the sale is a "historical low", I book it. Otherwise, I'll avoid the pre-paid, non-refundable rates far ahead to avoid the situation the OP describes.
Accor's private sales are often "real sales": I usually book a few places well in advance for destinations I know well - in some cases, I got a discount of 50% or more compared to booking closer to the date of travel!