Dec 17, 2019

You don't have to overpay for a hotel room — there are tricks and tips you can use to find the best room rates so you can enjoy your trip guilt-free. Business Insider spoke to industry professionals to get their best tips for booking a room, including Jeanette Pavini, a savings expert at Coupons.com , Josh Belkin, the vice president of Hotels.com's global brand, Cheryl Rosner, the founder of Stayful , and Ivy Chou, the former content and marketing director of DealsPlus.com. Keep reading for their advice on when to book a hotel room and how to find hidden discounts to save money on your next vacation. 1. Look into business hotels. Crystal Cox/Business Insider According to Pavini, a savings expert at Coupons.com , business hotels can provide great deals, especially when traveling within Europe. The reason is that business can often be slow during summer months and on weekends at hotels that cater to business travelers, which can lead to lower prices. 2. Ask for a corner room. Flickr/PortoBay Hotels & Resorts Pavini also recommends opting for a corner room, since you'll typically get more square footage for the same price. If you're looking to upgrade to a corner room, Pavini suggests that you be discreet and avoid asking at times when there are several guests waiting to be assisted at the front desk. 3. Check in near the end of the day. PhotoAlta/Ale Ventura via Getty Images If you're hoping to snag an upgrade, checking in toward the end of the day might be your answer. According to Pavini, since hotels have a better sense of occupancy by that point, they are more likely to offer upgrades that are still available. 4. Instead of calling the 800 reservation numbers, call the hotel directly. GaudiLab/Shutterstock.com The reason Pavini suggests doing this is because, often, people who are working directly at the property have a greater ability to upgrade you. If you stay at a hotel regularly, keeping a friendly relationship with it and booking directly can also increase your perks. 5. Book within the cancellation period. Courtesy of eclipse_images/Getty Images According to Rosner, the founder of Stayful, when it comes to hotels, sometimes waiting until the last minute can help you snag a better price tag. Typically, a hotel's cancellation falls anywhere between 24 to 48 hours in advance, at which point rooms become available at lower rates. 6. Bundle your hotel and flight booking. 06photo/Shutterstock Belkin, the global vice president Hotels.com , recommends trying to bundle a flight purchase and hotel booking, as it can often lead to savings for both simultaneously. 7. Sign up for a hotel's loyalty programs. Crystal Cox/Business Insider "One of the best ways to receive free upgrades is to sign up for a loyalty program and stick to it," Pavini said. Marriott's loyalty program , Marriott Bonvoy, includes a best-rate guarantee for guests, free Wi-Fi on each trip, and access to exclusive events and experiences, among other things. Many programs also include free nights or free items with bookings. 8. Or opt to sign up for loyalty programs through booking websites. Hotels.com While hotels directly offer loyalty programs, third-party booking sites do as well. For example, loyalty members with Hotels.com can book 10 nights and get one for free. The 10 nights can be mixed and matched in different locations. 9. Sign up for alerts on price drops. Shutterstock When you don't have the time to keep a close eye on prices, sign up for alerts through websites like Hotels.com  and Kayak. They'll take care of the work for you, emailing you when the prices start to drop while ensuring that they don't flood your inbox. 10. Check to see where prices are increasing and decreasing. Hotels.com If you're not set on a particular destination, take a look at Hotels.com's Hotel Price Index , which provides information on where hotel prices are increasing and decreasing. The results are based on bookings made on the website and prices paid by customers per room per night, including taxes and fees. 11. Tap into apps.