How can I get a hotel room at a cheaper rate?

Whether you're travelling on business or on holiday, finding a hotel is not always easy, as there are so many to choose from. The search often focuses on quality of service, but also and above all on price. Looking for a bargain? Here's our advice on how to pay less for a hotel room.

Choose your dates carefully

As you know, certain periods of the year, or even the week, are more or less favourable for good deals. If you want to find a cheap hotel room, avoid peak periods. At these times, demand is high and rooms are sure to be full. Hoteliers take advantage of this to increase their rates.

It is therefore advisable to go to the seaside or to very touristy destinations in winter, and to the mountains in summer, where hotels will certainly be cheaper. By travelling out of season, you can avoid the tourists and spend less.

If you want to save money, travel during the week, particularly avoiding Friday night, which is always the most expensive, and Saturday.

Spending several nights in the same hotel? Don't hesitate to ask for a small discount - it costs nothing, and if it's kindly requested, the hotelier will be happy to accept.

Scouting: do your homework before choosing your hotel

If you like to take risks, go on an adventure and book a cheap hotel at random. With a bit of luck, you'll find a decent establishment, but nothing is less certain.

To be sure of finding a room that offers the best value for money, we strongly recommend that you do your homework before booking. Hotel comparison sites, such as Booking or Tripadvisor, will give you an idea of the best offers for each hotel, as well as short-term promotions for specific stays. They will offer you nights at unbeatable value for money. Don't hesitate to visit several comparators, to avoid false special offers from cheap hotels.

Also compare the quality of the hotel's services. There's no shortage of reviews on the Internet! What's more, you can look at photos of visitors to give you a clearer idea of the place.

Sites such as Tripadvisor, or the Google search engine, list all the feedback from Internet users. But be careful to remain objective, as many people complain about very little, or about things that don't bother you personally.

Finally, don't forget that the number of stars is not always a guarantee of the quality of the hotel. You could very well have a 4-star holiday rental with a room with decrepit walls and dirty sheets, but find a 3-star hotel with fewer facilities but impeccable quality. Only Internet users' opinions will tell you!

To pay less for a hotel room: book direct!

Found a good deal on a travel comparison site? Don't rush and book straight away. Be aware that these sites charge very high commissions (up to 18%), and that the hotel pays a fee for each reservation made via their site. So the hotel manager will probably prefer to deal with you directly, even if it means offering you a commercial gesture.

So don't hesitate to call the hotel directly, making it clear that you've seen their offer on a reseller site. They won't pay any commission, and you'll probably pay even less.

Finally, the time of booking also has an impact on the price. If comparison websites advocate the last minute, it's a rather risky solution, whereas if you book in advance, you'll be sure to get the best rates.

You now have all the information you need to travel cheaply and find hotels at the best prices. Whatever your destination, you're sure to be able to stay in a budget room or suite on your next trip.