Traveling to the city and afraid of the costs of your hotel room? There are plenty of ways to find inexpensive accommodations, especially if you know the less common strategies. As someone who grew up in the city and travel back to it often, I have first hand experience getting good deals. Here are some of my tips.
Go Off the Beaten Path
Sometimes just a block or two away from a popular spot will decrease your hotel bill by hundreds. Find a nice place to stay that isn’t on a popular street or area. Most hotels in a city offer free rides to public transportation. It is one way to attract customers. Take advantage of this. The extra five minutes it may take to get to your destination from the hotel will be well worth it.
Find Out Where the Natives Stay
If you know someone in the city, ask for recommendations. If you don’t, post your question in a forum. Many times you will find out hidden places that aren’t advertised. Ask where they would stay or where they would have their mother stay. You’ll get some good answers that way. For example, I know of a little bed and breakfast in the city that is super cheap and gorgeous. The owners don’t advertise and only take reservations if someone they know can recommend the guests. You won’t find these kind of places on the Internet.
Strike a Deal
If you can strike a deal in person, you’ll get a better deal. Of course, that could be difficult if you aren’t already in your destination. Again, if you know someone in the city, ask if they will go down to the hotel and negotiate. There may be discounts that are just for in-person guests, or the manager may be in a good mood that day.
During your stay, make sure to maintain a friendly countenance and relationship. People in a city are all about networking. Not everyone is treated equally, and a lot of times it really is who you know. You’ll set yourself up for an even better deal on your return trip.
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