Reply To: Gift dilemma: Change hotels for $100 FHR credit or 1 hotel only?

[JDB]

ukpolak wrote:

Thanks @JDB I stand corrected.

Ps – I did see your point above around rate negotiation – do you call or email directly to see what they can do?

I’ve only ever contacted hotels when booking to confirm certain details (eg arrival times) or make particular requests ahead of arrival. We did call a property in Majorca last year because we were making a booking for three rooms at the same time, and they did give a small discount relative to the online direct rate because of the bulk purchase, however this was done via contact with the generic central reservations team rather than the hotel direct. Thank you.

It depends! Usually a bit of both. The key is to find the entrée which I liken to the opening chat up line to someone you fancy! Not something you can really plan, you just need the right words at the right time via the right channel. In the same way as it’s not usually going to work if you ask someone if you can sleep with them as an opening gambit, asking a hotel for a discount and freebies on first contact also probably won’t work. Research into all the types of rates and offers the hotel has on its own website or offers via other channels is a good start to see what they can offer. I’m always interested if the hotel has attractive offers for a two night stay with lots of inclusions which gives a good clue as to what underlying room rate they are looking for.

If I recall correctly from previous posts you have a young family which for us was an important time to find the best accommodation for children to be nearby and comfortable but also for the parents to be comfortable and have privacy, essentially as if you were at home. Speaking to the hotel directly we discovered that not only do they offer far better prices but sometimes have family friendly accommodation not offered even on their websites and can talk you through everything you specifically need to know that isn’t necessarily on the website resort/floor plans, like feeding arrangements, babysitting, children’s activities or laundry and pre-allocate your rooms and upgrades at the time of booking. Whatever type of intermediary you book through you not only lose the personal element but you are paying extra for the disintermediation!

A sine qua non for any direct booking is to say something nice about the hotel and/or that it has been recommended by xxx, really hoping to be able to make arrangements for your stay, bit confused by all the different rates and allude to what you need/want etc. etc.