This New Website Can Help You Get the Best Hotel Deals for Your Next Vacation
KEY POINTS
- Since hotel prices fluctuate, you may overpay when booking a hotel.
- HotelSlash, a new membership-based website, can help travelers save up to 30% on hotel rates.
- A membership costs $29.95 annually, but travelers can sign up for a free 90-day trial.
Travel provides an excellent opportunity to see new destinations and try activities and food that are new to you. If you're not careful, travel expenses can quickly add up, making your vacation more expensive than you initially planned. But resources are available that can make getting a good deal on hotels and flights easier. One membership-based company wants to make it simple for travelers to get a better deal when booking hotels.
Introducing HotelSlash
For many travelers, hotel accommodations make up a significant portion of their trip budget. When you're trying to adhere to a strict vacation budget that you've set, it can feel like a massive win when you book a discounted hotel stay. HotelSlash, a paid, membership-based website, wants to help more travelers get cheaper hotel rates.
The company provides two ways for travelers to save money. One option is to request a quote for your desired destination, and HotelSlash will send you the best available hotel deals. You can then book through HotelSlash, and the company will continue to monitor rates for price drops and alert you if a better deal is available before your trip starts.
Travelers can also save money by using HotelSlash to monitor hotel prices for hotel bookings they've already made. Members can forward their confirmation emails from the original booking site to [email protected], and HotelSlash will monitor prices and alert them if a better deal is found. To take advantage of price drops, travelers must make refundable bookings.
HotelSlash estimates that members who book a hotel one month before their arrival date can save up to 30%. A yearly membership costs $29.95. The company offers travelers a free 90-day trial to explore savings opportunities before joining. Unlike other membership-based websites, you won't need to provide your credit card details when signing up for the free trial.
While this is a paid service, it could be an excellent resource for people who travel often. Members can cancel anytime, and the company offers a full membership refund to anyone unsatisfied with the service. Not overpaying for hotel stays can free up more money in your travel budget for other vacation costs like activities, food, and transportation.
Four tips to save money when booking hotel stays
HotelSlash isn't the only resource that can help travelers keep more money in their checking accounts. There are other ways to get a good deal on hotels. Here are a few tips that could help you save money the next time you need to book a hotel for an upcoming trip:
- Don't wait to book: Many travelers save money by booking their accommodations well in advance. If you wait until a few days or a couple of weeks before your trip starts, you may end up overpaying for your hotel stay. Don't delay planning.
- Use price comparison tools: You can take advantage of price comparison tools like Hotels.com, Expedia, Priceline, and Travelocity to quickly compare hotel rates before making a reservation. It's a good idea to also review the prices available when booking directly with the hotel to ensure you're getting the best deal.
- Book refundable rooms and monitor prices: It's not uncommon for hotel rates to change from one day to another. If you don't want to invest in a membership service like HotelSlash, you can save money by booking refundable hotel rates and monitoring prices yourself. If you find cheaper rates after booking, you can cancel your earlier reservation and make a new one to get the best rate.
- Use rewards credit cards: If you travel often, you may want to consider getting a travel credit card or a hotel credit card. These cards include useful travel benefits and make it easy to earn rewards when you spend money with your cards. You can use your credit card rewards to book free hotel stays in the future.
Travel can be expensive, but planning a trip without disregarding your personal finance goals is possible. Using money-saving tools can allow you to plan a fantastic trip without going broke. Knowing you landed a great hotel deal may make you appreciate your next trip even more.
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