Booking a hotel seems straightforward — but there are smart moves that most travelers don’t know about that can save you money, get you a better room, and make your stay far more comfortable. Here are our first two tips to get you started.
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Always Call the Hotel Directly After Booking Online
Online travel agencies like Expedia, Hotels.com, and Booking.com are great for comparing prices — but once you’ve found the rate you want, it pays to call the hotel directly. Many hotels will price-match the online rate and add a perk on top — an upgrade, complimentary breakfast, early check-in, or late checkout — simply to reward you for booking direct. Why do hotels prefer direct bookings? Because online agencies charge the hotel a commission of anywhere from 15% to 30%. When you book direct, the hotel keeps more of that money — and they’re often willing to share a little of that savings with you. Even if the hotel can’t beat the online price, a direct booking gives you a direct relationship with the property. If something goes wrong during your stay, you’ll have a much easier time getting it resolved when you booked directly rather than through a third party. 💡 Pro Tip
Ask specifically: “Is this the best rate you can offer, and is there anything you can add to make it worth booking directly with you?” You’ll be surprised how often the answer is yes.
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Always Check the Full Price — Resort Fees Can Be a Nasty Surprise
One of the most common frustrations in hotel booking is the resort fee — a mandatory daily charge that many hotels add on top of the advertised room rate. These fees can range from $20 to $50 or more per night, and they’re not always clearly displayed in the initial search results. Resort fees are especially common at hotels in Las Vegas, Miami, Hawaii, and other popular destinations. They typically cover amenities like the pool, fitness center, Wi-Fi, and parking — whether you use them or not. The fee is mandatory, so you can’t opt out. Before confirming any reservation, always click through to the final checkout screen and look for the full price including all taxes and fees. A room that looks like $120/night can easily become $170/night once the resort fee and taxes are added. Compare that final number — not the headline rate — when shopping between properties. ⚠️ Watch Out For
Destination fees, urban fees, and facility fees are all variations of the resort fee — different names for the same concept. Always scroll to the bottom of the rate details before booking. If a fee isn’t listed until checkout, that’s a red flag about the property’s transparency.
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