If you are the type of traveler who just wants a suitable place to hang up your hat and you don’t want to spend a fortune to do it, here are several ways to save on your next hotel room.
Be flexible
Hotel rates are based on supply and demand, so beware of peak periods. If your destination’s high season is from December through April and you’re trying to book near the end of April, you might find considerable savings if you change your travel dates by a week or two.
Check Hotel Websites
The large travel-booking websites often sell rooms from the middlemen (中间商) who have bought up empty hotel rooms. But the major hotel chains also offer last-minute discounts, and because they are not paying the middlemen, they sometimes have better deals than the travel sites.
Don’t be afraid to bargain
Most people are so intimidated by know-it-all hotel desk clerks that they don’t bargain for a better deal. But bargaining for a better deal is often worth the trouble, because most hotel general managers would prefer having a customer paying a lower-than-usual rate to no customer at all. And if you find something unfair on your hotel bill, don’t be afraid to complain. To create and promote goodwill, hotels will often reduce or cancel such charges.
Avoid hidden costs
Expensive little extras hotels never mention they may increase the cost of your stay. Don’t let this happen. Find out about resort fees for parking and Internet use before you agree to stay. And don’t touch the hotel’s phone unless you absolutely have to—the rates can be more than $5 a minute even inside the United States.
【小题1】According to the passage, which of the following will save you some money?| A．Change your visiting places in high season. |
| B．Book an order for the room with the hotel far ahead of schedule. |
| C．Make arrangements for travelling during off-peak periods. |
| D．Make a demand directly on the middlemen for a fair price. |
| A．managers would rather have a customer paying less than have no one |
| B．there are many business items which should not be charged |
| C．customers are usually afraid to complain about the unreasonable high price |
| D．the desk clerks and managers often cheat the travelers by false pretenses |
| A．Advertise the hotels | B．Encourage the hotel business |
| C．Do a service for the customers | D．Introduce the hotel services |
