Even if you are a savvy shopper when it comes to travel there are several tactics you can use to save yourself even more money - if you have the time and inclination.
You've been to Wotif.com, or maybe Stayz.com.au, and compared prices for the hotel that takes you fancy, found the cheapest option and signed on the dotted line.
But have you checked whether car parking, should you need it, is included in the price? And have you asked whether the shuttle to/from their airport incurs an extra fee. Verified whether there will be free wifi, or if you'll have to splash out a further $25-30 a night to check a few emails?
Do you get access to a business centre, or will there be a further charge? Is there a free bottle of water in your room, or will you have to spend a further $8 for a drink before you go to sleep?
Is the hotel within walking distance of where you need to be the next day? Does it offer a regular shuttle or will you be up for a tax trip in each direction?
Already you could be up for an extra $80-100 on top of what you've paid for you room - just because you haven't done your homework.
A little research can save a lot of money - as can contacting hotels direct to do a deal. If a hotel has a room being offered through a consolidator on the internet at, say, $200 a night, then it is going to pay maybe 15% per cent commission to that online site.
If you ring up and offer to book direct with the hotel - and ask to pay 10% less than the price being advertised online - you win, and so does the hotel.
It won't work every time (some hotels would rather cut off their nose to spite their face), but it will pay dividends a lot of the time - particularly if the hotel is not at capacity. A few savvy hotels also offer to match online prices (and offer inducements like free afternoon tea) for anyone booking direct with them.
And if there is some work being done on the hotel, ask for a further price reduction - just in case construction noise proves intrusive.
Even wise and regular travellers are getting hit with a barrage of extra hotel charges, The New York Times reported recently.
This year, hotels in the United States will collect an estimated $2.1 billion in fees and surcharges, the newspaper reported.
Beware "resort fees" that are essentially surcharges for using hotel facilities that would have previously been automatically included in the tariff. These are sometimes added to bills on checkout.
Fees are also being added at some hotels for early/late checkouts, receiving faxes and parcels, use of gym or health club facilities, charges for the use of porter services and the storage of luggage, availability of in-room safes and mandatory valet parking. And in the United States, of course, there is the curse of mandatory tipping.
Sometimes it pays to upgrade to an executive level (with chains such as Sofitel and Swissotel) where the inclusion of free internet and business centre access, free breakfasts and often a free cocktail period with drinks and snacks, can more than pay for itself for the canny traveller who takes full advantage of these perks.
Club Sofitel (Brisbane room, right) for instance, offers all these plus a dedicated concierge service and a free newspaper, complimentary pressing service and free shoe shine, as well as late checkout when available.
It is also worthwhile signing up to hotel schemes for regular travellers - which are usually free to join. Card holders can often get upgraded and get extra perks as well as eventually qualifying for free room nights.
You've been to Wotif.com, or maybe Stayz.com.au, and compared prices for the hotel that takes you fancy, found the cheapest option and signed on the dotted line.
But have you checked whether car parking, should you need it, is included in the price? And have you asked whether the shuttle to/from their airport incurs an extra fee. Verified whether there will be free wifi, or if you'll have to splash out a further $25-30 a night to check a few emails?
Is the hotel within walking distance of where you need to be the next day? Does it offer a regular shuttle or will you be up for a tax trip in each direction?
Already you could be up for an extra $80-100 on top of what you've paid for you room - just because you haven't done your homework.
A little research can save a lot of money - as can contacting hotels direct to do a deal. If a hotel has a room being offered through a consolidator on the internet at, say, $200 a night, then it is going to pay maybe 15% per cent commission to that online site.
If you ring up and offer to book direct with the hotel - and ask to pay 10% less than the price being advertised online - you win, and so does the hotel.
It won't work every time (some hotels would rather cut off their nose to spite their face), but it will pay dividends a lot of the time - particularly if the hotel is not at capacity. A few savvy hotels also offer to match online prices (and offer inducements like free afternoon tea) for anyone booking direct with them.
And if there is some work being done on the hotel, ask for a further price reduction - just in case construction noise proves intrusive.
Even wise and regular travellers are getting hit with a barrage of extra hotel charges, The New York Times reported recently.
This year, hotels in the United States will collect an estimated $2.1 billion in fees and surcharges, the newspaper reported.
Beware "resort fees" that are essentially surcharges for using hotel facilities that would have previously been automatically included in the tariff. These are sometimes added to bills on checkout.
Fees are also being added at some hotels for early/late checkouts, receiving faxes and parcels, use of gym or health club facilities, charges for the use of porter services and the storage of luggage, availability of in-room safes and mandatory valet parking. And in the United States, of course, there is the curse of mandatory tipping.
Sometimes it pays to upgrade to an executive level (with chains such as Sofitel and Swissotel) where the inclusion of free internet and business centre access, free breakfasts and often a free cocktail period with drinks and snacks, can more than pay for itself for the canny traveller who takes full advantage of these perks.
Club Sofitel (Brisbane room, right) for instance, offers all these plus a dedicated concierge service and a free newspaper, complimentary pressing service and free shoe shine, as well as late checkout when available.
And if you are able to pay cash then do so - credit card surcharges are rising all the time with some hotels charging 5% for you to use your American Express card.
It's time to fight back!
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