4 Ways To Score Great Rates On Holiday Hotel Rentals

Does your family already have all the toys, electronics, and knickknacks they need? Are you looking for a non-traditional way to celebrate this holiday season? If so, consider giving your family the gift of memories by booking a holiday vacation. You can score some great rates on holiday hotel room rentals with the below 4 tips.

1.  Choose An Offbeat Location

The Christmas season is a time of feast or famine for the hotel industry. Hotels located in major cities tend to be booked to full capacity while those in less popular holiday destination spots are doing everything they can to lure in business.

In 2013, the most popular holiday destination cities were Las Vegas, New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Orlando, with hotel room rates of up to $353 a night. To reap the lowest hotel rates, avoid these busy cities and opt for a quaint family vacation in a less populated part of the country.

2.  Book Now, And Choose A Refundable Rate

While you may have heard that you can score steeper hotel room discounts if you wait until the last minute to book your reservations, this isn't an option for those traveling with their family who can't risk the possibility of not finding a room. Fortunately, there's a safe way for you to take advantage of any last-minute hotel room discounts you find.

Take the time right now to call several hotels in the area you wish to vacation and lock yourself in at the lowest refundable rate you can find. As your vacation gets nearer, recheck all of the hotels in the area and, if you find any better rates than the one you've secured, go ahead and make the switch.

Don't worry about inconveniencing the hotel staff -- they expect a certain percentage of cancellations on refundable rooms. Let them know that you're cancelling your room because you've found a better deal; oftentimes, they'll offer you an equal deal or better just to keep your business.

3.  Check Rates Through As Many Sources As You Can Find

Don't just check hotel rates through a single source. In many cases, hotels grant third parties the right to offer discounts in order to draw in business. Once you've found a hotel that you'd like to stay at, get a rate quote from its business website as well as through various brokers and travel agents, and also call the hotel directly and ask for a quote. You'll likely be alarmed to find out that the price for the same exact room could be drastically different depending on which source you book through.

Check hotel room rate quotes through as many different sources as you can find to ensure you're not missing out on any discounts. If you find a super-low rate but are leery of the credibility of the source and don't want to enter your credit card information, phone the hotel to see if they'll honor the quote but bill you directly. 

4.  Choose Your Hotel Based On What Days You'll Be Staying

Do you want your family's vacation to be a weekend getaway? If so, choose a hotel that caters to the business demographic; their rates are lower on the weekends and higher during the week. Are you thinking of spending a week or more at your destination? Then opt for a hotel that caters to recreational travel. These hotels will have inflated weekend rates, but you'll get a better rate on the other 5 days of the week. 

If your family already has all the material things they need and you want to make memories instead of clutter this Christmas season, consider booking a holiday vacation. Use the above 4 tips to score great hotel rates on the winter getaway destination of your choosing. Click here for more information.