10 Hotel Booking Hacks that Airlines don’t want you to know

 

When it comes to travel, airfare often gets allthe attention. But frequent travelers know that smart hotel bookings can save just as much money, if not more. Airlines may offer flight and hotel bundles, but they often don’t want you to know that booking hotels independently can result in better deals, more perks, and a superior experience.

This article shares ten tried-and-tested hotel booking strategies that help travelers maximize value, enjoy upgrades, and save significantly.

1. Compare Hotel Prices Outside Airline Portals

Airlines offer hotel booking services via their websites or as part of packages. While convenient, these often include markup costs or limited perks.

What You Should Do:

• • Use hotel comparison websites like Google Hotels, Trivago, or Skyscanner.

• • Check the hotel’s official website for direct booking benefits.

Benefits of Direct Comparison:

• • Lower prices

• • Complimentary breakfast or services

• • Better room choices

• • Loyalty point eligibility

Example: A three-night stay at a Hyatt in Bangkok was found to be 12% cheaper on Hyatt’s own website than through an airline’s hotel booking partner.

 

2. Book Hotels at the Right Time

The timing of your booking can impact the price significantly.

When to Book:

• • Tuesdays between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM (local time) have shown to be optimal based on booking data trends.

Why It Works:

• • Hotels update their inventory early in the week.

• • Airline bundles are often static and don’t reflect these updates.

3. Use Private Browsing and Price Drop Alerts

Websites track your searches through cookies and may increase prices with repeated visits.

Steps to Follow:

• • Use incognito mode or private browsing.

• • Use a VPN to check prices from different countries.

• • Set up price alerts with tools like Pruvo or Rebookey.

Example: A traveler booked a hotel for $130. Later, Pruvo found a price drop to $99, and the traveler rebooked the same room.

4. Avoid Airline Hotel Bundles

Airline-offered bundles often look like a deal, but in reality, the

y come with trade-offs.

Drawbacks of Bundled Offers:

• • Limited room categories

• • Minimal flexibility with cancellations or changes

• • Lower-tier hotels included

Alternative Strategy:

• • Book flights and hotels separately.

• • Use Google Flights for airfare and a dedicated hotel platform like Booking.com or Agoda.

5. Book Directly with Hotels for Extra Perks

Booking directly with hotels can come with many exclusive benefits.

Perks Often Included in Direct Booking:

• • Free room upgrades

• • Early check-in or late checkout

• • Complimentary services like Wi-Fi or welcome drinks

• • Hotel loyalty points

Tip: Join hotel loyalty programs such as Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, or IHG One Rewards for more benefits.

6. Use Travel Credit Card Portals

Travel-centric credit cards offer value-packed booking platforms.

Advantages of Using Credit Card Travel Portals:

• • Access to exclusive hotel deals

• • Bonus points or cashback on hotel bookings

• • Perks such as free meals, spa discounts, and late checkout

Example: American Express Platinum users get access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program, which includes several luxury perks.

7. Call the Hotel After Booking Online

Once a room is reserved online, call the hotel directly to improve your stay.

What to Mention:

• • Special occasion (e.g., honeymoon, anniversary)

• • Loyalty to the hotel chain

Why This Works:
Hotels are often willing to offer complimentary upgrades or early check-ins to create a positive impression, especially if requested politely.

8. Take Advantage of Price Match Guarantees

Many hotel chains offer a price match guarantee if a lower rate is found elsewhere.

How to Use It:

• • Book on the hotel’s website

• • If you find a better rate within 24 hours, submit a claim

Benefit:

• • The hotel matches the rate and sometimes offers an additional discount (e.g., 25% off the matched rate).

9. Use Cashback and Discount Platforms

Airline hotel booking systems typically don’t allow third-party discounts, but direct booking platforms often do.

Where to Look:

• • Cashback sites: CashKaro, Rakuten, TopCashback

• • Browser extensions: Honey, RetailMeNot

• • Bank offers and seasonal promotions

Example: Booking a hotel through a cashback portal might get you up to 20% back, effectively reducing your overall travel cost.

10. Use and Maximize Hotel Loyalty Points

Unlike airline miles, hotel loyalty points offer greater flexibility and better redemption value.

How to Accumulate Points:

• • Book directly on hotel websites

• • Use co-branded credit cards

• • Convert reward points from other loyalty programs

Tip: Off-peak redemptions often cost significantly fewer points.

Example: A Hilton property in Bali that usually costs 60,000 points in peak season may be available for 35,000 points off-season.

 

Bonus Tip: Book Flexible Rates and Monitor for Price Drops

If your hotel booking allows free cancellation, continue checking prices even after booking.

Tools You Can Use:

• • Pruvo

• • Rebookey

• • HotelSlash

If a better price appears, cancel and rebook at the new rate. This trick works especially well with properties that adjust prices frequently.

Conclusion

Airline hotel bundles are often convenient but rarely the best deal. Using these ten hotel booking strategies, you can:

• • Save more money

• • Unlock exclusive perks

• • Enjoy more flexible and rewarding stays

Every smart traveler knows that hotels are just as important as flights. By implementing these tips, you can make each stay more comfortable, personalized, and economical.

Have a personal booking strategy or success story? Share it in the comments below to help others travel smarter.