When traveling, most people just book the first hotel room without looking around. They end up overpaying on their trip without even knowing that they could have gotten a discounted hotel reservation if they had just done a little homework. there are many cheap hotels out there but they are not going to come looking for you. Let’s take a look at some ways to get a great deal on a discount hotel reservation.

The first thing you should always do when looking for a cheap hotel deal is to call the hotel to see if they currently have any specials on the rooms they have open. Remember we are in tough financial times and the hospitality industry is feeling the pinch as well. You should also ask if they have special offers for seniors, frequent flyer or Triple A.

There are also many hotel deals available online through special booking websites that can get you a huge discount off the normal price the hotel usually charges. The reason they can offer you such a huge discount is that they have an agreement with the specific hotels that sign up through them. They save hotels millions of dollars in advertising costs and these savings are then passed on to you in the form of cheaper hotel rates. Some sites have an agreement where you can name your own price.

Priceline, for example, will give you that option, but the trick here is that you won’t know which hotel you’ve been given until the deal is closed and you’re booked into it. If you don’t care which well-known hotel you’ll stay at, naming your own price is the best deal for you. You can still ask for general information like the general area you want to stay in and if it’s a 3 or 4 star hotel so you’re not left completely in the dark here. When shopping online, remember not to settle for the first offer that seems too good to be true. You should always shop around and do your due diligence as some hotel booking sites may have some hidden charges attached to your reservations.

Always remember to do your home work when shopping for a discount hotel reservation and you’ll always have a stress-free and fun trip.