Travel - AU Hotel
Top 10 things to check while booking Australian hotel
Australia is one of the most visited countries in the world. With is beautiful beaches, amazing
landscapes and vast outback, tourists flock to Australia all-year round to witness and experience
the best of what the country has to offer. In order to complete your Australian vacation, hotels in
the country make it a standard to offer the best to its guests. You will find that Australian hotels
offer a wide range of amenities, facilities and competitive prices to entice guests.
How can you find the best hotel deal in Australia? Here are the top 10 things to check while
booking Australian hotel.
Know about commission rates
Online travel agents (OTAs) advertise that they can give you the lowest rates when you book
online. In reality, OTAs get 15 to 25 percent of the published rates and they can play up the
prices to their desired rate. Expedia and Priceline control over 85% of online bookings in
Australia. Hotels can offer lower prices than the rates published on the OTAs’ website, but you
need to call the hotel directly.
Check for overbooking
Hotels tend to overbook to get a full house. After all, some guests do not really show up.
However, if you still find yourself booking despite the fact that the hotel announced an
overbooking, you can always get a refund. Or in some cases, you make a legal action against
the hotel. But if you are a loyal guest of a hotel chain, you are likely to have a room despite the
overbooking status.
Check hotel’s location
Hotels put premium on their location. If you really want to stay in the center of all the city action,
then you should be ready to pay a price. But, if you can settle in a hotel within the 5-kilometer
radius of the city, you can get the same type of room but almost half the price. If you don’t mind
a few minutes of walking, you can score a good room rate.
Opt for buffet breakfast
Most hotels now offer a buffet breakfast bundled in their room rates. Check if the rate chose has
this inclusion. It will save you money if you load up on breakfast meals then head to your tourist
destinations. But if the buffet breakfast is an add-on, skip it totally. You can get affordable meals
from nearby cafes and convenience stores.
Sign up for hotel rewards program
You can get room upgrades, free Wi-Fi and other freebies if you sign up on their rewards
program. If you are a frequent traveler, you can earn points and get a free night.
Use the right credit card
Some credit card companies are partners with hotel chains. If you are paying with a credit card,
check hotel affiliates to get discounts and earn more reward points.
Try new hotels
New hotels are very competitive because they are building their guest list. Often, their rates are
lower because they don’t have enough client base to raise the bar high.
Watch out for resort fees
This is a hidden fee that will not come up until you appear for check-in. For your safety and
protection, check with your hotel if they ask for resort fee. You can withdraw your booking or ask
to waive the fee.
Book airfare and hotel in one
Bundle fares cost less. Most airlines and hotel have partnership deals. You can get up to 20%
discount when you bundle airfare and hotel.
Book early
Hotels love early bookings. If you can book at least 30 days before your trip, the hotel can give
you a nice discount. Just call them up.
What to avoid when booking a hotel?
Avoid booking without checking their cancellation policy. You might end up paying for a hotel
room you will not use. Never use a credit card that charges foreign transaction fees. Lastly,
book a hotel that you are comfortable to stay. Check reviews by previous guests so you can
make a smart decision.