Large companies have a plethora of ways to minimize travel costs. But if you have a small business and need to plan a trip on your own, it can be hard to get the best rates. Recently, Consumer Reports came to the rescue with some specific suggestions for saving money when you book a hotel stay. Here’s the best of their recommendations:
Haggling still works. Consumer Reports contends that when you try to negotiate for a better rate, it works 80% of the time. For the best results, don’t call the 800 number; instead, call the location you want to stay at directly.
Go nonrefundable. The badly named “corporate deal” (which anyone can get) is rarely the best price. Instead, ask what the cheapest nonrefundable rate is — though beware that it is, in fact, nonrefundable.