Are you one of those who primarily researches and books hotels online? If so you will probably appreciate that the experience is not as streamlined and transparent as one would hope. Like me, you probably flit from one portal to another, inputting your travel dates and sorting for hotels by location and price. You shortlist a few preferred hotels and then compare rates across portals. Some may offer a great rate on the preferred hotel but the terms and conditions may not be entirely favourable. Other sites may offer some inclusions such as breakfast or airport transfers but the rate will be higher. You also probably go directly to the website of the hotel to check if they have any packages on offer — sometimes you possibly do find a deal but invariably it comes with its own restrictions.

Lately, I have hit upon this amazing app that potentially lets you get the best possible deal on hotel rooms. It’s called ‘You. And your phone’.

This is how it works. I identify the hotel I would like to stay at, I jot down the best rate that’s available online, and I make a list of all the possible inclusions that are being offered by the hotel, across one or more websites. I then pull out my phone and call the hotel — no toll-free numbers, direct line to the hotel, preferably to the manager, and I start negotiating.

I didn’t really know this but the staff at many hotels has a fair amount of leeway in the rates and freebies that they can throw in for prospective, polite guests. And this is especially true for standalone hotels that aren’t part of big hospitality chains. So you call them and transparently share the best rate that you are getting online — “Look, I would really like to stay at your property but could you do something better on the rate?” And you know what, they just might. Not just India, this works internationally as well.

I recently called up a luxury resort in Indonesia — I had been monitoring their room rates but hadn’t booked and unfortunately the prices, dynamic as they are, had moved up suddenly and significantly.

“I had seen a rate of $220 a few weeks ago but unfortunately it’s no longer available and rates are now $280. Can you do something please,” I requested the lady on the phone. She hemmed and hawed a little but, sure enough, she not only matched the rate but also gave me a complimentary upgrade.

Which brings me to the next hint — even if they don’t have the authority to give you a better rate than what you are getting online, most hotel managers can usually throw in a lot of freebies. This works particularly well for weekend stays at business hotels. Every once in a while I will call a luxury hotel and let them know that I am looking to get away for the weekend. And then I pull out the list of inclusions that they can potentially offer and start negotiating. “Can I get free breakfast? What about a couples’ massage at the spa? But hey, I am staying alone — can I get two massages instead? Wi-fi, I trust, will be included. Umm, I’ll be checking out on Sunday… can we make it a 5pm checkout rather than noon.” And so on.

Your worst-case is that they will not budge, in which case you just go back to your travel portal and book the way you have always done. But well, many times you could get a better rate or complimentary upgrades or other awesome perks. And there is no harm in putting in that little bit of effort, is there? All it requires is You. And your phone!

Rishi Piparaiya is the author of Aisle Be Damned; rishi@aislebedamned.com

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