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Italy Hotels rates
Italy Hotel rooms are just like any other commodity and obey the laws of supply and demand. If you take some time to plan and research where you want to stay you can pretty much negotiate a far better rate than most folks pay for their hotel room. If you can be flexible about where to stay, and when to stay, you can save even more money. First, a little inside information on how hotels make their money:
Most Italy hotels have tiered pricing, starting with what they call a "rack rate" that is a best scenario price for any room. This is the rate most people get quoted when they just call off the street. It is also the rate that gets charged when the hotel is full up ("booked") and they know they can get it. For example, the rack rate at the Radisson Hotel I used to work at was $109 for a double king. From that rack rate, the next tier of pricing is set. This is usually called a "corporate rate", although the same percentage discount may apply to AARP, AAA, some travel agency bookings, etc. It's usually around 12 - 15% less than the rack rate. Our 1st level discount was $94 for the same double king. The next tier of pricing usually applies to various corporate accounts (all IBM employees, or all Delta employees, etc.) that's another 10% off. This rate is based on a contract with the various companies that assures the hotel a certain number of occupied rooms per year (otherwise known as "room nights"). If at the end of a year the company has not used that quota of "room nights", they are likely to lose their discount status. Again, ours ran around $79 for the double king. The final tier of pricing is the "specialty" tier, also called the "convention rate". This is reserved for things like large parties where a large number of rooms are guaranteed and will be paid for if used or not, employee discounts, etc. This can go as low as 50% of the rate - or lower. But this is a rate that will be hard to get unless you are guaranteeing to occupy 50% of the hotel or more and are willing to pay for the unused rooms anyway.
How to get the best Italy Hotel rate?
Here's how to make sure you get the best discount you can: First of all, call around to the hotels you're interested in, ask for the reservations desk and find out what their "rack" or normal, everyday rate is. Ask if they offer a corporate discount. Make note of these amounts. These will be your starting points for negotiation.
Now, call back to these hotels and ask to talk to the sales department. Do NOT negotiate these rates with reservations or with the front desk. If the hotel isn't big enough to have a separate sales department, then talk to the front office manager or the General Manager (GM). In a larger hotels the reservations department is not authorized to set custom rates - sales is.
When you talk to the sales office, be as exact as you can in your figures. Let them know how many hotel rooms you expect to need for how many nights.
Then begin to negotiate the hotel rate with the sales person. Because you've got the rack and corporate rates in mind, you have a starting point from which to bargain. If they won't go lower than the corporate rate, then move on to another hotel. By the same token, unless you're planning to rent 1/2 of the hotel, don't expect to get 50% off. For example, if their rack rate is $119.00, and their corporate rate is $99.00, then you should expect an offer anywhere between $79 - $89. Keep in mind that if your group visit or wedding is during a busy "hotel time" (conventions, school events, etc.) there is less room to negotiate on the rates. Of course the more rooms you rent, the lower the rate.
Also remember that most hotels quote the rate for a single (1 occupant) room. One item that you might work into your negotiation is that your families will pay the single room rate, even if there are more people in the room. Keep in mind that if you negotiate this as part of your deal: most hotels are not allowed more than 4 people (adults) in a room because of fire code laws."
How can I save money on Italy hotel room rates
Make your reservation as soon as you have decided on travel plans. A limited amount of the cheapest rates are only usually available to the first few that reserve on a particular date; and they go quickly.
Being flexible about your travel plans can save you money.
The best hotel rates are found during the off-season and at other times when the Hotel tends to have empty rooms. Business Hotels in the downtown area will often have specials on the weekend when their customers are home. Resorts often have specials during the week.
Ask about weekly rates or weekend specials.
Ask about suites. The Hotel might have a suite available to meet your needs that would be less expensive than two separate rooms.
Shopping the Internet can be the quickest and easiest way to compare many Hotels rates to find the best deals.
Check into booking your room through a consolidator, they buy large blocks of rooms and often will pass their large hotel discounts on to the individual consumer.
You can check the national chain's 800 number and also check with the Hotel directly, since one operator may be offering a special of which the other is unaware. ASK, if this is the best rate they have available.
Check into booking your vacation as a package. You might be able to save by booking your room along with a certain airline, rental car or attraction ticket package.
You can apply coupons, but read the coupons carefully for exceptions and their terms of use.
Apply any special hotel discount programs for which you are eligible.
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