how to book best rates

[susie]

Hi - we came to vegas in Sept from the UK and are planning our return trip for our one year anniversary already!! I also love this site - sooooo much information!
I have registered with a couple of hotels for their email mailing list - has anybody got advice on when is best to start seriously looking round for the best rates? I will definitely look at the best deals message board, but I wasn't sure when to actually look seriously for a Sept trip? We are planning to arrive right after labour day
any help would be gratefully received!!!

[HoyaHeel]

Most places will send out the cheapest deals about a month in advance. I like to book a decent rate as soon as I book my flights, then cancel as the date approaches should a better rate come up.

[Coaster Kikky]

Susie, Hoya's suggestions are how many of us here book our rooms. However, be sure that your reservation has a cancellation policy that allows you to get a full refund if you cancel more than 48 hours in advance. If you book directly with the hotels, you are usually allowed that capability. Many reservation services do not have that policy.

[HoyaHeel]

Yeah, I was going to say "I book a decent cancelable rate" but "cancelable isn't a word, so.....

[doctor_al]

"cancelable isn't a word..."

Actually, it is. (http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=cancellable&x=0&y=0)

[ November 09, 2004, 11:20 AM: Message edited by: doctor_al ]

[HoyaHeel]

Well, it wasn't in my dictionary (which, I must now admit, is clearly inferior....) It just didn't sound right.....

[RossW]

**Just another note on this subject for NON- USA residents**

When you cancel your reservation and the hotel refunds your money on your non-USA Credit Card, the original USA dollar amount refunded will be the same on your card, BUT the exchanged amount back to your home currency will be lower than the originally exchanged charge on your C/C statement.

I had a reservation for a month or so and cancelled it and re-booked something different. The difference I got back on my card in my home currency was about 8 or 9 dollars less on a $130.00 USD hotel deposit. This is all due to my Bank's foreign exchange policy on Credit Card charges. The actual exchange from my home currency to the USA dollar was only a slight difference from when I originally booked though…?? :confused: The banks dings you more in exchange when it is a foreign transaction that is refunded on your card. :mad:

The short if it is: The fee they charge for refunding a charge in a foreign currency on a credit card is a lot higher that for buying something in a foreign currency on a credit card.

I have this situation solved now for the future, even though I do not live in the USA. ;)
I have applied for a "US Dollar Visa Card" from a Canadian bank that keeps all purchases on the card in US Currency and sends the Credit Card Statement to me in US currency. It is up to me to pay the balance in US Currency, so the exchange difference are nullified until I have to actually pay my balance. That’s when I exchange my currency to the USA dollar.

So refunds of deposits etc, will be the same as the original charges that were put through on the US Dollar Visa card, no loss in the exchange back to your home currency at a later date on each individual charge graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

See if your local bank offers a Credit Card in US Dollars like mine did.

I hope that made sense and wasn't to long- winded. But is an option to consider if you are a Non USA resident and want the flexibility of being able to book and cancel and not lose money due to foreign exchange rates on Credit Card charges and due to you wanting to change a reservation.
graemlins/peace.gif

RossW

[Jimbo338]

Most of us have found that booking hotel, airfare etc. is usually cheaper but always check the package deals. They have been known to have great deals from time to time for various reasons. Even if they are not they will give you a bottom line to try to do better. I always book my flight first. I usually book about 3 months in advance when a good rate comes along. Then I have time to surf for a hotel. Try travelaxe.com, Tripreservations.com, i4vegas.com, expedia.com, travelzoo, and all the others that you can think of including the link above. Check the hotel websites as well, and if you are down to the wire check the LA TIMES deals. Just call and mention you want the LA TIMES deal if you find something you like. Here is a link to get you all the hotel 800 numbers and websites and LA TIMES deals:

http://home.earthlink.net/~mjceditor/

As mentioned if you find a good deal at a hotel website book it. Most allow you a full refund if you cancel 48 hours before arrival date so if something better comes along you can grab it, and if not, you have the security of a room already booked! Wholesalers buy blocks of rooms in advance and resell them. Their cancellation policies differ widely so you have to read them. I noticed some are $15, some $50 and last year one was so complex that I took the time to figure it out and I almost ended up owing them money if I cancelled! None of the fee was refundable. The wholesalers charge the entire stay when you book; hotels generally just charge your credit card with just the first night of your stay.

There are some great deals out there if you work at it. Check this board frequently too as a good resource. Good luck and happy hunting.

Jimbo

[Jacko]

I would agree that about a month before is the best time. Things are really slow after labor day, so most everything should be available.

Why not give us the dates(when you know them) and types of hotel? We can all take a look from time to time when we are bored and have nothing to do.

[joshrocker]

book your hotel right away if you know the dates and then cancel if someing better comes up, my first year out there we booked our flight but didn't book a room because i thought i could do better on prices. well the closer our trip got the higher prices went. rooms that were going for 50 dollars were now going for 80 dollars a night. i was cussing myself out for not booking earlier. like it was stated before you can cancel your reservation if you book through the hotel directly so you really have nothing to lose. hotel rates in vegas fluctuate so much, i've seen one year the hotel that i booked was nearly double my reserved price and then 2 weeks before our trip prices dropped 5 dollars lower than what i had already paid. i canceled and rebooked at the lower rate.

[pebbles]

I agree with RossW about the credit card, but have found that Nationwide don't charge you either way AND give you the business rate. Well worth getting either a Flexaccount (debit) card or credit card with them before you go.

I just got my bill and had a great rate.