5 things hotels won't tell you

Bangalore: With the prices of possibly everything touching the skies, you probably want the best deals when you go on a holiday. But just like every other best deals in the world, your hotel also comes with its share of Secrets and "conditions apply". And as it turns out, there are several money saving secrets your hotel isn't telling you. We reveal hotel's dirty laundry to make it easier for you to understand what they are not telling you.

Exclude your travel agent

These days, many travelers use websites and agents for a good rate on hotels. If you reserve your room through a third-party site the hotel usually pays a charge up to 30 percent. Hotels usually offer specials, and let you change your reservation without a price if you exclude the middleman and book through their own sites.

Furthermore, directly book the room with the hotel and your chances of getting an upgrade are high. Loyalty-program members usually get the perks. An easier way to find a discount is to follow your favorite hotels on Facebook and Twitter: They alert you to deals the moment they are offered.

Forget about those website photos

Another secret your hotel won't tell you- your room almost certainly won't look like the one on their website. That's the finest room in the quarters, and the photo may be doctored to top it off. Go beyond those photos and check out other reviews and ratings. There are ample places to find reviews of hotels, from newspapers and magazines to websites with traveler reviews. But you often are obliged to trust the hotel to see what the pool or your room looks like- which may not be reliable.

Extra fees may be negotiable

If you are one of those people who hate paying for a room phone or pay per view movies, then you need to know that hotels usually waive off unnecessary fees if you talk to them about it earlier.
Of late airlines have found a way to charge for just about everything, but it's a different story altogether for hotels, which have been losing revenue from once reliable sources. At one time, people paid ridiculous fees to use the room phone; now everyone has a cell phone. Looking to add revenue, hotels have increased parking charges and the puzzling "resort fee" that some vacationers have seen pinned on to their bills.

Bottom line: If you don't like a fee, ask about it.

Don't ask about bedbugs

The one thing hotels will never tell you is that they can't do much about bedbugs. Hotels are a perfect environment for bedbugs. And it has become a big issue for the industry. Sadly, there is really nothing hotels can do to prevent the bugs. The only thing you can do: On entrance, test the crooks of the mattress for bedbugs or the revealing brown spots they leave.
Most hotels spray for bugs only after complaints. You should still ensure the beds for bugs, even at 5-star hotels.

Points are easier to build than you think

You can increase reward points without staying there. Sign up for a hotel acknowledged credit card and earn points every time you use it. Many even give you a free night just for signing up for the card.
Hotels put forward points to those who stay with them. Repeatedly reserving or booking rooms with them ensures room upgrades, rewards and other facilities.
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