Here’s my spending philosophy: If you can get something a little cheaper, it’s worth the little effort.
Of course, I love tools that do the hard work for me, too. Tap or click for the Online Shopping Assistant to find discounts that work.
There are digital tricks that can make travel easier, safer, and more affordable as well. Click or tap for five clever tech tips you should read before you hit the road this summer.
When saving on hotel rooms, sites that claim to have the best deal possible aren’t always the way to go. Sometimes, you can do a better job on your own. My son used the tips below to get a hotel room for $80 cheaper than the lowest price online.
Do not book through the travel site
When you’re looking for a hotel, discount travel sites like Kayak, Expedia, or Hotels.com are good places to start — but don’t book there. Once you have found the lowest available rate for the hotel you want to visit, contact the hotel’s reservation desk.
Many hotels will meet or beat the best internet rate when you book with them. They prefer to skip the commission to the travel site and book your stay directly. The hotel may offer a free upgrade such as a nicer room or free breakfast.
If you are not lucky with the first person to answer, respectfully ask to speak to the sales manager.
Speaking of savings, collected 8 Proven Ways to Lower Your Monthly Internet, Cable and Live Streaming Bills. you are welcome.
This is the best time to book a hotel room
If possible, wait until the day you need the hotel room to book it. The later in the day, the better. After 4 p.m., hotels know the odds of a room being sold are pretty slim, so you’re more likely to get a lower rate. On average, the same-day hotel room rate is 10% cheaper than the advance booking price.
But this comes with a caveat. Don’t rely on this strategy if you’re traveling to a busy tourist city or a city with a major event. You might be lucky, but most people book rooms in advance. In question, sites like Tonight hotel Can help with last minute reservations.
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Don’t forget the extra discounts
When you book online, you will likely see a field to enter membership details to save even more. Don’t forget to request these discounts when you call the hotel to book.
Veterans, AAA members, seniors, government employees, and students often qualify for discounted hotel rooms—sometimes on top of the discount you already get.
It’s not just a few dollars either. AARP members can get up to 15% off at Marriott hotels; Best Western offers a 10% discount to members. Wyndham hotels offer special rates for guests 60 years of age or older. AAA can save you up to 10% at Hyatt and MGM Resorts hotels.
Here’s another pro tip: If you know which hotel chain you’d like to stay at, go to their website, sign up for their mailing list, or download their app. You will be the first to know about any special discounts and promotions.
Related: These family plans will save you money – even if you’re not a family member
When you have to book online, use incognito mode
A last minute call to get a cheap room is great when it works, but sometimes you need to book in advance online. Your best bet is to open an incognito browser window.
Some travel companies keep track of what you’re looking for and the prices will increase the next time you visit the site. You don’t have to worry about price gouging when using incognito mode.
It’s not just the travel industry that does this. Many online shopping sites know when to go after an item and can raise the price if you leave it and come back later to buy it. Don’t leave it to chance.
Incognito mode may not hide everything you do online, but it has some practical uses. Tap or click for five more favourites.
Broadcast selection: Deliver Drones, Digital License Plates, and $3,700 Walkman
Want to get your Amazon Prime packages by air? You can if you live in this city. In addition, Netflix officially announced the second season of “Squid Game,” Sony made the $3,700 Walkman, and Webex offers seamless Apple CarPlay support so you can hold meetings in the car. Oh, and four states have approved digital license plates that feature GPS tracking and dark mode. I have all the details.
Check out my podcast “Kim Commando Today” at appleAnd the google podcastAnd the spotifyor your favorite podcast player.
Listen to the podcast here Or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for my last name, “Commando”.
Learn about the latest technologies available on Kim Commando Show, the country’s largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and provides advice on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data breaches. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website at commando.
The opinions and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of USA TODAY.
