Tips for getting good hotel rates

[meredith55]

We are headed to DLR in June 2017. What are your tips for getting a great deal on a hotel on Harbor? I read all about people getting rates for $100 a night or less and I just don't know how you do it! We're interested in HOJO, Desert Inn, and Park Vue Inn. We got the family rate at the HOJO a few years ago, but I haven't seen emails for those rates in a while. Tips? How far in advance to book? Do you get better deals calling the hotel? And historical discounts?

Just FYI we will probably be looking for a room for 6-8, for my family and my sisters', so either one big room or two regular rooms. Thanks!

 

[tlovesdis]

I think the days of less than $100 a night across the street are gone, but maybe not completely. Desert Inn is known to have some low rates if you book far ahead and go in a slower season (not there there is a slow season anymore). June will not be considered a slow season, so rates won't be very low.

I booked the Desert Inn (just a standard room since there are only two of us) in September 2015 for my upcoming June 2016 trip and even at 9 months out it was $109 a night, plus all the fees. I am paying over $400 and I booked a long time ago.

Your best beat is to just keep checking rates as soon as your dates are available.

If you don't mind walking a bit or taking the ART, the Motel 6 is usually always under $100 a night, I've paid as low as $59 a night for it in January!

 

[KCAshley]

We're going next week and we booked our hotel (alpine inn) a couple months ago for $109/night and that was the cheapest within walking distance we could find. I've been periodically checking and while prices have gone down, I haven't seen them lower (again, within walking distance) yet. I've been looking at hotel tonight since we're in their 7 day window and have been checking with the bigger chains (Hilton,Marriott) since their prices tend to drop more and still haven't seen anything good enough (yet).

 

[avalon451]

I booked Desert Inn in March for our Sept. trip and got $99 for 3 weeknights, and $109 for the Friday night. That's getting into off season, though.

Sometimes it's good to call the lobby directly (not the reservations line if it's a national chain) and ask if they have any specials or any ideas about when rates will be best. I've often found you can get better deals by calling directly.

 

[agamble]

For Desert Inn I just checked the last week of February and found the Deluxe room said average price $94. When I selected price details it showed the Mon and Tues as $69 and the Wed and Thurs $119. We booked about 4 months out last year and paid $89.

 

[meredith55]

Thanks for the tips. I'll keep checking prices. I have noticed people sayin what great deals they get at the HOJO, but all the dates I'm searching it is much more expensive than any of the motels right across the street. I'll keep hoping for the family rates!!

 

[goofy4tink]

I just paid about $200 a night for a family suite at Desert Inn. It was basically two rooms connected by a door. Two queens in each room, coffee maker, fridge, microwave. Short walk to the parks. I think it came to about $842 for four nights...taxes/resort fees included.

 

[longboard55]

June is a popular month, the deals are in May

 

[tzeitel]

I booked DI&S a couple of days ago for April '17 and got $79 a night plus taxes etc. Total for 5 days comes to $550 but it will be $505 since we will not have a car this time.

First trip to DLR we stayed ta the HoJo under their family rate - such a good deal! But that was the last year they did that rate. Now their email specials are not very good and have to book super last minute.

Best deals I've found have been booking as soon as hotels open their dates and booking with them directly. Most places have not opened for next year (at least I have not been able to see their rates for April/May) other than DI&S. Or I find them on travel sites for more than they usually book for.

 

[casagray]

Also don't forget some places have special rates for AAA, military - I think I saw one that had an AARP rate, but don't quote me - of course these are only if you qualify. Since you're so far out, maybe consider signing up for emails from the places you're most interested in to get their special rates.

 

[Imdboss]

I book my hotel as soon as I pick our vacation dates, usually about 8 months out except for our upcoming surprise trip that I only had 2 months notice. I always book a refundable rate directly through the hotel, we always stay at Hilton properties for vacations due to DH's diamond status and points earning with them. I check rates daily, or close to it, and quite often find a better rate that lasts only a day. For example in Sept 2016 I booked a Hawaii trip for April 2017, during cyber Monday they had a 72 hour special in which I saved $90 per night! It doesn't cost me anything to book a room, no hold on credit card, and I can cancel up to 24 hours in advance. I rather have something booked and look for a better deal than wait to long and miss my window.

 

[Indiana Scott]

My tip is if you stayed at a local hotel before that you liked, call that place directly and ask if they have a discounted rate for returning customers. They usually have the ability to see you've been there before and give a nice discount.

 

[mgd]

June and July will be hard months to get good prices. Use sites like hotels.com to comparison shop, then go to the actual hotel site and use any discount you are eligible for (aaa, military, senior, etc...) to get the best rates. Otherwise, 15-20% coupon codes for orbitz and cheaptickets usually get me the best rates. Sites like getawaytoday sometimes have buy 3 get the 4th night free deals on some hotels as well. Certain hotels, especially red lion seem to have "special" deal of the day sales often on hotels.com/cheaptickets/orbitz where you can apply the coupon and get really good deals, possibly even close to $100 or under on some days in summer, but you have to keep checking the sites each day for those sales. I've never stayed at red lion, but it is right next to the toy story parking lot.

I just realized you are talking june 2017, so some hotels might not even list their actual rates or availability this far out yet.

 

[disneyxica20]

we stayed at the red lion hotel this week. normally their rates are over $100/night, but they happened to be having a flash rate (or whatever it's called) when i was researching hotels (which was last minute), so it was only $79/night. the resort fees and parking fees added another $30 to our bill, but still not bad. i would just keep checking sites to see if a good deal pops up.

 

[McNs]

Definitely check rates at hotels often. You'll pretty quickly figure out what normal rates are for hotels, so can better see a good special when one comes out. Check direct on the website and in places like Expedia.

I have had some good savings at the on site hotels through Orbitz, up to 20%.

 

[DnA2010]

I tend to book on travelocity as I'm in Canada and their rates seem to be the best I can get, factoring in exchange. We did 7 nights last Oct- I booked the Anaheim Plaza Hotel and Suites in August for 7 nights (closest, cheapest place I could find as this was a budget trip) and the cost was on average was about $120US a night including all fees, so just over $100 US I'd say without. We were happy enough with our stay there.

 

[DahliaRW]

I book as soon as we know we are going (making sure it's fully refundable). Then I keep reshopping. Usually check once a week or so until a couple of months out and then I check more frequently. I do this for all our trips, not just DL.

 

[darph nader]

Like some people have said,,call the hotel/motel direct. I did this a few years ago and saved $15/night. Doesn't sound like much but it helps.

 

[DaretoDis]

Lastminutetravel Club doesn't go into June, but for May dates they have the Marriott Suites for $105/nite for a family suite. Cancellible up to 3 days before. Just keep checking.

 

[Angrose]

I would register to receive email newsletters/announcements with all the hotels you are interested in. I know that the Grand Legacy sends out great newsletters with special discounts.

You could also "like" or follow the hotels on Facebook and/or Twitter. I have seen Hojo post discounts on FB.