For Savvy Shoppers: How to Score a Luxury Hotel Deal

Spacious rooms, cozy canopy beds, and the finest dining: Luxury hotels offer exclusive amenities-if not for the high prices. However, if booked properly, there are great chances for a deal.

For most people, the prices for a night in a luxury hotel are typically unaffordable. The world's most expensive suites, such as in the Grand Hyatt in Cannes (€27,000 per night) or the Four Seasons in New York City ($40,000), are reserved for the wealthiest guests.

But in 'regular' five-star hotels, with some skill, you can book the luxurious rooms even on a small budget. This is shown by an analysis of booking data from the online travel agency group Expedia. To make the five-star dream come true, the travel bettercities.net explains the best booking tricks.

After a nice weekend, the enthusiasm for the first workday of the week is often limited. But what many Monday grouches don't know: Mondays are the best days for luxury deals!

Expedia's data shows that prices vary significantly on different weekdays. Mondays turn out to be the cheapest days for booking. For hotels in the U.S., there's a potential savings of almost 10 percent on average. Hotels abroad are best booked on Thursdays. Then, the overnight prices are about 5 percent cheaper on average than on other days of the week.

Savings can also be made with flexibility. Traveling on a Monday domestically and on a Wednesday internationally offers the greatest savings potential.

It's known that hotel stays are cheaper in the off-season. However, the data analysis reveals more about the pricing model. According to Expedia, the most affordable time to enjoy a five-star hotel in the U.S. is in November. Internationally, hotels are cheapest in March and June.

Bargain hunters should follow this rule when booking a luxury hotel: Avoid May! The analysis shows that hotel prices are highest then. Compared to November, the overnight prices for a five-star hotel in the U.S. are a whopping 45 percent higher. International prices in May are also 'significantly higher.'

Sure, in the popular holiday regions of the rich and famous, hotel prices are usually higher than in less exclusive areas. According to the booking data analysis, travelers pay on average more than double for a room in a luxury hotel in France compared to the U.S.

Therefore, the online travel agency recommends specifically searching for luxury hotels in cheaper countries. In Egypt and Turkey, the average daily rate for five-star hotels is roughly 40 percent, and in Thailand about 30 percent below the U.S. price level.

However, before making a hasty booking, travelers should first check the hotel standards. In many countries, hotels only need to meet significantly fewer requirements to receive a five-star rating compared to Europe. It's undisputed, though, that from a U.S. perspective, prices in countries with weaker currencies are comparatively low.

According to the analysis, traveling on the weekend doesn't necessarily lead to higher hotel prices. The booking data shows that five-star hotels in the business districts of big cities empty out over the weekend as many business travelers head home.

This offers bargain potential: For example, traveling on a Friday or Saturday means rooms in five-star hotels in Frankfurt's banking district are about 25 percent cheaper than on other weekdays. Also, in London's business districts, prices are about 20 percent lower on weekends.

Many travelers who book their vacation online know it: Travel providers often offer discounts if you register on their website or subscribe to their newsletter. As a 'member,' you receive discounts on things like hotel rooms, rental cars, or flights. Making the effort to sign up and provide personal information can indeed save money with many providers.

But beware: Often these 'memberships' conceal cost traps. A common example is offers that automatically convert into paid subscriptions after a free trial month and are only cancelable after long periods.

Customers should therefore read the terms and conditions and check cancellation periods before providing their information. Privacy notices are also important, as some companies may share personal data with third parties without consent.

Travel bettercities.net