Hacking Your Way to the Best Hotel Rate - The New York Times

Good suggestions.  I clipped some below...

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/28/travel/hotel-bookings-budget.html

Hotels aim to provide the same rates for rooms to all online travel agencies (O.T.A.s). But most budget travel gurus recommend comparing anyway.

"I use Google to start with, then I branch off to Booking.com and look at a mix of user-generated content and non-sponsored reviews to make the best value decision," said Kyle Valenta, the executive editor of the hotel review site Oyster.com.

It pays to compare. I searched for hotels in Chicago in May and got a rate of $193 at Virgin Hotels Chicago on Agoda, a Singapore-based platform owned by Booking Holdings, versus $289 at its sibling service Booking.com for the same dates.

A starter kit for escaping into the world.

If you find a good rate at an O.T.A. and can't replicate it at the hotel's own website, call the hotel with your research as many will match it. Hilton's Price Match Guarantee states that if a traveler finds a cheaper rate than on Hilton's websites, the company will offer 25 percent below that lower rate.

Booking through an O.T.A. means you will not receive loyalty points for that stay with a hotel's program. Some O.T.A.s, including Expedia and Hotels.com, have compensated by offering their own loyalty programs with benefits that accrue with bookings.

Another, more direct, method is to call the hotel and ask for a better rate. That's not likely to help at a chain hotel with receptionists who aren't empowered to cut a deal, but several small inns reported that they appreciate working directly with guests to suggest alternate dates, smaller rooms or packages that offer more value.

"Call us directly and we will be happy to give you a free upgrade if it's available," said Amanda McSharry, the co-owner of the Sailmaker's Housein Portsmouth, N. H., and Water Street Innin Kittery, Me. "That doesn't happen via computers."

Pros: It's easy, free and rewarding to join loyalty programs or register for updates.

Cons: None, although you may need a separate e-commerce email to keep your inbox tidy.

Book in advance

Hotels raise their rates as bookings increase over time. That's why, often, a room searched the week of travel costs more than booking one month in advance.