As a business owner, you are always looking for ways to save money when running a business. Among all areas, business travel is a key area where you can find savings on flights and hotels. By following the best booking strategies and using affordable options, travelers can lower the cost of their business trip.
Here are some ways to save on hotels and flights:
Savings in Hotels
Book hotels and flights together
Online travel booking sites offer price discounts for buying a flight and a hotel together. Combo packages are used primarily by tourists, but also offer great value to business travelers with flexible preferences.
Online browsing, booking by phone
To get the best deals, browse through various online booking channels and discover your preferred option. Contact the hotel and ask them to further reduce the rate. This works as many hotels will go down to avoid paying third party booking fees.
advance rates
If you are sure about your travel plans, non-refundable hotel reservations offer the best price. Paying in advance can save up to 20% on reservations made directly with hotels.
Take advantage of refundable reservations
Alternatively, you can make a refundable reservation by searching for the best prices online. Hotels generally don’t have cancellation fees like airlines.
Use corporate discounts
Companies often negotiate with preferred hotel providers and get discounts of up to 40%. Therefore, using corporate booking tools can get you the lowest possible rate when booking.
last minute trips
If you’re booking last minute, you may find deals on unused rooms. Talk to your preferred hotels to find out about possible cancellations. Also, looking at last minute booking sites like Hotel Tonight can help you get other options.
say no to cookies
Cookies are maintained by travel sites to identify customers with a strong intent to purchase. Clearing your browser history might offer you more favorable prices.
Flight saving strategies
Travel outside peak hours
Flights are cheapest between 5 am and 7 am and after 8 pm. Businesses can save an average of $116 per flight by flying during peak hours.
Fly on specific days
Recent study reports revealed that Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are the low cost days to fly. Flying these days can save you money.
Take connecting flights
Direct flights are convenient, but connecting flights will cost you less. Taking connecting flights is one of the strategies that can help you save money.
Departure from less expensive airports
When searching for flights, check the “include nearby airports” box. You can choose alternative airports that cost less than others and not necessarily further away.
make advance reservations
Tickets booked less than seven days before departure will cost you an average of 44% more than if they were booked 15 or more days in advance.
Book at the right time
Airfares fluctuate throughout the week. Studies revealed that the best time to book air travel is Tuesday at 3 pm ET, the time airlines will post their discount seat inventory.
Leverage Refund Rules
Reservations made at least 7 days in advance can be canceled within 24 hours. This creates a grace period in which you can cancel your reservations if your travel plans are not final.
These strategies can help you save money when booking flights and hotels.