As a business owner, you are always looking for ways to save money when running a business. Among all the 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 reduce 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 discounted prices for buying a flight and hotel together. Combo packages are used primarily by vacationers, but they also offer great value to business travelers with flexible preferences.
Browse online, book by phone
For the best deals, browse through various online booking channels and discover your preferred option. Contact the hotel and ask them to lower the rate even further. This works as many hotels will go down to avoid paying third party booking fees.
Advance fees
If you are confident in 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
Businesses often negotiate with preferred hotel providers and get discounts of up to 40%. Therefore, using corporate booking tools can offer you the lowest possible rate when booking.
Last minute trips
If you are booking last minute, you may find deals on unused rooms. Talk to your preferred hotels to find out about possible cancellations. Also, looking for last minute booking sites like Hotel Tonight can help you get other options.
Say no to cookies
Travel sites maintain cookies to identify customers with a strong purchase intention. Clearing your browser history can offer you more favorable prices.
Flight saving strategies
Traveling outside peak hours
Flights are cheapest between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. and after 8 p.m. Businesses can save an average of $ 116 per flight when traveling 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 layover flights will cost less. Taking connecting flights is one of the strategies that can help you save money.
Depart from less expensive airports
When searching for flights, check the “include nearby airports” box. You can choose alternative airports that cost you less than others and not necessarily further away.
Make advance reservations
Tickets booked less than seven days before departure will cost you 44% more on average than if they had been booked 15 or more days in advance.
Book at the right time
Airfares fluctuate during the week. Studies revealed that the best time to book air travel is Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET, the time when airlines will publish their inventory of discounted seats.
Take advantage of 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.