| Many accommodation providers such as hotels, | | | | address. |
| motels and serviced apartments often have a | | | | - Make sure the website has acceptable terms and |
| percentage of their rooms remain unsold in the | | | | conditions, you don't want to be left empty handed |
| normal course of business. They sometimes refer to | | | | because of the small print. |
| these rooms as "distressed inventory" available at a | | | | - The uncertainty of online transactions has led many |
| discounted price. This allows them to realize revenue | | | | suppliers to ask for a deposit, instead of full payment |
| that would not normally be received. Rooms made | | | | up front. This is a reasonable approach, as you would |
| available on websites could be discounted by as much | | | | not normally pay for your stay until departure. |
| as 60%. The term generally used to describe the | | | | - Lastly, make sure the website offering the discount |
| discounted room rates is last minute accommodation | | | | is providing confirmation of your payment and |
| rates or short rates. | | | | reservation. |
| You may ask what's in it for the hotel? | | | | Some services offer to "register your interest" and |
| Discounting is not a new concept in this industry, | | | | only when you have paid, will they check availability |
| though it has normally been promoted via corporate | | | | with the hotel or Motel. You may as well just call the |
| rates or bulk purchases. This new online delivery of | | | | provider yourself, if this is the case. |
| room rates allows the accommodation providers to | | | | Though it should not need to be said, remember to |
| offer specials to the larger public. Like yesterday's | | | | take receipt of your online booking for check-in. Or if |
| paper, the supplier would still rather have some | | | | necessary you can call prior to confirm your booking |
| revenue for the room than none at all. | | | | and maybe also advise of check-in times, special |
| A great tip for finding special rate deals is by typing | | | | needs or requests etc. |
| "last minute accommodation rates" and the name of | | | | When booking your stay for transit over early |
| the city into your web search. Although there are | | | | morning departures, most providers have dedicated |
| many websites promoting these offers, a quick scan | | | | sections for accommodation listings close to the |
| of the result pages will reveal those websites that | | | | airport and also offer a free service or parking for up |
| display multiple offers on a single page. This makes | | | | to a week. Alternatively you want to make sure a |
| for easy comparison between various suppliers. The | | | | shuttle service is available from the motel or that |
| full or rack rate together with the discount rate could | | | | they can organize such a service. |
| be displayed and the magnitude of the saving | | | | Typically last minute accommodation rates generally |
| becomes apparent. | | | | apply to the next 4 weeks or 28 days only. So for |
| Tips on booking your stay: | | | | those spur of the moment spontaneous decisions it is |
| Last minute booking services are almost exclusively | | | | ideal. Remember last minute rates are generally for |
| advertised online. This is because of the instant | | | | two people only and you need to inquire if additional |
| confirmations, live updates on availability and the huge | | | | people can be accommodated and if so what the |
| audience that now exists online. | | | | charge will be, check for any inclusions or extras on |
| But when anyone provides credit card details online, | | | | offer too. Inclusions can prove to be of excellent |
| they need to be as vigilant as if they were handing | | | | value and include such offerings as free breakfast, a |
| some cash on the street : | | | | bottle of champagne or drink voucher or perhaps a |
| - Make sure that the payment pages are secured | | | | free shuttle service to and from the airport. |
| with HTTPS, as opposed to the regular HTTP | | | | |