Booking hotel rooms

[Ayla500]

Aside from booking online and getting"online" rates, what is hte best way to guarantee a good rate at a hotel.?
We are going to Toronto for the weekend and we dont have a credit card, so obvioulsy we cant book online.
If we go to hotels and book a room, do they offer discounts for people with no reservations? Codes I can use to get discounts? I have heard that with CAA you can get a discount, but what other reasons would they offer a good rate? I dont have CAA.

Thanks for your help!!

[Pete_Coach]

Phone the hotel directly (not the 1-800 booking number but the hotel itself) . Get the best rate you can from them, quote the internet rates if they quote you a higher rate. Take the name of the person you spoke withy and show up at the hotel (check in is normally after 2PM). I do not think that they will hold a room for you without credit card.

[Ayla500]

Thanks Pete. I know they wont hold a room for me, I will have to take a chance on there being some available. I will probably do as you sugggested! Makes sense!

[rockster]

Aside from booking online and getting"online" rates, what is hte best way to guarantee a good rate at a hotel.?
We are going to Toronto for the weekend and we dont have a credit card, so obvioulsy we cant book online.
If we go to hotels and book a room, do they offer discounts for people with no reservations? Codes I can use to get discounts? I have heard that with CAA you can get a discount, but what other reasons would they offer a good rate? I dont have CAA.

Thanks for your help!!

Those free "travel guide" flyers at reststops there's a lot discounted rates in there. Smaller motels often allow reservations without a credit card.

I have gone up to the front desk and asked for their lowest rate. If it seems too high, I call the 1-800 number for the hotel chain and see if they have a lower rate and reserve through there even if I'm standing in the hotel lobby. Also works vice versa like Pete_Coach posted. But sometimes the 1-800 operator can offer a deal the actual hotel can not. works for car rentals as well.

[GangStarr]

they never run through a credit card when your reserving over the phone. Just give them 4520 xxxx xxxx xxxx and they'll hold it for you.

[cwb27]

A key phrase "What is the best available rate you have?"

[jakemtl]

they never run through a credit card when your reserving over the phone. Just give them 4520 xxxx xxxx xxxx and they'll hold it for you.

That is not true... it depends on the hotel. Many will put through a temporary authorization on your card. This will not show a charge on your statement but it does require a valid card for it to work.