I have read that if cash is used at hotels that it's likely that I will get a discount. Just checking to see if anyone has experienced this to be true.If it is true, what is the percentage range of the discount?

Every hotel is different. Some may offer a discount, some may not. some may offer a 5% discount, some may offer more, some less. You need to check with individual hotels to find out if they offer it or not, and at what %.

I have been able to do this in Italy. I can't remember the discount - perhaps 10%. One hotel I stayed in twice gave me a cash discount the first time but refused to do so the second time. It depends on the management. You're more likely to get the discount if it's a small hotel or a 1 or 2 star hotel and if it's not high season. Some hotel have a surcharge for using credit cards as they want cash but will not reduce the room rate. I would ask when you check in to see if they will give a cash discount.

That's my experience as well. The hotel we'll be staying at in Rome later this year is offering 20 Euros off the nightly rate if we pay in cash; at our room rate, that's a discount of 9%.

I've never ask a hotel if I can have a discount if I pay in cash; I've only done it if the hotel offers such a discount to me.

I have been OFFERED discounts of 5-10% for paying in cash, but I've never ASKED for one. I can haggle with the best of them in a setting where I know it's expected, but I just can't bring myself to ask for bargains where I'm not sure that's the appropriate etiquette. Probably silly of me.

I always ask for a discount if paying in cash, or a reduced price if they took off breakfast. Almost everytime I do get a small discount. If the hotel says no, then that's fine too. It never hurts to ask. Just be polite.

Monica

Exactly Monica! I don't haggle for the price as though it were a bazaar but simply ask and accept the answer if it is no.

I'm learning more and more to ask for discounts, even at home. I ask for senior discounts even though I'm not technically a senior. I got 10% off my last pair of eyeglasses (lenses and frames) by asking for the senior discount since the age qualifying for senior discounts varies so much. I gave my age when asked and was given the discount. It doesn't always work but it's a bonus when it does.

Hi MV,

Ask. They might say "yes".

We just came back from Italy and paid cash in two of the four accommodations we stayed in as they offered 5%-10% discount with cash payment (these were confirmed in advanced via email when making reservations). Like ira said: ask and you shall find out Have a good trip!

Some hotels wil do this - usually smaller or family run places. typically larger hotels or chains won't. The only way to find out is to ask. BUT, then you will have to cary a lot of cash around with you. Is a small savings worth that?

No, you don't have to. We went to the closest ATM to our hotel (about 1 block away), took out the cash, then walked back to our hotel and gave them the cash. On our last trip, we saved about 80 Euros by doing that for one stay at one hotel.

It is not hard to imagine why some small hotels are willing to do this, in many areas of the world. And you bet it's more than just the fees they're paying VISA/MC/AMEX.