I will be traveling to Carmel during the week next week. I have found several hotels but they are priced too high for me. Do these type of hotels discount if you call a day or two in advance? I would think that they would discount just to fill the rooms. Does this happen? Thanks

It never hurts to try. If they get a cancellation, they might love to get your call.

It all depends. The rates are probably hight because the demand is high, and the rooms are going to be sold at that higher price anyway, so why would they want to discount? That's poor yield management. It's when they feel the rooms aren't going to sell that discounting happens. It never hurts to try, however, but ask nicely if the rate quoted is the best, or if there's any specials or "non-favorite" rooms to be had.

I have called hotels several times and asked for their cheapest room rates. Sometimes they will give a rate cheaper than their listed rates for that season. Sometimes I tell them that I am looking for something even a bit cheaper than the price they give me and they will give an even cheaper rate. I did this for a highrise luxury hotel in downtown Minneapolis and also a suburban Twin Cities hotel. They want to fill up their rooms before you call another hotel. If you don't mind asking for this face-to-face at the hotel it works even better because they already got you their and they don't want to lose you. This worked at another Minneapolis hotel in which they reduced the price by approx. $40.

All good advice, to which I would add that it's often worked best for me on the day of arrival. I realize it's risky but as jorr pointed out, if you're already there and they have availability, many hotels would rather fill the room at a lesser price than let it sit empty.

I have also found it works best late in the afternoon (when they've already received most of the check-ins they're going to get) and you must be ready to walk out if they won't budge on price.

I have literally had desk clerks call to me as I was about to leave a hotel to make me a better offer. Have a price in mind that you won't go much beyond.

AL

I've also noticed that hotels rarely offer specials or discounts unless you ask. I always ask if they have AAA or any other applicable discount. I also ask if they are running any specials. If it's a chain, join their membership reward program (if they have one and it's free). I have done better with Marriotts when I tell them I am a member.

I don't know if priceline serves Carmel, you can check biddingfortravel to see if that's an option too.

I did this recently. A group of friends are coming to visit and so I called several hotels. I spoke to the general manager of the one we ended up going with. I explained the situation and asked for a few specific things, and he was very generous. This is one of the nicest hotels in our city, so I was not expecting much of a discount at all, but it ended up being really good!

I moonlight 1-2 times a week at a chain hotel (indpendent franchise) but the chain HQ gives us "surprise" reservation calls & marks us on how we do. Some of their requirements is to tell the guest 3 advantages of the hotel before quoting a price, and to always quote rack rate first.

I've maintained the highest scores of any clerk, yet I always ask first if the caller is a member of AAA, AARP, or any other company/organization with a tie-in to our chain. When I quote rack rate, which is not all that expensive, the first thing I"m always asked anyway is ... (you've already guessed)) so why waste time.

Yes .... a face in front of the clerk ALWAYS is more likely to get discounts, especially in the afternoon, unless they are absolutely sure of a full house.

CarmelMissionInn has a $71 AAA rate on the weeknights this week and is a very nice place to stay. The service isn't so great, but the rooms are fine.

Have you tried montereyhotdeals.com? They have wonderful specials in that are and I have never been disappointed. I have gotten rooms way below normal rates and never had any negative experiences. At least check out their website!