Sometimes, we all desire to stay in a better hotel than our usual choice. However, luxury hotels can be expensive, with rates exceeding 30,000 yen per night. But fear not, because there are indeed ways to stay in luxury hotels at a more affordable price.
In this article, we will share five magic tricks to help you stay in luxury hotels or resorts at a discounted rate. By the time you finish reading, you might just become a wizard yourself! Let's get started.
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The Pitfalls of Luxury Hotel Reservations
First, let's discuss some pitfalls to watch out for when booking luxury hotels or resorts at a discounted price.
Official websites are not always the cheapest:
Official hotel websites often do not offer the lowest prices. They may not provide loyalty points or run any sales, resulting in higher costs. Other hotel booking websites may have their own exclusive campaigns, offering more than 10% discounts, even for ultra-luxury hotels like The Ritz-Carlton. Examples of such websites include Trip.com.
Inflated base prices:
When checking reservation websites, be cautious of advertised discounts like "10% off" because the base prices might already be inflated by 10%. It's risky to assume something is cheap just because it's a certain percentage off. Particularly, international websites often set higher base prices (although agoda has high base prices, their discount amounts are significant, making it genuinely cheaper). However, websites like Yahoo! Travel, Rakuten Travel, Relux, and Ikyu do not inflate base prices, so if they advertise a 20% discount, it truly means it's 20% cheaper than the official website.
Choosing the wrong plan:
When staying at a luxury hotel, make sure to choose the right plan. It's not uncommon to book a room thinking it's a good deal, only to realize later that it doesn't include breakfast or dinner. If you're staying at a luxury hotel, you want to make the most of your experience, including enjoying meals and staying in a desirable room. Make sure to check not only the price but also the plan and room details before making a reservation. For comprehensive plans, YUKOYUKO for luxury hot springs ryokans and Ikyu, Relux, OZmall for luxury hotels are recommended. Since cross-search sites don't allow specifying plans, the most reliable method is to personally check and confirm the lowest price.
With these pitfalls in mind, let's explore the optimal methods.
Comparison of Luxury Hotel Booking Sites: Which one is the best? When it comes to booking luxury hotels, Yahoo! Travel is the top choice.
If you're wondering where you can book accommodations at the cheapest rates, without hesitation, the answer is Yahoo! Travel. They often run 10% off campaigns, providing significant savings.
As someone who frequently gathers and compares hotel information for work, I've noticed that Yahoo! Travel has been consistently offering the lowest prices for various hotels. This can be attributed to the impact of their ongoing 10% off campaigns and their usual prices, which are already among the lowest (without any price inflation compared to official rates).
Previously, I would have recommended Ikyu for staying at luxury hotels, but recently, Yahoo! Travel has improved in terms of usability and consistently offers lower prices compared to Ikyu and Rakuten. Their plans are also equally extensive.
If you're wondering where to book when staying at a luxury hotel, the answer is still Yahoo! Travel.
Book Luxury Hotels on Yahoo! Travel (10% off sale currently ongoing!)
Additionally, if you're staying at a foreign-owned hotel, Trip.com is also a recommended website.
Even for a renowned luxury hotel like The Ritz-Carlton, using Trip.com can often save you more than 10% on your reservation!
Book Luxury Hotels on Trip.com
Price Comparison of the Iconic Luxury Hotel, The Ritz-Carlton:
Please note that the following prices are accurate as of the time of writing this article. Trip.com and Yahoo! Travel are significantly cheaper than the rest.
Trip.com: 166,272 yen
Yahoo! Travel: 172,260 yen (including point redemption)
Rakuten Travel: 185,020 yen
agoda: 185,020 yen
Expedia: 185,020 yen
Now, let's dive into the magic tricks that can help you save money and secure the best deals.
The Magic Cheat Sheet for Optimal Savings:
If you want to double-check other websites and are willing to spend some time for better discounts, here are the recommended methods:
- Use cashback websites: Utilize cashback websites like Moppy to earn cashback or points when booking hotels. This way, you can earn additional savings on top of existing discounts.
- Use credit cards: Make use of credit cards that offer point rewards. The Rakuten card is particularly advantageous in terms of point accumulation and ease of use. It offers a higher reward rate of 1% compared to the standard 0.5% offered by most credit cards.
- Utilize the Furusato Tax Payment system: Did you know that you can receive travel coupons through the Furusato Tax Payment system? By donating a certain amount, you can receive coupons worth 30% of the donation, making it a viable option for those who are undecided on the recipient of their donation. The maximum amount of return through the Furusato Tax Payment system is set at 30%, making the coupon redemption the most rewarding.
- Take advantage of limited-time sales: Explore "Complete Sellout Sales" featured on Tokuhou! They offer unbelievably discounted hotel plans, with some even offering up to 40% off. Don't miss out on these opportunities and make sure to check if any ongoing sales are available.
- Hotel official websites: "Best Rate Guarantee": If you have sufficient time, it's recommended to visit the official websites of your desired hotels. Some official websites offer exclusive accommodation plans that are not available on other travel agency websites. They might even offer a "Best Rate Guarantee." Although it's hard to confirm if it's genuinely the lowest price, it's worth comparing the rates to see which option is more affordable.
Not Recommended Websites: In general, I do not recommend using new cross-search hotel booking websites. Websites like Kokorono.com and Atta claim to offer the lowest prices, but they are often more expensive than other booking websites like Rakuten Travel. The discount rates are not trustworthy due to the inflated base prices.
Thank you for reading until the end.
Note: The original text contained specific recommendations and URLs for Japanese websites and services, which have been omitted in the translation to English. Please refer to the general recommendations and conduct your own research based on your region and preferences.