Haggling with Hotels?

leahyl

Wasn't sure where to put this and thought this was the best place. I'm just wondering has anyone ever 'haggled' with a hotel if they were looking to go away for a few days in Ireland?

For example, I've just come across an offer on a hotel in Kerry which is 2 nights B&B and 1 dinner for 109e PPS and I just sent them an email through their website asking if they'd throw in an extra night B&B for free as I wanted to treat my parents and they've stayed in the hotel before! Cheeky maybe but just wondering has it worked for anyone before?

650Ginge

You think that is reasonable. Already getting two nights b&b at 109 with a dinner and you want more.

No wonder hotels are living on overdrafts.

leahyl

650Ginge wrote: »

You think that is reasonable. Already getting two nights b&b at 109 with a dinner and you want more.

No wonder hotels are living on overdrafts.

Actually yes I do think it's reasonable - my parents went away during the year and stayed in a lovely hotel for 3 nights b&b and 1 dinner for 99e pps so why would it be unreasonable???

SCOOP 64

My wife always haggles and most of the time she ends up with a better deal.

munchkin_utd

this Irish "per person" lark to make things seem cheaper than they are does my head in as it is only hiding the real damage that this will do on my credit card.

in cash terms off my credit card this offer is actually 218 euro for a room for 2 nights and a standard dinner of the hotels choosing, which to me isnt exactly cheap.

And you can't forget that having guests rather than an empty room means the hotel can make money off them through their bar bill, hot beverages and other services like wifi, car park, spa treatments etc. during their stay.

Not to mention if they are staying 2 nights they may go also for dinner on arrival or lunch the next day which also boosts the coffers of the hotel.

leahyl

Well, I got a response and it was a no, so...! Ah well, no harm in trying I guess! My mum haggled on the phone for the 99pps deal so it can be done and there's no harm in it whatsoever - especially nowadays. Hotels in Ireland are still ridiculously expensive.

I was just interested in hearing if others do it and how successful they are.

leahyl

munchkin_utd wrote: »

in cash terms off my credit card this offer is actually 218 euro for a room for 2 nights and a standard dinner of the hotels choosing, which to me isnt exactly cheap.

Exactly, it is expensive! The best you'd get is probably what my mum got that time so there's no harm in trying. With all the money you'd probably spend in the bar for a few drinks at night after dinner - it all adds up

P. Breathnach

1. With a few exceptions, I do not think it fair to say that hotels in Ireland are ridiculously expensive.

2. People here cannot judge the value of the deal on which you attempted to haggle. We have no idea of the quality of the accommodation and no knowledge of the dinner menu on offer.

RubyGirl

Not sure if that was a weekend rate but is it possible for you parents to go away midweek, you'll get a better price. Also try the supervalu breaks.

enricoh

expensive? are u 4 real, hotels in ireland are rediculously cheap and have been the cheapest in western europe for the last few years iirc. so much so that i'd say nearly all hotels are running at a loss

mikemac1

Certainly haggle OP. A full hotel is a busy bar and they know it. You will get far more success for mid-week. Haggling for weekends is far tougher.

jester77

Defo haggle, €109 sounds expensive. I was in Portugal last week and stayed in a 5 star hotel for 2 nights with breakfast and a 5 course dinner that included 3 bottles of wine for €111 pps.

650Ginge

650Ginge wrote: »

You think that is reasonable. Already getting two nights b&b at 109 with a dinner and you want more.

No wonder hotels are living on overdrafts.

What is reasonable about expecting hotels to offer rooms and food below cost price.

There is a lot of people employed in the tourism industry we need to return to fair prices being charged and paid.

Check out the rte news today.

Fr Tod Umptious

jester77 wrote: »

Defo haggle, €109 sounds expensive. I was in Portugal last week and stayed in a 5 star hotel for 2 nights with breakfast and a 5 course dinner that included 3 bottles of wine for €111 pps.

Which is of zero relevance al all because we are not taking about Portugal..

OP, the price is not bad, actually is quiet good and if you named the hotel I'd have an better idea

But as a rule do always haggle, it's well worth it a lot of the time.

ncmc

650Ginge wrote: »

What is reasonable about expecting hotels to offer rooms and food below cost price.

There is a lot of people employed in the tourism industry we need to return to fair prices being charged and paid.

Check out the rte news today.

Who said anything about selling below cost price?

Leah was merely asking if there was any chance they could do 3 nights for the price of 2 (which many hotels offer now anyway)

She may have been looking to stay Friday/Saturday/Sunday, Sunday nights tend to be quiet, so it’s not such a crazy request to ask. As previous posters have said, a full hotel means a busy bar and restaurant and possibly other discretionary spending like spa treatments etc.

She didn’t say she wasn’t going to book unless she got the third night free, she merely was asking to see if she could improve on the deal, there’s no harm in asking. The motor industry is in the gutter and a lot of people rely on it for employment, but I bet if you were buying a new car, you’d be haggling your a$$ off!

I’m surprised the hotel didn’t agree to this deal, or at least offer you a third night at a discounted rate. Maybe they have a function on that evening and don’t need the business. Have you looked on the Super Value breaks website? I think they are doing a deal with the third night free at the moment.

I have haggled with hotels in the past with varying success. Some hotels just don’t cut their rates or offer deals and no amount of haggling will budge them. Slightly off topic, but a few years ago, I was booking a hotel in San Francisco and the hotel I wanted was out of my price range. The manager of this hotel was frequently on Trip Advisor so I sent him a private message seeing if there was anything he could do price wise, he knocked 20% of the price of the room and added $25 per day food and beverage credit! My attitude is, you don’t ask, you don’t get!