With the holiday season well and truly upon us, many families are planning time away to relax and unwind. If you have decided to take the family to Sydney, you might be wondering how you can go about finding the best deals; after all, it’s one thing to want a holiday, it’s another thing entirely to pay an arm and a leg for it.
Below, we have outlined some of our top tips for finding the best accommodation in Sydney:
• Check out the new hotel
It might not have any reviews or recommendations as of yet, but staying at the new hotel can have its benefits. Accommodation that has recently opened will often offer discounted prices as they work through a teething period, so you can get a great deal whilst staying in a swanky room.
• Give your feedback (good and bad)
Properties are always appreciative of your feedback – both good and bad. If there is something wrong with your room, don’t be afraid to tell them. Staff may compensate by offering you another room, an upgrade, free items (such as breakfast), or even a discount on your stay.
• Home away from home
Why not book a homestay accommodation in Sydney? This will not only provide you with a lot more room than a standard hotel room (there are often multiple bedrooms and living spaces), it provides you with the option of cooking your own meals instead of eating out.
• Choose your payment options wisely
No matter how you choose to book your hotel, fees and payment preferences can differ widely. It is a good idea to verse yourself in the options before handing over your money. Some hotels charge you to pay by credit card, for example, so it might be worth hitting up an ATM and paying in cash instead.
• Travel in the shoulder season
Not quite the peak season and not quite the low season, the shoulder sits somewhere in between the two. Sydney is a destination that is not hugely weather dependent, so this could be a good time to travel. You’ll get the perks of nice weather and fewer crowds as well as lower prices.
• Get with the program
Why not join reward programs offered by specific hotels or chains? It may not always save you money at first, but you could earn free nights, points (that can be used towards upgrades), or perks. Booking your hotels early is a great time to start such a program.
• Book a longer stay
Since it costs money to change bed sheets, towels, and restock the mini bar, it's no surprise that hotels would prefer you to stay a while. There’s often a huge benefit to staying 3 nights rather than 2 and so on as then the hotel often offers discounts or free nights if you’re willing to stay longer.
• To buffet or not to buffet?
When booking your room, you’ll often find a slew of extras that you can opt into for a fee (such as buffet breakfasts or romantic wine packages). It might sound tempting, but look into the price of a local breakfast or bottle of wine to see whether the cost is worth it.
We hope that you have found the above tips useful for finding great deals on the best hotels in Sydney. Whether you’re planning months in advance or more last minute, there are plenty of things you can do to ensure that you’re not blowing up your tour budget even before it begins. With so many great attractions in the Sydney area, you’ll want to ensure that you have plenty of money saved to enjoy them.