In todays blog, we’ll be sharing some insider tips on how we managed to save big on accomodation at two of Melbourne’s top hotels: The Grand Hyatt and Crown Towers. By putting in some extra effort and using a few clever strategies, we were able to save 30% off our Grand Hyatt stay and a whopping 50% off at Crown Towers. We’re excited to share our experience with you so that you too can enjoy a luxurious stay in Melbourne without breaking the bank. So, let’s dive in and discover how we achieved these amazing discounts!
How We Saved Big on Accomodation & Scored a 30% Discount at The Grand Hyatt Melbourne!
The Grand Hyatt is an amazing hotel if you’re planning a trip to Melbourne and has a great location along with all the aesthetics! Using the tips we provide on our site we were able to save 30% off the normal rate! Here’s the exact step by step process we did to snag such a great deal:
First, we started searching for the perfect weekend a few months ahead of time, keeping our options open and checking rates across multiple dates. We found that being flexible with our travel dates really paid off as rates in big cities often vary depending on if major events are in town/demand levels etc
Using Cash Rewards & Booking in Advance
Next, we compared rates on both booking.com and the hotel’s own website, using Cash Rewards to sweeten the deal. Cash Rewards at the time of booking was offering 5% cash back via booking.com so the cheapest rate at the time was via booking.com in combination with Cash Rewards.
To try to secure an even better rate, we called the hotel directly to see if they could match or beat the online prices we had found, but they couldn’t. So we went ahead and booked the cheaper online rate and made sure to choose a rate with free cancellation in case prices dropped even further over time. In the end, we managed to get 2x nights for $650 after the cash back.
We ensured to keep an eye on the rates every few days in the weeks & months leading up to the time of travel. Sometimes rates will drop (like in our next example) but in this instance our early booking paid off! One week prior to our trip, we checked the current rates and found that booking the same room via booking.com without cash back would have cost a whopping $926. That’s a 30% discount on this rate for simply acting early!
For someone who hadn’t utilised the tips we offer on this site, booking the same hotel room would have cost them $926 VS $650 which is the rate we were able to book it for!
The lessons from this booking are:
- Book a free cancellation rate months in advance
- Use Cash Rewards
- Monitor prices every few days until time of travel
Image Below: Rates when booking a few weeks prior (booking.com)
Image Below: Rate we secured a few months prior
How We Scored a Whopping 50% Discount at Crown Towers Melbourne!
If you’re after the ultimate luxury hotel experience in Melbourne, Crown Towers is the place to be. However, it comes at a hefty price tag. When we originally looking how much it was for our weekend, the cost was almost $1700 for a 2-night stay! We compared this to the rate we snagged at the Grand Hyatt for $650 for the same duration and as much as we wanted to stay at Crown Towers, we couldn’t justify the significant difference in cost.
Last Minute Deals to Save Big on Accomodation
But, we didn’t give up. Over the months leading up to our trip, we kept checking hotel rates to see if there were any dramatic changes. Then, just two days prior to our travel, we stumbled upon a last-minute offer from Crown Towers that was significantly cheaper. The price that was originally $1700 for a 2-night stay was now $948, which was a fantastic deal.
To make things even better, when booking through Booking.com, Cash Rewards had increased their cash back to 10%, which meant that the total net price we could book at Crown Towers was $853, compared to the $1700 we saw just a few weeks before. We called the hotel to see if they could match or offer an even cheaper rate, but no luck. So, we decided to book through Booking.com and Cash Rewards to take advantage of the great last-minute deal.
Our patience and booking strategies paid off as we managed to snag a massive 50% discount ($847) off the usual rate. We then cancelled our Grand Hyatt accommodation using the free cancellation policy we had made sure to choose.
The lessons from this booking to save big on accomodation:
- Always book a free cancellation rate
- Use Cash Rewards
- Monitor prices every few days until time of travel especially the last week leading up
- Book quick when discounts come available
Image Below: Rates when booking 2 days prior (Tripadvisor.com)
Below: Rates when booking 1 week+ prior (Tripadvisor.com)
Below: The 10% Bonus we got using Cash Rewards
Save Big on Accomodation: Comparing Apples with Apples
When planning a trip, it’s essential to get a full understanding of how the different accommodation options play a role in the total expenses for the trip. It’s important to weigh up all the pros and cons of each hotel & the inclusions in the different rates.
For example, let’s look at how we compared the Grand Hyatt and Crown Towers when we were booking. The Grand Hyatt offered free breakfast in the rate we booked, so when comparing it with the Crown, we needed to factor in the costs of our breakfast over the 2 days as it wasn’t included in the Crown’s rate. Additionally, the Grand Hyatt didn’t offer free parking, but we got free parking at the Crown, so it’s important to compare how this affects costs too. Different locations can also mean different commuting costs.
When weighing up the pros and cons of each hotel option, always consider the total trip budget and how each hotel will affect it. After all, if one rate offers breakfast and the other doesn’t, this means you’ll need to figure out how much you plan to spend on breakfast and add it to the other accomodation rate so you’re comparing apples with apples.
It’s easy to isolate the accommodation budget from the rest of the trip, but breakfast, parking, commuting, and other expenses can all add up. When you’re comparing accommodation options, look at the big picture, and consider all of the potential costs!
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For more tips to save big on accomodation check out our other blogs here
