5 tips for holiday savings

While online travel portals should be your first stop when it comes to research, don't pay for your holiday till you get there. The hotel sector, facing a crisis because of the economic slowdown and hurt by the recent Mumbai attacks, has started announcing 20-25% cuts in tariffs, but you can bag a far better deal if you bargain face to face. Given the number of cancellations that the hotels are facing, wrangling a room upgrade, at the very least, should be a piece of cake.

If the idea of travelling without a confirmed room reservation bothers you, try making a phone or e-mail reservation. Most hotels agree to book a room in your name without asking for credit card details. The good news is that Yatra.com, a travel portal, has launched a service that allows you to book a hotel by paying just 10% of the cost. The rest is payable at the time of checking in, provided you like what you see.

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