I booked a hotel for next month at $120 a night, but I just saw the same room is now listed for $89 on their website. Should I call and ask them to match it, or am I stuck with what I paid? I've never tried this before.
Definitely call the hotel directly and ask about the price drop - most places will honor it or at least discuss your options, especially if you're flexible about rebooking. The worst they can say is no, but many hotels would rather adjust your rate than lose a customer to cancellation and reboking at the lower price.
Price match policies vary wildly by hotel and booking platform, so your actual leverage depends on where you booked. If you reserved through their direct website, you're in the strongest position - most chains will adjust the rate or let you cancel and rebook at the lower price with no penalty. If you booked through a third-party site like Expedia or Booking.com, the hotel has less incentive to help since they didn't lose the direct booking relationship.
Here's the practical angle: before calling to ask for a match, check if you can simply cancel and rebook at the new rate yourself through the same channel. Many hotels offer free cancellation up until a certain date, and if that applies to you, it's the fastest solution that doesn't require negotiation. If cancellation isn't free or has already locked in, then contact the hotel's front desk directly rather than going through the booking site - they have more authority to adjust rates than customer service lines do. Mention you're a repeat customer or planning to spend money there during your stay; it gives them a reason to say yes beyond just matching a competitor's price.
Did you book direct or through a third-party site? That matters, but here's what tends to work: call the hotel and frame it as "I'd like to keep my reservation but I noticed a rate drop - can we adjust it?" They'll often say yes to keep your booking locked in rather than risk you canceling. If they won't budge, check your booking confirmation for the cancellation policy - if you can cancel free, rebook at the lower rate and cancel the old one same day. Hotels hate losing reservations more than they hate price adjustments.
I've had mixed results with this - some hotels will adjust without fuss, others won't budge, and it really does depend on where you booked and how you ask. The previous answers nailed the main point about calling direct, but I'd push back a bit on the assumption that you're automatically in a strong position just because you booked their website. What actually matters more is their specific cancellation policy and whether they have a formal price-match guarantee (most don't). Before you call, check your booking confirmation for the exact terms - if you can cancel free or cheap, sometimes it's easier to just rebook the cheaper rate and cancel the old one rather than negotiate. When you do call, skip the "I noticed a rate drop" framing and instead ask what their policy is on recent price changes; let them tell you first what they can do, then ask if they'd consider adjusting as a courtesy to keep your business.
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