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The cheap hostel booking trick that saved me $300 on a 10 day trip to Lisbon
Last minute trip to Lisbon 2 months ago and I almost booked a regular hostel through the big sites. Then a guy at my hostel in Madrid told me to check the hostel's own website directly AND call them asking about their empty dorm beds the same day. I did it for a place in the Alfama district and they gave me a private room for what the dorms cost online. The receptionist said they'd rather fill a bed at half price than leave it empty. Has anyone else had luck calling places direct instead of going through booking sites?
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wade_dixon6mo ago
Yeah, I tried that "call and ask about empty beds" trick once. Called a place in Barcelona, told them I needed a dorm bed that night, and they quoted me the exact same price as Hostelworld. But then the guy on the phone spent ten minutes trying to upsell me on their "superior private suite with a harbor view." So I saved zero dollars and lost ten minutes of my life I'll never get back. Glad it worked out for you, but my experience was just a polite sales pitch in a different accent.
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victor6515mo ago
Had a buddy try this in Rome a couple years back. He called around noon, asked about a dorm bed, and the lady on the phone said they had plenty of space and quoted him 18 euros. Showed up an hour later with his backpack and suddenly it was "oh, we're full, but I can give you a private for 60." He pushed back and then she magically found a dorm bed for 35. Felt like he was haggling for a used car, not a bunk bed. Never tried calling again after that.
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thomasb415mo ago
Tried the same thing in Lisbon once. Called ahead, got a cheerful "sure, we have beds, 15 euros." Walked in 45 minutes later and the guy at the counter gave me a blank stare and said "no dorms, only privates for 50." I just turned around and left. Never bothered calling to check again after that.
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