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T he most recent “flash” sale from Hilton Worldwide concluded yesterday, which purported to save you up to 33 percent off of the best available room rate for stays during weekends on hotel properties in 50 different countries located in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It lasted seven days; and it had the potential to save you money on room rates — but be aware that those sales will not save you money all of the time.
Why? Because as soon as the “flash” sale ended, an “early saver” rate appeared which you can save 30 percent on room rates — rendering the room rates at some hotel properties even less expensive than during the “flash” sale.
Bad Deals of the “Flash” Sale
One example is the Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa in Egypt:
- $165.00 during the “flash” sale of seven days
- $154.00 using the “early saver” rate
You would have paid $11.00 more per night for the same hotel room on the same date had you participated in the “flash” sale and not waited until the “early saver” rate kicked in.
Another example is the Hilton Hurghada Resort in Egypt:
- $56.50 during the “flash” sale of seven days
- $52.00 using the “early saver” rate
You would have paid $4.50 more per night for the same hotel room on the same date had you participated in the “flash” sale and not waited until the “early saver” rate kicked in.
Good Deals of the “Flash” Sale
Then again, you could have saved money at other hotel properties during the “flash” sale.
One example is the Ramses Hilton in Cairo, Egypt:
- $96.70 during the “flash” sale of seven days
- $146.71 using the “early saver” rate
You would have saved $50.01 per night for the same hotel room on the same date had you participated in the “flash” sale and not waited until the “early saver” rate kicked in.
Another example is the Hilton Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates:
- 361.80 United Arab Emirates dirham during the “flash” sale of seven days
- 436.80 United Arab Emirates dirham using the “early saver” rate
You would have saved 75.00 United Arab Emirates dirham — or slightly greater than $20.00 — per night for the same hotel room on the same date had you participated in the “flash” sale and not waited until the “early saver” rate kicked in.
Can You Trust Future “Flash” Sales From Hilton?
The problem is that it is virtually impossible to predict at which hotel properties will you save money during one promotion versus during a different promotion — and I do not believe that is fair. If a company is going to promote its product to its customers during an event such as a “flash” sale — the very name connotes a great sale during a very limited period of time — then it had better ensure that the sale prices are worth it. A “bitter taste” of sorts can form in the mouth of the person who just took advantage of the “flash” sale — only to find the room rates even less expensive at a hotel property immediately after the “flash” sale concludes.
It may even smack of dishonesty. How can you trust the prices during the next “flash” sale?
Because the room rates offered during both the “flash” sale and the “early saver” must be paid in full at the time of booking, no changes or refunds are permitted; so you cannot simply cancel your reservation and book the less expensive one. This is one of the reasons why I dislike room rates which require advanced payment.
Summary
If you have time before your trip, you may want to constantly monitor the room rates — which could change at any time due to a change in promotion by the lodging company.
Otherwise, it is pure luck as to whether or not you will truly save money on a room rate; although my experience has been that you will save money — more often than not.
I did reserve some hotel rooms through the “flash” sale; and although I could have saved an additional $40.00 or so on some hotel properties — which can be frustrating — I saved significantly more than that on other hotel properties.
As they say: “Your mileage may vary.”
Photograph of Hilton Durban ©2015 by Brian Cohen.
