Hacks for Getting Better Accommodations at Entrepreneurship Conferences

Hotels are usually rated by a number of stars, ranging from 1 star to 5 stars.

As a general rule, taking this information into account can actually help you to save money on your bookings.

You can accomplish this by looking at the number of stars your favorite hotel (the one that fits at the top of your budget and seems to provide good amenities) is rated for, then look at alternatives that are one or two stars off of that rating.

This can help you find hidden gems that you may not have considered beforehand.

For example, if you look for hotels with one less star than your current favorite option, you’re likely to find some neat, clean rooms that offer incredible amenities but at a lower price.

And sometimes, you can bump yourself up a star at a different hotel but still save an incredible amount of money due to special pricing — thus booking yourself an even better room than you were expecting for the same price (or even cheaper).

Of course, delving into this rabbit hole requires a little bit of research. But, it can be well worth the effort if your goal is to find the absolute best lodging for that upcoming entrepreneurship conference.

3. Take Distance Into Account

Booking a hotel close to the conference is obviously convenient.

However, it’s also highly likely that you’re going to pay more for such a booking.

Why?

Because if the conference is large, popular, and being held at an in-demand venue, then it’s likely in a part of town where bookings for hotel lodgings are just going to be more expensive.

Therefore, browsing hotels that are further away from the venue could yield better prices.

It’s also true that these types of bookings could yield better amenities, better customer service, and just a better experience in general.

What’s the downside to this?

Of course, booking further away will mean that you’ll have to commute a bit further every day to get to the conference. It also means that networking over drinks at the hotel bar after the conference might be a bit more challenging.

It’s really a straightforward cost-benefit analysis at that point.

Here’s the main takeaway:

Sometimes, it just pays to book further away from the venue — you’ll sidestep a lot of the booking competition and the higher prices that tend to come with it.

This is especially true if you’re planning to attend a large, well-known entrepreneurship conference where a lot of people will be trying to book nearby rooms (think Dreamforce, SXSW Startups Track, etc.).

4. Look Closer at Amenities

As stated before, it can be very tempting to jump at a booking that’s near the entrepreneurship conference for the sake of proximity and convenience.

However, this isn’t always a good idea — not only from a cost analysis perspective but also from a benefit analysis perspective.

For example, if you’re willing to drive 45 minutes to get to the conference in the morning, you’ll give up an hour and a half of commute time every day.

But, as a trade-off, you may gain some valuable amenities that could greatly increase the quality of your stay.

Sometimes, amenities can add significant value to a hotel booking.

Before booking, you may want to research amenities to see what each hotel option on your radar is actually offering.

You may be able to get access to a gym, a spa, world-class room service, an on-site workspace, and/or free breakfast if you book a certain hotel, whereas other options may not offer these types of amenities.

Want More Amenities? Consider Asking

You’d be amazed at what you can get for free if you’re willing to ask for it.

You can check out this crazy awesome list of potential freebies created by TheTravel.com blog for inspiration.

(Who would have thought that you could get a body pillow, DJ turntable, or even Netflix access for free? As it turns out, it all depends on where you’re staying — and on how bold you’re willing to be with your requests!)

5. Nearby Opportunities to Make the Most of the Entrepreneur Conference Lifestyle