02/02/09 Acrobat (pdf, 26 KB)
Catalans break myths, 40% do not seek to save by haggling almost never and 15% would never do so
Clothes and souvenirs from markets are the favorites when looking for a deal for the price offered 81.6% consider the prices of immovable hotels and have never haggled over them The Andalusians are the ones who haggle the most, more than 91% have done so on occasion A 14% of respondents confess to having even negotiated the cost of drinks from the mini bar of the hotel In the European comparison, the British are the most assiduous to this practice Spain is the seventh European country among those who negotiate prices the mostA study* carried out by Hotels.com, has revealed that 85% of Spaniards have ever haggled for a product or service during their holidays. In fact, 33% confess to being a lover of this practice, so much so that they try to get the best bargain whenever they travel. On the opposite side, we find a 15% who affirm that haggling does not mean a saving of money and accepts the original price of the products they acquire.
In the distribution by Autonomous Communities we got some surprises. To break the cliché of little splendid, the Catalans turn out to be the Spaniards who least haggle, 40% almost never do it and 15% have never considered it. On the contrary, the Andalusians do not usually accept the pre-established price and more than 91% confess to having negotiated it on occasion. The people of Madrid are not far behind in this regard and 66.7% confess to being a regular in this practice.
Items such as clothing and flea market souvenirs are among the favorites for Spaniards when looking for the lowest price, with 59% of respondents accepting to have haggled for them. These results contrast with the acceptance of prices in terms of hotel rates and services. In this case, 82% of Spaniards say they have never tried to agree on the price of the hotel. However, it is curious that 14% have haggled over the products of the mini bar.
As far as the preferred destinations for haggling are concerned, the results are what you would expect. Morocco is in first place (86.8%), followed by Egypt (57.5%), Mexico, in third place (42.5%), and Thailand which is placed in fourth position (35.8%).
Why do we Spaniards haggle over items or services?
We haggled over...
Percentage
Clothes and souvenirs from flea markets
59,8%
Clothing and souvenirs from shops
32,7%
Taxis, trains and cars
Activities (Diving, excursions, etc.)
29,0%
Restaurant accounts
2,8%
Sun loungers on the beach
12,1%
They have never haggled over anything
16,8%
United Kingdom: The haggling capital of Europe
The British are the Europeans with the best sense of smell when it comes to haggling, three-quarters of the nation (76%) fighting for a lower price regularly during their holidays. Spaniards are in seventh place on the list, with 61%. These data show that, to a greater or lesser extent, more than half of Europeans are willing to haggle when they are traveling.
% of the countries that haggle the most across Europe
Country of residence
% of people who haggle regularly
United Kingdom
76%
Sweden
73%
Norway
Denmark
66%
France
64%
Germany
63%
Spain
61%
Ireland
56%
the director of communication of Hotels.com, Alison Couper, interprets this data as a logical consequence of the economic crisis and sees in haggling an opportunity to face it: "For a long time, Europeans have been accustomed to paying for the stipulated prices without question. However, times have changed and now we find ourselves in the need to stretch our money as much as we can, something that we will surely achieve if we learn the science of haggling."
Five Golden Rules for Haggling
1. It is always haggled face to face, and if it is not possible, do it by phone, but never by e-mail. This will allow you to respond wisely and discover clues in the face of the other to avoid deception.
2. Opportunities: In the offers try to look for even a lower price, surely you will reach an agreement much better than the original
3. Be patient and ask as much as you want before you start negotiating the final price
4. More flies are attracted with honey than with vinegar, be polite and try not to show many emotions
5. You have to know at what point to stop haggling. If you don't get a discount from the start, don't try to get it by force
Save money on accommodations
1. Take advantage of the offers, Hotels.com currently offers discounts of up to 40%
2. Book with a best price guarantee, if you find the same offer for a lower price Hotels.com matches it
3. Avoid traveling in high seasons and on special occasions such as sports championships, etc.
4. Look for a hotel that fits your needs, many times it is not necessary to stay in a five-star hotel. In Berlin, for example, you can save up to 50 euros per night, staying at a 4 star instead of a 5, according to the results of the latest HPI (Hotel Price Index) - 2008 Otono
5. It is not necessary to stay in the heart of the city. There are always great promotions and offers just minutes from the most central area
* Survey conducted in January 2009 among users of Hotels.com.
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About Hotels.com
Hotels.com is the world's most visited hotel booking website (comScore Media Metrix). Operating in the main markets and with a dedicated team, www.hotels.com offers the widest range of hotels in the sector with more than 80,000 accommodations. In addition, it guarantees the best price in more than 39,000 hotels, advised individually by the team of experts of Hotels.com. If the user finds the same room at a lower price, Hotels.com will pay the difference. Customers can make their reservations directly online or by calling one of the multilingual Customer Service Centers by calling 902 02 61 13.
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