That some holiday companies are slashing prices because of tough economic times is not news. That you can demand more cash off an already discounted deal is.

I spent a couple of days shamelessly trying to blag deals and discounts. And while some companies resolutely refused to budge on price, others were somewhat more flexible, happy to knock off £50 here or £100 there. Interestingly, at no point was I made to feel like a cheapskate.

Hoteliers in particular regularly haggle over room rates with business clients. The reaction I got from tour operators and travel agents suggests that more of their customers are doing the same.

THE BEACH CLUB

For Brit-friendly beach clubs in the Mediterranean, Mark Warner (0871 703 3887, www.markwarner.co.uk) is hard to beat. If you book late and avoid the school holidays, you can often pick up a bargain on its website. I found a week at the Lakitira hotel, on the Greek island of Kos, already reduced from £780 to £475, half-board, including flights. I phoned and spoke with Olly.

Olly: “The rooms we have left now are the premium twin rooms. It’s going to be a total price of £1,029 for both people.”

Me: “Oh – that’s a bit more than I thought.”

Olly: “Can you travel to a different resort? It might be slightly cheaper.”

Me: “I was really hoping to go to that one. That’s a bit more...”

Olly: “Yes, it’s an extra £79.”

Me: “Can you do any sort of deal for me?”

Olly: “Let’s see... do you mind if I put you on hold for a second?” (Two minutes later)

Olly: “I’ve spoken to my manager and if you go ahead and book now, we can do the week for a total price of £997.”

Me: “Okay. Let me have a word with my wife and call you back.”

That was easy – a £32 saving on a price that had already come down by almost 40%.

THE CRUISE

Cruise companies aren’t known for offering late deals. They like passengers to book months or even years in advance, and try to discourage last-minute bargain hunters. That said, no cruise liner wants to sail with empty cabins, so if they have late availability, maybe they will consider an offer.

I called Cruise Direct (0800 093 0622, www.cruisedirect.co.uk), one of the UK’s biggest specialist discounters. It had an 11-night Mediterranean cruise with Fred Olsen on the Balmoral, sailing from Dover in a few days’ time. I spoke with Sheila, who told me that the price for an outside cabin had already been reduced by 66% to £907pp.

Me: “The price is still more than I was expecting. Do you ever add an extra discount to any of these prices?”

Sheila: “I could have a look at some other departures for you?”

Me: “Well, it was that one on the Balmoral that I wanted. That price of £907 – I know it’s already reduced...”

Sheila: “Yes, it is, but let me see what I can do for you. Hold on two seconds for me.” (30 seconds later)

Sheila: “Hello. Yes, I can get that down to... let me just do my sums... £842 per person.”

Me: “That sounds good. Let me call you back.”

That’s an additional saving of £130 just for the asking. And the price had already come down by 66%.

THE CARIBBEAN ALL-INCLUSIVE

I fancy loafing in the Caribbean at an all-inclusive hotel. The Almond Casuarina Beach Resort, in Barbados, looks just the ticket, with a spa, tennis courts and three pools, all on a gorgeous sandy beach. Its website (www.almondresorts.co.uk) advertises a week for £1,309, which includes flights from Gatwick with XL. I phoned the UK office (0870 907 9601) and spoke with Ally.

Ally: “All of the standard rooms are sold out, unfortunately, but we can offer you a pool garden room. That will be £1,346 per person – only another £37 each.”

Me: “Oh, okay. Can you do any discounts on that price?”

Ally: “Let me just have a quick look. I’ll tell you what I can do... Let me check I can do this without getting my wrists slapped... What I can do is offer the upgraded room for the original price of £1,309.”

Me: “That’s the best price?”

Ally: “Yes. I can’t reduce that any further.”

A £74 saving – not a bad return for a five-minute phone call. But would booking the trip independently be cheaper? Barbados Hotels (0800 018 0614, www.barbadoshotels.co.uk) offered seven nights in the same pool garden room for £1,346. Flights booked direct from XL.com would have cost £1,334 for two, making a total of £1,340pp. That’s still more than the price I’d managed to haggle on the phone – and without the Atol protection.

THE FIVE-STAR LONDON HOTEL

I decide to treat my wife to a night out in London and a stay at a top hotel. Obviously, though, I don’t want to pay five-star prices. I like the look of the Sofitel London St James (020 7747 2200, www.sofitelstjames.com) – but, according to the rack rates, double rooms start at an eyewatering £417. I phone reservations and speak with Christine.

Me: “I’m looking for a double room for tomorrow night.”

Christine: “We have availability for a deluxe room, with breakfast, for £300 plus taxes. Would you like me to book that for you?”

Me: “Is that your standard room?”

Christine: “No, that’s a deluxe. I also have a superior, with breakfast, which costs £250 plus taxes.”

Me: “So the superior is your standard room?”

Christine: “Yes.”

Me: “So, at £250 plus Vat, that comes to £293.75. I was looking for something less than that. I don’t know if you have any deals?”

Christine: “Did you have a look on our website? It might be cheaper. I don’t have access here to prepaid rates because it’s such short notice.”

Me: “I’ve looked on your website already. That’s a shame...”

Christine: “Well... I can offer you a rate of £225, including breakfast, but you won’t be able to cancel and you’ll have to book it now.”

Only when I indicated that I was prepared to walk away did Christine magically pull a cheaper rate from under the counter.

Now a slightly different scenario. What would happen if I phoned a hotel at 11am to book a room for that same night? It’s common practice in the hotel industry to charge walk-up guests the rack rate, but on the end of a phone, the customer has more bargaining power.

I tried the Radisson Edwardian Hamp-shire, off Leicester Square. On its website (www.radissonedwardian.com), I saw a price promise: “You will get the best rate online – we guarantee it.” For a double room that same night it quoted £230, including breakfast and Vat.

I phoned the central reservations number (0800 374411). It offered me the same grade of room but £10 cheaper, at £220. I then tried the hotel’s own reservations department (020 7839 9399) and spoke with Stephanie.

Stephanie: “Can I ask if there is any special reason you’re planning to stay with us tonight?”

Me: “Er... it’s a night out with my wife.”

Stephanie: “Okay. Can I tell you a bit about the hotel? Have you stayed with us before?”

Me: “Yes, I’ve stayed there on business [a fib]. I’m phoning around a few hotels and looking for the best deal. Could you give me your best price for a standard double room?”

Stephanie: “I can offer you a double room with a kingsize bed for £207, which includes Vat and breakfast.”

That’s £23 less than the guaranteed lowest price advertised online – who says the internet is the place to go for cheap deals?

THE VILLA IN IBIZA

Ibiza is not all foam parties and football shirts. The smart set hangs out at glam-orous villas where the decor is part Anouska Hempel, part Austin Powers – think infinity pools, white sofas and million-dollar views. But are the rich young things of the Balearics feeling the effects of the credit crunch?

One of the loveliest villas at Holiday Rentals (www.holiday-rentals.co.uk) is Villa Salinas, a stunning property with five bedrooms, four bathrooms and teak furniture beside the swimming pool. A week in September costs €6,750. There was a UK mobile-phone number. Lucy picked up and I asked her a few questions about the location.

Me: “So, a week in September is €6,750?”

Lucy: “That’s right.”

Me: “I see you have lots of availability around that time. Could you offer me a discount?”

Lucy: “I’ll talk to the owner, but I’m afraid it won’t be much – maybe 5%.”

Later, Lucy sent me an e-mail confirming the offer: a week’s rental for €6,300. Still, that’s a saving of €450 – or £360.

THE ONES THAT GOT AWAY

Some of my attempts to wangle a deal met with a flat refusal. For example, an escorted trip to Venice with Voyages Jules Verne, returning on the Orient Express, priced at £1,795, looked ripe for bargaining. Apparently not. “We don’t have any reductions,” I was told. A week’s villa holiday in Tuscany in August was advertised on Simply Travel’s website for £707. I phoned to see if they would budge, but was told firmly that the price was not negotiable. And the price of an upmarket rail tour of the Baltics with Great Rail Journeys was fixed at £2,695. “We don’t ever reduce our prices,” I was told. Still, it doesn’t hurt to ask.

HOW TO HAGGLE

1 Look for signs of price weakness. Companies that have already reduced their prices may be prepared to snip again. Do your research online.

2 Find the periods of low demand. City hotels tend to be less busy at weekends, so prices then are often more flexible. Country hotels often have empty rooms in the middle of the week.

3 Get your timing right. To book a package holiday, try phoning the travel agent 1-3 weeks before departure. For hotel stays, that might be too early – wait until 1-5 days beforehand.

4 Use the phone rather than e-mail. It allows you to think on your feet and respond to prompts and clues.

5 Be patient. Make sure you ask plenty of questions before discussing the price. Show an interest without revealing too much emotion.

6 Politely and coolly ask for a discount. Mention that you are looking at competitors.

7 Know when to stop haggling. I found that once I had been offered a discount, it wasn’t worth pushing further.

8 Don’t let yourself be pressured into booking on the spot. Call back later if you want time to think.