If you are embarking on a global adventure, embracing the nomadic lifestyle, or simply seeking the most advantageous accommodation deal while on holiday, comparison shopping can significantly impact your nightly costs. During a road trip, you will want to find the most affordable motels that offer cleanliness and comfort. For trips to international cities, locate the least expensive hotels that are ideally situated for exploration. Backpackers may look for guesthouses and hostels where they can connect with fellow travelers.
The approach to searching for hotel rooms can differ based on the locale and financial plan, yet in every scenario, dedicating a little more time to research can lead to considerable benefits.
I fully support the idea of booking an apartment if I’ll be staying in one spot for an extended period, but there are plenty of instances where passing through makes a hotel room the preferable option. Additionally, while renting an apartment can be beneficial for those requiring a kitchen or traveling with family, often it can be more economical and convenient to reserve a hotel room, eliminating concerns about key exchanges, luggage storage for early arrivals, or cleaning before departure.
If you possess more funds than you know what to do with or your employer covers your expenses, you might not need to worry much about hotel rates while traveling. However, when paying from your own limited budget, employing the right strategic approaches can lead to more affordable hotel options, effectively freeing up cash for other vacation expenses.
I personally book my own hotel accommodations every month or two while traveling, especially during transit when I will only need a place for a night or two. I have discovered numerous tips for locating the cheapest motels that I would feel comfortable staying in and budget-friendly rooms in cities worldwide almost every time I travel.
A common error made by infrequent American travelers is the misconception that the rest of the globe operates like the USA, where chain hotels and motels are predominant. In regions like Asia, Latin America, and Europe, there are far more independent hotels and resorts, alongside chains such as B&B HOTELS, which provide hundreds of reasonably priced options across France, Germany, and Italy.
Do keep in mind that all the cost-saving strategies mentioned below may not apply during peak festival weekends, holiday seasons, or simply high tourist periods. If you lack flexibility in your plans and haven’t kept your travel options open, there won’t be much you can do to reduce your rates. You will be paying premium prices by default. Otherwise…
1) Utilize a Hotel Aggregator Service
After years of heavy promotion by Trivago through TV commercials, many people have realized that room rates are not consistent across various booking platforms like Expedia, Priceline, and official hotel websites. Regardless of how many times a company claims you will always get their best price, discrepancies in pricing across sites are frequent.
While searching, many of the “options” are actually just different divisions of the same company. It’s essential to view them all for comparison.
I frequently observe variances of 10-20% when conducting searches on Trivago or HotelsCombined, and sometimes the differences are even more pronounced. On one occasion, I booked a room in Mexico where the price on Booking.com was literally half of what I found on Hotels.com. Conversely, there may be times when this could work the other way around. Consistently comparing is crucial, and these sites facilitate that process. The same property will appear at varying prices, as demonstrated in this screenshot.
I previously checked Hotwire often as well, which is great when you don’t have a particular hotel in mind and are simply seeking a bargain. This approach works especially well for last-minute bookings when hotels are eager to fill their partially vacant properties. However, it seems to be declining in quality. I have managed to snag some fantastic deals this way at hotels that I would have overlooked at full price in the past, but currently, the options are limited in most areas.
There is recourse available if you’re working with a significant hotel chain. Companies like Intercontinental Hotels Group and Marriott supposedly match lower prices found elsewhere if theirs are higher. Usually, you will need to fill out a form to claim that difference.
Occasionally, an independent hotel will also match lower rates listed elsewhere, but you must invest time in locating a front desk manager or reservations agent to discuss it. (Refer to the section later on negotiating in person or via phone.)
You will often find that two Priceline-owned companies offer the broadest range when it involves international travel. Agoda tends to be the best for guesthouses and hotels in Asia, while Booking.com provides the most options for Latin America and Europe. Both come with a solid review system that I find quite reliable. For hostels