If you’re embarking on a journey around the globe, beginning your life as a nomad, or simply seeking the finest lodging deal for your vacation, exploring various options can significantly impact your nightly expenses. During a road trip, your focus will likely be on locating the most affordable yet clean and comfortable motels. For trips to international cities, you’ll want to find the least expensive hotels positioned conveniently for exploration. Backpackers may prefer guesthouses and hostels, where they can connect with fellow travelers.
The approach to searching for hotel rooms can differ based on the destination and budget, but in every scenario, investing a bit more time in research can yield substantial benefits.
I completely support the idea of renting an apartment when I’ll be staying in one location for an extended period, yet there are many occasions when passing through necessitates a hotel room as the optimal choice. Additionally, while renting an apartment may be sensible if you require a kitchen or are traveling with family, at times, booking a hotel can be more affordable and convenient, eliminating concerns about key exchanges, early luggage storage, or tidying up prior to departure.
If you find yourself with more money than you can manage or if your employer is covering your costs, you won’t need to be overly cautious about hotel expenses during your travels. However, when it’s drawn from your limited budget, making strategic decisions can lead to cheaper hotel arrangements. This means having more funds available for other facets of your holiday.
I personally reserve my own hotel rooms that I’m funding every month or two during my travels, particularly when I’m in transit and will only be in a particular city for a night or two. I have discovered numerous tips for locating the most affordable motels that I would be comfortable sleeping in and bargain-friendly rooms in cities worldwide each time I travel.
A common error among occasional American travelers is assuming the rest of the globe operates similarly to the USA, where chain hotels and motels are prevalent. In regions like Asia, Latin America, and Europe, there are far more independent hotels and resorts, in addition to chains like B&B HOTELS (https://www.hotel-bb.com/en) that feature hundreds of reasonably priced hotels in locations throughout France, Germany, and Italy.
However, it’s important to remember that all the bargain-hunting techniques outlined below become ineffective during peak festival weekends, holiday seasons, or simply during high travel periods. If your travel plans lack flexibility and haven’t accommodated for changing variables, there won’t be much you can do to lower the rate. You’ll be paying premium rates by default. Otherwise…
1) Utilize a Hotel Aggregator Service
Following years of relentless TV commercials from Trivago, people have realized that room rates are not consistent across all booking platforms like Expedia, Priceline, and the hotel’s official websites. Regardless of how many times a company claims you’ll always get the best deal from them, there are persistent discrepancies in pricing between sites.
While searching, you’ll find that many of the “options” are merely divisions of the same parent company. You need to view all of them to make valid comparisons.
I often observe price differences of 10-20% when conducting searches on Trivago or HotelsCombined, and sometimes it’s even more pronounced. I once booked a room in Mexico where the Booking.com price was literally half of the rate listed on Hotels.com. Conversely, it can occasionally reverse. It’s essential to shop around, and these platforms simplify that process. The same hotel can have multiple prices, as demonstrated in this screenshot.
I used to rely on Hotwire frequently, especially when I wasn’t tied to a specific hotel and merely wanted a bargain. This approach is particularly effective for last-minute bookings when hotels are eager to fill their half-empty high-rises. However, I’ve noticed a decline in their offerings. I’ve scored fantastic deals this way at establishments I previously wouldn’t have considered at average prices, but the variety is now quite poor in most regions.
There are options available if you’re dealing with a large hotel chain. Intercontinental Hotels Group, Marriott, and others supposedly will match a competitor’s price if theirs is higher. Typically, you have to complete a form like this to get the difference.
In some cases, an independent hotel might honor lower prices from other sources as well, but you’ll need to invest time locating a front desk manager or reservations agent to negotiate with them. (Refer to the section further down about negotiating in person or via phone.)
You’ll often discover that two Priceline-owned companies have the broadest selection when it comes to international locations. Agoda is generally the most reliable for guesthouses and hotels in Asia, while Booking.com offers the most options for Latin America and Europe. Both have a solid review system.