If you’re embarking on a global adventure, beginning a nomadic lifestyle, or simply seeking the best lodging deals during your vacation, taking the time to compare options can significantly affect your nightly rate. While on a road trip, you’ll look for the most affordable motels that offer cleanliness and comfort. When visiting international cities, seek out budget-friendly hotels in prime exploration locales. For those traveling with a backpack, guesthouses and hostels present opportunities to meet fellow adventurers.
The approach to searching for hotel rooms can differ based on your destination and financial plan, but in any scenario, investing a bit of time in research can yield great benefits.
I support the idea of renting an apartment if I’ll be stationed in one place for an extended period, yet often you’re merely passing through, making a hotel room a more suitable option. Moreover, although apartment rentals can be ideal if you require a kitchen or are with family, there are times when opting for a hotel can be more economical and convenient, as you won’t have to manage key exchanges, early luggage storage, or tidying up prior to departure.
If your budget is ample or your employer is covering your expenses, you may not need to be overly cautious regarding hotel costs during your travels. However, when you’re working with a limited personal budget, strategic decisions can lead to affordable hotel rates. This means more funds available for other elements of your getaway.
I personally arrange my hotel accommodations every month or so while traveling, particularly during transit for just a night or two at a specific location. Through my experiences, I’ve picked up various tips for locating clean and budget-friendly motels, as well as economical rooms in cities around the globe nearly every time I travel.
A common error many infrequent American travelers make is assuming that the rest of the world operates similarly to the USA, where chain hotels and motels dominate the landscape. In regions like Asia, Latin America, and Europe, there are significantly more independent hotels and resorts, in addition to chains such as B&B HOTELS (https://www.hotel-bb.com/en) that boast hundreds of reasonably priced options throughout France, Germany, and Italy.
Bear in mind that all the money-saving tactics outlined below are ineffective during peak festival weekends, holiday times, or high seasons. If you’re lacking flexibility and haven’t kept your travel variables open, your options for reducing rates will be limited. You’ll end up paying premium prices by default. Otherwise…
1) Utilize a Hotel Aggregator Service
After years of Trivago’s advertising, it has become clear 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 they offer the best price, price discrepancies across sites are frequent.
During your search, many of the “options” available are essentially different branches of the same company. You must evaluate all of them for a proper comparison.
I frequently notice price differences of 10-20% when utilizing Trivago or HotelsCombined, and sometimes the differences are even more substantial. I once booked a hotel in Mexico where the price on Booking.com was half of what it was on Hotels.com. However, this dynamic can also shift the other way. It’s essential to shop around, and these platforms facilitate that process. A single hotel can appear at many different prices, as demonstrated in this screenshot.
I also used to rely on Hotwire frequently, which is beneficial when you are flexible about your accommodations and just want a deal. This method is particularly effective for last-minute reservations when properties aim to fill their partially empty high-rises. However, I’ve noticed that Hotwire’s selection has declined recently. I found fantastic bargains this way for hotels I may have overlooked at standard rates before, but currently, options are limited in most areas.
If you’re dealing with a large hotel chain, there is recourse available. Major companies like Intercontinental Hotels Group and Marriott will reportedly match prices found elsewhere if their rate is higher. Often, you need to complete a form like this to claim the difference.
Occasionally, an independent hotel may also honor lower prices listed elsewhere, but you must invest the time to connect with a front desk manager or reservations representative and discuss it with them. (Refer to the section later about negotiating in person or over the phone.)
Typically, you’ll discover that two companies owned by Priceline offer the widest selections for international travel. Agoda is usually the top choice for guesthouses and hotels in Asia, while Booking.com provides the most options for Latin America and Europe. Both platforms feature a robust review system that