Sure, you might have been born with a sense of adventure, but you weren’t born knowing how to find cheap hotels.
Finding a place to stay can easily be the most expensive part of a trip, and hotels can add up quickly. But what’s a budget vacation without affordable lodging?
Good news-it’s possible to stay on a budget in any city!
Here’s how to find hotels for cheap-
Location, Location, Location
Choosing the right location is an essential travel hack that’s often overlooked. If you have a rental vehicle, staying outside a major city can save some serious cash.
If you don’t have a rental car, look for a central area close to public transport, airports, local attractions, and food. Most big cities have a sprawl of smaller towns containing cheaper hotels and motels. Another excellent option often overlooked is Hostels, which are usually located in the middle of everything.
Timing is Important:
Sundays: Many hotels receive Friday and Saturday night accommodation bookings from leisure travelers and Monday to Friday bookings from their business travelers, so there can be a void on Sunday nights.
This can often mean finding cheaper or discounted accommodation.
Weekdays: In some destinations known for their nightlife, Friday and Saturday are so ridiculously booked and busy (I’m looking at you, Las Vegas) that weekdays offer a substantial price break.
Off-season: Accommodation and flight costs will be lower, the weather can still be favorable with strategic planning, and you’ll beat the crowds.
Get Hostel
We can’t talk about how to find cheap hotels anywhere without talking about the hotel’s little brother:
the hostel
The Advantages of Hostels
Hostels, as a general rule, are built for budget travelers. That means being close to public transport, famous points of interest, and dining. Some hostels are geared toward the solo traveler, with tons of activities and late-night parties (earplugs and a good eye mask can help cancel out the noise), while others enforce strict quiet times.
What Amenities to Expect
- Wi-Fi
- Parking
- Laundry
- Luggage Storage
- Fully-equipped kitchen facilities
- Discounted tours or tours that will pick you up directly from the hostel
One massive misunderstanding about hostels is that one size fits all; actually, there are different options to suit your budget and comfort level.
You can pay for a dormitory room shared with other guests or extra for private rooms with shared or private bathrooms. The dormitories also typically have a co-ed or same-sex-only option.
Notes:
- Always read reviews, as with all accommodation types, some properties are better than others!
- Avoid hostels that don’t provide lockers. Also, bring your own lock to avoid a fee (in most cases).
- Bring collapsible travel-size bottles for your shampoo, conditioner, and lotion.
- Earplugs and an eye mask will help with any late-night noise and light if you’re a light sleeper. Most hostels have “quiet hours” in the dorms, with community areas open later.
- Keep what you can in your suitcase or carry-on-sized luggage to prevent mixing your items with other hostel guests in your room.
- I use HostelWorld for reviews and prices on all the best hostels. HostelWorld usually has better prices than all-in-one websites such as Expedia.
Hold Room Rates That Offer Free Cancellation
Book rooms in advance at the best rate you can find online, then keep an eye on prices to see if you can get a better deal at another property.
Notes:
- Always double and triple-check the cancellation policy before booking. This type of lodging is known for liberal cancellation policies, but be sure to read the fine print.
- Also, look for cheaper rates for the same property you’ve already booked, especially around holidays or known sale times. I use HotelLook to browse through all the major hotel sites like TripAdvisor.
Get Loyal
In the age of the internet, always utilize rewards and email lists (also essential for finding cheap flights!). If you often visit the same hotel chains or booking sites, join their rewards or membership program and sign up for exclusive offers and sale alerts. Even sites like Booking.com have increasingly discounted rates (called ‘Genius Levels’) the more you use them.
Get Plastic
There are 2 Major Types of Rewards Cards:
Type 1:
Hotel-specific cards that earn points with a particular hotel line. These cards also work with the company’s partner properties most of the time.
Type 2:
A general travel rewards card lets you redeem points across various airlines, hotels, and rental cars. I personally use the Chase Sapphire because I get free car rental insurance (I’ve never paid for it in my life), plus free hotel credits every year.
Note:
There is always a sign-up bonus with the Chase Sapphire, usually 60,000 points or $750 worth of travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards, $600 if used elsewhere or redeemed for cash.
Just a few other things I love about this card
- No foreign transaction fees
- No blackout dates or restrictions
- All travel or dining purchases made on the card are 2X the points
- Rewards points can be transferred to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Note:
The sign-up bonus requires spending $4,000 within the first three months of getting the card. This can be on anything- bills, groceries, gas, or even flights and hotels (for which you get extra points!).
Go Offline
Here’s a secret
Some of the cheapest hostels and hotels won’t be posted online.
The main reason is that they don’t want commissions taken by comparison sites.
Try using the forums on Tripadvisor or Instagram tags to find where other people are staying. While these smaller businesses may not have a website or can’t be found through the hotel comparison sites, you can usually find a phone number.
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