How to Save on Accommodation: Tips and Tricks
Accommodation is usually one of the biggest expenses when planning a trip. However, there are many ways to save money on lodging without sacrificing comfort or convenience. Whether you are traveling for business, a weekend getaway, or a long vacation, a little strategic planning can go a long way in cutting accommodation costs. Here are some effective tips and tricks to help you save money on your next stay.
1. Book Ahead
Try to book your place of stay a long time in advance. Many hotels, hostels, and vacation rentals offer discounts when one books in advance as it helps fill their rooms. The more forward you book your stay, the better your chance of getting a good deal. Make sure you avoid last-minute bookings when booking for peak seasons since it tends to cost more the closer one gets to the date.
You can also have price alerts when booking on certain websites so you can track changes in accommodation rates and book when the rate is at its lowest.
2. Use Comparison Websites
Booking accommodation through comparison websites like Booking.com, Expedia or Trivago lets you look at what different providers are charging and avail the cheapest price for your budget. Many of these will include options such as hotels, vacation rentals etcetera. There are websites offering cashback and refund guarantees.
Review websites like TripAdvisor would be helpful resources, since here you find traveler's recommendations on how to find cheap lodging. Actual reviews often contain tips on treasures that nobody might look for or that might be cheaper, though they will not come up during the regular search.
3. Consider Alternative Accommodation
Of course, hotels are the old standby, but there are many other kinds of accommodations that can help you pinch pennies without sacrificing comfort. Let's just name a few: hostels, motels, guesthouses, and even Airbnb rentals save you money you otherwise would have spent on those higher-priced hotels. Added bonuses to some are full kitchen facilities, which can help your penny pincher pocket book even further by allowing you to prepare your own meals.
Vacation rentals such as apartment or entire houses tend to be more budget friendly for families or travel groups. These are, usually, relatively the same cost as multiple hotel rooms, but the shared expense of a larger space is more economical. Most also provide access to local experiences, which can give you a real sense of staying in the destination at a lower price.
4. Travel During Off-Peak Seasons
Another efficient way of cutting back the cost of accommodation is traveling off-season. It has been determined that hotel prices rise with peak season, wherein holidays or summer vacation occurs together with large-scale events in their local area. By traveling in the off-peak season, one saves even more money with the lower hotel rates and beating the crowds around the popular sites. This is very helpful for tourists as there may be large-scale reductions on the prices offered in the shoulder season or during the winter seasons.
Not only will accommodation prices be more affordable, but you’ll also have a more relaxed, less crowded experience.
5. Use Loyalty Programs and Discounts
Many hotel chains and other sites for booking rooms also have loyalty programs that will help reduce your spendings on future booking dates. Joining these programs will give you special discounts and rewards, or bonus nights and room upgrades. Many credit cards also offer travel rewards, like cash back on accommodations.
Additionally, check if you’re eligible for special discounts through affiliations with organizations like AAA, AARP, or student or military programs. These discounts can offer significant savings, especially when booking at chain hotels or motels.
6. Stay Outside Popular Tourist Areas
Accommodation costs are much higher in prime tourist hotspots due to demand. Consider staying a little further away from major attractions and commuting into the area to save money. Public transportation is usually efficient and affordable in most cities, so staying in a quieter, less expensive neighborhood can make a huge difference in your overall accommodation costs.
For example, you could try finding a place in a nearby district or suburb instead of reserving a place in the city center. You can spend the money saved on other fun experiences during your trip.
7. Look for Promotions and Special Offers
Also available with a book of stay would be special deals, flash deals, and even last-minute promotions. Most hotel sites and major booking platforms frequently update their website with seasonal deal, package promotion, or otherwise time-limited offer. Subscribe to their email newsletters or 'follow' on social media - and you're among the first to hear whenever one of them becomes available.
Many websites also offer discount codes or coupons that can be applied to your booking; taking your time to search for them is worth the effort, especially since even small savings can add up when booking a longer stay.
8. Negotiate Your Rate
If you are staying in a hotel, don't be afraid to negotiate your rate, especially if you are staying for an extended period or traveling during off-peak times. If you book directly with the hotel, instead of through a third-party website, you'll likely get a better rate since the hotel isn't paying to have a middleman take their commission. You can also request an upgrade or special perks that come with your stay, such as free breakfast, parking, or Wi-Fi.
9. Split Room Costs with Traveling Partners
This cost of accommodations might be much more affordable when going with other people. For instance, when a destination is to be visited, it can go with friends or family and take a bigger room, vacation rental, or suite to split the cost. This is a highly cost-effective means of group travel because everyone splits the cost of a more spacious property, which would be much more expensive if each person had to book a separate room.
10. Options of working exchange or volunteering
If you have flexibility in the plans, you may look for a work-exchange or volunteer opportunity. You'll find that there are many free lodgings for farms, hostels, or other organizations. They give room in exchange for some cleaning or gardening, perhaps event coordination work. That way, budget travelers who can actually work in lieu of lodging might be able to extend their stay without letting costs get completely crazy on lodging.
It doesn't ask you to sacrifice quality or comfort to save on where you stay. Using the following tips and tricks, such as booking ahead, researching where the best deals on accommodations are, finding other alternatives, traveling during off-peak seasons, and utilizing rewards or discounts, you can easily save plenty of money. It only takes a little research and creativity when freeing up more space for spending on exciting activities and experiences to make your next trip more fun-filled and affordable.
