The main challenge for most travelers is to save as much money as possible when traveling, and one area where you can make some huge savings is accommodation. Today I am going to share with you some tips for booking the cheapest hotel rooms whenever you go.
Without wasting any time, let’s get started.
Check out hotel booking sites
The first thing you need to do is check out the third-party hotel booking sites. There are numerous of these sites today and it is easy to find cheap hotel deals. Another trick is to compare different sites to find the best of the best deals. Mybookingpro.com is one of the best upcoming hotel and flight booking price compare website. Our website is quite straightforward and intuitive and all you need to do is put in your destination and the dates and the system will produce a long list of affordable accommodation that you can book.
Use our easy to use filter to sort various deals according to rating, price, reservation policy, convenience, and so on.
Stay in Booking Pro
Maybe you don’t even need a hotel at all. Booking Pro is a great, cheap alternative option to hotels, particularly if your trip involves getting to know and interact with the locals. It is the perfect way to feel right home even though you are probably thousands of miles away from your actual home.
Of course, there are pros and cons to using Booking Pro, but the good things always outweigh the bad ones.
Book a few months in advance
How far in the future should you book your hotel to get the best deal? There is no denying that booking a hotel room in advance is the best way to get the cheapest hotel rates but there is a limit to how far in advance you need to book.
As it turns out, it depends on the region you want to travel to.
Luckily, I have stumbled upon what experts recommend is the best earliest time to book to get a cheap hotel.
Let’s take a look:
United States: If you are planning a trip to the USA and want to score a cheap hotel room, consider booking at most 2 months in advance and stand a chance to save double-digit off the actual price.
Europe: For a trip to Europe, experts think you should book up to 6 months ahead of time, to have a chance of saving as much as 25% off hotel price.
Africa: Consider booking at least 5 months ahead of time when planning a trip to an African destination. Also, try checking two weeks before you travel for some great hotel deals.
Asia: In case you want to travel to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, or any other destination in Asia, consider booking 5 to 7 months earlier to save 25% off the actual hotel price. You may also find even cheaper deals if you look for hotel rooms two weeks ahead of your trip.
Central America: There are plenty of premium travel destinations in Central America and therefore, accommodation tends to be sold out quickly. But you can still book 3 months ahead of your trip to save double-digit.
South America: Book 3 to 4 weeks in advance to be able to save up to 25% off.
Caribbean: When it comes to hotel deals in the Caribbean, book up to 5 months ahead to save as much as 10% off.
Oceania: Just like the Caribbean, book at least 5 months in advance and save more than 20%.
Middle East: You can save at least 25% off on your accommodation in the Middle East if you book 6 months in advance.
Basically, the best way to get cheaper hotel rooms is to book early.
Try Last Minute Booking
On the other end of the spectrum, you can also save huge on your accommodation if you book last minute. This can work better than booking in advance since many hotels will do anything to fill up their unsold rooms, even if it means giving it up for up to 70% discount!
Avoid Downtown Area
Historically, the center of the city is usually the most expensive spot to stay since it is always close to most of the city’s attractions, transportation, shopping, dining, and nightlife.
With that in mind, try looking for accommodation outside the city, including around the suburbs and close to the airport.
But when looking for accommodation in the outskirts of the town, make sure the area is well connected in terms of public transportation or it will be a pain in the neck for you when you want to explore the city.
Try to be as flexible as possible with your dates
There are times of the day, week, month, or year when hotel rooms are typically pricier. For instance, it is hard to find a hotel cheap during the weekend or peak season. Moreover, if you are traveling to a destination when there is a major event or the locals are celebrating a cultural festival, the prices of hotels will also be more expensive. For example, you will not get a cheap hotel in Pamplona during the Bull Run festival.
But you can get around this by booking your hotel in advance, especially if you want to catch the festival or event.
Watch out for hidden fees
Hotels are notorious for including some hidden fees in their packages and the unsuspecting customer can fall prey to it and end up paying more over the heads.
Here some of the deceptive hotel fees you should always avoid:
- Housekeeping fees: While it is normal and kind to leave a tip for your housekeeper, some hotels today seem to make this fee mandatory by placing notices in the rooms saying they expect you to tip housekeepers.
- Resort fees: These fees are usually mandatory but hotels would exclude them from the room rate. Most hotels call this facility fee, amenity fee, or destination fee among other names, and are charged to you in addition to your base room rate. The hotel will usually provide you with a list of services the resort fees allegedly cover, but you will not use most of these services.
- Wi-Fi: You might have seen under the amenities that a hotel offers free Wi-Fi. However, there is, in most cases, a catch. Some hotels will only provide a free internet connection to visitors who book through their official website, thus if you book via a third party, you might be required to pay some extra fee.
Before booking a hotel, make sure that all the necessities including blankets, sheets, and towels are already part of the hotel base rate.
Consider booking longer stays
Another way to get a cheap hotel room is to book longer stays – one week or more – instead of two or three days. So if you intend to stay in that destination for a week or more, consider staying in one hotel for the entirety of your vacation.
