Want to cut the cost of your holiday? Hotels can take the biggest bite out of your travel budget, but it doesn’t have to be that way. One particular hotel room can have massive variations in price depending on where and how you’re booking, so be wise and avoid paying more than you need to. Once you know what level of quality you’re looking for from a hotel and how much you’re willing to pay, you can begin shopping around for a price that fits your holiday budget.
Comparison sites are your best bet for hunting down a great deal on a hotel room. There are plenty out there, so search on as many sites as possible to make sure you’re not missing out on the cheapest price. Trivago is a good example of a quick and easy to use travel comparison website, but also try Travelsupermarket, and travel broker sites like Expedia and Travelocity. Each site will probably offer a different price for the same hotel room, so the more research you do, the better. It’s also worth checking on Tripadvisor and other travel review websites once you’ve spotted a decent looking hotel; this will give you a stronger sense of what is on offer, and warn you against any dud deals. Be aware that most websites will show you the price minus additional taxes on the room, so check for hidden charges before making your final decision. This can add on between £10 and £30 on top of the cost advertised. After you’ve picked your hotel, check the official website of the hotel to be sure that the price comparison site has actually given you a better deal. Sometimes the hotel itself may be offering a promotion or sale that the comparison site hasn’t picked up on, so compare to be certain.
A great way of grabbing huge discounts on often especially luxurious hotels worldwide is through Lastminute.com’s secret hotel section of their site. You can book a 5 star hotel at a significant discount, the catch being that you won’t know what the hotel is until after you’ve booked. This is a particularly good option if you’re not especially fussy about the exact location or brand of your hotel; all that’s shown before booking is a description and star rating. If this makes you nervous, rest assured that it’s actually fairly easy to work out what hotel you’re booking despite it being ‘top secret’; the description used by Lastminute.com is usually taken directly from the website of the hotel, so just copy-paste it into Google and it should come up with the correct hotel. Before booking, double check that the deal is really worthwhile by comparing the prices with other websites and the hotel’s own page. A similar service is available through secret hotel website Hotwire, or try Travelocity if your trip is to the US. Just be aware that you won’t be 100% guaranteed to be in the hotel you want, so some flexibility is required. It’s important not to pay more than you planned to just because you’ve seen a 5 star hotel at a good price, doing so might force you to borrow money later on.
If the internet lets you down on deals and you want an even bigger bargain, consider alternatives to your traditional hotel room. Self-catering holiday villas and apartments are often less costly than hotels in the same area and tend to offer more personal space and kitchen facilities as an added bonus. This is especially worthwhile if you’re travelling as a large group or with your family, as it will offer a more homely and spacious environment for your holiday. Hostels are also a more cost-effective alternative, and are often far less grungy than you might imagine. Hostelworld and Hostelbookers both give an extensive guide to availability, pricing and reviews, and the Youth Hostel Association is also worth checking out. Don’t assume you’ll be bunked up with a room full of teenagers either; plenty of hostels in Europe and around the world offer private rooms and prices that are still far cheaper than any nearby hotel.
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