Accommodation–hotels, B&Bs, hostels, apartments–is always the first or second most expensive aspect of most trips. This is why it's so important to save money on hotels, especially when you're traveling solo.
Tracey and I have two very different ways we think about our travel accommodation.
- Tracey wants a bit of luxury. She wants her hotel experience to be better than what she has at home-like her room (above) at the Corinthia Lisbon.
- I want a clean, comfortable, friendly place to stay in a safe neighborhood. Basic is fine by me-like my room (below) at the Hostel Celica.
Whatever your preferences, here are our best tips to help you save money on hotels and other types of travel accommodation.
Stay on Budget and Splurge
Because accommodation can be very expensive, it's important to have a budget. However, it's not important that you spread that budget evenly over every night of your travels.
I like to save on some nights so I can splurge on others. For example, on a 14-day trip to Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy, my accommodation budget for the trip was CDN$120 a night. To be clear, this was a 2017 trip so the numbers seem ridiculously low but the logic is the same. Here's what I spent.
- 1 night outside Venice: $119.89
- 3 nights in a very cool Ljubljana hostel: $229.51
- 3 nights in a very nice and central B&B in Dubrovnik: $196.90
- 2 nights in an apartment in Split near the old city: $38.00 (I had a credit in my Airbnb account)
- 3 nights in a beautiful castle in Italy: $456.98
I came in under budget at an average of CDN$86.77 per night. Add the night spent on the ferry between Italy and Split, which cost $331.76 including the car, and the average night comes to $103.62–still under budget. The one place I would not stay again is the B&B near Venice. It was satisfactory but no more. So, this is my #1 tip for saving on accommodation: mix it up!
Use an Accommodation Comparison Site First, Book Second
We were recently approached by Cozycozy.com, an accommodation comparison site. They asked us to test them out. They are somewhat similar to Trivago but there are a number of differences and advantages.
In a Cozycozy.com search, listings for hotels, apartments, hostels, and unique options like treehouses and houseboats are served up. The sources of these listings are also very diverse, which I didn't find to be the case with Trivago. Here's an example search comparison I did looking for Toronto accommodation for July 7th.
- Cozycozy.com showed results from 8 different booking sites, though the results were a bit heavy on booking.com, which is not surprising given Booking's overall strength in the market.
- Trivago, by contrast, showed almost exclusively Hotels.com and Expedia.com sources. Expedia owns Trivago, Hotels.com, and, of course, Expedia.com.
Here are more advantages of Cozycozy.com that I found and think are significant.
- The results map has the booking site's icon. I like this because I can easily zero in on the booking platform that I have points with first.
- Direct to Airbnb and VRBO: Cozycozy.com provides Airbnb listings with a rate that includes cleaning and service fees, for easy comparison. Click through and you go directly to Airbnb so that you can see all details and reviews. The same happens for VRBO. Trivago also shows apartment and home rentals but it takes you to an aggregator site like Expedia.com to book rather than the original source.
- A better filter system. The filter system is significantly better than Trivago so that you can choose results based on a number of factors like whether breakfast is included, the cancellation terms, the amenities you want, and guest ratings greater than 9, if that's important to you.
- Filter out booking sites you don't like. Cozycozy lets you eliminate specific booking sites, which is great if people have had a bad experience with one. One bad experience does not mean that the site doesn't work but, we're people, and such things do affect our habits.
To be transparent, Cozycozy.com are sponsoring this post, but only because I dug deep and feel that they are a platform worth using.
9 Ways to Save Money on Hotels and Other Accommodation
1. Build Relationships
Whether you're visiting the same hotel on a regular basis or using the same hotel chain internationally, get something for your loyalty. Be friendly with the reservation staff or hotel manager and get a reputation as a guest they want back. Then ask for their best rate when you next book.
2. Time Your Trip for a Better Deal
Travel on the shoulder or off-season. Avoid periods when large festivals or events are taking over a city. You can also reduce your rates simply by the kind of accommodation you choose at what time of the week. Hotels that tend to be used by business travelers may have better deals on the weekends when those travelers head home. By the same token, B&Bs that cater to those seeking a weekend getaway may have lower prices on weekdays. If you have the flexibility, you can plan around this to save money on hotels and more intimate lodgings.
3. Know What's Included and What Isn't
When comparing the cost of hotels, consider all of the exclusions and inclusions so you can clearly see which offers the best value for your money.
Look at what's included in the price of your accommodation–parking, breakfast, fitness club access, happy hour–to see if it will save you money in the long run. If breakfast is included, you'll save on your food expense. If a buffet is offered, you may even be able to take some fruit or a muffin for later in the day, not to mention a coffee to go. Some hotels have other food-related perks, like afternoon tea or happy hour snacks and drinks. In a city like London, this can be a considerable savings. Are you driving? The cost of parking at hotels can be astronomical, as can parking in busy downtown areas. If parking is included with your stay, that can shave a good chunk off your daily travel budget.
Also, if you're a points collector with certain hotels, know that you likely won't get your points when booking through a hotel booking site. For that you likely need to book directly with the hotel's reservation system.
4. Save Money on Hotels with Your Existing Memberships
Are you a member of AAA or CAA? You'll likely get a discount. What about AARP or CARP? Again, you're probably due for a discount. Your union or association membership can help. Even your Costco membership might get you a hotel discount. Here's How to Cut Travel Costs with Memberships You Already Have.
5. Location, Location, Location
Stay away from the tourist areas. The closer you are to the center of the action the more expensive your hotel will be. It can be as much as twice the cost for a comparable room a little further out. Book outside the center, walk or take local transit to what you want to see, and you'll save.
You may also find more long-stay options a little outside of the action. Designed for business travelers, as mentioned above, you may find lower rates on holidays and weekends. But you’ll also find more space, often a kitchenette, strong Wi-Fi, a well-designed workspace, free coffee and snacks, and other perks. It’s worth checking out.
6. Be Loyal to Save Money on Hotels
Leverage your points. Whether you are loyal to a hotel brand with its own point system or have credit card or airline points to spend, using points is a great way to save money on hotel expenses. Hilton and Marriott are two of the leaders in loyalty programs, but there are many others. And it’s not just free room nights that you can get with these programs (which can take a long time to achieve). Some offer members complimentary upgrades, free parking or breakfast, and more.
7. Consider a Resort
Look for a resort on a vacation rental site like VRBO. Many resorts have units owned by individuals who then book their unit out to other travelers either themselves or through property managers. When I booked my resort stay in Kauai I booked through VRBO. It was half the price of booking through the resort itself. When I was booking, I contacted two people with similar units for the same price. In one case I was in touch with an individual. In the other I was in touch with a property management company. Because I was booking on short notice, I asked for a discount and, not surprisingly, it was the individual who gave it to me.
8. Watch Out for Hidden Fees
Before you book your accommodation get a handle on what your actual costs could be. A local hotel tax, resort or amenity fee, and other details could break your accommodation budget. Look for the extra costs that get added as you move through the purchase process. You may not be able to get out of paying them, but it’s important to know how much they will add to your final bill.
9. Consider a Home Exchange or House Sitting to Really Save Money on Hotels
With a home exchange, you can stay in someone’s house while they stay in yours, or you may join an organization that manages asynchronous swaps. Either way, it will be a huge saving over a hotel and will likely result in being able to stay in places that would be well outside of your planned budget if you had to pay market rate. I have had great success with HomeExchange.com.
House sitting is likely to involve some work, whether it’s taking care of pets or farm animals, tending to lawns and gardens, or other tasks that are negotiated with the homeowner. It will also mean that you will need to clean up after yourself (there won’t be anyone to turn down the bed and leave a chocolate on your pillow) and perhaps perform some maintenance. But for the right person in the right circumstances, these experiences can be wonderful. Read Successful Solo House Sitting Tips for Travelers and Homeowners.
You might also enjoy: Best Accommodation for Solo Travelers: How to Choose the One for You.
