Who wants to pay more for hotel accommodations than the traveler in the next room? No one! With our top tips for booking hotels for cheap, you can find the best deals.
Whether you are booking hotels for a luxury vacation or searching cheap hostels, you can use our booking tips to find prime accommodations at the lowest price!
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Learning How To Book Hotels for Cheap
As budget-conscious travelers, we despise paying too much for a place to stay. It is with fierce determination – and a bit of trial and error – that we have learned the cheapest way to book a hotel.
On our travels, we use a combination of resources to find accommodations. We often stay in Airbnb apartments or Petsit with Trusted Housesitters – but hotel rooms fit into the equation as well.
In fact, as much as we like using a variety of accommodation types, booking a hotel is just easier. Still, that convivence can come at a high price. So, we have learned quite a few tricks and tips on booking great hotels for cheap!
20 Tips for Booking Hotels for Cheap
We have become so savvy at booking hotels for cheap that it’s second nature to us. Now we’re sharing our proven tips and cheap hotel tricks so that you can learn how to find the cheapest hotels, too!
#1 Use a Booking Engine for Hotels
Finding cheap hotels to book today is just a few clicks away. Often, the cheapest way to book hotels is to start your search on a hotel booking website.
Much like using a flight search engine to find the cheap airfare, a hotel booking engine is how to get a cheap place to stay.
The best thing about an online booking engine is that travelers can get search results for multiple cheap hotels at a glance. The list is easily pared down by selecting price, location and an array of amenities.
While each hotel booking platform has its own design, they offer the same general search tools for seeking out a cheap hotel rate.
Top features of booking engines are clickable amenities, sorting capabilities, at-a-glance comparison of prices, map searches and reviews.
Do Booking Engines Show the Cheapest Hotel Rates?
There are a few downsides to using a hotel booking engine. Namely, you may be able to score cheaper hotel rates elsewhere.
First, not all properties show up in booking engine results. Some choose to only work with select booking engines or none at all.
Second, the prices can be higher on the search engine than what you would pay if you booked direct. Hotels have to pay a commission to these companies – and they often pass that cost on to the customer.
Even so, booking sites are the best place to start researching for hotels. Plus, we will discuss some tips on how to counteract the downsides a bit later in the article.
Best Booking Engine For Hotels
You likely already know how to book a hotel online. That said, there are dozens of online hotel booking engines. So, how do you choose the cheapest hotel site?
Booking.com
Far and away, Booking.com features the largest inventory of accommodations with nearly 30 million online properties listed.
Booking.com offers a wide range of properties with an easy-to-use interface, including tons of filters. Prices are clearly displayed and room options and cancellation policies are listed up front. There is also a loyalty program that unlocks extra discounts (which we detail later).
Hotels.com
Very similar to Booking, Hotels.com has a fairly intuitive platform with loads of options to narrow down your search.
Some of the results shown on the map function may be marked as ‘Fully Booked’, which is not helpful and annoying, so remember to filter these out. We do like the rewards program, however, where you can earn free nights.
Agoda.com
Launched in Asia, Agoda is the go-to place for hotels in the Far East. However, their platform has expanded rapidly and now includes destinations worldwide.
We have occasionally seen phenomenal deals on Agoda that we did not find elsewhere. Although we always start our search with Booking, when searching for hotels in Asia, we check Agoda as well.
#2 Sign Up for Hotel Loyalty Programs
If you want to know how to get cheap hotels, you cannot dismiss the power of loyalty programs. Of course, there are a few different types of hotel loyalty programs.
Booking Engine Loyalty Programs
As we mentioned, Booking is our favored site to find a deal on hotels. Plus, their Genius loyalty program helps us save even more.
When searching for hotels on Booking, we look for properties marked with the Genius logo – and reap the rewards of a cheaper stay.
Some of the Genius benefits include discounted pricing (up to 20% off with Level 3 status), plus the possibility of free breakfast and an upgraded room.
Hotels.com also has a wonderful rewards program where, after booking 10 nights, your 11th night is free (which is essentially a 10% discount). One thing to note is that the free night is worth the average amount spent on the 10 previous.
Hotel Chain Reward Points
Hotel chains also offer loyalty reward points for elevated guest status. The points earned can tally up to some pretty fabulous benefits.
For example, as Hilton Honors members we have earned enough points over the years for free stays in Mexico, Malaysia and Australia. Plus, we get added advantages at the dedicated check in counter (like bottled water, higher floor, free Wi-Fi and breakfast).
However, there are a few disadvantages to being loyal to one chain hotel. Namely, your preferred hotel chain may not be in the location you are traveling to. Also, by limiting your search to one brand, you could miss out on chic boutique hotels.
Plus, when your preferred brand offers rooms at a higher price than competitors and you book solely out of loyalty, you could end up paying more.
It is also important to note that most large hotel chains require that you book direct in order to earn points. This is important to keep in mind when searching for hotels on online booking search engines.
#3 Download Booking Mobile Apps
Mobile apps may offer an even better deal for how to get the cheapest hotel rates. The same features and search functions are offered on the apps. The overwhelming benefit, however, are the extra mobile-only perks.
Yep. You read that right. There are little monetary bonuses for booking through the app versus the website. This is why it just might be the best way to get a cheap hotel!
Let’s take, for instance, the mobile app for Booking.com. It offers all the bells and whistles for how to find best deals on hotels – plus an additional Mobile-Only deal for some listings. This means that after displaying the best hotel price, we can score deals…on top of deals!
Once you’re a member of their Genius loyalty program, when searching via the mobile app, you can see regular rates, plus the discounted Genius rate, plus the mobile-only price cut.
Hopper is another fantastic app for booking hotels cheap. The major benefit of using Hopper is that it predicts (at an accuracy of 95% they say) when prices will go up or down.
After you complete your search and find one that you like, you click on the Watch icon (which looks like blue binoculars) for that specific property. Then the app will notify you of possible price changes – which enables you to book a hotel at the best rate.
There are often perks to downloading specific hotel apps, too. Some (like Hilton) allow you to select a specific room before check-in, while others offer app-only room upgrades and other fun, free perks.
#4 Directly Booking Hotels
We’ve already alluded to this tip on how to book a cheap hotel room, but the savings can be substantial. When you book directly with the hotels, you might be pleasantly surprised by a lower rate.
Hotels sometimes offer lower rates because they will earn more money when you book directly with them. There are fees the hotel has to pay – either a percentage of the rate or a flat fee – when guests book through a third party.
When you book directly, however, those fees are eliminated – and, thus, the hotels are more inclined to offer discounted rates directly to guests.
Although the lower price tends to be the biggest benefit of booking a hotel direct, it is also a good opportunity to get perks, like a room upgrade or free breakfast.
#5 Price Matching To Save on Hotels
How you use price matching to get cheap hotel rooms is like this: After finding the best hotel deal via an online booking engine, look at the pricing on the official hotel website.
If the search engine price is lower, call the hotel direct to inquire about matching the rate – and any other upgrades and freebies.
It’s also worth noting that some search engines will price match, too. If you are loyal to or are earning credits with a specific site and find a better deal elsewhere, check to see if they will match the rate.
#6 Use Points for the Cheapest Hotel Rooms
One of the best ways to get cheaper rooms is by booking hotels using points…because free is awesome!
We have already talked about how travelers can earn a ton of points by joining loyalty programs (and then staying loyal to that group). Those points can be used for free hotel stays – and it really doesn’t get much cheaper than free!
However, there is an even easier way to earn points for hotels (and rental cars) – and that is through points-earning credit cards.
Our favorite credit card is the travel-friendly Chase Sapphire Preferred. Not only is it fantastic for earning extra points on hotels and airline tickets, but they are worth more when cashing them in for travel expenses.
#7 Book in Advance for a Cheaper Hotel Room
Travelers don’t need to agonize over how to get cheap rates, simply book a hotel in advance! Most hotel rooms are cheaper the earlier you book – so booking early will likely get you the cheapest rate.
So, whenever you decide to take a trip – or even have an inkling that you might want to go somewhere – start searching for the lowest priced hotels.
Find the best hotel at the best rate that also offers a free cancelation policy – and book it right away. Then, in the days and/or months until you take your trip, check for an even lower price. If you find a cheaper hotel room, book it and cancel the original refundable booking!
After you have a fully refundable hotel booked at an affordable price, it takes the stress off finding a cheap hotel for your trip. Plus, it still allows you the freedom to search for a better rate.
This trick for how to book hotels cheap works best when you’re organized. In order to keep it all straight we recommend using our Printable Travel Planner.
#8 Book Multiple Hotels for Different Dates
This is one of the hotel booking tricks that is best used when you have yet to finalize the rest of your travel plans – like flights or PTO.
Once you have a rough idea of where and when you want to travel, look for hotels within your price range. When you identify a cancelable room at a good rate, book it.
Then keep looking for other possibilities on different dates that will work for your trip. As long as they offer fully refundable rates, book those rooms, too.
Once you lock in your dates, go back and cancel the bookings for the alternate dates. Furthermore, because the one that works for your dates is refundable, you can continue searching right up to that cancelation date.
#9 Take Advantage of Non-Refundable Rates
While we have just shared two huge tips to book cheap hotels by utilizing free cancelations. Now we are now going to flip it around and give a tip on how to get the hotel’s cheapest rates: Book the non-refundable room rate.
Many hotels and search engines list two prices – refundable and non-refundable – side-by-side. That way you can easily see how much you will save by paying up front without possibility of a refund.
We only recommend using the cheaper non-refundable rate if your travel dates are 100% set. If you are absolutely sure about your travel plans, then reserving a non-refundable rate is an easy way to get a hotel room at a bargain price. Still, you may want to get…
#10 Travel Insurance
It really doesn’t matter if you book cheap hotels or luxury accommodations – disruptions to your best laid travel plans can happen. Although this tip is not necessarily about how to get hotel deals, it can certainly save you money if your plans change.
Not only can World Nomads travel insurance policies reimburse for lost luggage, but may cover trip cancellations as well as medical care for illnesses and injuries abroad.
#11 Snatch Up Last-Minute Deals
Want the hotel cheapest deals? Try booking last minute! Waiting until the last minute can be risky, but it can also be the best way to get hotel deals.
For spontaneous travelers, it’s one of the best booking hotel tricks. We used this hack often when living in Phoenix, Arizona; so we know it can work!
Many hotels would rather get something over nothing – so they are willing to slash their prices. Travelers looking for a deeply discounted deal can wait to find a cheap hotel room until the day of travel.
The risk is the plan can backfire, and you can actually end up spending a lot more than you anticipated. This trick will not work if there are big conventions, sporting events or other festivities.
We believe the best way to get a cheap hotel last minute is with HotelTonight. This app is specifically designed for booking hotels last minute.
In addition to listing the lowest prices of the day, they also have a Daily Drop rate that you can reveal for extra savings. The catch is you only have 15 minutes to make the booking. Only click the Daily Drop when you are ready to book!
#12 Bundle Your Trip for Best Hotels Rates
Just like bundling a multi-course lunch into a prix fixe meal can be a cost saving measure, so can bundling the costs of your trip!
Most sites offer travel packages that allow you to book various aspects of your trip together. By booking your vacation as a package, you can keep costs down.
While this is one of the best hotel booking tips and tricks, it is important to still compare and shop around.
First, you will want to price out each individual cost to make sure that you are, in fact, getting a deal. Next, you should also check competitor sites to make sure there isn’t a better deal on another website.
#13 Go the All-Inclusive Route
If you are seeking out ways for how to book hotels for cheap, don’t dismiss all-inclusive hotel resorts! In fact, if you are looking for a relaxing beach vacation, all-inclusives might be the best way to get cheap hotels.
Resort hotels offer incredible amenities and perks when guests stay on-site for their entertainment and food. Therefore, they can bundle your entire vacation into a one-price package.
In addition to the hotel room, all-inclusive rates often cover airfare, transportation to the property, meals, snacks, alcoholic beverages, and activities. Sometimes they even include taxes and tips.
#14 Find a Deal on Discount Hotel Sites
In addition to online booking sites, there are travel sites that offer special hotel deals. For example, TravelZoo members have access to an array of discounts and deals.
Likewise, travelers can use a site like Groupon to snag a hotel deal. While these are not necessarily ideal for finding a cheap hotel comparison list, they do often offer some pretty phenomenal savings.
#15 Change Your Travel Dates
Hotel rooms are priced on supply and demand. Therefore, one of the best ways to book cheap hotels is to simply go on an off-peak travel day.
The same idea applies to what time of year you travel, too. Traveling during the shoulder season can be the best way to find hotel deals.
It takes a little finesse to find the least expensive season or cheapest day to book a hotel. Unfortunately, we have yet to find a hotel search engine that has flexible date or cheapest date features – but it can save you money!
#16 Find Cheapest Hotel in a Location Further Away
A prime location can mean prime money. However, sometimes you won’t have to go far. Simply expand your search (using the convenient map feature) to find a more affordable stay.
This was one of the top hotel hacks we often used on our weekend trips to San Francisco. While most travelers prefer to stay near Fisherman’s Wharf, we would seek out one of the less expensive hotels in the nearby business district.
More recently, we opted to stay near Heathrow Airport during a trip to London. The airport hotel was more than half the price of comparable hotels available in the heart of London.
When using this tip as the cheapest way to get a hotel, keep in mind how you will get around and the cost involved.
#17 Attend a Presentation for Cheapest Hotels
Yes, attending timeshare presentations is an annoying way to get cheap rates. Still, it can save money and even come with some other pretty nice perks.
Of course, you actually have to take out time from your vacation to sit with a sales representative. Most importantly you have to be strong with the word, no.
#18 Travel to Less Popular Places
Want a secret tip on how to get cheap hotel prices? Travel to a lesser-known destination! There is no doubt about it that the most popular locations are some of the most expensive.
Traveling to Underrated Cities in the USA, on the other hand, can cost significantly less money in regards to accommodations.
This tip for booking cheap hotels also applies to Underrated Destinations around the world, too!
#19 Reap the Rewards of Longer Stays
Did you know that sometimes a cheap hotel’s rate is not the cheapest rate? Some hotels offer additional discounts for guests who stay a week or longer.
Guests who opt for an all-suites hotel – like Home 2 Suites by Hilton – are likely to find big discounts for booking a weeklong stay. Plus, you get the extra benefit of having a kitchen to prepare cheap meals during the trip.
#20 Final Tip for Booking Hotels for Cheap
We have shared our top tricks for how to get a good deal on a hotel room – but we have yet to mention one of the simplest ways: Asking for discounts!
Numerous hotels offer discounts for students, seniors, AAA members and military personnel. Additionally, employees of major corporations have access to hotel discounts through their benefits department.
Start planning your trip! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing! Want more travel advice? Head over to our Travel Planning Page for more information and tips on traveling – and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page!
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