Top 10 Best Ways to Save Money on Hotels - by BI Tips

Travel does not need to be at all expensive, particularly when looking for cost-effective hotels. There are several tactics which will make it easier to spend less on hotels, whether on holiday or for a work-related adventure. In this article, we explore the top methods by which one can cut down costs on hotels while staying in good comfort without compromising.

1. Direct Booking with the Hotel

The easiest way to cut your expenses on hotels is by making a booking directly at the hotel's site. More hotels are providing incentives or special treats, including free breakfast, in-room upgrades, etc. for guests who booked directly with them. You can also call the hotel to see if there are some unpublished prices or special deals available.

2. Use a Price Comparison Websites

Synchronizing hotel prices is relatively easy using websites like booking.com, Expedia, and Hotels.com. At the same time, sites like Trivago aggregate prices from different travel websites. This way, you'll get the best possible rate for your favourite hotel.

3. Sign up for hotel loyalty programs

Join the loyalty program of a hotel you're considering and be rewarded, such as getting discounts or earning points or even special facilities during your stay. Some others offer exclusive in-house rates or complimentary nights after a certain number of stays. Brands like Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt offer really good loyalty programs.

4. Advance Booking of Stay

Booking your hotel way ahead of time will usually give you better deals since hotels often reduce their rates for advance bookings especially during off-peak seasons. Try to book in advance, and just lock in the best deals you can get. For example, one common guideline in booking is to have it at least 2-3 months in advance just to get the best deals. 

5. Make the Most of Last-Minute Deals

Additionally, booking a place to stay relatively early in advance can save you some money, though you might also get lucky with last-minute deals. Use Apps like HotelTonight or Priceline's Express Deals for lower rates on unsold rooms-you can save some serious cash on them when you are flexible with your plans.

6. Avoid Peak Travel Times

You may even pay more for staying during holidays and summer vacations. Travel during off-season or at week days, whose rates are normally cheaper. You can also opt to stay in less crowded hotels.

7. Use Discount Codes and Coupons

Many travel websites offer promo codes, coupons, or cashback deals. Groupon, RetailMeNot, or Honey can be used to find discounts on the most popular hotel booking websites. A little research may save you big money on your next stay.

8. Alternative Accommodation Options

If that is still too expensive, you have hostels, vacation rentals (airbnb, Vrbo), even house sitting. Many of these have more or less the same offerings as hotels but at a fraction of the price.

9. Package your hotel with flights or car rentals.

Some online travel sites you can book a room and bundle this with other services such as air travel or car rentals. Package deals typically are cheaper than booking individually. Sometimes websites like Expedia, Kayak, and Travelocity offer bundle discounts.

10. Use Cashback and Rewards Credit Cards

You can also use your cashback or travel rewards credit card as a way to save much more in paying for that hotel. Here, cashback must be great enough along with adequate reward points on travel purchases. There are even some credit cards offering signup bonuses that would help pay for your hotel stay.

Conclusion

Saving money on hotels doesn't mean compromise concerning comfort or facility. With these techniques, you could enjoy your dream trip without a single cent over expenditure on your stay. Booking in advance, using price comparison tools, loyalty cards, and others methods whereby you'll get to save money while booking a hotel are in the following FAQs.

FAQs

1. What is the cheapest day to book a hotel?

Which are the cheapest days for hotel booking? Generally, Sundays and Mondays are the cheaper days for booking hotels while Fridays and Saturdays cost a bit more.

2. Do last-minute hotels bookings help you save?

Sometimes, you get cheaper last-minute bookings, but most of the times it really depends upon the availability, so avoid hotel deals if you can be flexible with your dates.

3. Is there any scope for bargaining on hotel rates?

Yes, sometimes a call directly to the hotel, asking for unpublished rates or special discounts can really be cheaper.

Adding these tips to your bargain hunt can help you find cheap lodging as well as making traveling more budget-friendly.