Best Ways to Find An Affordable Hotel

Sometimes, one of the most frustrating tasks involved in travel planning is finding a hotel that fits your budget. You don’t want to overspend on a hotel you’ll only sleep in after a long day of exploring, but you don’t want to sacrifice comfort and luxury, either. It can be difficult to find accommodation that won’t make you run out of money while traveling, so we’ve come to the rescue with some tips to get you started.

Do some digital legwork.

Thanks to the internet, you won’t have to run your finger down a phone directory and call up hotels one by one. Now, just keying in some phrases such as “hotel prices UK” can quickly give you an idea of where you can stay with the budget that you have. And thanks to price comparison sites, it’s surprisingly easy to see which hotel would meet your needs while allowing you to enjoy your time without worrying about money.

Take advantage of discount codes.

Before closing the deal on your hotel booking, add an extra discount to save more on your digs. Check out vouchers and coupon codes on the hotels you’re eyeing and you can cut your costs even further. Some discount codes give you up to 40 percent off a hotel’s published room rates! This is a good place to look to find a voucher code for hotels.com: http://www.totaldiscounts.co.uk/shop/hotels-com/.

Visit hotel websites for deals.

The advantage of booking directly via a hotel website is that you may get treated to promos such as rainy-day rates and midweek discounts. Hotels usually offer seasonal promos that are seldom reflected in the rates published on third-party booking sites. By calling the hotel directly and talking to a reservations officer, you also get to find out whether some rooms have a lower rate than those published.

Check the perks included on your credit card or frequent flyers’ program.

Credit card companies would often have special promos for account holders—some offer discounts on shopping, while others have deals with hotels that allow you to pay less for a two-night stay. Airline mileage programs also include special offers such as discounted room rates on partner hotels, so check your cards and memberships to see which hotels your perks can apply to.

Check local directories for smaller hotels.

Small hotels and inns may not always appear on price comparison sites and travel search engines, so it would be to your advantage to check local directories. Cozy inns and B&Bs are a welcome break for travellers looking for something with a more rustic feel. These smaller hotels offer the same amenities and comfort for travellers as big-name hotels, but with a more affordable price tag. You can also check out independent websites such as TripAdvisor, so you can get an idea about these hotel alternatives as well as their contact information and then book a room directly.

Book a mystery hotel room.

Something that has been gaining plenty of leverage in the hotel industry is something that’s called a mystery room. A booking site that specializes in these mystery rooms offers you a discount on a room in a luxury hotel, but you’re not told the name of the hotel. You’ll only know which hotel it is once you’ve agreed to book the room and paid the room reservation fee. Many travelers have admitted that the initial anxiety is worth it once they find out they’ve booked a room at a top hotel for less than the hotel’s published rate. It’s a win-win situation: you get to stay at a luxury hotel and you get to save money. What more can you ask for?