Finding a cheap hotel is the dream of every traveler who wants to save on their accommodation budget. But how do you go about finding the best deals and good tips?
📋 What to remember: Finding a cheap hotel relies on 4 concrete levers that I systematically use: comparing several search engines simultaneously (never just one), booking 6 to 8 weeks in advance for popular destinations, targeting outlying but well-connected neighborhoods, and always checking the direct price on the hotel’s website after finding it on Booking. Typical savings: 25 to 45% per night.
How to find a cheap hotel?
There are indeed many tips to book a cheaper hotel without sacrificing comfort and quality.
Here are some expert tips to help you find the ideal hotel at the best price.
What are the best tips for booking a cheaper hotel?
Here is the list of our tips for booking cheaper hotels:
1 – Traveling off-season is always cheaper
The first tip to find a cheap hotel is to travel off-season. Indeed, hotel prices vary depending on demand and the time of year.
Thus, it is more advantageous to travel in low or mid-season, when tourists are fewer and hotels are less full.
🌍 Did you know?
Hotels show on average 20 to 30% higher prices on Booking and Expedia than on their own websites, due to commissions paid to OTAs. A simple Google search of the hotel name after spotting it can save you the price of an entire night on a week-long stay.
You can thus benefit from more attractive rates, even promotions or special discounts.
2 – Book within a hotel chain
Another tip to find a cheap hotel is to book within a hotel chain such as Kyriad.com, Campanile, Formule 1, etc. These are hotels belonging to the same group, offering standardized services and amenities, often at competitive prices.
You can thus enjoy a good quality-price ratio, while having the guarantee of a certain level of comfort and security.
Moreover, some hotel chains offer additional benefits, such as included breakfast, free wifi, or the possibility to cancel without fees.
3 – Find a hotel far from downtown
Location also plays a crucial role in hotel room prices.
Establishments located in the heart of cities tend to have higher rates due to their proximity to popular tourist sites and amenities.
On the other hand, if you choose a hotel located a bit further from downtown or in a neighboring suburb, you can potentially save a lot on your accommodation.
However, make sure the location is well served by public transport or that it is not too expensive to reach by taxi or rental car.
🗣️ My experience: In Lisbon, I found a hotel at €110 per night on Booking. Out of curiosity, I searched the name of the establishment on Google. The official site offered the same room at €78 with breakfast included. That’s a 40% difference for two minutes of searching. Since then, I always check before confirming.
| Leverage | Average Savings | Effort | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compare 4 engines (Booking, Hotels, Trivago, Google) | 10 to 20% | 10 min | Always |
| Book 6 to 8 weeks in advance | 15 to 30% | 0 | Popular destinations |
| Outskirts + transport | 20 to 40% | Low | Big cities |
| Direct booking on the hotel’s website | 10 to 25% | 5 min | After comparison |
| Serviced apartment or Airbnb (long stay) | 30 to 50% | Medium | More than 4 nights |
It would be pointless to save on hotel costs if you end up spending much more on transport to reach the attractions or places you want to visit.
4 – Book your room directly with the hotel
Booking directly with the hotel can also help you save on your accommodation costs. Often, when you book through a third-party site (like Expedia or Booking.com), these companies take a commission on each reservation made through their platform.
By booking directly with the hotel, you avoid these intermediary fees which can add up to the total cost.
Moreover, some hotels even offer special discounts to customers who book directly by phone or via their official website. So it is always worth exploring this option when planning your stay.
🍀 Advantages of OTAs (Booking, etc.)
- Single interface to compare
- Free cancellation often available
- Verified reviews, many photos
- Loyalty programs (Genius, Rewards)
🔻 Limitations of OTAs
- Prices often inflated vs direct site
- Sometimes stricter conditions
- No extras (upgrades, late check-out)
- More complicated claims
Booking a hotel room at the last minute
Booking a hotel room at the last minute is a risky strategy, but it can pay off if you are flexible and have no particular preference.
Indeed, some hotels offer bargain prices at the last minute to fill their empty rooms and optimize their occupancy rate.
⚠️ Classic trap
Booking the first tempting offer without checking hidden fees. Many hotels charge extra: tourist tax, resort fees, parking, premium wifi, card fees. On some platforms, these fees only appear on the final bill, which can inflate the total by 15 to 25%.
You can thus take advantage of good deals, provided you are not too demanding about the location or category of the hotel.
Take advantage of hotel loyalty programs
Finally, don’t forget the option to join loyalty programs offered by many hotels and hotel chains.
These programs reward regular customers with various benefits such as special member-only rates; free Wi-Fi access; free upgrades; late check-in and check-out; among others.
They are therefore perfectly suited for frequent travelers who prefer to stay loyal to certain hotel brands, but even if you don’t travel that often, it remains interesting because some benefits are offered from the very first stay!
Accommodation represents a significant part of the total budget: budget for a trip remains useful to review before booking. Once on site, tips for traveling light help to enjoy smaller rooms without suffering. And travel insurance covers hotel cancellations which can quickly become expensive.
Thanks to these tips, finding a cheap hotel is not impossible, provided you are flexible.
By following these expert tips, you will be able to book a cheaper hotel without giving up comfort and quality.
You will thus be able to fully enjoy your trip while controlling your accommodation budget. Happy searching and have a great stay!
