“DO YOUR HOMEWORK”
by Contributor
(Apr. 26, 2019) — There are very many benefits of traveling, and one of them is to help you unwind from the daily hassle and bustle. Whenever you travel to a new town or country, you’ll most likely book a hotel for accommodation. But the problem is that the cost of staying in a hotel is high. Plus, it only gets higher as you continue enjoying your extended vacation. But there’s always an escape route for every tough situation.
In this case, you can comfortably save money on a hotel as you enjoy your vacation. So, how is that possible? Here are some tips to help you out.
- Compare the prices
Hotels are very competitive out there. One hotel might be offering you their room at a remarkably high price, while others might have the cheapest rates around. Before you choose that hotel that you think is cheap, take your time and compare the prices with a different hotel. But as usual, it doesn’t mean that you should overlook the services of that hotel you want to choose.
Always ensure that the service delivery and amenities are good enough for whatever you want to pay. A hotel might be cheap, but they may have the worst services around. Therefore, ensure that you are keen enough when choosing the most affordable hotel.
- Avoid going in the peak season
One of the reasons you find hotels too expensive is because you are going in the peak season. Too many people are booking rooms during that period, which makes those hotel rooms too expensive. For instance, if you go to a hotel during the holidays or the festive season, don’t be shocked to find high price tags on the hotel rooms.
The best way to avoid paying too much is to go in the offseason. Go when it’s not a holiday, and when not many people are booking rooms in that hotel. This way, you will be sure of paying between 20% and 50% of what you’d pay in the high season.
- Consider a midweek stay
Even when you are booking the hotel in the off-season, consider staying in the hotel midweek rather than over the weekend. People tend to take breaks over the weekend, and those hotel rooms will be costlier on the weekend than in the midweek. So, consider going between Monday and Friday to save money on those hotels. But you should keep in mind that most hotels that cater to business travelers will have the same rates even in the midweek.
- Make Your Own Breakfast
Are you thinking of having a good time and waiting for a knock at your hotel room with your breakfast ready? You might want to think again. Those hotel breakfasts can really suck up your money without you realizing. Ideally, choose the bed-alone package and make your own breakfast when you are there. Use a microwave for cooking or use a tea kettle or coffee maker. But if the hotel provides free breakfast in the package, count yourself lucky. Just make sure there are no hidden costs in the ‘free breakfast’ offer.
- Don’t go to the hotel bar
Okay, nobody is stopping you from having your favorite beer or drink. You can still have it, but just not at the hotel bar. All the drinks at the hotel are overpriced, especially at the bar. So, if you want to grab a beer, get your favorite six-pack from the local store or gas station – beer and other drinks are cheaper there. If there is a fridge in the room, but as many as you can and stock it up to juice up when you need.
- Check out for the best deals/promo codes
If you are booking your hotel online, you can always take advantage of the coupon codes, and promo offers that are available. Suppose it is from a third-party website, look out for the coupon codes that you can use to save money as you book your preferred hotel.
You can check out some of the special top hotels deals online and find the best offer to help you save money while enjoying the best services.
- Do your own laundry
You don’t have to wait for the room service to come for your laundry when you can easily do that on your own. Wash your own clothes and avoid wasting money on the hotel to wash for you. Doing this helps you not be lazy and also save money in the end.
- Purchase Services at Once
Sometimes it is good to purchase all those services in one package. In most cases, some third-party sites will offer you a discount for buying the services all at once. For example, you can purchase an air ticket, rent a car, and book the hotel all at once. In this case, you will get a discount from the third-party agent, which helps you save money in the end. But ensure that you calculate the total money you’d spend on each option and only go for the cheaper way.
- Avoid taking the entertainment package
In some cases, you might say to yourself that you are on vacation and that you should loosen up. Here, you can end up taking the entertainment package that is always very costly. The entertainment package, in this case, will include things like meals, ‘free’ rides to the city or other amenities. If you are not wise enough, you might end up paying more when you include the entertainment package. Therefore, consider ruling it out.
- Consider taking a loyalty program
Some popular hotels with multiple chains around the world offer some loyalty programs to their customers. In this case, they will award you if you go to their hotel during your holidays. Therefore, if you travel too many times, consider going to that same hotel with cheap rates and top-rated services. You can enjoy things like free breakfast, nights off, and many more.
Remember it is always about finding the right hotel for you and being loyal to it. But before you decide to stick to one hotel, make sure you do your homework thoroughly. Above all, mind your safety whenever you are in a foreign land.