As much as hostels are a great option, there is something good about the luxury of a hotel. The clean room, the comfortable bed, the desk, the iron, the hot shower… They are a peaceful and relaxing retreat from the world.
But luxury comes at a price.
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Hotels aren't cheap, and many people hate spending money on a room they're only going to stay in for a few hours. This is why many avoid hotels. With each passing year, more people prefer to stay in hostels and hostels.
These places cost less, have more social interaction and don't make you feel so far away from the destination you're staying at.
How to book cheap hotels
Here is a tip on how to find the cheapest hotel in one simple step:
Go to Google and type where you want to go. For example, “hotels in New York”.
And that. Google will pull results from all the major booking sites and let you know which site is the cheapest. Just go there and book your hotel. That's why it's the best booking site because instead of searching each site individually, you can just go to Google, find out which site has the cheapest rate, and book there. This saves a lot of time!
Click the "View Hotels" button at the bottom of the first results section to go to Google's hotel search center.
Then enter your dates and narrow your search until you find a hotel you like in your price range. You will be able to sort by the lowest price and you can also look at the map to book by location.
Click on a hotel and you will see all booking options. Find the lowest price and go to that site. Keep in mind that top results are usually advertisements, so scroll down to make sure you aren't missing out on any deals.
Once you find the lowest price, book on this site!
But, before you actually book the room, there are a few other hacks you need to know to ensure you get the best possible price:
1. Please contact the hotel directly
Find the hotel, call them and ask them to match the offer. If they're a big global brand, the big benefit of direct booking is that you earn loyalty points and status when you book direct. So if you love travel, don't book rooms elsewhere!
2. Use AAA or AARP discounts
If you are part of the AARP or AAA platforms, you can get special cheaper rates. Fun fact: Anyone can join the AARP. It's worth joining.
3. Use Mr. Rebates or Rakuten
If the lowest rate is through a major booking site like Booking.com, Expedia or Hotels.com, go to Mr. Rebates or Rakuten. By using your links you will get 1-4% cashback. It's a little extra savings that can add up over time.
4. HotelTonight app
This hotel booking app is perfect for last minute bookings. If you have a flexible schedule and can wait until after 4pm, you can find hotels up to 50% cheaper.
5. Try SnapTravel
This site is the best for hotels in North America. SnapTravel sends hotel deals directly to your phone or Facebook account. Just enter your dates and the city you'll be in, and they'll send you the best deals. You can save up to 50% off the price of a hotel with them. They are a helpful, unseen service that has saved me a lot of money. Google usually lists them in its results, but not always, so it's good to check directly.
6. Sign up for the Booking.com and Hotels.com loyalty programs
Hotels.com offers a free room after 10 bookings and Booking.com offers members 10% off bookings. They definitely helped a lot. Before signing up for their loyalty programs, book with them!
7. Buy discount gift cards
You can book major hotel chains with hotel gift cards. Check out sites like Giftcardgranny.com for discounted gift cards and use it to book your hotel. (Gift card purchases also count toward points and status earnings.)
8. Buy someone else's reservation with Roomer
Many times people can't travel and can't cancel their reservation, so instead of wasting time money, hotels put these rooms on Roomer where they sell them at a discount to make some money back.