How To Book Cheap Hotels & Accommodation | Hotel Booking Tips | Budget Travelling

Previously, we covered the topic on cheap flights booking while travelling on a budget, In which we have shared some cheap flight booking tips and tricks. As flights are the main aspect of travelling which consumes alot of budget at first place. Now, after that the second thing which costs you alot while budget travelling is accommodation and hotel stays. So, we are covering this feature in how to book cheap hotels & accommodation with some hotel booking tips and tricks.

Most budget travellers avoid spending too much on hotels and other expensive accommodations. The reason behind is, money saved here, is money earned for another vacation. Finding budget stays, especially in popular destinations, is not an easy job. And my experience says, you can't just rely upon Google search and other hotel booking sites for this. But there are some ways and tricks in which you can not only find reasonable stay at attractive prices but also score deals that can enable you to stay in good, decent and high-rated hotels at the price of budget hotels.

Because, no doubt, safety and comfort are two factors that must never be compromised upon while travelling.

Avoid Staying In Hotels

Yes, you have heard it right. This is the the tip number 1 of booking cheap hotels & accommodation while budget travelling. Most avid budget travellers avoid staying in hotels. So, where do they stay?

They choose other cheap accommodations over expensive hotels for their stay.

These Cheap Accommodations Include

1. Hospitality Exchanges

One of the best method to get free or cheap accommodation is by staying with someone who lives where you’re going. Staying with a local who will give you a place to rest, local information and knowledge about places. And also you will get someone to hang out with. This is one of my favorite ways to stay cheap and save money. There are a few websites services that provide this opportunity to travellers and make this happen:

2. Couchsurfing

It has it's own site CouchSurfing.org. It’s a very big community of people & travellers from all over the globe who open up their homes & apartments to travellers for free. They may have a whole extra bed or just a couch/sofa for you to rest on.
Couchsurfing is most famous among travellers around the world and my favourite also (it’s also the biggest and has the most active community it). Why do they do it? The main aim of the site is not only to provide cheap accommodation to travellers and save on money but also to meet interesting people, to share their culture and giving opportunity to learn about the local culture and things by being able to stay and interact with a local person. Both the host & traveller can leave a reference & feedback about each other. This way it prevents the misuse of the site and it's services.

Some popular websites that provide the same services:

1. Couchsurfing
2. Hospitality Club
3. Warmshowers
4. Global Freeloaders

3. Hostels

Hostels are very popular among all travellers and it's an another option of staying cheap while travelling on budget. Rooms & bathrooms in hostel are shared by multiple people which helps in keep the cost low. Hostel consist of dormitory-style beds or we can say bunk beds in different rooms with all the amenities shared. Personal lockers are provided for securing your important belongings. Hostels also include a shared kitchen where you can cook and prepare your own meals of your choice but usually a basic breakfast ( bread & coffee ) is served at every hostel in the world.

But, if you want privacy and are not interested in sleeping in a dormitory with others. Many hostels also provide small rooms designed for solo travellers and couples aswell. If  you can sacrifice a bit of your privacy & can deal with some extra noise, backpacker hostels are the best option as a cheap accommodation.

Some popular websites for hostel booking:

1. Hostelworld
2. Booking.com
3. Hostel Bookers

4. Airbnb

Airbnb is an online service where local people list their furnished apartments or a spare room in their house for travellers to stay in. By looking on Airbnb you can book and stay in fully furnished apartments or rooms while travelling. These accommodations listed are cheaper than hotels and provide many other facilities. The Airbnbs are great if you plan to spend a week or more at that place. Airbnb will give you all the comforts of home without spending much.

These Airbnbs are like a bridge between a hostel and hotel, So they appear a little bit expensive if you are a solo traveller. They are roughly double the price (if not more) than a hostel. However, if you are travelling in a group or a couple and are looking for a better option from the hostel dorms and pack of travellers but don’t want a hotel room,then this is a perfect cheap accommodation option. Moreover, you get a kitchen alongside, allow you to cook meal and save on your food cost.

5. Guest House or Budget Hotels

Yes, there are budget hotels or even some guest houses to stay are almost available in every major city in the world. A rental guesthouse or budget hotel provides a normal room without the benefits or services of a bigger luxury hotel. Like laundry, wi-fi, T.V, room service etc. Even the private kitchen in guest houses may or may not be present and breakfast may or may not be served at the budget hotels. 

By compromising some things these budget hotels and guest houses can result in a great budget accommodation. But, before check-in always ask too see the room first to ensure the qualtiy and ask for amenities provided.

Now, the above given are the tips and tricks for cheap accommodation instead of hotels. But, if these places will not workout in your case and you can't compromise with your privacy and are travelling with family or groups of friends then staying in a hotel is your only option. You can opt these following given cheap hotel booking tips and tricks for your budget travelling.

Read Also: How To Book Cheap Flights To Anywhere In The World | Travel Tips & Tricks

How To Book Cheap Hotels | Tips and Tricks

1. Opt For Best Hotel Booking Sites & Apps

The best way to book quality hotels with good reviews and ratings is by searching them on top hotel search sites and apps. Remember, not all hotel booking services and sites are created and functioned equal. Many websites rely on sneaky commissions to already inflated rates. So, always search and book your hotel from a trusted website or services. Some of the best services which we would like to recommend are:-

• Booking.com
• Expedia
• Hotels.com
• Hotelscombined
• Agoda
• TripAdvisor
• Trivago

2. Use Rewards Points

The best way to stay for cheap is to keep collecting those reward points from websites and with the hotel chains you stay-in,  by signing up with their membership portals.

Almost every major hotel chain has a rewards program, even the websites & apps you book from have started their own loyalty programs too which provides rewards on each booking, letting you earn points that can be exchanged for free hotel stays or upgrades to your room. Many hotels offer exclusive perks and pricing to members of their program, such as late check-out and complimentary internet access. Most hotel programs are well connected with many partners, allowing you to earn points through credit cards, flights, car rentals, online shopping, and more.

Also,use credit card points to purchase hotel rooms. Check the program and benefits for your particular credit card, Many credit cards offer huge bonus points just for signing up, booking hotels or spending a certain amount of money. You might be able to use those points for hotel costs.

3. Contact The Hotel Directly

 If you’re booking global-brand hotel try to book from hotel website or contact directly with that hotel. Sometimes, they often have the best deals on their website, or can give you one, if you tell them about having a better deal elsewhere, they’ll match it. The big benefit to direct bookings at these global hotel chains is that you earn loyalty points and status when you book directly, So if you can deal with some extra work try this method and don’t book their rooms elsewhere.

Note: Sometimes you can bargain also, Want a better deal? Call up a hotel and ask for one. Sometimes they can give you better rates and last minute deals especially if it’s during mid-week during off-season of the year. So, try bargaining.

4. Snatch Someone Else's Reservation

Yes, You can buy someone else’s reservation. There chances, Often people make reservations and are not able to make it due to some reason and they even can’t cancel the reservation or in some cases cancellation in not possible. So, rather than lose the money, hotels put these rooms with cheaper price

on various sites. So, you can have someone else's reservation on discounted price.

Sites to look for these type of offers and deals on hotels:-

• Hotel's personal website
• Roomer
• Groupon
• Expedia
• Hoteltonight

5. Look Out For Last Minute Deals

Last minute deals happen when hotel prices are reduced to sell a room. Such last minute deals and offer can be found almost every major hotel booking site booking site.Like, Expedia has a last-minute deals page as well. You can snatch last minute deals with the "Priceline" also. Search express deals for super last minute hotel rooms on priceline website. 

Also, Hotel Tonight is an app that lets you book last minute deals and offers at amazing prices. Remember, these deals are just for few hours or minutes sometimes and in peak season they ran out in a blink of an eye.

6. Write Hotel Review And Get Paid

There are sites like Tripadvisor and Younderbound where you can write your review after staying in different hotels. The difference is when someone books a hotel after reading about it in one of your "travel stories" you can earn some bucks from of the sales profit. No travel status or experience required. You can just simply sign up to write your genuine accommodation reviews on these sites and actually get paid to share your honest travel experiences with others.

7. Some Bonus Tips and Tricks 

So, here are some bonus hotel booking tips and tricks for your budget stay. Hotel booking also works similarly as flight bookings. Prices might go up when you keep searching again and again for the same accommodation. So, try finding and booking hotel in a private browser or in your first attempt.

Try find region-specific search engines and hotel chains. Book longer stays of week and if possible try to travel on off-season. Happy Travelling..!!