Accommodation is often the biggest item in a travel budget. But there are plenty of ways to save a serious amount on it without having to lower your standards. Anyone can open an app – knowing how to use it is the key to success!
In this article we’ll introduce proven strategies that help you find good accommodation at a sensible price.
Timing is everything
When to book
- Long stays: Book 3-6 months ahead for the best prices
- City breaks: Ideally 1-3 months ahead
- Last minute: Works mainly out of season and in big cities via travel agencies (don’t be afraid to visit their websites, they often have attractive accommodation options)
- Business hotels: Tend to be significantly cheaper at weekends (use the filters in the apps)
- Holiday resorts: Offer up to 50% discounts out of season (accommodation on the Greek islands, for instance, can be 60 % cheaper – see the proof in our article on Rhodes)
When to travel
- If you can, avoid the high season. If you can’t, try to look for accommodation slightly out from the centre and near public transport stops, so you’re in the middle of the action in a matter of minutes
- Travel in the shoulder seasons (March-May, September-November)
- Favour weekdays over weekends – this holds almost 100 % of the time, apart from long stays.
- Visit big cities during public holidays, when the locals leave town
Smart searching
Technology is magic, you just have to know how to use it and where to turn!
Use price comparison sites
Compare prices across different platforms (Booking.com, Hotels.com, Agoda). At the same time, check the price on the hotel’s own website.
Use metasearch engines like Trivago or HotelsCombined, or track prices with tools like Pruvo.
Tips for searching effectively
These days we have an advantage – there are plenty of platforms doing the heavy lifting for us. But that’s exactly where the catch is: every platform has a different algorithm, a different logic and different traps.
- Use your browser’s incognito mode
- Search in different currencies
- Check prices from different countries using a VPN – we use SurfsharkVPN
- Sign up to loyalty programmes (on Booking you earn “Genius” membership levels based on the number of stays)
- Track discounts and flash deals using the Ad Library (just filter by country, enter a keyword such as “hotel”, and if the hotel is promoting its discounts on Facebook and Instagram, you’re sorted)
Alternative types of accommodation
If you don’t want to stay in hotels, you can of course use places rented out by private owners. But don’t assume that “not a hotel” = “lower price”.
Apartments and flats
For this type of accommodation I’d recommend the most widespread platform, Airbnb, and others like it. Local rental platforms work too (just type property for rent in “the country” into Google)
That lets you deal directly with the owners, which can get you a lower price and quicker communication.
Don’t shy away from longer-term rentals either, and definitely don’t be afraid to ask for a discount, because the owner then has lower costs for upkeep and for finding a new tenant.
Home exchange and house sitting
Another very popular option is accommodation in exchange for your own. Live in Prague? Offer your home in exchange for another one in your dream destination. Try the HomeExchange platform.
Trusted Housesitters is the one for looking after homes and animals
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Shared accommodation
- Hostels with private rooms
- Couchsurfing for more adventurous travellers
- Shared rentals via Facebook groups
- University halls outside the academic year (in České Budějovice, for instance, you can get a room on a lovely campus from 250 CZK a night)
Negotiating strategies
Talking to them directly
Contact the property owner directly (harder to get their contact details) – ask for a discount for a longer stay, or negotiate during periods of low occupancy.
Mention previous stays or reviews (for example: I already spent 3 months in Tenerife like this last year, I pay in advance, here are my guest reviews on Airbnb)
Group discounts
Organise group stays. Use family rooms instead of several separate ones, and definitely combine accommodation with other services or packages.
Loyalty programmes and bonuses
Hotel programmes
This applies if you have a favourite hotel, ideally part of a chain. Then sign up to their loyalty programme. That’s how we started using the Tent hotel chain around Spain.
Collect points and use them for discounted stays, or make the most of status perks (upgrades, late check-out)
Credit and debit cards
Definitely use cards with travel benefits – a debit card from Česká spořitelna, for example, gives you up to 10 % cashback when you book a stay through Booking. Try asking about the benefits attached to your card.
Practical tips for saving money
Location
Definitely consider accommodation outside the centre with good transport links (if you have a car, this option is a must have, not least because of parking). Explore up-and-coming neighbourhoods and check night services and taxis (you can check connections by planning a route in Google Maps, which is linked to timetables)
And above all, work out the total cost including transport – you can stay in the centre where parking costs you €10 a day. Or you can stay on the outskirts and a day pass for all public transport costs €5. The maths is unforgiving.
Facilities
Choose accommodation with a kitchenette to save on food – you won’t be eating out every time. In Asia maybe you will, because it’s cheap. But if you take a place without a kitchenette, you’ll be living on beans the whole time.
Check whether there’s a laundry. Definitely verify that the internet connection is good and look into parking options too (it’s all in the property description and the reviews!)
Saving on accommodation takes time and planning, but the resulting savings can be significant. Combine different strategies and always weigh up the price/quality ratio. Remember that the cheapest option isn’t always the best value – factor in the other costs and convenience too.
Apps that track prices
- Hopper – tracks how prices develop and alerts you when they’re at their lowest.
- Trivago – compares different platforms (works brilliantly in Europe).
- Skyscanner Hotels – an excellent add-on if you’re already searching for flights through Skyscanner.
