- Last Updated: February 03, 2025
Accommodation is a big factor while traveling. In fact, it is one of the major expenses of our entire budget. A big chunk of our budget is often planned for the stay.
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ToggleBut hey, it doesn’t have to be that expensive. With the right techniques and strategies, you can find inexpensive places to stay without breaking the bank.
Whether you’re hopping from city to city or settling down for a few months, understanding how to save money on hotels and other accommodations can drastically cut down your travel expenses. Especially for digital nomads and avid travelers, it is necessary to save staying costs to make the journey more sustainable and budget-friendly.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through why choosing reasonable accommodation is crucial and share 17 actionable tips to make your search for affordable accommodation as budget-friendly as possible.
Why choose reasonable accommodation?
The biggest perk of living in a budget accommodation is that you actually save a lot of money on your stay. It allows you to spend more money on food, adventures, or other experiences. From my personal experience, I’ve found that sometimes, I have to either spend extra money or forego other experiences due to living in expensive hotels.
Apart from saving money, you also get a more down-to-earth and communal experience while living in budget accommodation. Backpackers or solo travelers often tend to stay in hostels that help them to meet new people and socialize. Also, you get more access to local people, which makes it easier to change cultural experience.
Staying in reasonable accommodation encourages a minimalist lifestyle, which can be liberating and reduce the stress of managing excessive belongings while traveling. Plus, learning how to save money on hotels and other accommodations can make your travel lifestyle more sustainable in the long run.
With our 10+ years experience of traveling around the globe, let’s share how we practically figured out how to find cheap accommodation:
17 Tips on How to Save Money on Hotels and Other Accommodation
1. Book in Advance
Booking accommodation in advance can help you get hotels or hostels at lower costs. This is one of the best ways to get budget accommodation. You can avail early bird discounts if you make your booking in months ago. However, make sure that they are refundable and flexible, nor you can’t change it last time.
Speaking of last time, many people think that booking at the last minute can get you cheaper accommodation. While it’s true in some cases, it’s quite risky and might cost you even more than usual.
So, try to book your accommodation as early as possible. By booking early in advance, it can not only save money on hotels and other accommodation, but also help you have a stress-free journey.
2. Use Price Comparison Websites
Using price comparison websites are another way to save money on accommodation. Websites like Booking.com, Expedia and Kayak allow you to compare prices across different platforms. These aggregator booking sites help you identify the cheapest options available.
Most of the time, especially in the off-season, hotel rooms see vacancies on a large scale. To solve this problem, they list their rooms on third-party websites at negotiated rates so that they see no rise in room vacancies. Price comparison sites compare these places and show you the best rate options.
However, check out if there are any hidden fees excluded from the hotel booking price. Sometimes, you may face unexpected occurrences if you don’t check the exact prices thoroughly. Besides, you may also face a lack of flexibility as most of these websites may not let you change the dates or offer a booking cancellation service.
3. Be Flexible with Travel Dates
Being flexible with dates is one of the best ways to find reasonable accommodation. Flexibility in travel dates allows you to take advantage of off-peak rates and last-minute deals. It can lead to significant savings.
You will find that the price isn’t always the same every day. Most hotels, apart from business hotels (which we will discuss later), have better deals on weekdays or non-holiday seasons, as most people tend to spend their vacations on weekends like Fridays and Saturdays.
Last-minute deals or late arrivals, like in the evening, can offer substantial discounts if you book on short notice. Hotels often lower prices to fill vacant rooms and might also upgrade you. Besides, accommodation prices strike when there is a festival or occasion in that area. So, if you are flexible enough, you may adjust your date to see which places offer better deals.
4. Build Relationships with Hotels
Building relationships with reservation staff and management is a smart strategy that can lead to long-term benefits. Regularly staying at the same hotel or hotel chain can help establish a rapport with the staff. This will benefit you with offers like personalized deals, complimentary upgrades, or early access to exclusive promotions.
Additionally, these relationships can also make your stays more enjoyable, as familiar faces often lead to more attentive service and occasional surprise perks.
5. Time Your Trip Strategically
Timing your trip strategically can make a huge difference in your accommodation costs. Due to high demand, hotels and other accommodation generally remain busy on weekends and holidays, with costlier prices. On the other hand, business hotels are kind of the opposite. They are busy on weekdays from Sunday to Thursday. So, choose which days in the week will be suitable for your stay.
Besides, travel season also plays a big role in finding cheaper accommodation. You will find reasonable accommodation in the off-season and shoulder-season than in the peak season. For example, Winter is regarded as the off-season in the USA due to the chilly weather. Southeast Asia in the monsoon period is known as off-season. At these times, most of the accommodation either goes flat on price or temporarily stays closed for renovation. This is mainly due to the fewer tourists than at other times.
Again, shoulder season attracts comparatively fewer tourists than peak season. So, room rates are usually lower than peak season but higher than those of the off-season. Researching and planning your trip during these less busy times saves money and offers a more relaxed travel experience with fewer crowds.
6. Know What’s Included
While looking for inexpensive places to stay or hotels, check out what services are included and excluded. There are some great inclusions that can help you save money on accommodation. Many accommodations offer free breakfast, Wi-Fi, parking, or a gym, while many don’t. Free breakfast or afternoon snacks can help you save a great chunk of money on food.
If you are visiting a place with your private vehicle, parking is a headache due to busy areas or expensive parking fees. You can save a lot of money if the accommodation covers the parking. So, it is important to check beforehand which accommodation offers better deals. These inclusions or perks can help you avoid unexpected expenses.
7. Leverage Existing Memberships
Take advantage of any memberships you have that offer travel discounts. Organizations like AAA, AARP, CAA, or military groups often provide members with hotel discounts. Additionally, some credit card companies and employers have partnerships with hotels that can offer special rates. These benefits are often overlooked but can result in substantial savings.
8. Location matters
Choosing the right location can significantly affect your accommodation costs. Staying just outside a city’s main attractions or tourist areas can lower your expenses while providing convenient access. You’ll find that accommodation near the Eiffel Tower is much more expensive than living just a few kilometers away from it.
When looking for hotels that are distant from the main part of the city, you just need to keep up with quality and transportation connectivity. Even if all these facilities are met, you may still have to pay much less due to the location. On top of that, distant locations also have cheaper eating options.
If you plan to stay longer, looking for accommodation outside the centre is better. These reasonable accommodation often come with better deals. So do your own research and check out which areas offer better value for money.
9. Use Credit Card Rewards
From our experiences, we’ve seen that hotel-affiliated credit cards work wonderfully to save money on accommodation. So, sign up for one and make sure to use your credit card to charge your hotel costs. It’ll offer rewards program to maximize your savings.
10. Look for Package Deals
Bundle your hotel stay with flights or car rentals to take advantage of package deals. There are websites like Booking.com, Expedia, and Kayak that offer services for package deals or individual services on accommodation, flights, and car rental. These packages often provide better rates than booking each component separately.
So, compare package deals on different platforms and make your entire trip more cost-effective.
11. Consider a Hostel
Hostels are a great way to cut down your accommodation expenses by a great margin. Unlike traditional hotels, hostels typically feature dormitory-style rooms with shared amenities such as bathrooms, kitchens, and common areas. Besides, they are often located close to the main attractions or central area. It is a great thing for public transportation connectivity and easy access to the tourist spots.
Hostels are generally inexpensive places to stay as a traveler. In fact, they are one of the most reasonable accommodation options. They just charge a few bucks with most of the vital amenities.
However, people may think that hostels are only famous for backpacking due to dorm-style rooms. But that’s not true always. Private rooms are also available in many hostels for those who prefer a bit more privacy while still enjoying the budget-friendly benefits.
Hostels are known for their communal atmosphere, where travelers from all over the world come together. This environment is perfect for solo travelers or those looking to meet new people, share experiences, and save money on accommodation.
You can save money on hotels and other accommodation by using credit card rewards to pay for your accommodation. Many credit cards offer points, cashback, or even like book hotel nights for free. Besides, some credit cards offer extra perks such as free breakfast, room upgrade, lounge access, and late checkout.
12. Sign Up for Newsletters
In today’s era, newsletters play a big role in creating bonds between companies and customers virtually. Booking site newsletters are no exception. They often send the latest exclusive deals, discounts, and promotions straight to their newsletter subscribers. This will help you get a chance to book your stay at a reduced rate.
By signing up for these newsletters, you gain access to insider information about special offers, flash sales, and limited-time promotions that might not be available to the general public. These deals can include significant discounts on room rates, package bundles, or added perks such as complimentary breakfasts or late check-outs. Staying subscribed ensures you’re among the first to know about these offers. Try this tip!
13. Watch Out for Hidden Fees
Be aware of hidden fees that can increase your accommodation costs. Resort fees, hotel taxes, or service charges are often added to the advertised rate. Before booking, it is important to check out whether there are any hidden costs on top of the initial rate.
Always read the fine print and review the breakdown of charges during the reservation process. Don’t hesitate to contact the hotel or booking platform if something seems unclear for clarification. Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true, as they may have hidden fees lurking in the details.
14. Consider Home Exchanges or House Sitting
Home exchanges or house-sitting arrangements can provide free or low-cost accommodation. Platforms like HomeExchange.com or TrustedHousesitters allow you to swap homes or take care of someone’s property while they’re away. It’s a budget-friendly way to save money on hotels and other accommodation.
Home exchanges are particularly appealing for families or long-term travelers, as they involve a direct swap. It eliminates the lodging costs altogether. They often come with added perks, such as access to fully equipped kitchens, laundry facilities, and sometimes even vehicles, allowing you to save on dining out and other travel-related expenses.
House sitting, on the other hand, allows you to stay in someone’s home for free (or at a very low cost) in exchange for taking care of their property, plants, or pets. This arrangement is especially popular among animal lovers who don’t mind feeding or walking pets during their stay.
Both options are great alternatives to traditional hotels or rentals, as they provide a homelike environment. They’re ideal for digital nomads or remote workers who value peace, privacy, and focused work.
To make the most of these opportunities, sign up on reputable platforms, create a trustworthy profile, and communicate openly with homeowners to ensure clear expectations.
We’ve tried this method and it worked greatly. So, don’t hesitate to give it a shot!
15. Use Cash-Back Portals
Booking through cash-back portals can earn you money back on your accommodation expenses. Shopping portal websites like Rakuten or TopCashback offer rebates on hotel bookings, which results in savings on accommodation. Oftentimes, expensive or long-term staying accommodations offer more valuable rewards.
With these programs, a portion of what you spend is credited back to your account, which can later be redeemed as gift cards or even a check. Alternatively, if you’re a frequent traveler, you might prefer using airline or hotel-specific shopping portals. It allows you to earn rewards in the form of points or miles for future stays or flights.
16. Share a Rental Home and Split the Expenses
Another cheapest way to book accommodation is to share a rental accommodation and split the bills. While traveling with friends or family you can try this method to reduce costs.
Renting an apartment or suite can be a cost-effective alternative to booking multiple hotel rooms. With more space, amenities like kitchens, and the option to split costs among everyone, it’s a practical and budget-friendly choice. Platforms like VRBO offer a variety of rentals to suit different budgets while saving money.
Splitting the cost of a rental property allows you to enjoy more space and amenities at a lower per-person rate, making it a cost-effective option for group travel.
17. Join Hotel Loyalty Programs
Joining hotel loyalty programs can unlock exclusive benefits and rewards. Hotel chains like Mariott, Hilton, and Starwood have loyalty programs. But how do these loyalty programs work?
Loyalty programs offer points for each stay, which can be redeemed later. You can use it for free nights, upgrades, or other perks like buffet breakfasts, lounge access, and free spa service. Besides, these programs have multiple levels. The more you stay, the more level you can climb up in that hotel.
Apart from hotels, many booking websites also have loyalty programs or rewards. For example, Booking.com has a genius tier system, where you can get rewards on accommodation for long-term stay. Here, you can save up to 20% on accommodation costs.
Staying loyal to a particular hotel chain can lead to long-term savings on accommodation. Not just saving money, the perks they provide are worthy of a smooth travel experience.
Wrap Up
Finding reasonable accommodation is necessary to travel with more ease and within budget. It is actually one of the major expenses besides flight costs. So, you should research and practically use different ways to cut down on accommodation costs.
In this article, we talked about some of the proven and effective ways to save money on hotels and other accommodations. We’ve tried all these methods. So, we can say that these tips really work! By applying these tips, you can find inexpensive places to stay without compromising on your travel experience.
Thank you for sticking with us! We’d greatly appreciate it if you could share this article with your friends and family. Don’t forget to comment below and tell us which method worked for you to reduce accommodation costs!
Read also: 11 Best Apps for Cheap Flights in 2025
FAQs
The cheapest way to book accommodation involves booking through price comparison websites, using loyalty programs, and of course booking in advance. Besides, the price per night is often cheaper when you stay for longer than one single night.
There are platforms like Airbnb, hostels, and co-living spaces where you can find reasonable accommodation. Besides, join travel communities and Facebook groups for recommendations. As a digital nomad, consider long-term stays for better rates.
To extend your hotel stay without overspending, consider negotiating directly with the hotel. Many hotels are willing to offer discounted rates for extended stays, especially during off-peak seasons. You can also check for special long-stay packages or use loyalty points if you’re part of the hotel’s rewards program.
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