Travel

How to Find Cheap Hotels: 10 Smart Tips

Pay less for great places to stay with smart searching, timing and booking tricks.

Editorial TeamNovember 6, 20261 min read

Accommodation is often the biggest cost of a trip. A few smart habits can lower the price without sacrificing comfort.

10 tips

  1. Compare several sites and the hotel's own website.
  2. Be flexible with dates — weekdays are often cheaper in leisure destinations.
  3. Stay just outside the centre near good public transport.
  4. Book refundable rates early, then check again for price drops.
  5. Use loyalty programmes for member prices and perks.
  6. Look at apartments and guesthouses, especially for longer stays.
  7. Check what's included: breakfast, Wi-Fi, parking.
  8. Watch for extra fees like resort, cleaning or city taxes.
  9. Read recent reviews — cheap isn't good value if it's dirty or noisy.
  10. Contact the hotel directly to ask about better rates or upgrades.
Price trackingSet price alerts on booking sites for your dates and destination.

Last-minute deals

Apps with last-minute hotel deals can offer big discounts, but choices are limited during busy seasons.

Stay safe

Only book through trusted websites, and be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true.

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