How to get the best deals on accommodation

Accommodation costs can often be the largest part of your holiday budget. But with some savvy planning, you can find affordable options without sacrificing on the experience.

While you want somewhere comfortable and clean to sleep, chances are you’re not going to be spending too much time there, especially on a city break. So be realistic, don't get seduced into spending more and follow my top tips below.

Book as far in advance as possible

Prices almost always go up when there is less availability, so book your accommodation as early as possible. With some booking sites and hotels you can book without having to pay upfront, which is always an option I go for when available. This way you can secure a room at a good price but not have to pay until you arrive.

Remember that out of high season, off-peak and mid-week stays tend to be cheaper, so opt for these whenever possible.

Use price comparison websites, but also look direct

Always look around for the best price when comparing hotels. Many of the comparison and booking websites are owned by the same companies, so to get a genuine comparison, compare the rates on booking.com and Expedia. The same hotel might be offering very different rates across both platforms. You'll also find that they will vary in payment terms (remember, you're looking for no upfront payment) and breakfast options.

When you've identified a good hotel, always look at the price of booking directly via their website. Hotels will pay a percentage to comparison sites so you may find it slightly cheaper going direct. Even if the price is the same you may get an added perk by going direct like a free upgrade on arrival or free breakfast.

Embrace alternative accommodation

I’ve mentioned hostels before but make sure you don’t discount them. You don’t have to book large rooms with masses of bunk beds, or shared bathrooms, there are private or semi-private rooms on offer.

Hostels generally work out cheaper than hotels which can save you a lot of money. I’ve stayed in hostels quite a few times including one in Gothenburg in Sweden. My friend and I opted for a private room but a shared bathroom (which was not an issue at all). The city is quite expensive so choosing this option saved us a lot of money.

Other options which may work out more affordable than a hotel include guesthouses, Airbnbs or rentals and homestays.

Take advantage of loyalty schemes

Wherever possible, I book my hotels with the same website as you can earn loyalty points and levels the more you book. A lot of the time I get 10% off or a free breakfast/ upgrade. And the few pounds savings here and there all add up.

Many hotel chains do the same, offering reward programmes where you get points or discounts on future bookings. 

Examples of booking sites offering loyalty programmes are booking.com, hotels.com, and Expedia. Good hotel chains offering loyalty are Accor Live Limitless, Radisson Rewards, Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy.

Take advantage of any free options

In a lot of cities, you will be able to find options such as house swaps (if you have your own property to swap), or you may be able to pet sit or house sit for someone while you are away. These options might not always be readily available, but if they are you can save so much money if your accommodation costs are free. I've covered these options in my post on funding a big trip.

Find accommodation with free breakfast included

Breakfast is one of the most important meals, especially so if you’re on a city break and likely to be on your feet all day. If you find a hotel that has free breakfast included, you can save a lot of money on eating out.

When I went to New York in 2016 very few hotels offered breakfast because there’s so much choice in the city. But I found one that did and over my week's stay it saved me so much money compared to buying breakfast everyday.

If you’re in a very expensive city you can try and stock up so you don’t need a big lunch. When my friend and I went to Oslo we had a large breakfast and took a few snacks/bits of fruit with us to eat during the day so we saved on lunch costs.