Vacations are a great way to relax, explore and make lasting memories. But, no matter your destination, one of the most important aspects of planning any vacation is finding the best hotel deals. Hotel costs can quickly add up and add stress to an otherwise enjoyable experience. Fortunately, with a few simple tips, you can find the best hotel deals for your next vacation. By doing research, making a budget and being flexible with travel dates, you can find great deals and save money on your travels. Additionally, exploring hotel loyalty programs, looking for discounts and packages and booking early or late can help you save even more. With these five tips, you can find the perfect hotel for your next vacation and have more money to spend on experiences and souvenirs.
Tips to Finding the Best Hotel Deals
1. Do Your Research
Researching your hotel options is one of the most important steps in finding the best hotel deals. Regardless of your travel plans, there are a number of hotel-finding websites that can help you find the perfect hotel for your destination. Additionally, if you know the exact dates you’ll be traveling, you can plug those dates into a site like Kayak to get specific hotel recommendations based on price and location. If you have a specific hotel chain in mind, you can also use a site like Hotel Comparison to find the best deals on that specific chain. Doing your research is key to finding the best hotel deals and saving money on your travels. For more tips on researching hotels, read the next section!
2. Set a Hotel Budget
It’s important to set a hotel budget before booking any hotel. By establishing a budget, you can keep costs in line and stay within a reasonable price range. Furthermore, you can use your budget to figure out which hotels are most likely in your price range. For example, if you set a budget of $100 per night, you can look for hotel deals that fall within that price range. You can then use sites like Hotel Comparison and TripAdvisor to find hotels that fall within your budget. You can also narrow down your hotel choices by setting the maximum distance you want to travel from your desired location. For more tips on setting a hotel budget, read the next section!
3. Be Flexible With Travel Dates
If you’re trying to find the best hotel deals, being flexible with travel dates can help you save money. By changing the dates of your trip—especially if you are visiting during a high-traffic time—you can often find cheaper hotel rates. Additionally, if you are flexible with your travel dates, you can take advantage of hotel deals that pop up as people change their travel plans. For example, during the holidays, people often book their travel in advance. So, during the rest of the year, hotel deals can be more available, and you can take advantage of them. If you can’t be flexible with your travel dates, there are other ways to save money on your hotel. For more tips on being flexible with travel dates, read the next section!
4. Explore Hotel Loyalty Programs
When booking a hotel, you may want to consider joining a hotel loyalty program like Marriott Rewards. By joining one of these programs, you can earn points towards free stays at hotels and other travel rewards. You can also use a hotel loyalty program to find cheaper hotels. In these programs, you can often find lower rates than advertised on hotel websites. The rates on loyalty program sites are often lower because they are unadvertised rates. But, even if you can’t find lower rates, joining one of these programs can still help you save money on your travels. For more tips on exploring hotel loyalty programs, read the next section!
5. Look for Discounts and Packages
If you’re booking a hotel, you may be able to find a discount by searching for coupon codes. But, there are other ways to save money on hotels by looking for bulk sales and packages. By booking a bulk sale or a package deal, you can often save money on hotels and receive extra perks like free meals, drinks, and snacks. These types of deals are often for groups or large families. So, if you’re traveling with a large group or you have kids, you should look for these types of deals. These types of deals are rare, but they do exist. So, it’s important to keep an eye out and explore all your options. For more tips on looking for discounts and packages, read the next section!
6. Book Early or Late
Another way to find the best hotel deals is to book early or late. Hotels often lower their rates during slow times, like the beginning of the year, holidays and weekends. And, during busy travel times, hotels may hike their rates. For example, during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, hotels often increase their rates. So, if you’re booking a hotel for one of these times, you can often get lower rates if you book early. On the other hand, if you’re booking a hotel for a slow time, you can often find lower rates if you book late. Regardless, you can use these two tips to find the best hotel deals. For more tips on booking early or late, read the next section!
Conclusion
No matter your destination, it’s important to find the best hotel deals. While booking a hotel can seem overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be. By doing research, setting a hotel budget, being flexible with travel dates and exploring hotel loyalty programs, you can find the best hotel deals and save money on your travels. You can also look for discounts and packages, and book early or late to find even better deals. With these tips, you can find the perfect hotel for your next vacation and have more money to spend on experiences and souvenirs.
