The average vacation costs $1145 per person now. This equates to the substantial sum of $4,580 for a family of four.
A lot of this money goes towards accommodation. So, if you are looking to save money on your next vacation, the first thing you should do is look at your accommodation budget and start searching for cheaper hotels.
But, how can you find hotels within your budget? Luckily, we now live in a world filled with cost-effective options for hotel and resort destinations. You no longer have to consider settling for motels or hostels for affordable lodging when competition has helped to lower hotel prices.
Check out this guide to learn how to find amazing hotel rooms within your budget.
1. Travel During the Low Season
One of the best things to do to save money on hotel rooms is to travel in the off-season.
By traveling in the off-season, hotel prices won't only be cheaper, but you will also have a wider selection of hotels to choose from.
Plus, traveling in the off-season means you don't have to deal with large crowds of tourists.
2. Check for Affiliation Discounts
You may qualify for certain discounts by simply being a member of an organization.
We all know that groups like AAA and AARP offer discounts to their members. But, plenty of other groups offer discounts as well. For example, the United States Billiard Association, the American Bar Association, and even the Professional Disc Golf Association all offer accommodation discounts to their members.
Your credit card may also offer you discounts. For example, Visa Signature offer discounts to their cardholders.
3. Use Comparison Sites
When searching for a budget hotel room, one thing you must do is search websites like Kayak, Priceline, and Expedia. If you're looking to book accommodation in Japan or Southeast Asia, you should also check out WorldRoamer.
These sites offer price comparisons for the most affordable hotels in the area.
However, these sites shouldn't deter you from checking out the hotel's own website. Oftentimes, hotels will match any price you find from another website. Some will even offer you discounts if you book directly through their site.
4. Ask for Upgrades
In addition to asking hotels for price matching, you should also ask about upgrades.
Basically, instead of booking the hotel's fanciest room, you book a lower-rate room and then ask for an upgrade. If you're traveling during the off-season, there's a good chance that there will be a nicer room available for you to upgrade to.
Here are some tactics you can use to score a great upgrade:
- Ask to talk to the manager when asking about upgrades
- If you are celebrating a special occasion, it doesn't hurt to mention it
- Show up right at your check-in time. If your room isn't ready they may give you an upgrade!
Keep in mind that hotels aren't your only option when it comes to lodging.
There are also frugal hostels, AirBnBs, and bed and breakfasts. And, don't worry, you don't have to share a space if you book a hostel or an Airbnb. With hostels, you can book a private room, and with AirBnBs, you can book the entire place to yourself.
Amazing Hotel Rooms: Are You Ready to Book Yours?
As you can see, there are a lot of ways to find amazing hotel rooms within your frugal travel budget. Now, all you need to do is start your search.
If you liked this article, be sure to check back in with our blog for more frugal travel-related tips and tricks.