Duinrell Eurocamp – An Honest Family Review
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Lucy Starrs
- Cheap Travel
- Quick Tips
- Posted: 16/09/2024
Finding Cheap Hotels
Jenna Carr
The Travel Mum
Our little family is passionate about helping you save money. We are real people who understand the need to make your budget go further.
Finding Cheap Hotels made Easy
If you are wanting to travel for the best price possible, DIY travel can often be a great option. By booking your own flights and finding cheap hotels you have more freedom in personalising your trip, and most importantly you can save a fortune. This is especially true for city breaks and durations outside of the normal packages (which are often 7, 10, 14 nights). Always compare the prices of both options, we have a package deals page you can use to browse some great package holidays.
For families in the UK, the cost of a hotel can be a major part of the holiday budget, but with the right approach, it’s possible to find cheap hotels without sacrificing comfort or convenience. Whether you’re looking to escape for a quick weekend break or are planning a longer family trip during the school holidays, I’ve got you covered.
Cheap Hotels come after Cheap Flights
Finding cheap flights should always be your first task. The price of hotel stays are usually pretty consistent within a month, however flight prices can fluctuate dramatically. By letting the best value flights set the dates of the trip, you can then safely start looking for cheap hotels. There are other complexities to the DIY booking process such as ensuring you book your holiday safely, but we cover these elements elsewhere on the site.
We have made a really handy tool that searches for flights and hotels simultaneously. You can be very vague with your search in order to find the best value options. We filter hotels so we only show you options with good reviews in great locations.
Find a cheap trip
We made this tool to allow you to find great flights and hotels in just a few clicks. Forget having 10 tabs open to plan your DIY trip, we help you do it all in one place (and it’s free!)
Cheap Hotels – Things to Consider
- What are your needs? Ask yourself whether you need certain facilities.
- Do you understand the star ratings? You could be missing out on some bargains.
- Don’t overlook Hostels – even as a family!
- Reviews are more important than star ratings.
- Use our search feature to find cheap flights and cheap hotels simultaneously.
What do I need?
Understanding the difference between what you want and what you truly need is crucial. While special occasions might warrant a 5-star spa resort with all-inclusive perks, trips that are centred on exploring a new destination can be accommodated with simple rooms that provide a comfortable bed and bathroom. If you plan to spend all day at the beach or exploring cobbled streets, consider a basic room and cheap hotel. This will save your budget for more important things, like cocktails or yummy street food! Break free from the notion that a holiday must come with a pool, endless entertainment and a beachfront location. Embracing more modest options allows you to broaden your travel horizons, especially when dealing with a tight budget. It really comes down to how far you want your budget to stretch, one night in a luxury hotel could pay for a week stay in a more modest one.
What do the Star Ratings mean?
Star ratings are based on facilities. There is no universal system so a 4* in Italy will be different to a 4* in Croatia, so take the star rating with a pinch of salt. A 2* hotel doesn’t mean the hotel is bad, it just means it has less facilities. A hotel may need a 24 hour reception to reach 3*, a particular hotel may have a reception that closes in the evening, therefore it only received 2*. Things like multi lingual staff, spa facilities, TV in the room, entertainment can all contribute to the star rating. Never overlook a hotel because of this.
Consider staying in a hostel…
“Absolutely not!” is what most people say when I suggest this. There is a negative stigma surrounding hostels that often deters many from considering this budget-friendly option. Many hostels offer private rooms alongside shared dormitories, and they frequently come equipped with excellent facilities, such as swimming pools, planned activities and complimentary breakfast. Opting for a private room with shared bathroom within a hostel can save you a significant amount of money without compromising too much on comfort and privacy. Hostels are also ideal places to meet other travellers, especially if you’re travelling alone. On top of all this they are often conveniently situated in the heart of cities offering great value for money.
Should I be reading reviews?
Definitely! This is more important than the star rating. But don’t let the numerical score put you off. People’s opinions can vary widely based on personal preferences and experiences. A hotel with a low(ish) score might have specific complaints that don’t concern you, making it a great budget friendly option despite the lower numerical rating. A hotel may receive a poor score from one guest due to it being loud, but a great score from another for being in the centre of the nightlife. What people have to say is much more useful than the number. You may be willing to tolerate a specific negative aspect for the lower price tag. All of the accommodation options we source for you here at The Travel Mum are well rated options that fit within your set budget to ensure a great value trip. In general I wouldn’t look at options scored below 7.
Using our Website to Find Cheap Hotels
If you use our ‘Start your Journey’ feature we will find cheap flight and hotels in one search. This helps you find destinations offering both good value flights AND hotels during your available travel period. We always suggest a highlighted hotel, but if you click “other accommodation” you can browse a variety of options. In the image here you can see we only look at options with a review score about 7. We have specifically chosen hotels that are in good locations.
Deciding the location of your cheap hotel…
Selecting the right location for your accommodation depends on the transportation options available at your destination, but also how you plan to spend your time there and the length of time you will be visiting.
Planning to rent a car and explore? Then consider more peripheral accommodation that will likely offer free and easy parking and a much lower price.
Visiting a city with a good public transport system? Then you could look for more peripheral budget-friendly hotels close to a bus or metro stop. This will save you money but mean you can easily access the sights.
If you only have a very short amount of time you might want to stay more centrally. Consider hostels and hotels with basic facilities to help keep the cost down.
Deciding when to Travel…
Peak travel times and festivals will coincide with higher accommodation prices. Avoiding these periods can significantly reduce your spend. Check when the local school holidays are and aim to avoid these if possible. Not only will you save money, but attractions will be less busy. Many countries will have different school holiday dates to us here in the UK. In Denmark for example, their schools go back in the middle of August, so a trip to LEGOLAND Billund at the end of August will mean less crowds and lower prices.
Aim to travel during the shoulder season when possible, this falls between the peak and off-peak months and will vary across destinations. This period offers lower prices while still enjoying favourable weather. Be cautious when booking holiday resort towns that may close during winter months. Using an example of Ksamil in Albania, the town is pretty much closed down between October and April, but then incredibly busy in July and August. So opting to travel in May or June would provide a cheaper and more enjoyable stay.
You must always consider prices for both flights AND accommodation before booking anything. You may find really cheap flights to Milan, but then discover it is during fashion week and the accommodation is priced through the roof. Our website makes this easy by searching for both flights and hotels at the same time (Sorry to keep plugging it but it really is a pretty great resource as we solve a lot of these problems!)
Search Flexibly to find the Best Dates..
Above you can see a really useful feature we have on our search. You can select a variety of availability to search within. A good use of this is to select your whole school holiday period and then the amount of days you want to go away. You might only want a two night break and are happy to go on the cheapest dates within that period. Alternatively you might want to find the best long weekend in a month. There are lots of ways you can use this to find the best dates to travel.
Do I need a Credit Card?
If you are planning on travelling regularly, a travel specific credit card is a really useful thing to have. Any bookings you make over £100 will be protected under Section 75 of the Credit Consumer Act, so it is always sensible to book your travel using one. It also has benefits when spending abroad, the exchange rates you get when spending on a travel credit card will be near perfect with no transaction fees. On top of the savings and protection it offers, it is usually essential to have one when booking car hire. Read our blog post on ‘How to hire a car abroad‘ for more information on doing this.
Consider house sitting. (And use our 25% off code!)
House sitting is a great way to get away on the cheap. We currently have a 25% off code that you can use, making it even better value. We have a specific post on our housesitting experience which you can read for more information and find the discount link. Essentially you look after someones home and pets in exchange for the free stay. We have stayed in some beautiful houses by doing this. You can find the website we use here.
Ready to Book your Cheap Hotel?
Traveling on a tight budget is easy with the right mindset and some smart planning. By understanding your needs, booking cheap hotels that meet these, leveraging reviews and timing your travels wisely; you can embark on more travel adventures without breaking the bank.
We’ve streamlined the process, making it easy and efficient for you to plan your perfect trip. We have a free membership that allows you to use our search function as much as you need. You also have the option of becoming a premium Travel Max member where you can enjoy access to personalised deals that cater specifically to your preferences, updated every week! We send these deals straight to your inbox.
Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. We only promote things we genuinely love – Jen
DONT MISS!
Check out these 20 tips and tricks for bagging the best value hotel rooms.
Written by: Jenna Carr
The Travel Mum
Our little family is passionate about helping you save money. We are real people who understand the need to make your budget go further. With The Travel Mum we have created a vibrant community of over 650k budget savvy travellers who want to travel more while spending less. No problem is too big or small, together we will do everything in our power to make sure you are making the absolute most of your well earned budget!
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