How to get Cheap Hotel rooms | 20 Tips and Tricks

Your holiday accommodation will be one of the biggest expenses for your trip. Knowing how to get cheap hotel rooms will mean you can travel for less, which will hopefully mean you can afford more trips each year! That is our main goal here at The Travel Mum. We want travel to be available to everyone, not just those with tons of extra cash. If booking flights and hotels separately isnt for you, have a look at our cheap package deals page. We update it weekly with new deals!

20 Tips for Finding Cheap Hotels

1 – Book early (or hold your nerve to the last minute)

Make the most of early bird bookings whilst planning ahead. This is even more true for popular destinations during popular times to travel. For example, if you want to visit a popular resort in Spain in the August school holidays, book early. Those hotels are going to have no problem filling their rooms, and competition will get heavy the nearer to the holiday you get. As demand increases, so do the prices. Free Child Places at the best places will run out too. Check out our post on Cheap School Holiday Deals.

If you are planning to travel during at a less popular time, to a less popular destination, it could pay off to hold your nerve until the last minute. If big hotels have lots of spare rooms for upcoming dates, they will often drop their prices to try and sell them. Our family made the most of this while travelling on the Amalfi coast in April. We managed to bag some absolute bargain stays by making the most of last minute price drops.

2 – Flexibility is key

If you are set on visiting a specific hotel on specific dates, you could end up spending a lot more than you need to. There could be a very similar hotel nearby that is hundreds of pounds cheaper. Never book a hotel before you have booked (or at least sourced) your flights. It may be that flying a day earlier will save you £200, if you have already booked your hotel you may miss out on those savings. We made our ‘Start your Journey‘ feature to help you find the best flight and hotel combos, meaning you get the best value flights to match the best value hotels.

3 – Book with free cancellation (and watch out for price drops!)

Many hotels offer the option to book with free cancellation up to a certain date, giving you added flexibility. The cancellation window varies, some hotels allow cancellations up to two weeks before your stay, while others may let you cancel right up until the day of check-in. We always opt for this approach as it provides peace of mind in case plans change unexpectedly. Another major advantage of free cancellation is the potential to save money if the room price drops. We’ve often checked prices closer to our trip and found a lower rate, free cancellation makes it easy to cancel our original booking and rebook at the cheaper price!

4 – Travel in shoulder season

Many people default to July and August for their yearly holiday, but why not consider the shoulder season? These are the months either side of the peak travel months when prices are much lower, weather is good and crowds are minimal. We rarely travel during the peak months, choosing to explore more locally in this more expensive period (often using housesitting which I will mention later on in this post!). April, May, September and October are some of our favourite months to travel.

5 – Sign up for loyalty programs

Expedia recently changed their loyalty programme to OneKey where you collect OneKeyCash on the bookings you make through Expedia, Hotels.com or VRBO. These can then be used on Expedia flights, hotel.com, VRBO bookings, car hire and lots more. You earn 2% back for every £1 spent. This isn’t as good as the rewards nights hotels.com used to offer, however if you use these websites often the bonus cash will start to accumulate.

Booking.com have their genius loyalty program which we used to use a lot before finding Hotels.com. In our experience Hotels.com often have the cheaper like for like prices, but booking.com often have many more choices. With booking.com you have Genius level one on signing up and this offers 10% discounts on selected accommodation. Genius level 2 offers up to 15% discount and level 3 up to 20%. You can also make the most of perks like free breakfast and room upgrades as you climb the levels.

6 – Tools to find the best dates to travel

Using the above example on our search feature, you are able to input your entire availability to find the best dates within that. If you want a two night break in the October Half Term, simply select your dates and the length of time you want to be away. Want to find the cheapest weekend trip in October? Select all the weekends and let us do the hard work.

7 – Book non-refundable rates (let me explain!)

Contradicting the earlier point about free cancellation, booking non-refundable rates can sometimes be a smart choice, especially for last-minute travel. If you’re booking for tomorrow or even tonight, the likelihood of plans changing is slim, and non-refundable rates can be significantly cheaper. Just be sure the savings are worth the risk! For those certain of their travel plans, this could lead to substantial discounts.

8 – Consider guesthouses and apartments (even hostels!)

Hotels aren’t your only option. Guesthouses, apartments, and even hostels can be great budget-friendly alternatives. Apartments, in particular, can offer extra space, kitchens to cook your own meals, and a homey atmosphere, ideal for families. Hostels may offer private rooms, which is perfect for those who want a hotel-like stay at a lower price point.

9 – Sign up for member only deal websites

Member-only websites like The Travel Mum, Secret Escapes and Travelzoo offer exclusive deals on hotels and holidays. These sites often negotiate special rates, making it possible to get some great discounts. Signing up for their newsletters can give you first access to flash sales and limited-time offers. Some platforms even offer loyalty rewards for frequent bookings, so staying active on these sites can pay off in the long run.

10 – DIY bookings vs Package holidays

Booking everything separately (your flights and accommodation), can sometimes work out cheaper than a package holiday. However, it’s worth comparing package deals, especially during peak travel times or school holidays, as packages may include perks like airport transfers, meals or free child places. DIY bookings give you more flexibility to choose budget-friendly accommodations, while package deals can save time and reduce stress. It’s about finding the right balance for your trip and budget, always consider both. We have cheap package deals page where we update our favourite deals weekly.

11 – Choose the perfect location, that works for your budget..

Where you stay can make a huge difference to the overall cost. Sometimes, staying just outside the city center can save you a significant amount of money while still providing convenient access to attractions using public transport. Consider areas that may be slightly off the beaten path but still have good transport links to the action. Also, think about what’s most important to you: are you willing to pay extra to be in the heart of the city, or is a quieter, cheaper area going to be better for your budget?

12 – Pay via credit card

Using a credit card to pay for hotels can offer additional protection. For purchases over £100 you will get section 75 protection should the company you book with not provide the service. On top of that, many credit cards offer points or cash back on your purchases, these can be redeemed for future bookings, flights, or hotel stays. Make sure you’re aware of any fees and plan to pay off your balance in full to avoid interest charges.

13 – Tesco clubcard points

Tesco Clubcard points can be a great way to save on hotel stays. You can convert points into vouchers and redeem them through Tesco’s partner programs, including travel sites like Hotels.com which we use when finding your hotels. This can significantly reduce the cost of your accommodation, sometimes even covering the whole cost. If you’re a regular Tesco shopper these points build up fast.

14 – Housesitting

Housesitting can be an amazing option for accommodation and is something we use often. Websites like TrustedHousesitters connect travellers with homeowners who need someone to look after their house (and often pets) while they’re away. In exchange for your care, you get to stay in the property for free, potentially in some amazing locations. It’s a great way to travel on a budget while experiencing local life in a more personal setting. We have a discount link for 25% trustedhousesitters on our blog post.

15 – Holiday camps

Holiday camps, such as Eurocamps, offer budget-friendly accommodation which is especially great for families. These campsites are spread across Europe and provide a mix of caravans, lodges, and tents, often in beautiful, scenic locations. They usually come with great facilities such as pools, playgrounds, and entertainment, making them an ideal choice for a budget family holiday. Plus, cooking your own meals in the provided kitchenettes can further cut costs. We currently have £50 off Eurocamp bookings (expires 31/10/24) the code can be found in our linktree whilst valid.

16 – Camping

Camping is obviously one of the most affordable accommodation options. Do not underestimate how much children will love camping. We have travelled all around the world and Leo’s favourite memories always come from camping! Campsites can be found in some stunning locations, giving you access to nature and adventure on a budget. Just make sure to account for additional costs like campsite fees and the necessary equipment if you’re bringing your own tent.

17 – Ask for upgrades

It never hurts to ask for an upgrade, especially if you’re celebrating a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary. Hotels often have rooms available that aren’t booked, and if you ask politely, they might upgrade you at no extra cost. The key is to be courteous and flexible. If you have the skills you could offer to create some content in exchange for an upgrade. We do this often!

18 – Follow your favourite hotels on social media

Many hotels post exclusive deals, flash sales, or discounts on their social media channels. Following your favourite hotels on platforms like Instagram and Facebook can give you access to these deals before anyone else. Sometimes hotels also run competitions or promotions that could help you snag a discounted or even free stay. Following accounts like ours (The Travel Mum) on instagram and threads can mean you hear about great discounts before the masses.

19 – Don’t miss mobile only prices

Many hotel booking platforms offer exclusive deals for users who book via their mobile app. These mobile-only prices can offer significant savings compared to the desktop version. Be sure to download apps from popular platforms like Booking.com or Hotels.com and check the prices through both web and mobile before making a final decision.

20 – Check for additional city tax / extra payments that may be needed

Always check the fine print when booking a hotel, as some cities impose additional tourist taxes or fees. These can be added onto your final bill and may not always be included in the advertised price. It’s also worth confirming whether amenities like linens, towels, baby cots or Wi-Fi are included in the rate, as some budget hotels may charge extra for these.

I hope these tips have been helpful. Remember to follow us on socials for tons of great cheap travel content.

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