On our blog we’re always banging on about great trips you can take, such as our recent 24hrs In Dublin report. However, with off-peak flights so affordable, the most expensive part of a long weekend away can often be the accommodation. So to try and help, we’ve brought together our favourite money-saving tips when booking your hotel room.
1. Book Direct
If you’ve found a nice independent hotel online through a comparison site such as Booking.com, it’s always worth giving the hotel a call and asking for a better rate direct. Third party sites charge the hotel a large commission, commonly 15%, but this can be higher if they are a promoted hotel.
Independent hotels are likely to offer you a better price direct – they don’t have to pay commission on your booking and share the benefit with you. Offering to pay in cash may sometimes bring the price down even more.
2. Use A Cashback Site
Generally speaking, cashback sites are a great way to reduce the cost of everyday purchases. Working in a similar way to sharing the commission as above, cashback sites receive a commission on any products bought which they share with you in the form of cashback.
TopCashback.co.uk will give you 9.25% cashback on any bookings made on Hotels.com, if you book through a mobile device and forgo any Hotels.com rewards. Other options and cashback sites are available.
Be careful though – remember to compare the sites. You may find that the hotel service used on a cashback site is more expensive than others.
3. Cancel and Rebook
Some bookings will come with free cancellation options. If you see your hotel adverting rooms at a lower rate than when you booked, you should exercise your right to cancel and rebook at a lower rate.
It often pays to keep an eye on prices whilst you are still within your cancellation period.
4. Airbnb
Airbnb is the relatively new way to explore the world. Anyone with a spare room – be that a bungalow in Bognor Regis, a castle in Scotland or a penthouse in New York – can rent their space out for people to stay on a short term basis. Single rooms or whole private living spaces are available all over the world.
Without the need for receptionists and swimming pools you’re never going to use, rooms on Airbnb can often be cheaper than hotels. And Airbnb can provide a much more unique and adventurous experience too.
5. Join Avios
Credit cards are everywhere – airlines, shops, banks – and they all offer different things. If you’re good with money, then using a credit card can help give you something for nothing. Lloyds have an Avios credit card which helps you accumulate Avios points just through your everyday spending.
Avios points can be exchanged for flights, hotel rooms, Eurostar travel – the list is extensive. And there’s plenty of ways you can earn Avios too. You can even transfer Tesco clubcard and Shell points into Avios points. By getting organised and making Avios work for you, annual free flights or hotel rooms are a significant possibility.
A note of caution: in order to realise the monetary rewards of credit card perks, it’s vital that credit cards are repaid every month. Otherwise the interest due on the credit will outweigh the value of the perks. Credit cards have to make money somehow.
Remember that just like anything valuable, it's important to insure your travel plans with proper comprehensive travel insurance. For help or assistance and to recieve a free quote click the link below, or call us on 01243 784000
