How to book a hotel cheaper: hidden tricks

«How to choose a hotel?» — a difficult question. «How to book a hotel profitably» — an even more challenging task. Especially if your travels are not limited to trips within Russia (although incidents happen even with those). In short, we've found some great tips and tricks for booking hotels both "at home" and abroad.

Compare prices and rates

It probably sounds quite trivial. But a simple price comparison across different platforms can sometimes save you a significant amount of money. The most popular services are Tripadvisor, Hotellook, and HotelsCombined. It's very important to test each of them when choosing a hotel, as they may cover different hotels and booking areas. For example, HotelsCombined compares prices not only from booking systems but also on the official websites of hotels and hotel chains. 

Book in advance

Again, a classic — the earlier you book, the more profitable it is. His Majesty Demand is to blame for everything. If you've just remembered that you'd like to bask by the sea in Turkey in September, it's best to book your desired hotel now. Because in the middle of summer, other tourists will also decide to look for their place in the sun, which makes a good deal many times more expensive. 

Consider weekdays and local holidays

Weekends, vacation periods, the "dry season" in the equatorial zone, and national holidays — these are all factors that will immediately increase the price of a hotel booking. This is easy to notice if, for example, you search for a hotel in Moscow around May 9th. Many people want to watch the parade, and they will compete for a good deal. 

All in all, our verdict is this: if you want to save money, choose dates far from any large-scale events and national holidays in the country you're heading to.

Use promotions

Promo codes, "Black Friday," and other perks are our go-to for profitable purchases. Very often, many services offer the opportunity to use a promo code for a discount when booking. For example, this happens during the winter holiday season, during the May holidays, and the biggest promotions take place in November. So you can set a reminder before major promotions to book a hotel at a good price.

Participate in loyalty programs

Similar to the previous point, but slightly different. Many booking services have their own bonus programs, private sales, and special offers for loyal customers. To access these, they ask you to leave your email, install their mobile app, or make a purchase with a specific key action. Keep track of notifications and messages from your favorite booking services to save money on your trip. 

Play with dates

If vacation during the "hot season" isn't crucial for you, or you don't need to "match" holidays with relatives, you can adjust your departure and arrival dates. Mid-week, for example, tickets will most often be cheaper than during the period from Friday to Monday. 

Consider hotels everywhere

That is, not just in the city center. Often, distances on a map seem very large to us, but in reality, you might only need to walk 15 minutes or take a short metro ride to your desired destination. By considering options with hotels "a little further out," you can save a decent amount of money that can be spent on other entertainment. This sometimes even applies to distances that are figuratively "across the street," so keep searching and don't give up.

Look at free and paid services

Sometimes, breakfast included in the hotel price can end up costing you more than if you bought your food separately. But these are specifics. Globally, before booking, you need to make a list of your requirements for the accommodation so you don't miss out on something important. This can include towels, personal hygiene products, the availability of a washing machine and Wi-Fi, and parking for guests. In short, identify what's important and compare prices for similar services from competitors.

Negotiate directly with the hotel

It's probably no surprise to you that an intermediary charges a commission for bookings. Because of this, the final cost of your order will be higher. So if saving money is important to you, look for the hotel's contact information or its website. And another small secret: also consider guesthouses. For example, in southern Russia, this is a common practice where the owner of the rooms handles administration and accommodation themselves. Therefore, you can ask for a booking discount and, with 99% probability, get it. 

Book accommodation with free cancellation

Or even better — two at once. Because by booking such options, you practically risk nothing. If something unforeseen happens with the first hotel, you'll go to stay in the second. Just don't forget that canceling such a booking within approximately 24 hours incurs a penalty. So, cancel the place you're less keen on staying at in advance, once you're sure about checking into your dream room.

Explore newly opened options

A newly opened hotel is a great option for several reasons. Firstly, fresh renovations, and the most welcoming and loyal service. Who would refuse that? Secondly, "new" hotels often give pleasant discounts to their first guests, which allows the client to save money, and the hotel to get honest reviews and quickly improve service if needed.

Create new accounts

A life hack that works not only with hotels, but also with most modern services. New users are often offered a discount on their first purchase, so if there's an option to register a new account, use it. But there are pitfalls here too: services are increasingly starting to link accounts to phone numbers. If you only have one or can't register a new login for a friend, this trick will be harder to pull off. 

Use cashback cards

The practice of cashback has become common for those who frequently buy goods and services online. The bank returns a portion of the money spent on bookings with its partner services. Therefore, before booking in a hotel app, check your banking app to see the list of current hotels. It might turn out that a hotel you find more appealing could even be more cost-effective than a "budget-friendly" option.

Don't be afraid of non-refundable rates

Many are scared when they see a non-refundable rate with a below-average price for the desired booking. But in reality, it's a genuinely profitable chance to save for those who are absolutely sure about their trip. Agree that your vacation is too long-awaited an event for you to cancel it in a minute. So, book a great location at a pleasant price and don't worry!

Choose new hotels for yourself

The "comfort zone" issue is important. When traveling for business, we certainly don't want to find ourselves in a situation where there's suddenly no water or a "wonderful" neighbor moves in next door. But it often happens that a favorite option can be many times more expensive than an equally great hotel across the street. 

In this case, we advise you to read reviews for a more budget-friendly place and compare them with your comfort level. If you're not ready to overpay for stability, just take some time to explore alternatives. Trust hotel reviews or check everything in practice — the choice is yours. However, it often happens that searching for something new turns into a great love!

Don't limit yourself to hotels

We briefly mentioned guesthouses and the discount associated with them. But now we want to give them special attention, as they are a great option not only to save money but also to get to know the local culture better. Usually, interesting people stay in such places who are not averse to meeting, having a joint dinner, and going to unusual places together. In short, if you want to be a bit of an extrovert and have a great vacation, consider options with coliving spaces and guesthouses. By the way, this is also a good idea if you were wondering how to book a hotel without a card — often hotel owners accept cash directly at the reception. The main thing is to decide!