Who doesn't love a break away in a hotel room? Room service on tap, freshly made beds and maybe even a chocolate on your pillow when you turn in for the night.
But bagging a cheap price can prove a difficult task. Closer Online asked the experts at eSky for their top tips on booking a hotel room at bargain rate.
1: Be flexible with your dates
Being flexible with your hotel booking date is key. If you are not confined to a specific date, always ensure to click +/- 3 days on your search engine. You may discover it to be over £100 cheaper if you move your trip back a day.
2: Look outside of the main tourist attractions
Rather than booking your hotel in the city centre, try staying a few miles out. Not only will the hotel be at a cheaper rate but the restaurants and attractions will be more affordable. You may also discover smaller, independent eateries with delicious homemade food. As long as you are close to public transport, there is no reason to stay in the centre.
3: Choose self-catered accommodation
Bring out the budding chef in you. Self-catered accommodation is far cheaper than any board bookings and is also a great way to experience more cultural food. Instead of being tied to the same restaurant every night, you have the opportunity to explore multiple restaurants. If you are on a long break, sometimes you can get bored of constantly eating out. It can be more satisfying to pop to the local supermarket and whip up a meal in the comfort of your accommodation.
4: Pay in full
Many hotels offer instalment payments if you are paying in advance. However, they can apply a hefty interest fee on top so you can end up paying almost double the cost of the holiday. If possible, pay the full amount at the time of booking. Not only will this save you money but also allows peace of mind. You can forget about paying anything else until you are sat on the beach drinking cocktails.
5: Pay attention to dates
When looking for your dream hotel considering searching on a Friday or Saturday. On average, 30 percent fewer people search on these days so you will both avoid online traffic and grab a bargain. Also, look into checking into the hotel on a Sunday and checking out on a Friday.
6: Think independent
Most hotel booking sites host both chain and independent hotels. It is always best to support independent hotels as they help to employ local workers. They also focus more on the guests' needs, rather than complying to chain companies “standards". Independent hotels also spend far less on marketing techniques and often rely on word-of-mouth to promote themselves. This means they have an overall cheaper cost to stay per night.
7: Consider extending your stay
Many hotels offer a fourth or fifth night for free when booking. It is always worth checking whether extending your stay by an extra night changes the overall cost of the trip.
8: Look for hotels with added freebies
Many hotels may include added "bolt-ons" to your trip if you book with them. This may be complimentary breakfast, free Wi-Fi, or access to spa facilities for free. Small things that you may not think of can end up significantly increasing the cost of your trip - even paying for Wi-Fi in your hotel room can be around £20 a day.
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9: Resist the urge to filter
Although having a hotel room with a sauna built in may be amazing, do you really need it? To find the best deals only use essential filters, such as whether they have facilities to cater for disabled guests. Anything extra that comes with the hotel can then be seen as an added bonus. This is specifically useful if you are on a city break, as, realistically, will you spend that much time the hotel?
10: Consider booking out of season
Booking out of season is probably one of the most well-known and useful tricks in the book. The costs for both flights and hotels sky-rocket over school holidays as they know that for many, these are the only times that they can travel throughout the year. If you are not tied down to taking specific holidays then ensure that you book outside of peak times. We recommend May, June and September as you still have guaranteed sun and the resorts are much quieter.