16 Hacks That Will Help Find Cheap Accommodation For Your Next Trip

SRK once said one-sided love is the most beautiful feeling in the world. Trust me, he lied because the most wonderful feeling in the world is travelling the world, and that my friend is the ultimate truth, and there is no denying it. 

We love travelling and given a chance we would travel the world the whole year if we had that kind of money. Isn’t that the ugly truth?

Well, let’s face it, travelling can be expensive because you have to plan many things. From your flights to the number of days to your accommodation, you plan your vacation from head to toe. If you are really smart and make an extra effort of digging information, there are ways to make your travel cheaper.

What if I tell you that you can find cheap accommodation for your trip? Isn’t that enticing?

Yes, you read it right! You can find cheap accommodation by putting in a little extra effort and a little more of your smartness in the right place and at the right time. 

Get Social Media To Your Rescue

Say No To Cookies

So when you delete the history or look for cheap accommodation in incognito mode, there is a high possibility that you will get cheaper rates for the accommodation.

This happens because the browser knows your preferences when it has your search history. Once you revisit the website or search for accommodations again, the system very smartly hikes up the prices because it has understood that you are most likely to book your accommodation and with the increased prices, you will be in a rush to book it then and there only so that the prices do not raise further.

This is not something that is being made up; some people believe it is just something people say and doesn’t happen in reality. The truth is that happens every time you try to book your accommodation. It is not limited to just accommodation but also with flights. 

Get E-Letters

Stay On A Sunday

The Total Cost Scam

Therefore before hitting the book button, check the total price, including taxes and every other extra charge that may be applicable and when you find the total cost, compare it with other websites and then book the cheapest one. 

Collect Travel Points

Travel Credit Cards

Every transaction you make from these cards earns you a point, and these points are quite beneficial because they can be used for further bookings. 

These credit cards also give free access to airport lounges, hotels, flights, etc. So go and get yourself a no-fee travel credit card.

Air BNB

Some of us don’t like the idea of living in a hostel, and hotels are way too expensive. This is when you take the road less travelled and choose the midway. 

Air BNB is more like an apartment with all the amenities you get in a hotel room, plus you also get a kitchen where you can cook your food, so you can save a lot of money on food because food outside is costly. 

However, the concept is only helpful if you are travelling with someone because if you travel solo, it will be a little expensive for you, but when you are with a bunch of people or if you are a couple, the cost can be split up. 

The best part about Air BNB is that you feel like it’s your second home, and also, most of the time, these Air BNBs are pet-friendly, so you can also bring your best buddies on your trip and not leave them alone with a neighbour as you do, every time you take a trip.

Travel Websites Rewards

Well, if you didn’t know, then you know now. 

Several websites reward you on every booking, so the next time you purchase a product or service from these sites, you get discounts or rewards for your next booking. Isn’t that rewarding? 

One of the websites, hotels.com, offers you free accommodation after ten bookings, so you see, sometimes you just need the right amount of information to get what you want.

Free Cancellations

This is a smart trick because you can reserve a room just in case you don’t find any other room that’s cheaper than the one in question. So make sure this backup hotel does not charge any cancellation fees.

Plan During The Shoulder Season

The best part about the shoulder season is that you will find favourable weather conditions, fewer crowds, and cheaper accommodations. Besides, during the shoulder season, the prices of flights and car rentals drop drastically, so it’s a win-win situation.

Stay For More Than A Day

So next time you book accommodation, try staying for more than one night and save your money on discounts. 

Live In Hostels

You will get a room with four, six or twelve beds, depending on what you are going to choose, because the prices of the rooms with different numbers of beds may vary. So you actually pay the price of the bed and not the entire room, and if you order food, you would be charged extra like any other regular hotel. 

Choose The Correct Location

It is not wise that you book cheap accommodation somewhere in isolation and then end up spending the money on conveyance which you were trying to save on accommodation. 

So choose wisely, and make sure you stay close to airports, railway stations and local attractions. Pick some centrally located accommodation but also make sure that the prices are affordable.

Check Multiple Sites

It’s best to do some digging, compare several hotel booking websites and then book your accommodation where the price is lowest. See, you gotta make some effort if you want to save some money and spend it on other exciting activities that you have planned for this trip. 

Stay With A Local

So next time your father’s cousin’s brother’s aunt’s sister who lives in a very cool city, invites you to her place, just take her address instead of nodding and ignoring the invitation. It will help, trust me. 

Sometimes you find amiable locals who not only invite you for the sake of it but actually want you to stay with them and have the local food at their homes. So just accept that invitation and spend the night at their place. You get a roof over your head, free food, stories and all the warmth you were not expecting to find in this foreign place. It will be worth it, and most importantly, it will be a memory of a lifetime for you. 

Conclusion

Wrapping up, I would only like to say that I always tell people that with the right attitude and the right amount of effort, you can get what you are looking for, and it could be as small as finding free or cheap accommodation or as big as making an empire for yourself. So Goodluck!