As summer holidays approach, many people are starting to book their getaways, but with rising costs, travel has become increasingly expensive. One of the biggest expenses in many travel budgets is hotel accommodation, especially during peak season when prices tend to rise significantly.
Many people are unaware they can save a considerable amount of money by following a few simple tricks. Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert has shared a number of straightforward tips that can help cut the cost of hotel stays, and many people are not taking advantage of them. Here are five tips worth knowing before making a booking.
1. Never book the first price you see
This is MSE's golden rule and the one that makes the biggest difference. Prices for the same hotel room vary considerably depending on which comparison site or booking platform is used. Tools like Skyscanner, Kayak and TripAdvisor all compare prices across multiple booking sites at once and results differ between them, so checking more than one is worth the extra few minutes.
Once the best comparison price is found, it is also worth calling the hotel directly to see if it will match or beat it — hotels sometimes offer direct bookers perks that comparison sites miss, including breakfast or room upgrades.
2. Book with free cancellation and rebook if the price drops
One of the most underused tricks is booking a room with free cancellation and then keeping an eye on the price. If the rate drops before the stay, simply cancel and rebook at the lower price.
MSE highlights cases where travellers have saved £200 or more this way by checking back on a booking they had already made. Free cancellation options are available on most major booking sites and can be filtered for directly in the search results.
3. Use cashback sites on top of comparison prices
Once the best price has been found, running the booking through a cashback site like TopCashback or Quidco adds money back on top. MSE notes cashback rates of up to 10 to 13% are available with some hotel brands and booking sites, which on longer stays can amount to a meaningful saving. The key is not to choose a booking purely because the cashback rate looks attractive — the deal itself still needs to stack up against alternatives.
4. Join free hotel loyalty schemes
Most major hotel chains offer free loyalty schemes that unlock member only prices and discounts from the moment of joining. Radisson Rewards offers up to 15% off stays, IHG One Rewards up to 10% off and Hilton Honors up to 5% off, all available on sign up at no cost.
Beyond discounts, loyalty scheme members also tend to have more luck when calling a hotel directly to ask for an upgrade or a better rate at check-in.
5. Check if going direct saves money
After comparing prices across booking sites, it is worth checking the hotel's own website directly. Hotels sometimes offer exclusive deals for direct bookers that do not appear on comparison platforms, including early booking promotions or multi-night deals.
If the hotel's direct price is higher, that benchmark is still useful as a starting point for negotiating extras like breakfast being thrown in for free.
Another thing worth knowing is that booking as early as possible can also help reduce costs where plans are unlikely to change, as hotels often release their cheapest rates well in advance. While last-minute deals can sometimes appear, they are far from guaranteed, particularly during peak travel periods.
A spokesperson for travel experts Ski Vertigo added: "A lot of people end up paying more than they need to for hotels simply because they don't realise how much prices can vary between sites. Taking a few extra minutes to compare deals, check for cashback and look at flexible booking options can make a noticeable difference to your travel budget. If you're travelling during busy periods such as the summer holidays, booking early is usually a good idea too, as prices often increase once rooms start filling up."
