A holiday expert has revealed a simple booking change that could save travellers up to £285 on their next getaway. Chelsea Dickenson, known as the Holiday Expert, has teamed up with TravelSupermarket to share an easy trick that most Brits overlook but could significantly cut costs.
How to Save on Hotel Bookings
When booking hotels, travellers often prioritise location, facilities, and ratings. However, travel insiders suggest that focusing on star ratings may be costing you extra money. Research from TravelSupermarket shows that swapping a 4-star hotel for a 2-star could save the average holidaymaker around £285 per person on a 7-night break. According to Chelsea Dickenson, this doesn't mean you have to compromise on quality.
"I think most people assume that dropping hotel stars means massively compromising on quality, but actually, what this data really shows is how much money people can save simply by being a little more open-minded with hotel ratings," Chelsea said. "The reality is that hotel star ratings are often based much more on facilities than things travellers actually care about most, like cleanliness, comfort, style or service. So while a lower-star hotel might not have a huge pool, room service or a 24-hour reception, it absolutely doesn't mean it can't still be a beautiful hotel in a fantastic location."
Gradual Savings by Dropping Stars
The study also revealed that you don't need to make drastic swaps to save money. Moving from a 4-star to a 3-star could save around £200 per person, while going from 3-star to 2-star saves approximately £75 per person. Chelsea added: "What's really interesting to me is that many travellers automatically filter out 2 and 3-star hotels entirely when searching for holidays, without realising they could potentially be saving hundreds of pounds per person by simply checking the reviews and photos first. For lots of travellers, especially people booking city breaks, boutique stays or shorter holidays, those extra facilities often aren't even things they'll use anyway."
Putting the Theory to the Test
To test the theory, Chelsea booked a 2-star hotel in Mykonos called Boho Suites for a stay with her partner James, who she describes as preferring the "finer things in life." The hotel had decent reviews, and Chelsea was impressed with the photos, so she decided to give it a try without telling her partner about the rating.
When they arrived, it was clear she had made a great choice. She explained: "His initial reaction was that he was impressed. I think he thought I'd booked him into a hostel! And he was quick to note the huge space, big bed, double wardrobes, rainfall shower, minibar fridge and a terrace with a sea view. However, the moment that really blew his mind was when we stepped out onto a final terrace and he spotted the outdoor jacuzzi!"
Having taken all this in, Chelsea asked her partner what star rating he thought the place was. Without hesitation, he confidently stated that it had to be a 4-star hotel. Chelsea said: "I got it. This place was spacious, stylish, and had a real wow factor. I don't think many would guess that this was only a 2-star property."
If you are feeling inspired to book a Greek getaway on a budget, it is also worth checking Skyscanner for cheap flights to Mykonos, starting from £48 each way. Have you got a holiday story to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com.
