The compounded cost of travelling end up being quite staggering if unchecked. Yet it’s the small savings that go a long way in making your travels lighter on the wallet. Looking for creative ways of cost cutting can help make your travel costs much cheaper. Some of the major expenses include accommodation, food, flight, and even travelling around. Cutting your accommodation is definitely a good way of staring. Here are 3 tips you can use to help lower that hotel bill.
Stay in local places like B&Bs
Local places are always cheaper. While we would all love to stay in a fancy presidential suite, or snuggle in a cozy luxury alpine chalet, the costs are very prohibitive for most. A local place will not provide you with all these high-end luxury facilities, but it will make for a decent stay.
One of the best things about local places is the ability to negotiate. They always have flexible rates, particularly in the low season. What’s more, they also give you a more valuable travel experience, interacting with friendly local hosts. Local B&Bs provide all this, and still gives you enough privacy to conduct your affairs. You can become a little drastic and opt to put up in a willing host’s spare room or even couchsurf. The combination of accommodation and breakfast is definitely a very cost effective bundle. If you are travelling in the UK on a budget, then staying in B and Bs in Oxford and other popular places is a great option.
Find local websites
No one knows the ground better than those who already live there. Thanks to the internet, you can easily glean information about the place you intend to visit way before you get there. Local websites are a great way to interact with locals, and ask for their opinions, which they almost always readily give. For example if you are looking for Delhi hotels then try and find an Indian hotel site to book through as it is likely you will get a cheaper price by going to the source, rather then paying inflated rates for companies in the UK and US who have bigger overheads to cover.
Looking for local travel boards will help you get the best accommodation deals. Asking on a local board will help you get information on best places to stay, what to expect and etc. Beauty is that you can find out a whole wealth of local information, including where to tour and even where to eat.
Bid and Haggle
Never take things at face value, ask for a discount. I know that may make me sound like a mean, old, woman, but its true! If you do not ask, you will never know.
So, before you book or make a commitment to stay in a place, ask for a discount. It helps if you have done your research about the place. Call and ask if they have a special rate. Ensure that you also find if what you are paying for includes other value services that can save you money. If you have children, ask if they will provide amenities for them. You may end up getting complimentary services, free meals, and other goodies even if the prices don’t come down.
For the more adventurous, use bidding services like Hotwire and Priceline. These websites allow you to place bids for hotel rooms in the location of interest. Only catch here is that you don’t know what hotel you will end up in until you have paid. However, many people have secured quality hotels at ridiculously low prices, so it is worth the risk.