THE PRICE of accommodation can sometimes be enough to put people off going on holiday.
But there are ways to cut back the cost of hotels – you just need to know how to do it.
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Using price-comparison sites can help you save money on hotelsCredit: Alamy
The travel experts at Thrifty Nomads are well used to hunting for bargains and have revealed some of their best tips to avoid forking out a fortune for a place to stay.
In an article for Metro they explained how they look after their pennies while travelling.
One of their top tips is a simple one that can get you a free upgrade, or at very least a free celebratory item.
Their advice is that, if your trip is to celebrate a birthday, you shouldn’t be shy about telling your accommodation.
Jen Avery from Thrifty Nomads said: “If you’re coming to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, don’t be shy about telling your hotel, even subtly.
“Complimentary upgrades or fizz can often result from that.”
Additionally, the Nomads recommend booking your hotel through price-comparison sites which aggregate results from various booking websites to find the best deals.
The pick of the bunch according to Jen is HotelsCombined.co.uk.
There are other ways in which travellers can save money when paying for hotels online, with several booking sites offering loyalty programmes.
One of the better ones is Booking.com’s “Genius” scheme, which provides deals and discounts.
It benefits repeat uses as the more bookings made per user, the better discounts you will have access to.
It is also worth browsing comparison sites for longer stays in hotels, as the total savings can be significant.
In 2021, Which? investigated the best and worst comparison sites and found that consumers could make substantial savings on lengthier bookings by using certain sites.
Trivago found the best prices most consistently, but Kayak, Skyscanner, TravelSupermarket and TripAdvisor also performed well.
Using comparison sites to check prices and locations is a good place to start, but don’t be afraid to contact the hotel or B&B directly.
Holidaymakers can often get even better rates or perks – like free breakfasts or champagne on arrival – by booking directly.
A hotel in Thailand has rooms available for just 2p this summer to try and bring back tourists.
The cheapest Airbnb in England costs just £9 a night.
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Birthday guests will often get free upgrades or giftsCredit: Alamy
