The price of taking a family vacation has been climbing for the last few years. In 2012, according to ABC News, the average cost was $1180. One year later, CNSNews.com had the average price listed at $4580. If you’re like most people, that huge spike in holiday pricing makes all the difference between being able to get away with your family and having to stay at home and work.
Luckily, there are ways you can save while travelling the world. By eating in your room instead of at a restaurant, you can often save a few dollars per person per night on food costs. Walking instead of using public transportation can go a long way in preserving your budget. However, if you really want to save, you need to find cheap hotel rates. Here are four ways to find cheap hotel deals and have a relaxing, memorable vacation with your family.
- Learn to Haggle
- Join Your Favorite Hotel’s Loyalty Program
- Plan Your Trip in the Off-Season
- Book Hotels and Airfare Together to Save Big
US News and World Report writes that learning to negotiate with a hotel, especially after you’ve booked your hotel, is a great way to find cheap hotel rates. It all comes down to measuring risk against reward. If your hotel is made to feel like you won’t be staying with them unless they lower their prices slightly, they are much more likely to help you out. Haggling may make you uncomfortable, but it can undoubtedly help you find cheap hotel prices at great establishments.
If you want to find cheap hotel rooms and gain access to a laundry list of other benefits, Forbes recommends you join your favorite hotel’s loyalty program. Joining most hotel loyalty programs will give you immediate access to certain perks, like free internet and breakfast. The more you stay in the company’s hotels, the more bonuses you’ll unlock. Eventually, you’ll unlock free nights, upgrades, and more.
The best way to have a successful cheap hotel search is by planning your vacation in the off-season. As BankRate.com suggests, airlines, hotels, and even some restaurants will jack-up their prices during popular parts of the week or during the tourist season. If you want to know when the off-season is for your intended destination, do your research. For some destinations, summer weekends are actually the cheapest time to visit!
Luckily, one of the best ways to find cheap hotel rates will also give you access to more affordable airfare. Try using an online travel website that offers hotel bundling. According to CNN, if you bundle hotels and airfare for your upcoming trip, you can save as much as 20% across the board!
Like everything else, taking a vacation is only getting more expensive. By following our tips for finding cheap hotel rates, you can not only find cheaper hotel rooms and airfare; you can also free up more money to spend on improving your trip overall. Good refereneces.
