19 Secrets to Finding Cheap Accommodations While Traveling

Traveling is a great way to get away from your daily routine and enjoy some time off with friends or family. However, it’s not always easy to find affordable accommodations from hundreds of travel sites while traveling. If you are looking for cheap accommodations option while traveling, here are some tips that will help you save money on your next trip:

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Stay in the Heart of Things When planning where to stay while traveling, consider staying in the heart of the city instead of at an airport hotel. Most hotels charge more than double what they would cost if you stayed in the center of town. This can be especially true when booking last minute. You may also want to check out Airbnb as well. It’s a popular option for travelers who don’t mind sharing their space with others.
Don’t Book Your Hotel Too Early If you book your hotel too early, you may end up paying through the nose. Hotels often raise prices during peak travel times such as holidays and weekends. So, if you have a tight budget, wait until later in the week before making a reservation.
Consider Splurging on a Luxury Hotel Instead of a Budget Hotel While traveling, there are plenty of luxury hotels available that offer amenities like high-speed internet access, room service, and even concierge services. These features come at a price, but they could make all the difference when it comes to saving money while traveling.
Check Out Airbnb Before Making A Reservation If you’re considering staying in someone else’s home while traveling, you should first try out Airbnb. The site connects people who need places to stay with those willing to rent out extra space in their homes. By using this site, you can find a place to stay without having to pay for a traditional hotel.
Look For Discounted Rates Off Season There are many ways to find discounted rates when traveling. One of these is by checking out discount sites like Groupon. Another is by contacting local businesses directly. Many companies offer discounts to students, military personnel, seniors, and other groups.

19 Website for Cheap Accommodations While Traveling

1. Airbnb

Airbnb is a website that allows users to list their spare rooms or apartments for rent. Users can browse listings created by other users or search for specific types of properties including private homes, vacation rentals, hostels, and castles for cheap accommodations. To use Airbnb, users must create a free account and verify their identity via a valid email address.

Once registered, users can post their listing and choose between three different payment methods: credit card, PayPal, or bank transfer. Payments are processed within 24 hours and verified prior to being released to the owner. Once paid, owners receive a notification email confirming the transaction. Owners can then contact guests via messaging and send them directions to the property. Guests can leave reviews after their stays which helps future visitors decide whether or not to book a rental through Airbnb.

Airbnb has been growing rapidly since its launch in 2008. In 2015 alone, the company facilitated over 2 million guest nights and had more than 10 million unique monthly visitors. As of 2016, Airbnb was valued at $10 billion dollars.

2. Hotwire

Hotwire is another popular resource for finding cheap accommodations while traveling. Similar to Airbnb, Hotwire offers short-term apartment and house rentals around the world. Unlike Airbnb, however, Hotwire does not require membership. To use Hotwire, simply visit the website and enter your destination city and preferred travel dates of travel. Hotwire will display a list of available properties based on your criteria. You can filter results by location, a number of bedrooms, and price range. After selecting a suitable property, you can view additional details about each listing, such as photos, floor plans, and descriptions. When ready, select one of the booking options (i.e., instant confirmation, secure online payments, etc.) and complete the reservation process.

Hotwire also provides an app for iOS and Android devices. Using the app, travelers can make reservations, check availability, and track their trips.

3. Google Travel

Google Travel is a service offered by Google that allows users to plan and book flights, cheap accommodations, cars, and activities. It works similarly to Expedia, but it’s owned by Google. Google Travel scans hundreds of airlines and hotels and gives you the cheapest price. Google Travel requires registration; however, once signed up, users can access all features without having to pay again.

Users can search for flight deals, hotel rooms, car rentals, and activity packages using filters such as departure date, length of stay, and type of accommodation. Results are organized into categories such as “cheap deals” and “hotel deals.” The site also displays maps with markers indicating where each option is located.

After selecting an item from the results page, users can add it to their itinerary. They can also save trip preferences like preferred airlines, preferred hotels, and preferred car hire companies. Lastly, they can share their trip with friends and family members.

The Google Travel app is available for both iPhones and iPad. It includes many of the same features as the main website, plus some extra ones. For example, the app lets you create lists of favorite places, so you don’t have to reenter information every time you want to find something new.

4. American Express Travels

If you’re looking for a way to earn points when you travel, American Express Travel may be worth checking out. Members earn 1 point per dollar spent on eligible purchases. There’s no annual fee associated with this program, but there are other ways to earn points if you prefer. Members can also purchase cheap accommodations and flights from American Express Travel.

You can redeem these points for cashback or airline miles through partner sites like Ebates.com, which gives you money back on shopping. Points can also be redeemed for gift cards and merchandise through partners like Amazon.com.

5. Kayak

A kayak is a popular tool used for searching for airfare and cheap accommodations. Users can choose between flexible dates and standard dates, and then sort results by price, distance, or duration. Kayak has partnerships with several major airlines, including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Virgin America, and Hawaiian Airlines.

To use Kayak, sign in with Facebook or Twitter. Then, search for flights within the last 90 days. You can set your origin and destination cities, as well as your desired departure and return dates. Once you’ve entered all the necessary information, click “Search Flights.” If you’d rather browse than search, you can do so by clicking “Browse Flights” at the top right corner of the screen.

Once you’ve selected the flight you wish to take, you’ll see options for different types of accommodations. Clicking on anyone will bring up more details about that particular option. You can filter results based on price, the number of stops, and whether the flight is direct or indirect.

Once you’ve made your choice, you can either print a PDF of the itinerary or view it online. You can also check prices for additional trips, change any reservations, and make payments.

6. Expedia

Expedia is another popular resource for finding cheap Hotels. Like Kayak, Expedia offers flexible searches, allowing users to select specific departure and arrival times. Also similar to Kayak, Expedia has partnerships with various airlines, including Delta, United, Continental, American, Northwest, Southwest, and Alaska Airlines.

There are two ways to access Expedia. The first is through its mobile apps for iOS and Android devices. The second is through its website. Both methods allow users to search for flights, hotels, vacation packages, and car rentals.

The site itself is easy to navigate and provides useful tools such as filters and maps. To book a hotel room, simply enter the city where you want to stay and the date you want to visit. You can then narrow down your selection by selecting from among different categories, such as budget, luxury, family-friendly, and pet-friendly. After making your choices, click “Book Now” to complete the process.

7. Momondo

Momondo is an app designed specifically for travelers who want to find the cheapest deals on flights, hotels, and cars. It works similarly to Kayak and Expedia, providing flexible searches and filtering capabilities. However, unlike those services, Momondo doesn’t have partnerships with airlines or other travel companies. Instead, it relies solely on user reviews to determine what’s the best deal.

You can access Momondo via its website or its mobile apps for iOS, and Android. On the website, you can search for flights, hotels, and rental cars. Alternatively, you can download the app onto your phone and use it to compare prices for flights, hotels, and rental cars.

You can also look for flights using the app’s “Flexible Search,” which allows you to specify when you’re looking to fly (for example, between June 1 and July 31). This feature is especially helpful if you’re planning multiple trips during certain months.

8. Priceline

Priceline is one of the most popular websites for booking hotels, flights, and rental cars. Priceline is known for offering deep discounts on airfare, but it also has partnerships with many major airlines. For instance, Priceline offers discounted fares on flights operated by Air Canada, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and others.

To get started, head over to the site and create an account. Then, search for flights, hotels, or rental cars. You can filter results based on price, location, number of stars, and more. Clicking on the “book now” button will take you to a page that shows all available options in each category. If you like any of them, you can reserve the flight, hotel, or car right away. Otherwise, you can choose to save the details for later.

If you don’t mind waiting, you can always check out Priceline’s Deals page. Here, you’ll find a list of current promotions, including free nights, cashback, and extra miles. Click on the link next to the promotion you’d like to redeem, and follow the instructions to claim your discount.

9. Booking.com

Booking.com is another popular option for finding cheap flights, hotels, and car rentals. Like Priceline, Booking.com partners with various airlines to offer discounted rates on flights. In addition, the company operates its own airline, JetBlue Vacations, which offers vacation packages at discounted prices.

Similar to Priceline, you can start searching for flights, hotels, cars, and more through the website. Once there, you can select from a variety of filters, such as dates, destination, and price range. The site then displays all available options. To book anything, just click on the “book now!” button. For even better savings, sign up for the Booking.com email newsletter. Every week, you’ll receive a round-up of the latest deals on flights, hotels, and cars.

One thing to keep in mind is that Booking.com only lists properties that are owned by third parties. So, while you may be able to find great deals on flights, hotels, and rental cars, you won’t have access to those same discounts on things like restaurants, attractions, and activities.

10. Agoda

Agoda is a travel booking platform that specializes in low-cost accommodations. It works with more than 2,000 hotels around the world, so you should have no problem finding something affordable. Agoda also features a wide selection of apartments, villas, and other types of lodging. The best part about Agoda is that they often offer special discounts on their rooms. To see what kind of deals are currently available, simply visit the site and enter your preferred dates. You can then view all available rooms and make reservations right away.

Another way to save money when using Agoda is to use their Price Guarantee feature. This allows you to pay for your reservation once, and if you find a lower rate within 24 hours, you can cancel your original booking and rebook for the new price. To make sure you’re getting the most value out of your trip, consider signing up for the Agoda Rewards program. For every dollar spent, you’ll earn one point. These points can be redeemed for gift cards, vouchers, and merchandise.

11. Skyscanner Hotels

Skyscanner is a travel booking app that lets users compare hundreds of different travel sites at once. While it doesn’t provide direct discounts, Skyscanner does give users information about how much they can expect to spend on airfare, accommodation, and car hire.

When looking for a hotel, you can filter results based on location, star rating, number of reviews, and amenities offered. Then, you can sort them by price or distance from your desired location. If you want to get an idea of how much you can expect to spend, you can also add a budget to your search. You can choose between $25 per night, $50 per night, $100 per night, or $200 per night.

When you’ve found a place you’d like to stay, you can reserve the room directly through the app. If you don’t know where you will be staying before you leave home, you can browse places nearby. Simply type in your city name, state, and zip code, and you’ll be shown a list of nearby hotels. You can also check out user ratings and photos of each property. Just tap on any result to read more details about the hotel, including its address, phone number, and website. You can also book your flight and hotel together through Skyscanner. Once you’ve selected your destination, you can choose from over 500 airlines and more than 10,000 hotels. You can then select which ones meet your criteria (such as whether they accept pets) and proceed to book both your flights and hotel.

12. Orbitz

Like Travelocity, Orbitz provides users with discounted rates on flights, hotels, rental cars, and vacation packages. The company has been offering these kinds of services since 1997, so it’s well established. One of the biggest benefits of using Orbitz is that you can access their service without having to create an account first.

If you do decide to sign up, however, you’ll receive exclusive offers, free upgrades, and bonus cashback. One of the best things about Orbitz is that they allow you to book multiple trips at once. So, if you have several vacations planned throughout the year, you can easily combine them into one package deal. When searching for hotels, you can narrow down your options by selecting specific locations such as cities, states, and countries. You can also look for properties that are pet-friendly.

For flights, you can search by airline, origin airport, departure time, duration, and date. You can even specify what kind of ticket you want (roundtrip vs. one-way). Once you find a flight that works for you, you can quickly purchase it by tapping on the “Book Now” button. Orbitz will show you all available dates and times, along with prices. To make sure you’re getting the lowest rate possible, you can use the filters on the left side of the screen to set your preferences. For example, you can choose between economy seats, business class seats, and premium seats. Once you’ve booked your flight, you can track your order right from the Orbitz app. This feature allows you to see when your luggage was delivered, pick it up, and print boarding passes.

The Orbitz app also includes a currency converter, travel guide, and weather forecast. These features can come in handy when planning your trip.

13. Travelocity

Similar to Orbitz, Travelocity lets you compare deals across different airlines, car rentals, and hotels. The main difference between the two companies is that Travelocity doesn’t offer airfare discounts. Instead, it focuses on providing information on popular destinations around the world. If you’d like to save money while traveling, you should consider booking your flights directly through Travelocity. They provide exclusive deals on tickets, which means you won’t be paying extra fees for booking your flights.

Another benefit of booking your flights through Travelocity is that you can get refunds or changes if you need to cancel your reservation. In addition to booking flights, you can also book hotels, rental cars, cruises, and tours. When doing so, you can filter results based on price, location, star rating, and more. You can also use the Travelocity app to manage your reservations. It includes a calendar where you can view upcoming events, check your itinerary, and share photos. You can also download maps of popular places near your destination. The app provides detailed driving directions, too.

14. Hotels.com

Hotels.com has been around since 1996 and has over 1 million members. Their website is easy to navigate and makes finding cheap hotel rooms simple. Like other sites mentioned above, Hotels.com allows you to select specific locations, including cities, states, and airports. You can also sort results by price, distance, and amenities offered. If you don’t mind sharing reviews from previous guests, you can read their comments to help you decide whether a property is worth checking out. When you’re ready to book your room, just click on the “Book Now!” button. Hotels.com will give you a list of available properties sorted by price. You can then enter your desired dates and number of people. Once you have everything filled in, you’ll receive an email confirmation once your reservation has been made.

Hotels.com offers several payment options, such as credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal. In addition, they accept American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, and Diners Club. To ensure you’re getting the best rates, Hotels.com recommends using its free price alert tool. You can sign up for this service at any time, and it will notify you whenever prices drop.

15. TripAdvisor

This site is owned and operated by Expedia, Inc., one of the largest online travel agencies in the world. It’s no secret that TripAdvisor receives compensation from hotels listed on its website. However, there are some benefits to signing up with them.

First off, when you search for accommodations on TripAdvisor, you’ll see all of the top-rated hotels in each category. This eliminates the hassle of having to sift through hundreds of unhelpful listings.

Second, you can easily find great deals on hotels by browsing their featured lists. These include hotels that are offering special discounts, deals, or promotions.

Third, you can earn points toward future stays by completing surveys about your trip.

Finally, you can save money by comparing prices before making a purchase.

The downside to TripAdvisor is that it doesn’t provide information regarding customer service. So, if you run into problems while staying at a particular establishment, you won’t be able to contact the company directly. In order to make sure you’re dealing with a reputable business, we recommend contacting the Better Business Bureau. They offer tips on how to avoid scams and frauds. Also, be careful not to fall victim to fake reviews posted by scammers who want to take advantage of unsuspecting travelers.

16. Trivago

If you’re looking for something a little different than what we’ve covered so far, Trivago may be right up your alley. Similar to Booking.com, Trivago lets you browse properties based on location, price, and amenities.

However, unlike Booking.com, which only provides hotel rooms, Trivago also features apartments, condos, villas, and more. Once you find a suitable listing, you can reserve it instantly via their secure booking engine. Payments can be made via a major credit card, debit card, or bank transfer.

17. Hopper

If you’re traveling for work, Hopper might be a good option. It’s part of the Priceline Group, which owns Booking.com and many other popular websites. Like Booking.com, Hopper allows users to search for available lodging based on location, price range, and traveler preferences. You can also use the site to book activities like tours, car rentals, and tickets. Hopper also includes user reviews, which give you a better idea of whether a particular property is worth checking out. However, Hopper does lack some key features found elsewhere on our list. For example, it doesn’t allow you to compare costs across multiple properties. Still, if you’re looking for a reliable resource, Hopper could be just what you need.

18. TravelPony

TravelPony is another excellent choice for finding cheap hotels and flights. While most flight comparison sites focus solely on airfare, TravelPony offers additional services like vacation packages, hotel deals, and rental cars. This makes it an ideal place to plan your entire trip. Additionally, TravelPony has a mobile app that works well on both iOS and Android devices. As with any online travel agency, there are a few downsides to using TravelPony.

For starters, they don’t have access to as much data as larger companies do. This means that you’ll likely receive fewer results when searching for specific cities. On top of that, TravelPony charges extra fees for certain types of searches. For instance, they charge $5 per person for each stopover (like London) in addition to the base fare.

Finally, TravelPony isn’t always the cheapest option. If you’re willing to shop around, you should be able to find cheaper options.

19. HotelsCombined

Finally, HotelsCombined is one of the best resources for finding cheap hotels. The website was created by Expedia, but it now operates independently. You can still use HotelsCombined to book hotels through Expedia, but you’ll get better rates if you book directly. While HotelsCombined is primarily focused on hotels, they also feature vacation packages, cruises, and even car rentals. The site uses real-time pricing, which means that prices fluctuate depending on supply and demand. However, this shouldn’t affect your ability to find a great deal. As mentioned earlier, HotelsCombined lacks some key features compared to other sites on our list. For instance, it doesn’t offer the same level of customer service as Booking.com.

That said, HotelsCombined provides a comprehensive overview of all available options. Plus, it’s easy to navigate, making it simple to find exactly what you want.

While we’ve only covered a handful of different sites here, we think you’ll agree that these are among the best resources for finding affordable accommodations. Each site offers something unique, so try them all out to see which fits your needs best.

Of course, keep in mind that not every site will work for everyone. Some people prefer booking their trips through a traditional travel agent, while others enjoy researching everything themselves. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide how you’d like to go about planning your next adventure!