Expert Tips to Save Money on Hotel Stays

Traveling can be expensive, especially when it comes to hotel stays. Fortunately, there are several strategies to find great deals on hotels, allowing you to save money and travel more. Here are five easy ways to book affordable hotel rooms:

1. Use Google Hotels for Research

Google Hotels is a powerful tool for comparing prices from different booking websites. Enter your destination and dates, and use filters to narrow down your options by price, reviews, amenities, and more. While Google Hotels is excellent for research, it’s best to book directly through the hotel’s website for better rates and service.

2. Be Cautious with Third-Party Booking Sites

While sites like Booking.com and Expedia can help you find deals, they often end up being more expensive than booking directly with the hotel. Additionally, third-party bookings may come with poor customer service, difficulties with changes or cancellations, and you won’t earn loyalty points. If you find a lower price on a third-party site, contact the hotel directly to see if they’ll match it.

3. Join Hotel Loyalty Programs

Hotel loyalty programs offer significant savings and perks:

• Member Prices: Get discounted rates for members.

• Earn Points: Accumulate points for free future stays.

• Free Nights: Some programs offer a free night after a certain number of nights booked.

• Status Benefits: Enjoy perks like free WiFi, breakfast, and room upgrades.

Joining these programs is free and can lead to substantial savings over time.

4. Use Travel Rewards Credit Cards

Travel rewards credit cards are my personal favorite way to save money on hotels. There are two main ways to do this:

Co-Branded Hotel Credit Cards
Any money you spend on a co-branded hotel credit card, even on everyday purchases, earns you points for that hotel chain, which you can redeem for future stays. Many hotel credit cards also offer an annual free night certificate, which can be redeemed at participating hotels in the chain’s portfolio.

Some top hotel card picks:

• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card – Automatic Platinum Elite status for as long as you hold the card, an anniversary free night (up to ~40,000-point value), plus “redeem 3 nights, get the 4th night free” on award stays.

• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card – Annual free night award (up to ~35,000-point value) after your card anniversary, plus 15 Elite Night Credits per year toward Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card – Earn a Free Night Reward after spending $15,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year, plus Gold status (enrollment required for select benefits).

Flexible Travel Rewards Cards with Transfer Partners
Instead of earning points for just one hotel chain, these cards let you transfer points to multiple hotel and airline partners. This flexibility makes them some of the most powerful tools for hotel savings.

Recommended Personal Cards

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card – Great value for the annual fee, strong hotel transfer options like Hyatt, Marriott, and IHG.

• American Express Platinum Card®  – Premium benefits including Fine Hotels + Resorts access and hotel elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required).

Recommended Business Cards

• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card – High earning rates on travel and strong hotel transfer partners.

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express – Premium travel benefits, hotel elite status, and statement credits (enrollment required).

5. Snag Last-Minute Deals with Hotel Tonight

Hotel Tonight is an app that offers last-minute hotel bookings at discounted rates. It’s ideal for spontaneous travelers or those needing a quick place to stay. Despite being a third-party app, it features quality hotels aiming to fill their rooms, offering good deals without compromising on quality.