Smart travellers pay significantly less — without sacrificing quality or comfort. That's not magic, it's method. These 7 tricks are used by experienced travellers to systematically save on hotel bookings — both before and after booking.
1. Never check just one platform
The most expensive hotel booking mistake: only checking Booking.com and then booking. Experienced travellers compare at least three sources before committing:
- Booking.com — largest selection, often best price guarantee
- Hotel website directly — often 5–10% cheaper because there's no commission
- Google Hotels — shows prices from all platforms side by side
- HRS or Expedia — sometimes exclusive rates, especially for business travel
According to a study by the UK Competition and Markets Authority (2022), travellers who use only one booking platform pay on average 12% more than those who compare at least three platforms.
How it works in practice
Open Google Hotels, enter your hotel, dates and room preference. Google instantly shows all available providers and their prices — including direct booking with the hotel. This takes 2 minutes and can save you a lot.
2. Choose a flexible rate — then monitor the price
A flexible rate sometimes costs €10–20 more than the non-refundable price. But: if the price drops after booking — which happens in 40–60% of all bookings (Source: Hopper, 2023) — you can cancel and rebook cheaper. The savings usually outweigh the flexibility premium.
This strategy works particularly well for:
- Bookings with more than 4 weeks' lead time
- Travel in low season
- Popular city destinations like Barcelona, Amsterdam or Vienna
More on this: Flexible or cheap booking — what really pays off?
3. Activate price monitoring after booking
This is the trick most people don't know: price monitoring after booking is just as valuable. Hotels adjust prices daily — sometimes the price drops 20–30% after you've already booked.
Without a price alert, you'll miss these opportunities. With SaveMyHoliday you monitor your booked hotel price automatically, free of charge and without an account. You get an email as soon as the price drops — then you simply decide whether to rebook.
"The smart moment to save isn't just before booking — it often comes after." — travelnerd.de travel blog
4. Call the hotel directly
This tip sounds old-fashioned but is surprisingly effective. Call reception directly and ask for the best available rate. Mention:
- That you've checked Booking.com and Expedia
- That you're flexible on room type
- That you're considering a longer stay (if applicable)
Many hotels offer 5–10% discount over the phone because they save the 15–20% commission from booking platforms. On a €500 stay that's up to €50 — for a 5-minute call.
5. Choose your check-in day strategically
The day you travel makes an enormous difference. Weekend prices at city hotels are often 30–50% higher than weekday prices — because tourists mainly arrive Friday to Sunday. At resort hotels it's the opposite: weekdays can be more expensive because families arrive on Saturdays.
Practical strategy: use the calendar view on Google Hotels or Booking.com to identify the cheapest check-in days. Shifting your stay by one day often makes a 15–30% price difference — without losing any holiday time.
6. Early bird vs. last minute — know the right timing
Both strategies work — but for different situations:
Early bird discounts (more than 8 weeks before arrival)
- Best room selection — premium rooms and desirable categories are still available
- Often 15–25% cheaper on non-refundable rates
- Peace of mind, especially in high season or around events
Last minute (less than 1 week before arrival)
- Works well for city breaks in low season
- Hotels with vacancies sometimes slash prices dramatically
- Risky at popular destinations: Dubai, London or Bali in high season
- Apps like HotelTonight or Last Minute by Booking specialise in this niche
Rule of thumb: book early for popular destinations and high season, go last minute in low season when your plans are flexible.
7. Use loyalty programmes — even if you're not a frequent traveller
The major hotel chains have free loyalty programmes — and even on your first booking as a member you often get benefits:
- Marriott Bonvoy: Exclusive member rates, often 5–15% below public price. Points accumulate for free nights.
- Hilton Honors: Member rate often cheaper than Booking.com price. Early check-in, late checkout free of charge.
- IHG One Rewards: Particularly strong at Holiday Inn and Intercontinental. Points discounts from the first stay.
- Best Western Rewards: Budget-friendly mid-range hotels, simple points system, often upgrade at check-in.
Even if you only visit a hotel once: as a member you often have access to member-only rates that aren't visible to non-members at all. That costs 3 minutes to register.
Bonus trick: Browser incognito mode
Booking platforms sometimes use cookie tracking to show higher prices to returning visitors — a controversial topic. Whether this is actively applied is debated, but it doesn't hurt to repeat your search occasionally in incognito mode. Some travellers report 3–8% lower prices.
Summary: The best overall strategy
- Compare at least 3 platforms (Booking, Google Hotels, direct website)
- Book a flexible rate when the premium is under 15%
- Set up SaveMyHoliday — free automatic price alert after booking
- Ask the hotel directly for a better price
- Choose your check-in day strategically (use the calendar view)
- Early bird for high season, last minute for low season
- Activate the hotel chain's free loyalty programme
Combining all seven tricks, you'll pay an average of 20–30% less than the typical package-booker — without sacrificing a single comfort feature.
Further reading: What to do when your hotel price drops after booking? — and When and how to rebook for maximum savings.