Copan hotel, finding accommodation deals

Tips for finding accommodation deals

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When is a deal really a deal?

airbnbshack
Taken from actual listing on Airbnb in California. Not my idea of fun but it could be yours.
Cheapest isn’t always the best option when it comes to accommodations. 
 
Everyone has a different level of comfort they are willing to accept when it comes to living away from home. For a night or two, I don’t have a problem sleeping on the ground in a tent but any longer than that and the lack of sleep and soreness will make me cranky enough that it isn’t worth the savings. One of my most favourite things is crawling into a cozy bed and sleeping soundly. Of course, that could happen in a tent. Just google glamping and you will see what I mean.
 
Personally, I struggle to find a balance between budget, value and comfort. After all, the less I spend on accommodations the longer I can spend travelling.
 
Here are some tricks that I use for finding great accommodation deals. 

All in one search sites

If you aren’t sure yet what kind of accommodation you are after use a search engine that can show you more than just hotels. 

Hipmunk

Hipmunk is a great option because it shows you Airbnb properties as well as hotels and hostels by searching several major sites such as Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com and more.

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AllTheRooms

Alltherooms searches Airbnb as well as other vacation rental and booking sites such as FlipKey, VRBO, Hotwire, HomeAway and Priceline.
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Sign up for rewards points

The rewards program with Hotels.com is hard to beat (that’s just my opinion). After 10 stays you get one free night, the value is the average of the 10 nights and there are no blackout dates for using the reward nights. 
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As long as you book and stay within 12 months of the last completed booking you will not lose your rewards.
It’s super easy to search for, book, modify or cancel hotels. 

BOOKING TIP – Book a refundable rate and watch the price. As you get closer to the day and firm up your plans you can often save money by switching to the non-refundable rate or taking advantage of a sale price with just a couple of clicks.

Individual hotels and chains have rewards programs too

Often you will find a special deal, access to different room categories or other perks for booking directly with the hotel. If you find yourself frequently staying in the same chains, it would be beneficial to sign up for their loyalty program and newsletter.

Check coupon sites

Groupon and LivingSocial

Groupon and LivingSocial are worth checking to see if there are any flash deals on places you want to go. Just remember to read the fine print about the individual deals. Some are listed and charged in different currency, often making them less of a deal.

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Some final tips

Do a Google maps search of the area you would like to stay. 

If you are travelling without a vehicle, factor in costs for transportation to areas you want to visit. Accommodations outside a city centre might be cheaper, but if you have to pay to get everywhere it’s probably no longer a deal. 

Stay longer.

This is especially true for Airbnb. Staying in the same place for at least 7 days will often be discounted over the regular nightly rate. Some hosts offer 14 day and 1 month discounts also making it ideal for long-term travel accommodations.

Book your flight and hotel together.

If you are staying in one place for the duration of your trip, do a search that bundles your flight and hotel together on sites like Expedia and Booking.com. The savings can be significant. If you haven’t already read about finding the cheapest flights you should definitely check it out now. 

Quick guide to finding the cheapest flights

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