How to Find Cheap Hotels in April
April has been a slow month for travel. International travel is on hold until 2020 and domestic travel will take precedence. This is bad news for hotels, which have many employees who depend on their business. They need to remain flexible and keep their cash flowing to stay afloat and attract business. There are several ways to find cheap hotels. Listed below are some helpful tips to make your search more efficient:
Bed and Breakfasts
The main difference between Bed and Breakfasts and hotels is their size and atmosphere. Bed and breakfasts have fewer rooms and are typically run by private owners, while hotels have many rooms. Most bed and breakfasts are located in large houses, but they may only have three or four. You are more likely to have a personal connection with your host in a bed and breakfast than in a hotel. Guests are also likely to have more personalized service in a bed and breakfast.
While bed and breakfasts are not the most expensive hotel accommodations, you will find that they are often a better value than many hotels. Many B&Bs are stately homes that have been converted to offer rooms for travelers. The personal touch and experience guests enjoy in a bed and breakfast is hard to match by any other type of lodging. Most B&Bs are also more personal than typical hotels, making them a great choice for travelers who want to experience the local culture and heritage.
Guesthouses
If you’re traveling in an area with little or no tourism infrastructure, you should consider staying in a guesthouse instead of a hotel. They’re generally less commercialized and structured than hotels, making them an ideal choice for travelers who don’t necessarily want the hassle of a typical hotel. Additionally, guest houses often feature more unique and personal touches, such as the fact that their hosts live on the same property as their guests. A guest house may even serve its own eggs or vegetables, and use local spring water for drinking.
There are a wide variety of guest houses, catering to a variety of budgets and tastes. Some guest houses feature communal areas, a pool, and a restaurant. Others have communal kitchens and offer breakfast a la carte or continental style. Some also have activities to keep guests entertained and involved. For foodies, guest houses often have a communal kitchen where guests can prepare their own meals. In addition to providing breakfast, many guest houses also offer dinner on a set schedule.
Meta-search websites
Using meta-search websites for hotels and travel means that you can get relevant results for your specific search. You can also filter your results by check-in date and location, rate parity, or length of stay. The search engines may even be paid by hoteliers to boost the visibility of their brands. Here’s how to maximize the power of these websites:
Unlike traditional OTAs, meta-search sites rely on commissions to make money. Hoteliers pay meta-search websites a commission based on the booking made through their site, often a percentage of the room rate. Hotels pay meta-search websites a commission no matter if the guest checks out or cancels the reservation. The commission rates are lower than those offered by the OTAs. If you want to maximize your savings, use these meta-search sites to find the best deals for your next vacation.
Rewards programs
There are many types of rewards programs for travelers, from those for airlines to those for hotels. Choosing the right one is important, because some are more generous than others. Many travel rewards programs are complicated, with different criteria for earning points or miles. If you don’t have time to read through all of the fine print, NerdWallet did. The site compared the most popular loyalty programs in the U.S. in the past several years.
Some of these loyalty programs offer financial discounts, perks, and status benefits, which are important to travelers. But others offer status benefits, including better hotel service. But loyalty programs are not only for frequent travelers; they are also good for businesses. You may only use them occasionally, and you need to carefully monitor the programs for the most valuable benefits. The more you use a loyalty program, the more you can earn points and status.