Tips for finding cheap hotels in USA
Written by Angelina
When we start to organize a trip to the USA the first big headache comes when it comes to start looking for accommodation, as it is usually very expensive and much of the budget goes there. I say this from experience. So, here are some tricks that work so you can book cheap hotels in the United States. The steps and tips that I tell you below are those that I use myself to book hotels, motels (of which we will talk a long time later, aparthotels and even hostels.
When we start to organize a trip to the USA the first big headache comes when it comes to start looking for accommodation, as it is usually very expensive and much of the budget goes there. I say this from experience. So, here are some tricks that work so you can book cheap hotels in the United States. The steps and tips that I tell you below are those that I use myself to book hotels, motels (of which we will talk a long time later, aparthotels and even hostels
Search hotel in Trivago
For me, Trivago is the easiest search engine to use when booking a hotel anywhere in the world... and I don't get paid to advertise them. But I find it very practical to find cheap hotels on trivago.com for the United States.
When we start to organize a trip to the USA the first big headache comes when it comes to start looking for accommodation, as it is usually very expensive and much of the budget goes there. I say this from experience. So, here are some tricks that work so you can book cheap hotels in the United States.
The steps and tips that I tell you below are those that I use myself to book hotels, motels (of which we will talk a long time later, aparthotels and even hostels.
When we start to organize a trip to the USA the first big headache comes when it comes to start looking for accommodation, as it is usually very expensive and much of the budget goes there. I say this from experience. So, here are some tricks that work so you can book cheap hotels in the United States.
The steps and tips that I tell you below are those that I use myself to book hotels, motels (of which we will talk a long time later, aparthotels and even hostels
Search hotel in Trivago
For me, Trivago is the easiest search engine to use when booking a hotel anywhere in the world... and I don't get paid to advertise them. But I find it very practical to find cheap hotels on trivago.com for the United States.
Once I get the whole list of results, these are the steps I always follow to do the search:
- Sort by price
The first thing I do when I get all the results is sort by lowest price first.
- Use the filters
On the right you have filters that help to refine the search. The filters that I always use, and that you can copy are:
Private room
Private bathroom
Score of 8 or +
Location of 8 or more
Parking (if it is a rental car trip)
Besides, depending on where it is I can include some more but these are the basics that always work to start discarding and make the search faster.
- Look at the location on the map
Using the map to see where the hotel is and if it is convenient by location is another thing you should do before booking.
- Read the comments
Reading the opinions of others who have already stayed at that hotel helps to form a real opinion. He thinks that hotels are always nice, but just like that, reality is far from what you see.
Accommodation in Motels
Road motels aren't those dangerous places that Hollywood movies have sold us. They are usually very good (remember, first read comments, there are always exceptions) and are the best option for finding a cheap hotel in the United States.
Few know that this name derives from motorist + hotel. And yes, they are hotels located on the road that are often used by travelers, many of them on motorcycles but also by car.
As you've seen in a lot of movies, they are usually one- or two-story buildings with a parking area right in front of them.
The rooms usually have, in addition to the beds and the bathroom, a small fridge, which is always good to keep fresh drink and other food, a kettle and a microwave, which can be used for some cheap dinner in the same room.
Choose Rates Without Breakfast
Hotels that include breakfast tend to have more expensive rates, so it is usually better to book the room on a bed-only basis. Although you should always value it, as some may have good rates even including breakfast.
But keep in mind that in many cheap hotels in the United States the breakfast included is very but very basic and bad. The best thing is to read the comments to know how the breakfast goes and if it is worth including it or if it is better to have breakfast outside.
Booking accommodation in the suburbs
If you're going to visit New York, surely staying far away won't pay off because you'll be wasting a lot of time on travel.
But if you are going to do a rental car route in the USA a good trick to find cheap hotels in the United States is to avoid booking in big cities or very touristic places.
Article author
About the Author
Angelina is a regular contributor at The independent.
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