How to Plan Mid-Range Trip: Part 3 Hotels

Hi my name is Lauren and me and my husband are what I consider mid-range travelers. We aren't budget backpackers and we are not luxury travelers. We fall right in the middle. 

Finding accommodation can be very tricky and expensive and can add up quickly.

We start by figuring out where we are going to stay based on the activities we want to do. Also, two other factors is if it would make sense to stay in a city center or take public transport if that is available. This also relies on how you get around the place you are visiting (if your are renting a car or relying on public transit).

I then researched what the average hotel room would cost. As mid-range travelers, we try to stay around average and find clean, put-together hotels. The average for every single country/city will be completely different. 

Next is to make sure that the hotel has the amenities you need. Most sites will have filter for parking, free breakfast etc. If you want a SPECIFIC amenity make sure you are checking before reserving the room.

For example, in Ireland, our average was $170 per night, compared to Vietnam where our average was $27. When we travel to more expensive countries we do try to aim for $10-$20 under average. 

I have linked a worksheet here which will hopefully help you plan and research for every city you go to:

Choosing Your Perfect Hotel.docx

Download DOCX • 1.94MB

The site we use to find hotels for cheap: 

Booking.com

Priceline Pricebreaker

Express Deals 

Booking Direct

Airbnb (we only book private rooms in homes or mother-in-law cottages)

Booking.com

Booking.com has become our go to to start research and planning. In some countries local spots are only available on booking.com (we found this to be most true in Southeast Asia. However, we also love it as it is a great jumping off point to booking direct if we find a place we love and that offers a discount to book direct compared.

Priceline

Priceline Pricebreaker shows you a price and three hotels that price might book. After checking out Priceline will pick the hotel out of the 3 offered.

This is what Priceline Pricebreakers look like

If you want an even bigger discount Express Deals will only show you a general area the hotel is in and the amenities it offers before you book it, however, you will not know the name until you reserve the room. We find this is a great option when we have one night in a city and just want to be in a general area. 

This is what Express Deals Look like!

Booking Direct

If you are more strict about the place you want to stay, check to see if there is a discount booking direct.

This is an underused tactic to get a quick discount even further. For example, a place we booked for our upcoming trip offered a 25% discount to book direct with them then booking on booking.com or Airbnb. Other times, booking directly got us free breakfast/free drinks, etc. This is more so true for local hotels or BnBs than chain hotels or hostels. 

Hostels

Also, don’t be afraid to book a private room in a hostel. We are for sure not going to book a bunk in a room with 6 other people, but sometimes private hostel rooms are more affordable with a more social vibe than a hotel. 

Airbnb/VRBO

Full transparency here, I am not a huge fan of booking full home Airbnbs/VRBOs. Full home rentals truly negatively impact communities. However, booking a private room in someone's home or an unfinished (no full kitchen) mother-in-law cottage we will consider if the price is right.

Reviews

Use reviews to help you get a broad understanding of the hotel. One bad review shouldn't eliminate a place HOWEVER, a recurring issue or problem people put in the reviews should!

Budget Backpacker Options

There are many other "budget backpacker" ways to travel as well to get cheap/free accommodations, including taking advantage of camping and volunteer exchange. There are plenty of folks out there much more informed on those then me.

Overview:

Here is my final parting advice:

It is best to manage expectations and go in knowing how much the average hotel will be were you are traveling.

If you want a specific hotel, booking direct might be able to save you money.

If you care about location but not necessarily the hotel, Priceline Express Deals or Pricebreakers are a great option.

Also check what amenities you need! If you need free parking, laundry etc. make sure you are looking at hotels that offer those things!

Next we will be talking about Car rentals!