Top Hotel Hacks to Save Serious Cash

Getting your hotel stay at a discount can offer major value - from the lower cost to getting more flexibility in your budgeting plus who doesn’t want upgrades for more premium experiences?

Travel industry analysts estimate that 30–50% of leisure travelers could save money by comparing more booking channels or using price-tracking tools. And a recent study by NerdWallet found that hotel prices can vary up to 30% between sites for the same room.

At Wealth Elf, we’re not letting you pay more than you should. Here’s our best tips to get your stay the cheapest possible:

Bid on Hotels: As of 2025, Priceline no longer offers its original "Name Your Own Price" bidding feature. The model, which allowed travelers to submit a bid for flights, hotel rooms, or rental cars without knowing the exact details until after booking, was discontinued in stages over the past several years, however there’s other companies who’ve stepped in to offer a similar feature.

"Opaque Deal Sites" are a great tool and show you limited details until after you book—great for deep discounts if you're flexible on location. Check out offerings from

• Priceline Express Deals or Pricebreakers

• Hotwire Hot Rate

• HotelTonight (great for same-day bookings)

Hotwire (Hot Rate Deals) offers "Hot Rate" deals where the hotel name is revealed only after booking, allowing travelers to secure significant savings. Discounts can be up to 60% off standard rates and sometimes it's easy to guess which brand hotel they site is alluding to.

Hoo Hotels out of the UK is a platform where travelers can submit bids for hotel stays, and hotels may choose to accept the offer. The site provides a bidding environment most similar to Priceline's former "Name Your Own Price" feature but is skewed to those in England.

Leverage Loyalty Programs: When you sign up for hotel rewards programs such as Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors or IHG One Rewards you can easily rack up the points especially if you travel often for business then want to apply the free stays to your personal travel. By enrolling in these programs, you not only gain access to exclusive member rates that can significantly reduce the cost of your accommodations, but you also earn points for every dollar spent on eligible hotel stays.

This accumulation of points can be particularly advantageous for business travelers who often stay at the same hotel chains. For instance, with Marriott Bonvoy, you can earn points not just on your room rate, but also on dining, spa services, and other amenities offered by the hotel. Moreover, many of these programs offer tiered membership levels, meaning that the more you stay, the higher your status can become. Achieving elite status can unlock additional perks, such as complimentary room upgrades, early check-in, late check-out, and even free breakfast.

Book directly through the hotel to earn points and get perks like free Wi-Fi or late checkout.

You can also use credit cards that earn hotel points or offer free night benefits to maximize the value. Often the longer your stay the more your points accrue. Furthermore, the benefits of these credit cards often extend beyond just earning points. Many come with complimentary features such as free night certificates after a certain amount of spending or annual fees, access to exclusive hotel deals, and complimentary upgrades to higher-tier rooms. These perks can significantly enhance your travel experience, allowing you to enjoy more luxurious accommodations without the additional cost.

Book Last-Minute (Smartly): With apps like HotelTonight which specialize in last-minute hotel stays. Hotels often drop prices 24–48 hours before check-in to fill empty rooms. Check RetailMeNot, Coupons.com, or browser extensions like Honey for additional promo codes and incentives.

Check for Price Drops After Booking. Services like Hopper or Pruvo can alert you to price drops so you can rebook. Most bookings come with free cancellation so you can take advantage to rebook if the price falls.These platforms use sophisticated algorithms and historical data to predict future price trends, allowing travelers to receive timely alerts when prices drop.

When you book a flight or hotel, you may feel a sense of relief, but it’s important to remain vigilant. Price fluctuations can happen for a variety of reasons, including changes in demand, special promotions, or seasonal discounts. By utilizing services like Hopper or Pruvo, you can ensure that you are not missing out on potential savings that could occur after your initial booking. These services send notifications directly to your smartphone or email, allowing you to act quickly if a better deal becomes available. Double check your cancelation policy before exploring this route.

Use Points or Buy Discounted Gift Cards where you can redeem credit card or travel portal points (e.g., Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Travel). Check sites like Raise or CardCash for discounted hotel gift cards. These platforms allow users to buy and sell gift cards, creating a marketplace where you can find significant deals on cards for hotels, restaurants, and various retailers. By browsing these sites regularly, you can discover opportunities to purchase gift cards for your favorite destinations or brands at a fraction of the cost.

Ultimately, when you stack discounts like a pro, you’ll combine multiple savings strategies to maximize your financial benefits and achieve substantial savings on your purchases. This process involves strategically layering various types of discounts and incentives to create a comprehensive approach to shopping that can lead to significant reductions in overall costs.