Room and board options
Depending on the hotel, you'll usually have a choice of rooms:
- A single room is for solo guests, however in many hotels a single room is the same as a double room but with sole occupancy
- A double or kingsize room accommodates two guests sharing the same bed
- A twin room has two separate beds, either singles or doubles
- A triple room has three separate single beds or one double plus a single or sofa bed
- A quad room is designed to accommodate four or more people
- A suite has apartment style accommodation with multiple rooms or zones
Hotels may also offer different classes of room, such as 'standard', 'superior', 'executive'
and 'deluxe'. The better the class of room the more space you'll typically have; although a premium
may also be charged if the room has a sea view, for example.
You may also be able to bundle selected meals in with your room price.
- Bed and breakfast (B&B) includes the morning meal
- Half board includes breakfast and one other meal, usually dinner
- Full board includes breakfast, lunch and dinner
- All inclusive includes all meals and drinks. Your choice of drinks will be from a set selection rather than having free run of the bar
Our top tips to help you save money on your hotel booking
As a starting point, set a budget based on the sum you are willing to pay per night for each night
of your stay – then stick to it. If you do break the bank on a hotel that's over budget, it may
compromise your ability to finance and enjoy the rest of your trip – such as eating out and visiting
attractions etc.
Equally, consider your reason for taking the trip and pay some thought to how you plan to spend your
time. If you’re taking a city break, you may simply want somewhere to stay after a long day seeing
the sights and sampling the nightlife - meaning basic comforts will suffice. If so, there's little
point in paying a premium price for a room you'll spend hardly any time in. However, if you are
planning a honeymoon or romantic weekend break, then you'll probably want to spend more time in your
room or make full use of the hotel’s facilities, such as the spa. In which case, it makes sense to
have a bigger budget.
You should also choose your travel dates carefully; if possible, try to avoid peak travel times
such as school holidays, Easter, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Depending on their location, some
hotels will raise their room rates from Monday through to Friday due to high demand from the
business market, meaning rates for leisure travellers are lower of a weekend. Other hotels, such
as those in tourist hotspots, will offer cheaper room rates during the week when they are quieter.
Do your research and compare prices for different days of the week to work out when you can
save – the more flexible you are then the better chance you have of saving money.
If you are travelling outside of peak holiday periods, then booking at the last minute can mean
big discounts as hotels try to fill empty rooms. You might just get a bargain!
Solo travellers should look out for 'per room per night' rates rather than 'per person per
night' rates. That way you'll avoid the single occupancy supplement.
Overall, the key to saving money is to compare hotels online. Not only can you compare prices, but
you'll also be able to compare facilities and location too - meaning you can find the hotel
that's right for you.
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