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Luxury Hotel Stays on a Budget

In 2023, we spent 156 days abroad, and averaged $59.47/night for 2! It wouldn’t have been possible without some strategic planning! Now, we share the tips!

(estimated reading time: 3 minutes & 59 seconds)

IN THIS NEWSLETTER

  • πŸ’° Hotel Booking for Money Minded People

  • 😴 Other Free & Affordable Stays

  • πŸ₯° Free Hotel Loyalty Program Guide (Join the Waitlist)

  • πŸ’©β€œNEVER AGAIN” - a new segment!

  • 🌼 Airstream Update
 

Money Saving Booking Tips

You don't need a bottomless bank account to enjoy a touch of luxury on your adventures. So, here are some of our tricks to keep costs down.

1. Travel to places w/ more affordable stays.

Why did we spend 72 nights in Spain? Is it because we love Tapas? Well... I️ didn’t LOVE Spain’s food as much as I️ loved the weather. We could also book hotel rooms for as low as $54/night. For 2, that’s less than a hostel would cost AND we have privacy! South Africa was the same. We were able to book hotel rooms for as low as $35/night.

And guess what? ALL THESE STAYS WERE MARRIOTT! Booking most of our stays under the Marriott umbrella was 100% strategy. (keep reading!)

2. Say it with me... shoulder seasons

This is the same tip I gave for finding cheap flights in our last newsletter, but it works! Hotels have their high and low seasons and their prices are dynamic. This means the price will go up and down as demand changes.

Plan your travels during the shoulder season times (in between peak and off peak season) to score incredible deals. Not only will you find more affordable rates, but you'll also enjoy a quieter experience.

3. Consider Boutique and Independent Hotels

Big names often come with big price tags. Try boutique hotels that offer luxury experiences without the high cost.

We stayed in South Africa’s Wine Country and Matt found the most BEAUTIFUL winery stay at Alluvia Winery. Because we booked direct, we stayed in the biggest suite with the best view for under $100 USD. The booking also included a bottle of their finest Red Wine!

4. Join Hotel Loyalty Programs & Actually Read their Emails

Keep an eye on flash sales, promotions to earn quicker status and challenges for points!

Earning Elite Status has been OUR SECRET to 5 star treatment on a 2 star budget. And there are tricks to earning faster. As of now, Meghan has Hyatt Globalist Status and Matt has Marriott Titanium.
 

Other Affordable Ways to Stay

Boutique Inns and B&Bs

For a unique, affordable luxury experience, consider inns or bed and breakfasts. These inns are usually cheaper and give you more of a "home" feel.

Sleep on Transportation

Doing an overnight in transit while you move from one place to another is a great way to save on a night stay. While we were in the UK we did the overnight train and saved at least $100 per night (hated it but watch here). We also did some overnight flights!

Trusted Housesitters

Trusted Housesitters is a platform that connects travelers with home/pet owners. You get free accommodation and they get someone to watch their pets.

You’re signing up for a job in exchange for a free stay but we like this service for walkable cities. It's also great in times where we want to chill out and not go balls to the wall while traveling. It does cost money to join but, use our Referral and get 30% off your membership.

Hostels

This his is my last option, but typically, the cheapest. I️ shared in our last newsletter that I️ have Misophonia. So I can’t share a room with 10 other people snoring. Sorry.

But, sometimes hostels are the best for those looking for a great social scene and solo travelers. As a couple, we preferred privacy and the option to sleep together so we did not stay at any hostels during our trip.
 

Our Trick to Get Luxury Stays on a Budget

Matt and I️ have never traveled in luxury. EVER. And I️ bet most of you reading want to travel in comfort and don’t want to pay for luxury. We'll WE ARE WITH YOU!

When we discovered Hotel Loyalty Programs, we finally got the ELITE treatment. With status, we earned free gourmet breakfasts, free upgrades, suites with private pools, random gifts and more!

To help you choose which program to give your loyalty, I️ compared the top hotel loyalty programs! The resource is about done but if you want it FIRST, join the waitlist below!
 Join the Waitlist 
 

NEVER AGAIN

This is a new segment where I️ share some things we did while traveling that I️ would NEVER do again! Make good decisions. learn from our mistakes 🀣

  1. Book the cheapest hotel possible. We needed a stay in Athens before a cruise and since this was peak season, all the hotels cost $250+. So I️ went and booked a cheap stay for $80 because we needed a quick place to sleep. It had decent reviews! We ended up in an AWFUL part of the city. NEVER AGAIN.

  2. Book too far from the action. When we were in London, we booked at the airport for 3 nights because it was SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper. But it costs money to to get in and out of the city every time. So we ended up only going in for one day to do touristy things.

    I️ would rather spend a bit more to be where the action is and avoid wasting time on transit. You might even break even or spend more when you add the extra transportation cost. NEVER AGAIN.

  3. Book non refundable too far in advance. When we were in South Africa, we booked a place in Cape Town that was pretty affordable and we made it non refundable. When plans changed, we couldn’t get our money back. We had to take the loss. So, now I️ only book non refundable if the travel is near or I️ am 100% sure I️ am going to stay. NEVER AGAIN.

Remember that most of the time, you’re trading a higher price for convenience that makes it worth it!
 

🌼 Airstream Update

WATCH MATT GUT THE BELLY

OUR SHELL COMES OFF!

The shell finally comes off! We have to say, these last 2 videos show the hardest things we’ve had to do for this airstream since beginning this renovation! Click to watch…
 or WATCH THE PLAYLIST 

We hope you enjoyed your holiday! If you end up taking any of our advice, be sure to tag us on IG during your stay!

Meghan ❀️
 Send your Newsletter Ideas Here! 

You know where to find us! πŸ‘‡πŸΌ

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Meghan and Matt B. LLC, On The Road, Freedom, United States

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