Who doesn’t want to bag a bargain on their summer holiday? With the cost of living impacting travel budgets (but not our desire to travel) and the jet fuel crisis pushing up air fares, we’re all looking for new ways to save on hotel getaways.
Luckily, thanks to the 2026 Hotel Price Index, published today by hotels.com, we’ve found 7 money-saving hotel hacks that will help save you £100's - especially on last-minute breaks.
Using internal booking data alongside a global survey of 11,000 travellers, the index reveals where hotel prices are dropping (including France and Canada), the most affordable cities for a 5-star stay (ever been to Zaragoza in Spain?) and the best way to get a good deal on your accommodation (the good news is it’s by booking last-minute so there’s still time to bag a bargain).
‘With increasing volatility in travel prices this summer, fuel costs may be dominating the conversation, but hotel prices are where travellers are making real trade-offs,’ says Melanie Fish, travel expert and spokesperson for Hotels.com. ‘Travellers may be feeling the squeeze, but they’re also getting smarter. We’re seeing travellers save as much as 26% by booking closer in, starting stays on Sundays, or looking beyond the UK, where five-star hotels can offer strong value. This is a summer when how you book matters just as much as where you go.’
Here’s 7 hotel hacks you can use that will save you money on your next break...
1. Book up to a week ahead
Hotels.com say the sweet spot when it comes to booking is just a week before you travel. According to them, last-minute bookers saved an average of 26% versus those who booked four or more months out.
2. Stay on a Sunday night
You get the best value if you start your stay on a Sunday – saving around 14%. Saturday is always the priciest check-in day for domestic and international stays.
3. Plan a holiday in January (and avoid the second week of July)
January is the cheapest month of the year with the lowest average daily rates and the best time for an off-season stay. In contrast, the second week of July (when school holidays start) is always the most expensive time of year to travel – avoid it if you can!
4. Look at destinations where hotel rates are dropping
From the Loire valley to Northern Italy, year-on-year the 2026 Hotel Price Index has found rates have fallen in the following destinations:
Loire, France (-32%)
Edmonton, Canada (-31%)
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (-30%)
Dortmund, Germany (-21%)
Turin, Italy (-21%)
Kassandra (Halkidhiki) Greece (-21%)
Agrigento (Sicily), Italy (-21%)
Montego Bay, Jamaica (-18%)
Cancun, Mexico (-16%)
Dominica (-13%)
5. Get a member discount
Hotels.com members get up to 20% off and earn £100 in Hotels.comCash to use on future stays after every 10 eligible hotel nights booked.
6. Save 50% by booking a 4-star stay . . .
International 4-star hotels are, on average, 50% cheaper than 5-star hotels and there are some standout 4-star city break properties worth looking at in the UK, too, including the Treehouse Hotel in Manchester, with skyline views close to the creative Northern Quarter, the elegant Grand Hotel in Birmingham, an iconic property on Colmore Row, and the Parkgate Hotel in central Cardiff, once home to the city’s post office and county court.
7. . . .or find a five-star stay for under £200 a night
From beach escapes in Brighton to European city breaks in Riga or Zagreb, these are the most affordable destinations (with average rates per night) if you want to push the boat out but sill get great value – you heard it here first!
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