Cooks Gardens

Thinking of a holiday or city break? Perhaps Edinburgh sounds like a great destination for your weekend away but you, like many travellers may shun this destination because of the perception that accommodation is expensive in Edinburgh. That is not always true. Here are some tips on how to book cheap hotels in Edinburgh.

Use the 'Net!

You will, almost always, pay more for the convenience of being able to walk into a local travel agent and book everything there and then. Doing it this way means you're unable to quickly compare the prices of several hotels at once. These days, you can very quickly compare room prices on the Internet at home or on your phone. If you are happy with the prices on offer, and the hotel has a suitable online booking system, you can even confirm your booking online.

Look for Special Offers.

There are often special deals or offers being advertised on the Internet (e.g. Groupon) which often will give you a significant discount off the usual advertised room prices.

Travel During Off-Peak.

Room prices can fluctuate wildly between peak and off-peak periods, e.g. school holidays, Xmas or Hogmany. If you’re able to time your travel accordingly, you can potentially save a decent chunk off the costs of travel and accommodation.

Do You Really ‘need’ 5 Star?

Hotels can, and do, charge varying rates according to their star or badge ratings (normally 1 to 5). Luxury, 5 star hotels will always cost more than B&B’s or budget hotels. So, unless you are specifically looking for a luxurious stay (spa, concierge etc) why not stay at a cheaper hotel and see more of the place you’re visiting instead. Edinburgh, for example, has an abundance of low-to-mid priced hotels and guesthouses, all within easy reach of the main attractions. Staying somewhere like this simply frees up more cash to spend on doing things rather just somewhere to sleep.

Searching, finding and booking accommodation online is fast, convenient and easy – give it try for yourself and see what you could save.