Accommodation can often be the most significant expense on a trip.  
If you are spending even a few days interstate in Australia - whether it be in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or elsewhere - the cost of your hotel booking is likely to dwarf that of your airfare.  
But there are some ways to save money on your next booking without compromising on quality or location.  
You can still stay at a 4-star or 5-star property - without breaking the bank.
Here are 11 tips and tricks to find cheap hotels and help save you money on your next stay.

1. Make a flexible booking 

If you book a room months in advance, it can pay to book a refundable deal.
There are a couple of reasons for this.  
If something happens and you can no longer travel for whatever reason, it is nice to know that you will at least get the money back that you spent on your hotel.  
Secondly, if the price of your stay drops significantly after you book, you can cancel your booking at the old rate and rebook at the cheaper rate.  
Some booking websites make you pay in full when booking and may try to entice you into a non-refundable booking with a slightly lower rate.  
However, other websites like Expedia offer free cancellations on the vast majority of rooms worldwide, often up until the day before your scheduled check-in. 
For some hotels listed on Expedia, you will not even have to make any payment until you check in at the property. 
Generous policies like that can help you manage the cost of your trip and keep your money in your bank account until the time comes to travel.  

2. Use a comparison website 

Whether you know which property you want to stay at or are open to ideas within a specific city or town, it can be worth checking out a comparison website.  
You’ve probably heard the ad: ‘Hotel? Trivago!” ‘
Trivago is a popular choice for Australians and compares prices on an enormous number of properties (including Sydney and Melbourne) across a huge number of booking sites (including Booking.com, Agoda and Expedia).
There can be significant differences in prices between different booking websites that Trivago compares. 
For a longer stay, you could spend hundreds of dollars more booking the same room through one booking website than another. 
However, check that the booking terms are the same on different websites.  
As we mentioned above, making a flexible booking can be a better overall benefit than saving $10 a night on a non-refundable booking.  
Google Hotels is another comparison website that works similarly to Trivago.

3. Book your hotel and flights together

If you travel interstate or overseas, this can be a big way to save on your next trip.
Expedia is our favourite website for combining hotel and flight bookings.
Here’s one example of how it works – and how much you can save.
When we searched for a three-night stay at the Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach from March 7-10, 2025, Expedia returned with a price of $739 for a standard room.
However, when we clicked on the ‘Packages’ tab and selected ‘Stay added’ and ‘Flight added’, we could book the same room for three nights and return flights from Sydney for two people for just $943.
That represents a total savings of $234 — or 25 per cent — compared to booking your flights and hotel separately.
Similar deals are available for an extensive range of properties worldwide if you also book your flights through Expedia simultaneously.

4. Join a booking site loyalty program  

Expedia has its own loyalty program, Expedia Rewards, which is free to sign up for and could be worth your time. 
If you are logged in, Expedia Rewards provides an instant discount of at least 10 per cent on stays at over 100,000 hotels and other properties worldwide.  
The more bookings you make with Expedia, the more rewards you'll receive—including loyalty points, free breakfast during stays, and even spa credits.
Booking.com also has a similar rewards program.

5. Join a hotel loyalty program 

Another way to save on hotel bookings is to join loyalty programs and book direct.  
For example, members of the Hilton Honors program – which is free to join – can receive discounts of at least 2 per cent at Hilton properties when booking via the Hilton website or app.  
Similarly, Marriott Bonvoy – another free program to join – offers member rates for direct bookings made on the Marriott website or app. 
The Accor Live Limitless program is also popular. It has a large footprint of hotels across Asia-Pacific under brands like Pullman, Novotel, Mantra, and Ibis. Sometimes, you might be able to find cheaper rates on rooms elsewhere online with third-party booking sites like Trivago.
However, by booking directly with these hotels and joining their loyalty programs, you can also earn loyalty points on your stay—something not afforded to most third-party bookings. 

6. Find a cashback deal

You can earn money back on hotel bookings through cashback sites like Cashrewards.  
This is an excellent choice for bookings made directly with hotels. 
Cashrewards has partners, including Accor, Marriott, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites, Best Western and Choice Hotels. 
Many of these brands offer cashback of between 2 and 5 per cent, which is usually deposited into your Cashrewards account within 120 days of your completed travel.  

7. Book a luxury hotel package deal 

Travel package websites have grown in popularity in recent years, which is hardly surprising.  
Companies like Luxury Escapes and TripADeal offer fantastic prices on hotel packages both in Australia and overseas.  
Your choice of hotels on these websites is much more limited than on Trivago. 
However, it can be worth checking these websites to see if any current hotel deals might suit your needs for a multi-night trip away. 
These package deals often include bonuses like free buffet breakfast, free parking, free upgrades, late check-out, or even a generous property credit—at discounts of 50 per cent or more.

8. Book a luxury hotel through a credit card program

If you are eyeing a luxury hotel stay, booking through a credit card program can be a big winner.
American Express Platinum Card holders have access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program, which offers added extras at more than 1,300 properties worldwide.
We are talking about a $100 US property credit, free buffet breakfast for two, early check-in and late check-out, free room upgrades, free Wi-Fi, and more.
The room rate is usually the same as what you will see on the hotel’s official website, but the included extras could help you save a lot of money on your trip.
Specific Mastercard customers can access a similar Luxury Hotels & Resorts program, while some Visa cardholders can book hotels through the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection for bonus perks.   

9. Check your credit card for hotel offers

American Express credit cards are renowned for being good travel companions and can help you save on hotel bookings.
Throughout the year, cardholders can access travel offers, including statement credits for spending money at certain hotels across Asia-Pacific.
These deals typically provide an $80 or $100 credit back on a $400 spend at properties that come under the Marriott, Hilton, Wyndham, Oaks, Langham and Pan Pacific banners.
Other brands are also included in these offers from time to time.

10. Use a complimentary voucher

Qantas Frequent Flyer members who qualify for Points Club status receive a complimentary $50 voucher to use at Qantas Hotels.
Members of the Points Club+ program receive a higher $100 voucher.
To qualify for Points Club, members need to earn at least 150,000 points in a membership year – which is easily achievable with the help of a credit card sign-up bonus.
The higher-tier Points Club+ requires members to earn at least 350,000 points during a membership year.
Qantas Hotels lists more than 500,000 hotels worldwide, and you will also earn at least 3 Qantas points per dollar spent on bookings.
Jetstar sends out complimentary vouchers for its hotel booking website, Jetstar Hotels after some flight bookings are made directly through the airline.
Club Jetstar members also receive a $50 Jetstar Hotels voucher upon joining and then renewing their membership each year. The vouchers can be used towards a booking of at least $150.

11. Snag a last-minute cheap deal  

Usually, it is best to book a hotel early – especially for stays over weekends or during peak travel times.  
However, sometimes you may be able to find a good last minute deal on a room if you are not too fussy about where you stay.  
Try searching a comparison website like Trivago to find the best last minute deal.
Check out our extended guide for more advice on last minute hotel bookings.

Summary

With a few little booking hacks, you could save plenty on hotels and snag nice rooms at cheap prices. At Hack Your Trip, we use a range of these travel tips to stay at amazing hotels in Australia and around the world – while staying on a budget. Hotels can be the most significant expense on some trips, but by using comparison websites and loyalty programs, booking your hotel and flights together or taking up a heavily discounted package deal, you could save hundreds of dollars on your next stay. 

Written By: Chris
Updated: October 2024

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