7 Insider Secrets to Finding Amazing Hotel Deals in 2025

Everyone loves the idea of a dream vacation, but no one loves the price tag that comes with it. The cost of accommodation can often be the biggest hurdle, turning what should be a relaxing getaway into a stressful expense. But what if we told you that booking a great hotel at a fantastic price isn’t about luck—it’s about strategy?

At krbooking.com, our mission is to make travel more accessible for everyone. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to share our favorite insider secrets. Forget endless searching and frustrating results. Here are seven proven strategies to help you find incredible hotel deals every time you travel.

1. Look Beyond the Mega-Platforms

The giant booking sites are the first stop for most travelers, but they aren’t always the cheapest. These platforms charge hotels high commission fees, which often get passed on to you, the customer. Specialized and emerging platforms like krbooking.com often have lower overhead and build direct relationships with hotels, allowing us to offer exclusive rates you won’t find anywhere else through our trusted affiliate partners. Don’t be afraid to shop around—your wallet will thank you.

2. Unlock the Power of Package Deals

One of the easiest ways to save is by booking your hotel and flight together. Why? Airlines and hotels offer special, discounted rates to booking sites when they are bundled into a package. These savings are then passed directly to you. Before you book everything separately, always check the price of a combined package—it can often lead to significant savings on your entire trip.

3. Master the Art of Timing: Think “Shoulder Season”

Everyone knows the off-season is cheap, but you might have to deal with bad weather. The peak season has great weather but sky-high prices. The sweet spot is the shoulder season—the weeks right before and after peak season (like April-May or September-October for many European destinations).

During this time, you’ll enjoy fantastic weather, fewer crowds, and much lower prices on hotels and flights. It’s the perfect compromise for a budget-friendly and enjoyable trip.

4. Be Flexible with Your Dates and Location

If you have some flexibility, you can unlock massive savings. Use a booking tool that allows you to compare prices across a whole week or month. Flying on a Tuesday instead of a Friday can make a huge difference. The same goes for location. A hotel that’s just a 10-minute walk or a short metro ride from the city center can be 30-50% cheaper than one right in the main square.

5. Go Incognito or Clear Your Cookies

Have you ever noticed that the price of a hotel seems to go up after you’ve searched for it a few times? You’re not imagining things. Some booking sites use browser cookies to track your activity and may increase prices based on your repeated searches to create a sense of urgency. To avoid this, always search for hotels in your browser’s “Incognito” or “Private” mode, or clear your browser cookies before each new search.

6. Read Recent Reviews, Not Just the Overall Score

A great deal isn’t a great deal if the hotel is a disappointment. But don’t just look at the overall rating (e.g., “8.5/10”). A hotel could have had a great reputation for years but recently changed ownership or let standards slip. Filter reviews to see the most recent ones from the last 3-6 months. This will give you the most accurate picture of the hotel’s current condition and service quality.

7. Sign Up for Newsletters and Price Alerts

If you have a destination in mind but aren’t ready to book, sign up for a price alert or join the email newsletter of a trusted booking site like krbooking.com. This is the best way to be notified about exclusive flash sales, last-minute deals, and special promotional codes that are only available to subscribers.