'Save on Stays' - ET Wealth

Let's start with the obvious - B&Bs, serviced apartments and homestays will always score over hotels when it comes to the more-for-less stakes. That is, more amenities that you actually need, like a kitchenette and free laundary facilities, for fewer bucks. Portals such as TripAdvisor.com, MyGuestHouse.com, HomeAway.com, BedAndBreakfast.com and Roomwale.com are your best bets to fish out such accomodations. Here's a good way to maximise your savings without entirely giving up on some luxurious pampering. Choose self-catering options in the big cities and go for fancier hotels in smaller towns and offbeat destinations. So, while five-star hotels in Indore will be obviously cheaper than those in Mumbai, there is also a big price difference like Alleppey and Kumarakom. For instance, three star hotels in the latter start at Rs. 2,625  on MakeMyTrip, the same category hotels in Alleppey (or Alappuzha) can be booked for just Rs. 1000 a night. The famed houseboat cruises from Alleppey are comparitively cheaper as well. Similarily, your money will fetch far better room in Vincennes than in Paris, yet it is just a short metro ride away from all the must -see attractions.

The travel-on-a-budget bible also tells us to always book directly with the hotel to land the best deals, be it straight discount or some freebies (a spa treatment or airport transfers). But don't blindly follow this cardinal rule. Sometimes, portals beats the rates listed on individual hotel reservation sites in an attempt to woo eyeballs. Excluzen.com, India's premier luxury lifestyle website is offering a straight discount of Rs 5000 on the per night quoted by the Oberoi Udaivilas reservation engine. So, always shop around before contacting the hotel.  

Source - ET Wealth