It’s hard to be flexible when you have limited days off, but try to keep a window of possible travel dates. When it comes to dates and rates, there will always be fluctuations. Sometimes, delaying your trip by just one or two days can save you a couple thousand baht and you’ll get a truly relaxing vacation knowing that the hotel bill isn’t going to burn a hole in your wallet. If flexibility really isn’t an option, then plan ahead. Like flights, many hotel rates will be lower when you book sooner, so snag them early. Scared you’ll miss out on last-minute specials? There’s an easy solution: call your hotel every month leading to your holiday and check for new deals and packages. If something better comes forth, you can easily cancel your previous reservation and re-book with the new deal (although it’s probably a good idea to check your booking website’s cancellation policy first). Looks like the early bird does really get the worm after all!

Don’t book right away, even when you see an attractive rate. Other websites may have even better deals, and the last thing you want to do is dwell on your regrets at a time you’re supposed to be unwinding from your day-to-day stress. You can either do this the classic way by looking at multiple traveling sites, but who has time for that nowadays? There are sites online such as HotelsCombined (www.hotelscombined.com) that will do that for you – gather information from major travel sites, compare rates, and put them in order for you in a matter of seconds – and all you have to do is sit in the comfort of your living room couch.

No, you’re not wasting your time looking at rates simultaneously on your computer screen and mobile device. In fact, you’re ahead of the hotel booking game. HotelsCombined offers mobile-only rates which allow you to create and save a hotel list, which you can access on all platforms for convenience. So when you find something interesting on your phone during your downtime but are unsure whether you want it, all you need to do is save the hotel, then book and compare prices later on your Mac or PC.

Don’t forget to account for free essentials such as complimentary WiFi and breakfast when shopping for a hotel room. It may not seem like much, but the extra charges added to your hotel bill after you’ve checked out are never pleasant. Moreover, like your home utilities, these charges (especially WiFi) do add up, so check before you regret.  An easy way to do this is to narrow down your results during your hotel search. Not only will you be able to see hotels offering the freebies, but it’ll help you search for hotels within your price point and idea guest ratings.

There are more places to stay than hotel chains. Sometimes, standalone hotels offer the same services and have the same amenities without the hefty charges, and you’ll be able to save over 50-percent than if you were to stay in a large chain. But, if you’re more comfortable staying a large-chain hotel, there’s nothing stopping you from doing that. Almost all hotel chains offer Hotel Loyalty Programs which come with exclusive discount rates.