Tips for finding cheap last-minute accommodation

If you’re the kind of traveller who leaves vacation planning until the very last moment, this article is for you. We know that rush of adrenaline from doing everything at the last minute keeps you going, but when it comes to accommodation, waiting until the end usually means sky-high prices and options that scare you more than they excite you. But don’t worry—it’s not all lost.

It’s still possible to find affordable places to stay even when the clock is ticking. The key is knowing where and how to look.

Here, we’re sharing foolproof tricks and expert traveller tips so you can embrace spontaneity without draining your bank account. Improvising is fine (sometimes), but it’s much better to sleep somewhere nice without paying a fortune.

Use hotel comparison sites

Comparison platforms are your best friends when time is short and your budget is tight. These sites scan the web to bring you the best deals. Some even let you set alerts to notify you if prices drop. Popular comparison sites include:

• TripAdvisor
• Booking
• Kayak
• Google Hotels
• HotelsCombined
   

Extra tip: Sort results by “best value” or “last-minute deals.” And most importantly, when you see something you like, book it fast. Bargains don’t last long.

The VPN trick

Many booking sites show different prices depending on the country you’re browsing from. That’s because they use cookies and geolocation to offer “personalised” rates. But you can turn this to your advantage.

A VPN lets you change your virtual location—for example, browsing as if you were in Thailand or Argentina. This way, you may see cheaper prices offered to those markets.

To try it:

1. Enable your VPN and select a desired location.
2. Visit the hotel website or comparison platform.
3. Compare the new prices with the old ones—and if you spot a deal, book right away.

Browse in incognito mode

Another almost magical trick, similar to using a VPN, is private browsing. In case you didn’t know, your browsing history can work against you. If you repeatedly check the same site, some platforms detect it and raise the prices to push you to book.

The solution? Open an incognito tab and search that way so they can’t track you.

For even better results, combine VPN + incognito mode. This way, you block both location and browsing history tracking and stand a better chance of finding lower rates.

Stay outside the city center

Be flexible with location. Hotels in the very heart of a city are always more expensive. If you look a bit further out in well-connected neighbourhoods, prices drop significantly.

Hunt for discount codes online

Before booking, take a quick tour of the internet in search of discount coupons. If you’ve never done it, type something like “Booking discount code May 2025” into Google. It may sound old-fashioned, but it still works.

And if you don’t find anything, try subscribing to the website’s newsletter—many platforms offer a welcome discount for first-time users. It costs nothing to try, and you could save up to 25%.

Now you know: if your vacation arrives, and you still don’t have a place to stay, just come back to this article and put these tips into practice. With our help and your creativity, you can sleep well, cheaply, and in style.