While I would love to stay at the most luxurious hotels every time I travel, I unfortunately can’t justify thousands of dollars a night, especially at the rate I travel! Traveling can be expensive (especially if you have high standards like me ;)), but it doesn’t have to be with some planning and creativity. I have been traveling for 15+ years and have learned many tips and tricks for booking more affordable luxury travel.
For me, luxury is primarily about your stay wherever you’re visiting. I personally would opt to fly economy if it means getting to splurge more on my hotel. Unique luxury hotels are often one of the best parts of my trips. The little things like evening turn down service with a treat on your pillow, the housekeeper organizing your toiletries on a towel on the bathroom vanity, and soft fluffy robes and slippers can really make your vacation that much more special. Great hotels incorporate the local culture and the aesthetic feels more immersive too.
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Check out 10 of my tried and true tips for booking more affordable luxury travel.
1. Plan your trip in advance
No surprise here! Sorry for all you last-minute procrastinators, but this is a big one! Typically prices for hotels, flights, and even experiences are cheaper further in advance. Often hotels offer an “early booker” discount for booking even just a few months ahead. Sometimes the rates are non-refundable, which sounds scary, but I highly recommend always buying travel insurance quickly after you book your trip so that you can get reimbursed if anything happens or you need to cancel for a medical emergency, etc. Additionally, if you buy travel insurance within a short window following booking your trip, you can usually buy “cancel for any reason” as part of your insurance. Cancel for any reason will give you 100% peace of mind that you can cancel your non-refundable booking and still get your money back.
I highly recommend using Faye Trip Insurance. It’s super easy to use and they have a simple, user-friendly app where you can view your trip and submit claims. You can email me for assistance with your travel insurance quote or click the link below.
If you are a procrastinator and can’t think that far ahead, you can always hire a travel advisor to help plan and book your trip. Lucky for you, I am a certified travel advisor and love planning, so contact me and I can book your luxury travel on a budget.
2. Use travel alerts & insider websites for cheap flights
You can set up a travel flight alert on Google Flights to track the prices and see if prices are “high”, “low” or “average” for your destination. I also recommend signing up for Going. Going scrapes hundreds of airlines and flights to find the best deals so that you get the best pricing. Set your “home” base and you will get deals tailored to where you live.
As a travel advisor, I get tons of insider alerts and deals through my advisor network. Subscribe to my newsletter to get updates and insider tips on discounts, promos, etc. on hotels around the world.
3. Consider traveling during the off-season
Depending on where you are going, consider traveling on the “off” or “shoulder” seasons. Frankly, I prefer traveling in the “off” or “shoulder” seasons anyway since there are so many fewer tourists. I know this may be hard for some of you, especially if you have kids. This is when prices are typically lower, though. For example, you might travel to Europe in late May or June, or late September/early October when the weather is still warm, things are still open, but there are fewer tourists and the demand is lower.
4. Book your stay through a top travel advisor
Many people think using a travel advisor is old school. In fact, it’s becoming a lot more popular because travel advisors have great relationships with the best hotels in the world. For no additional cost, a travel advisor can get you perks like free upgrades, complimentary breakfast, resort or spa credit, early or late check-in/out, and more. These are things you would otherwise have to pay for, so instead of paying for these perks, put the money into staying at a more luxurious hotel. If you’re a member, you will still get your loyalty points, but you don’t have to be a member of the hotel, or have ever stayed at the hotel before.
Hotels are incentivized to treat travel advisor’s guests well so that they send you and others back! I am a certified Fora travel advisor, and we work with the world’s most luxurious hotels and resorts and can get our clients special VIP perks. Additionally, you can book your hotel through online booking platforms, but you will almost always get better perks (and on the upgrade priority list faster!) and service by booking through a travel advisor. Affordable luxury travel is a lot easier when you book with an advisor who knows the ins and outs of all the different destinations and hotel options.
5. Sign up for chain hotel loyalty programs for a discount
In addition to booking early, many hotels offer a small (5-10% off the best available rate) discount if you are signed up for their loyalty program. If you’re booking through a travel advisor, they can make sure this discount is included.
6. Visit off-the-beaten-path locations or emerging destinations
For example, many countries in South America, South East Asia, Africa, or Eastern Europe have a huge tourist economy so invest in luxury hotels, resorts, and experiences, but are a fraction of the price of what you would spend elsewhere. Additionally, food is cheaper, as well as transportation and activities. You can often book private cars, guides, and other activities for much less. Check out Conde Nast for a great list of emerging destinations to visit in 2024. This is my favorite affordable luxury travel tip because I love discovering lesser-explored destinations.
Here are some of my favorite more affordable travel destinations:
7. Look for newer hotel properties
There are ALWAYS new hotels and resorts popping up around the world, especially in emerging countries that are gaining popularity. If you do a little research or reach out to your travel advisor (AKA me!), you can find new properties that have amazing deals to incentivize people to stay. Recently, I booked a few nights at the Anantara Koh Yao Yai (a luxury resort in Thailand). It’s a brand new property and it was a fraction of the price of other similar luxury properties nearby. Do a quick Google search for new luxury hotels opening around the world.
8. Stay in luxury boutique hotels
Boutique hotels are usually smaller, more unique hotels that aren’t necessarily part of a larger chain. Boutique hotels are a great option for more affordable luxury travel. They often have lower rates, but really unique aesthetics and excellent service. Because they aren’t part of the larger well-known brands, they won’t command as high of a rate.
9. Join airline or your favorite hotel brands newsletters
Many airlines occasionally offer flight tickets at discounted rates. Similarly, hotels may have special rates or packages throughout the year. If there’s specific hotel chains you love, sign up for their mailing list!
10. Use a travel rewards credit card or miles to upgrade
Using a travel rewards credit card can help you earn points or miles that you can use to offset the cost of your trip. If you are loyal to specific airlines, make sure you sign up for their loyalty program and track your miles so that you can upgrade your ticket. I always use The Points Guy for the best information on travel rewards.
Ultimately, you do need to do a bit of research and be somewhat flexible if you’re looking to book more affordable luxury travel. Let me know what you think of my tips or if you have any of your own to share in the comments below!
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