Updated on: July 23, 2024
Short on time? Here’s how to save money on hotels with a VPN in 2024:
- Download and install a reliable VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN because it has a vast server network, allowing you to easily find the cheapest prices for hotels.
- Connect to different VPN servers. Browse prices using different VPN server locations until you find the best one.
- Book your stay. Now you’ve managed to save a few bucks on your hotel!
Booking sites typically adjust accommodation prices according to your location, which they determine based on your IP address. This means that you might end up paying more for the same hotel or apartment than someone from another country.
A VPN changes your virtual location by assigning you an IP address that matches the location of the server you connect to. So if you connect to a country where the average income is lower, you’ll potentially find cheaper accommodation.
I tested several VPNs and found the best ones that work with top booking sites and have servers in lots of different countries. ExpressVPN is my top choice — it has servers in 105 countries, giving you plenty of options to find cheap accommodation, and it offers great speeds too. Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
How Does a VPN Help You Save Money on Hotels?
Hotel prices might change based on your real-time location — you’re usually (but not always) more likely to see higher accommodation prices if you’re from a high-income country, like the US, the UK, or Japan.
Hotels know where you’re from because they see your real IP address when you connect to their sites. And your IP address reveals data about your current location.
Well, with a VPN, you can hide your IP address, preventing hotel sites (and any other sites you access) from collecting location data that’s linked to it. Basically, you use a VPN to connect to a VPN server, which you then use to access the hotel’s site. So, your connection will look like this:
You → Internet Service Provider → VPN Server → Hotel Websites
Because you connect to a hotel site that way, the website will only see the VPN server’s IP address. And if that server is located in a lower-income country, there’s a chance the hotel site will display more affordable prices.
Please remember that hotel prices vary a lot, so you might sometimes get huge savings with a VPN, while other times the discounts will be pretty minor. Also, please remember that I can’t guarantee you’ll always get better prices when booking hotels via a VPN.
Best VPNs for Saving Money on Hotels in 2024
Quick summary of the best VPNs for saving money on hotels:
- 1. 🥇ExpressVPN — Best overall VPN for saving money on hotels (great privacy & a large server network).
- 2. 🥈Private Internet Access — Great VPN for securely browsing booking sites (with an excellent ad blocker).
- 3. 🥉CyberGhost VPN — Beginner-friendly VPN for finding cheap hotels + has huge server network.
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
Tried Using a VPN to Book Hotels, But It’s Not Working? Try These Troubleshooting Tips
Check for IP Leaks
IP leaks can occur for a number of reasons. For example, the VPN may disconnect from the server if the VPN server is experiencing issues like outages, which will reveal your IP address to the site you’re browsing.
To prevent this from happening, make sure you turn on your VPN’s kill switch — a feature that disconnects you from the VPN every time your connection to a VPN server drops. This prevents IP leaks. If your IP address is leaking for other reasons, like incorrect VPN configurations, you should do an IP leak test online. If the test detects your real IP address or any IP address not associated with your VPN server, you should enable DNS leak protection in your VPN settings.
Switch to a Different Server
Servers may be temporarily unavailable, overcrowded, or undergoing maintenance. In any of these situations, your VPN likely won’t be able to establish a connection with the server. The best way to get around this is to connect to a different server.
Clear the VPN App Cache
Corrupted cache may contain incorrect or outdated data, and when apps rely on this corrupted data, it leads to errors, crashes, or unexpected behavior. The easiest way to get rid of this issue is to clear the VPN app cache.
To clear the VPN app cache, go to Settings and select Applications. Find the option to manage applications, click on your VPN app, and select Clear Cache.
Reinstall the VPN App
Changes in app settings may cause connectivity issues and the easiest way to restore the default settings is to reinstall the VPN on your device. To do that, go to Settings and select Applications. Select the option to manage applications, find the VPN app in the list, and click on the Uninstall option. Once you uninstall the app, you can download the app to your device again.
Make Sure Your VPN App is Updated
An outdated VPN app may have bugs and may not be compatible with the updated servers. To update your app, go to the app store, search for the VPN app, and see if there’s an Update option next to it. If there is, click on it. To prevent this from happening, enable the auto-download option in your device’s app store.
Contact VPN Customer Support
If nothing you’ve tried has worked so far, consider contacting your VPN’s support team. They’ll be able to give you a more personalized response to the issue you’re having. All the VPNs I recommend offer a live chat option and email support.
Can I Get Better Hotel Prices Using a Free VPN?
You might, but there’s no guarantee. The biggest issue with free VPNs is that most of them only give you access to a limited number of server locations, typically in popular places like the US and the UK, where the prices aren’t really cheap. Another problem is that free VPNs limit bandwidth, which means you’ll only get a couple of hours to find the best possible prices, which isn’t great if you want to do solid digging. Plus, a lot of them aren’t very secure. They may leak your IP address, which will reveal your location to the site.
That’s why I recommend purchasing a premium VPN like ExpressVPN. It has a large server network in 105 countries, giving you plenty of server options in low and middle-income countries. Moreover, it has the fastest speeds on the market for browsing hotel deals.
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
6 Other Ways to Save Money on Hotels
1. Clear Your Browsing History
Cookies on hotel booking websites store data that might reveal your location even if you’re connected to a VPN. These sites usually store cache to make your experience on the site more personalized, which includes information like your search dates and target location. Some sites may even raise prices for hotels or flights you repeatedly search for, as this type of behavior suggests you’re likely to book soon and are willing to pay more.
To clear your browsing history, navigate to your browser’s History settings and choose Clear browsing data. Alternatively, try the incognito mode. When you switch to incognito mode, the browser doesn’t remember any of your browsing activities and it automatically deletes all data when you close the incognito mode.
2. Check for Early or Last-Minute Deals
Booking early or last minute can save you a lot of money if your travel plans are flexible. Hotels often offer discounts for early bookings or last-minute reservations to fill empty rooms. The last-minute deals I found on sites like LastMinute.com and Booking.com typically came with a 20–30% discount from the standard prices.
3. Compare Prices on Different Websites
Every site has exclusive offers or promotions that can save you money. For example, I found at least 3 different prices for the same hotel in Los Angeles on Booking.com, Expedia, and LastMinute.com. It’s always a good idea to shop around so you can find the best deals.
4. Get a Package Deal
Hotel accommodations are usually cheaper if they’re booked with a flight, rather than separately. I tried to book a flight and hotel together and separately on LastMinute.com, and I was able to get a 50% cheaper deal with the package. That said, this type of deal usually only gets you hotels near the airport.
5. Negotiate Directly With the Hotel
Sometimes, hotels can offer better deals when you book directly with them. This is because booking with the hotel excludes any fees you pay to the booking site for finding you the deal.
6. Consider Other Benefits
Some deals offer better or more than others. For example, a lot of hotels include complimentary breakfast, parking, and access to amenities like spas or gyms. They won’t save you money, but it adds value to the overall price. For instance, I found 2 hotels in Dublin with similar prices, but only one of them included breakfast and parking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to book hotels using a VPN?
Booking hotels using a VPN is generally legal. I didn’t find any booking site that bans VPNs, but I recommend going over the booking site’s terms of service and privacy policy before you use one. It’s also important to note that some countries, like China and Iran, limit and ban VPN use, so if you’re in any of those countries, you should familiarize yourself with local laws and regulations before you connect to a server.
The VPNs I recommend work with all top booking sites. ExpressVPN is the best, as it has servers in 105 countries, is the fastest on the market, and works well in restrictive countries, so you can browse booking sites with it from any location.
Why do hotel prices vary between countries?
Hotel prices vary between countries for a variety of reasons, including economic, local, and market factors. Countries with different economic standings have varying income levels and purchasing power, leading hotels to adjust their prices accordingly. Operational costs, such as local salaries, utility rates, and property expenses, also play a role as they differ from one region to another. Additionally, government regulations, taxes, and the competitive landscape in the hospitality industry can influence prices.
That’s why booking sites may show you different accommodations based on your location, too. To make the most of hotel prices, consider using a good VPN. VPNs hide your location by giving a new IP address, which makes it appear as if you’re visiting the booking site from elsewhere — ideally from a place that gets lower prices.
Why is my VPN not working with booking sites?
The most likely cause is an IP leak. If your real IP address is leaking, then the booking sites will show you prices for your location. Fixing this means going through a couple of troubleshooting steps, including checking for IP leaks on an IP leak test site online. You should also see if the VPN is connected and make sure that you’ve enabled the kill switch.
Can a VPN save me money on other travel expenses besides hotels?
Yes, a VPN can save you money beyond hotels. Airlines, for example, often use dynamic pricing, and by using a VPN you might be able to view and lock in lower airfares. Similarly, rental car companies and even experience or activity booking platforms might offer different prices depending on the region from which you’re accessing their site, and if that’s the case, a VPN can save you money.
