LAST UPDATED: 9/11/26 – Accommodation Booking Tips for Infrequent Travelers
If you browse the Internet, you will find a lot of advice out there on how to save money when traveling. For seasoned travelers, this is often referred to as “travel hacking”. It is the process of making the system work for you to save money on travel. However, the more you read, the more you will realize that a lot of the advice that is out there is geared toward people who either spend a lot of time traveling or spend a lot of their time thinking about traveling.
Most of the Common Travel Hacks are Geared Towards Frequent Travelers
There really isn’t a whole lot of advice out there for how the casual or new traveler who doesn’t travel that often or spends the majority of their time thinking about travel can save money. I think this is unfortunate because one of the biggest barriers that infrequent travelers run into when they start to think about traveling more is being able to afford it.
If you like to travel, but you don’t spend a lot of your time thinking about travel and you typically only take a few trips a year, then this article is for you. Instead of talking to you about how you can rearrange your finances to be able to afford more travel, or which travel credit cards to sign up for to maximize your travel rewards points, I am going to keep this simple.
I am going to tell you which hotel and booking site rewards programs to avoid as an infrequent traveler because they won’t provide you with a lot of benefits. I am also going to tell you which hotel booking site will provide you with the most savings. Most importantly, I am going to give you tips that can help you start saving on accommodation expenses immediately.
Avoid Concentrating on Hotel Rewards Programs
Most of the advice you will read on the Internet about saving money on travel accommodations will undoubtedly include using hotel rewards programs to your advantage to get free night stays and other benefits. If you are a frequent traveler, this is a great way to save money on traveling. However, if you don’t travel very frequently, then focusing on a hotel rewards program can be a waste of your time and money.
That’s why one of my biggest tips for infrequent travelers is to focus less on hotel rewards programs. Instead, I would focus on using the rewards programs from one of the online booking sites, such as the following:
I cover these rewards programs in the last section of this guide, and let you know which rewards program I think is the best for new and infrequent travelers.
Most Hotel Rewards Points Expire with Inactivity
The biggest reason that hotel rewards programs seldom pay off for infrequent travelers is the fact that most hotel rewards expire with inactivity. With most hotel chains, inactivity means either earning additional reward points or using existing reward points. In case you are interested, I have included a chart below that details the rewards expiration periods for some of the biggest hotel brands.
| Hotel Chain | Rewards Expiration |
| Choice Privileges | Points expire after 18 months of no earning or redeeming activity. |
| Radisson Rewards | Points expire after 24 months of inactivity. |
| Hilton Honors | Points expire after 24 months of no activity. |
| World of Hyatt | Points expire after 24 months of no activity. |
| IHG One Rewards | Points expire after 12 months of inactivity; elite members’ points do not expire. |
| Marriott Bonvoy | Points expire after 24 months of no earning or redeeming activity. |
| Wyndham Rewards | Points expire after 18 months of inactivity and have a hard 4‑year expiration regardless of activity. |
Earning hotel points doesn’t always require extra stays. Using a hotel rewards credit card can keep points active through everyday spending, though infrequent travelers may not want—or need—to open one.
For travelers who don’t stay in hotels often, the main drawback of loyalty programs is that they narrow your search. To make a program worthwhile, you generally need to book most—if not all—of your stays with the same brand.
If you’re a Hilton Honors member, for example, you’ll typically prioritize Hilton properties to build points for free nights and perks. But if you travel rarely, sticking to one brand can mean missing better deals or even paying more than necessary. While strong redemption value can justify higher upfront costs, sometimes the stay simply isn’t worth it—even for loyal members.
General Booking Tips that Help Infrequent Travelers
Even if you’re a new or infrequent traveler, most money‑saving accommodation tips still apply to you. In fact, nearly all general travel advice works regardless of how often you travel.
One of the simplest—and most overlooked—ways to save is to shop around. Many travelers check one booking site, assume prices are similar everywhere, and book immediately. But different sites run different promotions at different times. While most prices will be close, a single standout deal can save you a significant amount. If you only check one site, you may never see it.
Book Trips During Shoulder Season
Booking during a destination’s shoulder season is one of the easiest ways for any traveler to save on accommodations. Peak season almost always means higher prices, while off‑season often comes with less‑than‑ideal conditions—like trying to plan a ski trip in summer.
Shoulder seasons offer a middle ground: lower hotel rates without completely sacrificing good weather or the experiences you’re traveling for. It’s often the best balance of value and conditions for infrequent travelers.
Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute to Book
One of the biggest mistakes travelers make is delaying their accommodation booking. While last‑minute deals exist, waiting usually reduces your options. Popular properties fill up, leaving you to either pay more or settle for a place you don’t really want.
I start searching at least six months ahead. If I find a good rate, I book it—then keep checking. If a better deal or property appears, I switch and cancel the original reservation.
To make this strategy work, always choose fully refundable reservations. I avoid nonrefundable bookings unless I’m completely confident in both the property and the price.
Consider Paying in Advance
Another way that you can often save on travel accommodations is to pay for your stay up front. Many hotel chains and booking sites will offer discounts for paying for your stay up front. However, keep in mind that on many occasions, this also means that you aren’t able to cancel your reservation for a full refund. So if you are going to take advantage of the savings that go along with paying up front, I would suggest you make sure you are completely content with the booking first.
Look on Airbnb and Other Hospitality Marketplace Sites
Another tip for infrequent travelers when shopping for accommodations for any trip is hospitality marketplace services such as Airbnb and Vrbo. These services act as online marketplaces where you can go to rent anything from whole houses, apartments, or even just single rooms to stay in during your trip. The site acts as the facilitator to take payment, provide booking details, and receive reviews.
I have used both of these services during my travels and have had nothing but great experiences with them. In some cases, renting a house or apartment and splitting the cost with your travel mates can be significantly cheaper than booking a hotel room or room. This is especially true if you are traveling with a group.
Consider Staying at a Hostel
Hostels are one of the most effective ways for infrequent travelers to save on accommodations. They’re budget‑friendly, communal spaces where sleeping areas, bathrooms, and other facilities are shared—though the setup varies by hostel. If you’re comfortable with that, they’re often far cheaper than nearby hotels.
The main limitation is availability. Hostels are common in larger cities but harder to find in rural or remote areas. In those cases, hospitality marketplaces like Airbnb help fill the gap with affordable alternatives.
The Best Rewards Program for Infrequent Travelers
When it comes to rewards programs for accommodations, the return on investment that you get from each rewards program is going to differ based on how frequently you travel and whether or not you want to apply for a travel rewards credit card. I already explained why I think hotel brand rewards programs don’t pay off for infrequent travelers, but that doesn’t mean I think all rewards programs aren’t worthy of consideration.
Online Travel Agency Rewards Programs are More Beneficial for Infrequent Travelers
Some online travel agency (OTA) websites out there have rewards programs that I believe offer great value to travelers, including those who don’t travel frequently. The ones that I think offer the greatest return on investment are Hotels.com, Orbitz.com, and Expedia.com.
I have included an overview of the benefits of these rewards programs below for you to review. If you are interested in a much more in-depth explanation of the value of these programs, please check out my Definitive Guide to Saving Money on Hotels When Traveling.
| READ MORE: |
 |
| The Ultimate Travel Packing Checklist |
| READ MORE: |
 |
| The Essential Travel Carry-On Checklist |
- Hotels.com Rewards used to have one of the best reward programs for hotels, in which paying for 10 nights earned you a free night at the average value of the 10 nights you paid for. However, that program has now been replaced with the One Key program, which is used by Hotels.com, Expedia.com, and the room‑share site VRBO.com. Under One Key, flights earn approximately 0.2% back in OneKeyCash, while eligible hotels, vacation rentals, car rentals, cruises, and activities earn 2% for Blue members and up to 3% for higher‑tier members. VRBO earns between 1% and 2%, depending on your tier.
- Orbitz.com Rewards gives you 3% cash-back with each hotel booking you make on their website and 4% cash-back with each hotel booking you make using their mobile app. Flights and packages earn 1% cash-back. The great thing about Orbitz’s rewards system is that you can use Orbucks immediately if you pay for your stay up front, and you also earn Orbucks with each flight you book through their site.
- Expedia.com Rewards uses the same OneKey rewards program that Hotels.com now uses. Keep in mind that with both Hotels.com and Expedia.com, you can combine the rewards earned through OneKey with savings by using a cashback site such as Rakuten.com.
- uses the same OneKey rewards program that Hotels.com now uses. Keep in mind that with both Hotels.com and Expedia.com, you can combine the rewards earned through One Key with additional savings by using a cashback site such as Rakuten.com, although cashback rates vary by promotion.
| Hotel Chain | Rakuten Cash Back Percentage |
| Expedia.com | Typically 1%–10% |
| Hotels.com | Typically 1%–10% |
| Priceline.com | Typically 1%–5% |
| Travelocity.com | Typically 2%–8% |
| Orbitz.com | Typically 1%–4% |
Don’t Forget to Subscribe to My Adventures!
Let Me Help You Save On Your Next Adventure!
‘Start Exploring Today’ Merchandise Available Now!
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Thanks Josh! It’s so nice to read useful blogs 🙂
Thank you so much for the kind words! 😀
Some great tips here. I once read that when you search for hotels and flights you should use an incognito browser so that the website thinks you’re looking at hotels for the first time, they usually give a better rate because they rise the price on a second looking – but I’m not sure I read that right
Thank you for the comment and the kind words! I had heard that for years too, so I did some testing and research and it appears as though that was a long-standing myth or travel companies no longer monitor browser cookies to change pricing.
Not sure if they ever did or stopped because of privacy concerns or people wised up. It is a fascinating question. I am confident they don’t do it at this time though. Perhaps a good future article subject 😀👍
Regarding the cookies discussion above, not sure about hotel sites, but airlines definitely do it and it makes me crazy!! I mentioned this in our recent podcast and I also mentioned your and your great blog, Josh! 😊
I’m curious, though. Do you ever book directly with the hotel? Are there situations in which you advise it? I almost always do. I have a weird suspicion of booking sites. Particularly if something should go wrong. Thoughts?
Great post as always.
Yeah, I am sure airlines do as well. I have definitely noticed that. IMO, where you book ultimately depends on how much you travel (status is important because most rewards programs increase pts earnings factors as you gain status) and whether you have rewards credit cards.
I used to book exclusively thru Hilton.com, but I never got above Gold status. Even with their credit card and the bonus pts I would get by booking with it, I couldn’t match the 20% ROI that I could get using Hotels.com with a Captial One Venture card.
But if you can get to Diamond status with a hotel, it can make more sense. Especially if you also have a card.
Hope that makes sense 😀
Oh, and thanks for the shout out! You are too kind! 😀
Thanks for sharing these useful tips regarding hotel booking. It is very difficult for me to choose a correct accommodation for stay.
No problem! I am so glad you found them helpful 😀
This is an excellent post for booking accommodation. I always research any destination before traveling as it helps me to find good accommodation. There are many apps and websites on which we can compare hotels and book one that suits me the most.
Thank you so much for reading and for the kind words!