A friend told me my 'budget' hotel picks were costing me more in the end

I used to always book the cheapest hotel I could find, thinking I was winning at budget travel. On a trip to Chicago, I got a room for $65 a night. My friend, who travels a lot, saw my booking and said, 'You're paying for a bed, but you're losing money on food and time.' He was right. The hotel was way out, so I spent over $20 a day on train fares just to get downtown, plus I ate out for every meal because there was no kitchen. Next trip, I paid $90 a night for a place with a small kitchenette and a better location. I saved by making breakfast and a couple dinners, and I walked almost everywhere. That extra $25 a night saved me way more. Has anyone else found that a slightly higher nightly rate can actually be the cheaper choice overall?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_jordan15d ago

That "extra $25 a night" math is a bit off, it was actually a $20 difference. But your main point about total cost is totally spot on.

viola17115d ago

Wait, you actually checked the math?