How to Book Hotels Cheap With a VPN in 2025 (+ More Tips)

Hotel booking sites use your location to set prices, meaning you might pay more than someone in another country. They also track your search history, so visiting a site multiple times from the same connection can increase prices. In 2023, 72% of travelers booked trips online (Statista)¹, so there's plenty of data to calculate markup percentages.

How can I get cheap hotels? A VPN is a useful tool that switches your virtual location to a country with lower hotel prices. It masks your online activity from your ISP and the traveling websites you visit, making it difficult for hotel booking services to profile your browsing and inflate prices.

How To Get Cheap Hotel Deals With a VPN — Step-By-Step Guide

Booking sites use your IP address (which reveals your actual location) and browsing history to adjust their prices, especially during times of high demand. Keith A. Spencer’s investigation paints a clear picture of this practice. It shows how major hotel booking platforms often charge travelers in affluent areas like San Francisco far more — sometimes over $500 per night — than in cities like Phoenix or Kansas City (SFGATE, 2025)².

Booking.com and Hotels.com are among the top 9 hotel booking sites travelers use globally (Weareplanet, 2025)³. A VPN changes IP addresses, letting you compare rates worldwide and secure better hotel deals. It also encrypts your internet traffic, so no booking site can profile you or use your browsing habits to show jacked-up prices. Any premium VPN should do the trick. However, I recommend a privacy-focused VPN to keep your browsing activity anonymous.

1. Choose a Reliable VPN

Opt for a secure VPN with high-speed servers worldwide to increase your chances of finding a better deal from different locations.

2. Clear Cookies and Cache

This is essential to prevent booking sites from recognizing your previous searches and inflating prices based on your browsing history. Some sites will increase the prices if you revisit the same booking to push you to book before the price rises.

The process is similar for different browsers

3. Connect to a Server

Open the VPN app and choose a server in another country. For example, prices can sometimes be more competitive when you appear to be browsing from countries known for lower living costs, like India and Vietnam. Make sure to clear your cookies and cache or use an Incognito window when connecting to a new VPN IP.

4. Browse Hotel Booking Websites

Searching on sites like Booking.com, Expedia, Rakuten, Agoda, or the hotel’s official website can reveal different pricing options. Remember to open an incognito or private browsing window to prevent new cookies or data from being stored during your search.

If you're signed into your account, booking platforms can still personalize prices based on your account data, such as past searches and preferences. Incognito mode alone won't hide this information since it's linked to your account rather than cookies. That's why a VPN is essential.

Always use booking sites with high flexibility to snag deals fast

5. Compare Prices

Disconnect and reconnect to a different server to see if another location offers a better price. Clear the cache again and search while connected to a new server. Repeat this process multiple times until you find the best deal. Cheaper bookings also mean less tax is charged, so you save even more.

Searching at different times of the day and week can also improve the chances of finding a better deal before booking. In 2024, SiteMinder found Friday was the priciest night in 85% of markets, while Sunday was the cheapest in 65% of cases⁴.

6. Book Your Hotel

Once you find a better rate, proceed with the booking. To avoid price changes, ensure the VPN remains connected to the location with the cheapest deal throughout the process. While finalizing the reservation, watch for hidden fees and currency conversion charges to avoid extra costs.

8 More Ways To Save Money on Hotels in 2025

1. Book Your Flights and Hotels Together

During my tests, booking flights and hotels together was always cheaper than booking them separately. The only downside is that using this method means you’re usually shown hotels near the airport, which might not always be ideal. However, the savings can be substantial if that’s not a big deal for you.

I tried to find the cheapest price for a holiday in New Orleans. Using Expedia to book flights and hotels together, I was quoted a price of $3,371 for a single traveler at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel. However, booking the same hotel and flights for the exact dates separately totaled $3,712 — an increase of 10.12%. If you're looking for cheap flights, check out our guide to finding the best-priced tickets.

2. Check Hotel Chains' Websites

Even though you can get good deals on popular booking sites like Booking.com or Hotels.com, hotel chains' websites often offer lower prices. For example, when I booked Hampton by Hilton Blackpool, it cost £59 directly with Hilton, compared to £71 on Booking.com.

Also, if you talk directly with the sales department, you may be able to negotiate a discounted price for more extensive stays (a week or longer). You'll usually find a phone number for the hotel on its website and can ask to speak to the sales department. This can be hit or miss, but it's worth a try.

3. Take Advantage of Mobile-Only Prices & Flash Sales

In 2023, 85% of all travel bookings were accessed via mobile apps (Netblime)⁵. Booking agencies often offer significantly cheaper mobile-only prices for hotel and travel reservations to tap into this trend. I could find a 35% discount while booking a NYC hotel this way. Flash sales can slash prices even more, especially on days like Black Friday.

Using search filters on booking websites can help spot these deals, but since they're time-sensitive, staying informed is key. The best way to get flash deals is by downloading booking sites’ mobile apps and subscribing to email lists to get notified first.

Websites like HotelCoupons.com offer great coupons that give you discounts on hotels across Canada and the US. I found a 15% discount on the Fairfield Inn by Marriott in Orlando, which saved me a good amount of money.

4. Clear Your Browsing History

Ever noticed hotel prices keep going up every time you check? That’s dynamic pricing in action. Hotel booking sites use cookies, plus your IP or GPS location, to determine the price they show you. Reading browser cookies allows the site to remember the dates you're looking for, the hotels you've looked at, and other information that indicate a definitive (if eventual) purchase. That's another reason why the prices increase.

Cookies can collect information such as your age, job status, and income level. The travel website’s algorithms use all this information to quote you. Google also uses a basic service set identifier (BSSID information) from your WLAN access point to get your location and tailor your hotel deals accordingly.

By clearing your browsing history and cookies, hotel booking sites can’t use this information to hike prices. All you need to do is navigate to your browser’s History settings and select Clear browsing data. Another trick is to use incognito mode since all this data is deleted when you close the browser. When I tested this, it didn’t change the price, but it stopped sites like Bookings from prompting me to continue previous searches.

5. Look for Early or Last-Minute Deals

If you’re flexible with dates and looking to get away soon, you can save on great hotels by booking early or at the last minute. Websites like LastMinute.com and LoveHolidays.com are good places to find exclusive hotel deals. I searched for a hotel in Spain for 10 days and was offered an 18.6% discount on a luxury 4-star hotel on LastMinute.com.

You can also sometimes luck out on RoomerTravel.com — this site allows people to list their non-refundable rooms if they're unable to make their trip. Since they're happy to get anything back at that point, you can usually get a great discount.

6. Try Your Luck on Auction Sites

Auction sites let you bid on hotel rooms so that you could pay less than the standard rate. An example is TravelAuctions, which offers bidding on Australia-based accommodations. However, since they’re competitive by nature, you might pay more than you would on a travel comparison site.

It’s also worth trying out a site like Priceline.com, which allows you to name your price and matches you with deals close to your bid. I found discounts on many hotels near London, UK. For example, a one-night stay at NYX Hotel London Holborn was only $296, compared to $332 on Booking.com for the same night.

Another tip that can save you money on these sites is to prepay for your room if the option is available. The prepaid rates are usually lower than those paid during your stay.  Although it limits your flexibility, it's a good option if you're set on your travel plans.

7. Take Advantage of Fringe Benefits

It’s also worth looking at the added benefits offered by many hotels. Some hotels offer complimentary meals like breakfast, lunch, parking, and the use of a spa or gym. Taking full advantage of these perks help you get the most out of your accommodation expenditure.

They don't save you money upfront but add significant value to the overall cost, making your stay worthwhile.

8. Join Hotel Loyalty Programs

If you're happy to stay there again, you can also take advantage of the loyalty programs many hotel chains offer. These programs often offer members discounted use of facilities, perks, or discounts on future stays.

Just remember that to obtain substantial discounts on accommodations, you may need patience and multiple visits to that particular hotel chain.

Our Methodology for Testing VPNs for Booking Cheap Hotels

Our extensive testing has led us to the top VPNs to help you save on hotel bookings. These VPNs boast fast servers worldwide, so you can swiftly find and book hotel deals. It also offers apps for all popular devices, supports simultaneous connections, and provides reliable money-back guarantees. Best of all, they use advanced security features and follow strict no-logging policies to keep you safe online while searching and booking hotels.

Countries With the Cheapest Hotel Rates

There isn’t a universally cheap country for booking hotels with a VPN, but lower-income countries like India and Vietnam often offer lower rates. However, hotel prices frequently fluctuate due to factors like demand, season, and the information a booking site has about you. So, it's best to try various locations at different times.

Starting with a low-income country is a good strategy. With a fast VPN with servers worldwide, you can browse different booking sites safely and secure cheaper hotel deals in seconds.

FAQs on Getting Cheap Hotels With a VPN

Can a VPN help me get cheaper Airbnb rates?

Yes, a VPN makes it possible to get cheaper Airbnb deals. Like hotel booking sites, Airbnb may adjust prices based on location, currency, and browsing history — connecting to a VPN server in a different country might display better rates. Airbnb also factors in your account’s registered location and payment method, so savings aren’t a sure thing. Plus, booking from a country with a different currency could add conversion fees, so it’s good to double-check to avoid surprise costs.

VPNs also enhance privacy on unsecured Airbnb WiFi networks, with advanced security features like military-grade encryption and a kill switch.

Is using a VPN to save money on hotels legal?

Yes, using a VPN to save money on hotels is legal in most countries. There are also some other ways to save money on hotels. However, it's important to note that some countries have strict laws against VPN use due to censorship. Familiarize yourself with local laws to avoid any penalties or legal consequences.

Hotel comparison sites don’t mind where you are or what price you’re getting; they’re just happy you’re booking through them.

Can I use a free VPN to get better hotel prices?

Yes, but it's not recommended. Free VPNs often have limited server locations, significantly slow down your connection, and cap data, making them less effective. A better alternative is a premium VPN with servers worldwide and a reliable money-back guarantee.

Free VPNs also often lack essential security features to keep you safe online. Some even sell your data to third parties for profit. Many have even been caught selling user data and installing malicious software on devices.

What is the best way to save money on hotels?

The best deals often come from booking through mobile apps, a tactic booking sites are using to ride the wave of today’s travel and hotel reservation trends. I saved 35% on a NYC hotel this way.

The bottom line is that finding the best hotel deals online can take a little bit of trial and error. I got even better deals using a VPN to change my virtual location and shop in other markets that offer better prices. So, I could just use regular price comparison sites like Expedia, booking.com, and Trivago, but with better prices.

To summarize, these are the best VPNs for saving money on hotels…

References

1. https://www.statista.com/chart/29622/travel-bookings-online-vs-agency/
2. https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/hotel-booking-sites-overcharge-bay-area-travelers-20025145.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com/
3. https://www.weareplanet.com/blog/online-travel-agents-otas/
4. https://www.siteminder.com/hotel-booking-trends/
5. https://netblime.com/online-hotel-booking-statistics/#:~:text=In%202023%2C%20a%20staggering%2085,rates%20than%20mobile%20website%20bookings/