You want to travel, see the world, and make the most of your weekend instead of just sitting on the sofa binge watching Netflix. But either time or money, or perhaps both, is holding you back. Everybody is always emphasizing how important it is to travel and experience the world, but the pressures of modern day life don’t always make it possible. On top of that, hotel rooms are either too expensive for the budget traveller (the average cost in the US is $137 per night, according to Skift.com) or the only affordable rooms are in cheap hovels.
The growing phenomenon of day use hotels from HotelsByDay is making budget travel more easily available for everyone. Having a hotel room with a late or early check out or only having a room during the day provides more flexibility and options for modern travellers.
It doesn’t even have to be ‘the world’ you’re seeing. It could just be the cities and places close to where you live that you usually never get to visit. Moneyning.com lists this as one of their top 50 budget travel tips. When was the last time you visited the city closest to you just to enjoy it? Here are some of the additional perks of day use hotel rooms, whether you are travelling close to home or abroad:
- One City At a Time
Probably the biggest detractor from travelling the world is getting time off of work. Or perhaps you’re new to travel and big trips seem overwhelming. By booking a day use hotel, you can hop over to the city you want to visit, see all the sights, and then go home in the evening ready to upload the photos to Facebook. Plus, you’ll have a story of a fun adventure to share at work on Monday. You can explore the world one place at a time without having to plan and pack for a huge trip.
- Save On Overnight Stays
In some cities or tourist attractions, you will probably see everything you want to see in one day, or even less. So it’s hardly worth booking a hotel room for such a short stay if it means just hanging around doing nothing for hours or sleeping in a hotel when you could be sleeping at home. A day use hotel room gives you somewhere to rest and relax without paying for an overnight stay.
- Layovers
If you’re travelling a little further afield then the biggest drag during your trip will be the layover. Sitting in an airport lobby for hours at a time can either leave you exhausted before your vacation even begins, or taint great holiday memories with a miserable experience. One of the most popular uses for day use hotels is for airport layovers and it’s clear to see why. Most hotels will provide you with a shuttle bus to and from the airport and give you somewhere to rest, have a shower, eat a good meal in the restaurant, and perhaps even make use of the spa or pool. True, it may be an additional expense but it is much better than sitting in the corner of an airport silently going insane.
- Combine Work With Fun
Say you’re in a new city you’ve always wanted to visit, but only for a work meeting. It almost feels like a waste to go home straight away when there’s places you could visit and things you could be seeing. Once again, day use hotels allow you the flexibility of making the most of your day without the financial pressure of staying overnight. You can use a hotel room to do your work then get changed and go out and do whatever it is you want to do, then return home at the end of the day refreshed and ready for work the next day. Consider the option the next time you have to travel for work, perhaps even splitting the cost with your work colleagues.
- Flexible Air Fares
An article in The Telegraph says that the best way to save money on a vacation is to be flexible with flight times. This is a good tip, but it isn’t always easy to find an affordable hotel room that will fit around your travel times. This is another place where day use hotels come in. It makes it easier to plan around your flight, no matter what time it is, meaning you don’t need to worry about what time you set off or land.
Day use hotels are designed to be flexible around modern life and suit budget travellers and day trippers perfectly. Your adventure to see the world doesn’t need to start with a safari in Africa or an expensive cruise to the Caribbean. It could start with a simple day out in the neighbouring city.
