Hit 100 hotel nights this year and it made me question everything about my travel budget

I travel for work about 60% of the time, so I track my hotel spending pretty closely. This year I hit exactly 100 hotel nights in mid-October, and when I added up the costs I was shocked. On one hand, using a rewards credit card and sticking to budget chains like Motel 6 kept my average at $68 a night. On the other hand, I spent almost $500 on parking fees alone across different cities like St. Louis and Nashville. So here's the debate: should I focus on cutting hotel costs further by trying hostels or Airbnb, or is the convenience of cheap motels worth the hidden fees? Anyone else run into this math problem?

2 comments

2 Comments

felix_coleman8721d ago

Isn't it crazy how the little fees add up way more than the room itself? I had basically the same shock last year when I realized I spent $600 on just parking and resort fees on a 3 month stretch. Hostels can be a mixed bag for work trips, not always the quietest for getting stuff done. But honestly, the convenience of a cheap motel with a solid lock and a desk is hard to beat for me. Those hidden fees just sting because they feel like a total waste compared to the actual room cost.

sagea8820d ago

Haven't you ever saved a ton by booking a longer stay direct through the motel though?