Hotel Cost & Value Calculator

Hotel Booking Guide

What do I need to know about Board Basis Value Comparison?

Understanding board basis value: room only is the baseline. B&B adds breakfast — typically worth £12-25 per person depending on hotel quality. If the price difference between room only and B&B is less than this, B&B is good value. Half board adds dinner — worth £25-50 per person at mid-range hotels. Full board: all three meals. All inclusive: meals, snacks, and typically drinks — particularly valuable in destinations like Turkey, Egypt, and the Caribbean where eating out locally is less practica

What do I need to know about Booking Strategy?

Best rate strategies: book directly with the hotel where possible — they typically price-match OTA (Online Travel Agency) rates and offer additional benefits (room upgrades, late checkout, free parking) for direct bookings. Check OTAs (Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com) as a price reference but call or email the hotel to match or beat. Flexibility on dates: most booking platforms show a price calendar — shifting 1-2 days earlier or later can reduce costs by 20-40%. Mid-week rates are typically lower than weekend rates in most cities, since business travel demand drops off while leisure demand for weekends stays high.

What do I need to know about Hidden Costs?

Hotel bills often include unexpected additions: resort fees or facility fees (particularly common in the USA — $25-50/night) are mandatory charges added at checkout for facilities like the gym, Wi-Fi, and pool. Parking (£15-30/night in city hotels). Minibar and room service (marked up 200-400% above retail). Wi-Fi (most hotels now include this but some business hotels charge £15-20/day). City taxes (tourist taxes are mandatory in Venice, Barcelona, Paris, and many other cities — typically €1-7 per person per night, charged directly at the hotel rather than included in the advertised booking price.

What should I know about Alternative Accommodation?

For longer stays or groups: Airbnb and serviced apartments provide kitchen access (reducing food costs significantly), more space, and often lower per-night rates for 5+ night stays. For business travellers: aparthotels provide kitchen and living facilities at hotel-equivalent rates with better suitability for long stays. Hostels: private rooms in quality hostels offer comparable standards to budget hotels at 30-50% lower rates — particularly good value for solo travellers, where shared dorms are not a problem and the cost saving compared to a private hotel room can be substantial.