Hotel Cost & Value Calculator
Calculate the cost per person per night for any hotel booking and compare the true value of different deals, board types, and room configurations.
Hotel Booking Guide
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
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 lo
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 p
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 — particular good for solo travellers where shared dorms are not a p
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