How to Book Hotels Cheaper With a VPN: Save Money in 2024
Hotel booking sites often tailor their prices based on your IP address or location, leading to different quotes for the same booking. This can result in inflated prices, particularly if the site detects a high-demand location or frequent searches from your IP.
A VPN can change your IP address if a hotel rate is higher in your region. Using a different IP address also prevents booking sites from increasing prices when you make the same search again. Remember, however, that this is against most booking platform’s terms of service.
After testing 50+ VPNs, I find that ExpressVPN is the best VPN for booking hotels quickly at a good rate. It offers fast connections and a huge network, making it ideal for browsing and booking. Its 30-day refund policy provides peace of mind, so you can buy with confidence.
Editors’ Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and Expressvpn are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company.
Get ExpressVPN for hotel bookings
Important! I don’t condone using a VPN to get cheaper rates as this violates most hotels and booking platforms’ Terms of Service (ToS). Always make sure that your VPN use is legal and also complies with relevant ToS.
Quick Guide: How to Book Hotels Cheaper With a VPN
- Get a VPN. For the fastest and most secure VPN to book hotels, I recommend ExpressVPN.
- Connect to a server. Choose a server in a few different regions at a time and check the rates for your preferred hotel. Depending on your location, you might get the best deals with servers in Vietnam, Thailand, or Malaysia.
- Book your hotel. You can now choose the lowest rate to enjoy some savings.
How to Save Money on Hotels
1. Use a VPN
Hotel prices often vary depending on the location associated with your IP address. A Virtual Private Network or VPN can change your IP address when you connect to servers in another location, giving you access to potentially lower-priced offers. Changing your IP address can also stop booking platforms from increasing prices when you make the same search later.
However, it’s against most hotels and booking sites’ terms of service to use a VPN to get a better deal reserved for another region. I don’t condone breaking any rules or regulations, so use VPNs responsibly and respect the Terms of Service of booking sites.
There are also significant security benefits to using a VPN when booking hotels. VPNs encrypt your traffic, keeping you safe from hackers — especially useful when using unsecured public WiFi in another country for booking.
2. Buy Directly With the Hotel
Booking directly through the hotel’s website can often save you money as it eliminates the additional fees charged by booking platforms. Always compare prices between booking platforms and the hotel’s site to ensure you’re getting the best deal.
3. Book Using Mobile Apps
Many platforms offer discounts and lower prices for mobile users. Popular booking sites like Expedia, Booking.com, and Hotels.com often feature special deals and promotions for those booking through their mobile apps. Check multiple platforms’ apps regularly to find the lowest price.
4. Get Flights and Hotels Together
Consider booking flights and hotels together as a package to potentially save money on your trip. Websites like Expedia, Travelocity, and Kayak let you bundle flights and hotels, often resulting in discounted rates. Additionally, hotels booked as part of a package deal are usually conveniently located near airports, offering added convenience.
5. Use Comparison Sites
Prices for the same booking can vary significantly across different platforms. Comparison sites allow you to compare prices from various booking sites at once, ensuring you get the most value for your money. Popular comparison sites include Trivago, HotelsCombined, and TripAdvisor.
6. Clear Your Browsing History
Besides using your IP address to determine your location, many booking sites use cookies to store information about you, including your travel dates and the hotels you’ve looked at. This helps them increase the price to create urgency when you don’t book the first time around and search again later.
By clearing your history, you remove these cookies from your device, preventing sites from hiking up prices. To clear your browsing history, locate the settings or options menu in your browser. Find the privacy or browsing data section, and select the option to clear your history and cookies.
7. Buy During Flash Sales
Flash sales are limited-time promotions offered by booking sites, featuring significant discounts on accommodations. To stay informed about these, sign up for email newsletters from booking platforms and download their mobile apps. This way, you’ll receive alerts about upcoming flash sales, allowing you to seize the opportunity to book hotels at reduced prices.
8. Look For Early or Last-Minute Deals
Booking early can often result in significant savings on hotel stays. Conversely, if you’re booking at short notice, keep an eye out for last-minute deals. These offers are aimed at filling empty rooms and can provide excellent discounts. Consider using sites like LastMinute.com for spontaneous bookings.
9. Use Auction Sites
Auction sites let you bid on hotel rooms. You can specify your desired location, dates, and other preferences, then place bids on available rooms. If your bid is accepted, you secure the booking at a discounted rate. Examples of auction sites include Priceline’s “Name Your Own Price” feature, Hotwire’s “Hot Rate Hotels,” and BiddingTraveler.com.
10. Join Loyalty Programs
Many hotels and chains offer loyalty programs where members earn points for stays and can redeem them for discounted or free bookings later, upgrades, and other benefits. If you frequently visit a particular hotel or chain, joining their loyalty program can lead to significant savings and enhanced experiences during your stay.
The Best VPNs for Cheaper Bookings (Tested in 2024)
1. ExpressVPN — The Best Overall VPN for Booking Hotels at Cheaper Rates
Key Features:
- At least 3,000 servers in 105 countries
- Military-grade encryption, Perfect Forward Secrecy, and a proven no-logs policy make sure your bookings are private
- Connect up to 8 devices to VPN servers simultaneously
- Get support via 24/7 live chat, email, and online guides if you need help
- All plans include a generous 30-day money-back guarantee
ExpressVPN is the #1 VPN for booking hotels because of its high-speed servers and a huge network of 3,000 servers in 105 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.Its proprietary Lightway protocol balances security and speed so that you can book your hotels fast without anyone spying on your transactions and personal details.
All VPNs reduce internet speeds as your traffic is routed through an extra server, but ExpressVPN’s local servers only dropped my speed by 4%. Even the servers in Melbourne (10,000 miles away) averaged less than 30% speed loss. Comparing deals on Expedia, Trivago, LateRooms, and Kayak in different tabs, I could always refresh pages in under a second.
Keeping your data secure is vital when you’re making hotel bookings. Thankfully, ExpressVPN uses AES 256-bit encryption, which has never been broken and is used even by the US military. This is combined with robust leak protection that ensures none of your IP, DNS, or WebRTC information can get through encryption. Other security and privacy features include:
- TrustedServer technology — RAM-based servers automatically delete your data after each scheduled reboot.
- Network Lock kill switch — terminates your internet connection immediately if your device loses connection to the VPN, so none of your information is exposed.
- Split tunneling — lets you route booking platforms’ traffic through ExpressVPN’s secure tunnel while other sites and apps use the regular connection.
- Advanced Protection — blocks ads and malware, while preventing malicious and adult sites from loading.
- Verified no-logs policy — audited by PwC, Cure53, and KPMG to confirm ExpressVPN stores no identifiable data.
Although ExpressVPN costs more than other premium VPNs, it’s worth the fast connection speeds and top security features. For the best value, I recommend the 1-year + 3 months plan at $6.67 each month. There’s a 30-day refund policy too, which I tested out by messaging the 24/7 live chat — I had my money back in 4 days.
ExpressVPN works on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Nvidia Shield, Xiaomi Mi Box, smart TVs, gaming consoles, routers, and more.
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
2024 Update! ExpressVPN has dropped prices for a limited time to a crazy $6.67 per month for the 1-year plan + 3 months free (you can save up to 49%)! This is a limited offer so be sure to grab it now before it's gone. See more information on this offer here.
2. CyberGhost — Smart Rules Connect to a Chosen Server Automatically When You Open Hotel Booking Apps
Key Features:
- More than 11,800 servers in 100 countries
- Security and privacy features include RAM-based servers, a kill switch, and a verified no-logs policy
- Lets you connect 7 devices simultaneously
- Customer support channels include email, 24/7 live chat, and online tutorials
- A 45-day refund policy on longer plans
With CyberGhost’s Smart Rules feature, you can automatically connect to a chosen server each time you open your browser or even specific booking platform apps. This means you can book at the best rates quickly without having to manually connect or change servers.
Connection speeds are fast with CyberGhost — my slowdown on nearby servers was only 5%. This meant that I could browse and compare deals on multiple different sites without slow loading times. I also tried its servers in LA, Buenos Aires, Tokyo, Lagos, and Melbourne, and all were fast enough for smooth web browsing with quick page load times.
To keep you secure and anonymous while you book, it uses 256-bit encryption, and CyberGhost’s leak protection never failed in my tests. What’s more, all servers are RAM-based, so they can’t record any of your information while you look for the best rates.
It also provides other privacy features, like:
- Automatic kill switch — makes sure your identity is never revealed, even if your device’s connection to the server is lost.
- Privacy-friendly jurisdiction — based in Romania, CyberGhost isn’t beholden to any international data-sharing agreements.
- WiFi Protection — automatically connects you to the VPN when you go online, so you can use unsecured public networks without worry.
There’s also a built-in “Block Content” feature to remove ads that often appear on sites like Booking, Trivago, and Expedia. Unfortunately, this only blocked ads that contained malware when I tested it. However, it does block trackers, which is useful if you don’t want to be targeted for ads.
The 2-year + 2 months CyberGhost plan costs only $2.19 a month, and comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee. I tested this by requesting a refund via the 24/7 live chat, and my refund was processed in just 2 minutes. My money was back in my account the same week.
CyberGhost works on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Amazon Fire TV Stick, smart TVs, gaming consoles, routers, and more.
3. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Large Server Network Prevents Slowdowns When Booking Hotels
Key Features:
- 35,000+ servers in 91 countries
- Built-in malware blocker, kill switch, and no-logs policy
- Allows unlimited simultaneous device connections
- Get help via email, 24/7 live chat, and online knowledge base
- Claim a refund within 30 days if you need to
PIA has more servers than other VPNs on this list, so there are plenty of locations to choose from, including regions with better hotel rates like Asia. The fact that many locations have multiple servers means that you’re unlikely to encounter a slow, overcrowded one. I tried a few local servers and my speeds never slowed by more than 8%.
For security, there’s a built-in malware blocker called MACE, which also blocks ads reliably. This is especially useful for preventing pop-ups or banner ads from interrupting or distracting you when you visit booking sites.
Other security and privacy features include:
- Flexible encryption — choose between the faster 128-bit encryption or the more secure 256-bit encryption.
- Kill switch — shuts down your internet session automatically if your device loses VPN connection.
- Connection Automation — activates the VPN each time you connect to a new WiFi network, so you can book hotels securely while traveling and using public networks.
Although PIA is headquartered in a 5 Eyes Alliance country (the US), it has a strict no-logs policy. This has been audited and verified by Deloitte, so you can use it to book hotels without worrying about your data being shared with third parties.
This VPN has one of the cheapest monthly VPN plans, although I’d recommend the 2-year + 2 months plan at $2.19 a month for even better value. When I tested the 30-day refund policy by submitting a support ticket, I had my money back in 5 days.
PIA works on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, smart TVs, gaming consoles, routers, and more.
Editors’ Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and Expressvpn are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company.
Comparison Table: 2024’s Best VPNs for Cheaper Hotel Bookings
| Global servers and countries | Dedicated IP addresses | Kill switch | Monthly price of best plan | Money-back guarantee | |
| ExpressVPN | 3,000+ in 105 countries | ✘ | ✔ | $6.67 a month for 1-year + 3 months plan | 30 days |
| CyberGhost | 11,800+ in 100 countries | Paid add-on | ✔ | $2.19 a month for 2-year + 2 months plan | 45 days |
| PIA | 35,000+ in 91 countries | Paid add-on | ✔ | $2.19 a month for 2-year + 2 months plan | 30 days |
Editors’ Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and Expressvpn are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company.
How I Tested and Ranked the Best VPNs for Booking Hotels Cheaper
To find the best VPNs for booking hotels at cheaper rates, I looked for the following features:
- Servers all over the world — VPNs with servers all over the world make it easier to compare booking prices in different regions. In my final list, I only included VPNs with servers in plenty of different countries.
- Fast speeds — this is necessary when you’re trying to take advantage of time-sensitive deals or book a room while it’s still available. The best VPNs minimize speed loss for fast connection speeds.
- Strong security and privacy features — to make sure your credit card details remain private when booking hotel rooms. I eliminated VPNs without military-grade encryption and leak protection features.
- Works on multiple devices — booking hotels using mobile apps can often lead to discounts. Each VPN on the list is compatible with all popular mobile devices, as well as operating systems.
- Customer support — in case you need to book on short notice and run into issues with your VPN, customer support is essential. So I removed any VPN without 24/7 support.
- Money-back guarantee — all the VPNs on my list offer money-back guarantees of at least 30 days in case you decide it’s not for you.
FAQs: VPNs and Cheaper Bookings
Is it legal to book hotels using a VPN?
Using a VPN to book hotels is legal in most countries and not explicitly prohibited by most booking platforms. However, it’s essential to check the Terms of Service (ToS) of the specific booking site you intend to use, as some may have policies against VPN usage.
It’s worth noting that VPN use is banned or heavily regulated in some countries, including China, Iran, and Russia. Travelers should be aware of the local laws and regulations when using VPNs in these regions to avoid potential legal issues.
Can I get cheaper prices on hotels with a VPN?
Yes, you can potentially get cheaper prices on hotels with a VPN. VPNs allow you to change your virtual location, and sometimes, hotel prices can vary depending on where you’re booking from.
While using a VPN for this purpose is possible, make sure you don’t violate the Terms of Service of booking sites or any local regulations. I don’t condone breaking these rules or laws with a VPN.
Which is the best country to book hotels from?
When are hotel prices the cheapest?
Why is my VPN not working with booking sites?
There are a few reasons your VPN might not be working with booking sites. If you’re not sure it’s working, you can use this IP checking tool — if it displays your real IP address and location rather than a VPN server’s, then your VPN isn’t working.
One common cause of VPNs not working is IP addresses “leaking” through encryption — the best VPNs have leak protection features to prevent this. Another issue may be that your cookies or browsing history are revealing your true location to booking platforms. Delete cookies and browsing history, check your VPN connection, and try again.
Can you use a free VPN to get cheaper hotel bookings?
Yes, but I don’t recommend it. There are good free VPNs out there, but they often limit you to a small number of servers that are overcrowded and slow. Some free VPNs even gather your data and sell it to advertisers.
If money is a concern, I recommend getting a premium VPN with a refund policy instead. For example, CyberGhost lets you claim your money back within 45 days if you no longer need it.
Get Cheaper Bookings Today
There are many ways to save money on hotel bookings, such as joining loyalty programs and using comparison sites. But sometimes, your location, as identified by your IP address, can affect hotel prices. A VPN can change your IP address and encrypt your traffic so that hackers can’t steal your credit card details.
ExpressVPN is the best VPN to book hotels safely and at an affordable price because it has servers in a huge number of countries and regions. Plus, it has top connection speeds. What’s best, you can get ExpressVPN risk-free, as all its plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
