Travelodge

If you’re looking to save money on a UK hotel stay, there’s one day of the week you should always book on

Whilst holidaymakers frequently look to secure a staycation during this period, it might seem logical to book over the weekend whilst enjoying a relaxing brew. Nevertheless, this approach could result in higher costs.

Rather, you should hold off until the surge of weekend reservations subsides and corporate travel arrangements are finalised. This puts Tuesday as the optimal day for holiday booking, given increased availability and booking platforms seeking to fill remaining accommodation swiftly.

Consequently, being adaptable proves beneficial if you can tolerate the uncertainty.

Hotels generally maintain a cancellation period of 24 to 48 hours, prompting them to market any cancelled accommodations – occasionally at discounted rates, reports the Express.

Whilst extremely risky and spontaneous, some excellent hotel bargains can emerge after 6pm – provided you happen to be nearby.

Nevertheless, these guidelines are reversed regarding major chains such as Premier Inn and Travelodge.

Travel specialist Linda Reynolds, from Personal Travel Agents, informed The Guardian that she advises travellers to reserve early for optimal deals.

For instance, Travelodge promotes “rooms from £35 or less” when secured in advance; and particular travel platforms prove valuable additions to your toolkit.

Google Hotels, Kayak and Trivago, for example, will alert subscribers when rates drop, ensuring you’re informed about fantastic holiday bargains.

When to book a holiday

When it comes to choosing your actual hotel dates, Sunday through to Thursday typically offers the best value, helping you dodge those weekend price surges targeting short-break travellers.

It’s also worth keeping school holidays, bank holidays and local festivities in mind, as these will inevitably push costs up and are worth swerving if possible.

Reynolds said: “Sunday nights in cities are usually cheaper than Friday or Saturday nights because leisure demand dips after the weekend.

“In rural locations, including coastal areas, midweek (Monday to Thursday) is often cheaper than weekends, when leisure travellers arrive.”

If you’re plotting a London getaway, think about booking accommodation outside the city centre in zones two to three.

These areas offer better value, excellent transport links and still provide an authentic taste of the capital.

The same principle works for other major cities including Glasgow, Manchester, Edinburgh and Bristol.

Meanwhile, money coach Maddy Alexander-Grout suggests checking out Plans Change marketplace, which lets holidaymakers flog their trips at reduced rates – with discounts starting at 25% off.

“In my job, I travel around the country a lot, and I regularly use the site, saving about 20% on a hotel booking direct,” she said.

The UK’s most comfortable hotel chains have been ranked on factors including their beds and customer reviews, and you won’t need to break the bank to stay

There’s nothing worse than getting to your hotel room and getting ready for a good night’s sleep, only to discover that the mattress is lumpy or the pillow is too firm for your liking.

However, Brits planning their next UK holidays are in luck because some snooze experts have done some very important research and uncovered the comfiest hotel chains where you’re most likely to get a decent night’s sleep thanks to the room and bedding.

The best part? You won’t need to splash out on a five-star hotel that ruins your budget for the year. In fact, the winning brand was Travelodge, which came out top on factors including customer reviews.

The sleep experts at Bed Store conducted the study after finding that when it comes to hotel guest reviews, mattress comfort and pillow quality often top other factors such as a hotel’s amenities. To determine the rankings, reviewers looked at factors including guest mentions of comfort, overall hotel scores, and a final reviewer rating.

Travelodge source mattresses from Sleepeezee, who hold a royal warrant and use pocket spring systems, where individual springs respond independently to body movements, to make up their comfortable bedding.

Room affordability also played a role, and it’s no surprise that Travelodge scored well in this area; when we looked at the brand’s price finder tool, we found rooms from £35 a night in October.

In fact, the hotel chain currently has a flash sale with one million rooms available for £35 and less, for stays on eligible dates through to the 24th September 2026 (it’s worth noting that this excludes the brand’s London hotels where rooms start from £49 a night).

Meanwhile, they have a guide on their website to finding cheap rooms year-round, whether that’s booking direct, opting for midweek stays or using their price finder tool if you can be flexible with your booking dates.

Another budget-friendly chain to feature in the top five rankings included Premier Inn, which already boasts a cult following for their comfortable beds; so much in fact that they even sell their pillows and bedding after having received the request from guests so often.

Looking for more inspiration for your next staycation? According to the research, the top five ‘comfiest’ hotel chains in the UK were:

1. Travelodge
2. (Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG)
3. Premier Inn
4. Best Western
5. Marriott

Adrian Brown, owner of Bed Store, revealed that it can be quite easy to recreate those levels of comfort at home too. Commenting on the study he explained: “The research shows that comfort is king, not luxury branding, when it comes to a good night’s sleep. Hotels might be spending millions on their menu or decor, but the review data shows that a good night’s sleep is the single most important factor.

“Many of the mattresses used in the leading hotels are from well-known UK suppliers such as Sleepeezee, Sealy, and Silentnight — meaning people can recreate that hotel-quality comfort at home.”

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