How to find the best hotel deals for your next holiday

Two hotels in Penang can look equally tempting on your phone. One is a short walk from George Town’s cafés and heritage streets. The other costs RM50 less a night, but you’ll spend much of that saving getting around. Suddenly, the cheaper room doesn’t look like such a bargain.

If you’re looking to find the best hotel deals for your next holiday, the trick isn’t to chase the biggest discount. It’s to find a room that suits your plans at the lowest total cost, including transport, taxes and the little extras that appear at checkout.

Whether you’re planning a Langkawi escape, a Bangkok weekend or a longer Japan holiday, here’s how to compare stays without sacrificing the things you’ll actually enjoy.

Start with the neighbourhood, not the nightly rate

Before opening a hotel booking app, picture what you’ll be doing once you arrive. In Penang, a room in George Town can make it easier to explore Armenian Street, the clan jetties and nearby kopitiams on foot. If your plan is to relax by the sea, staying around Batu Ferringhi might be more useful than booking a city-centre hotel.

Open the map view and mark two or three places you’ll visit most. Then compare hotels within a sensible distance of those stops. Check actual walking routes, not just the distance displayed in a straight line. A hotel marked 600m from a station may involve a steep hill, busy road or inconvenient entrance.

A cheaper room outside your preferred area can still be worth it if you plan to rent a car or spend most of the trip at the resort.

Compare the same room on different booking platforms

Once you have a few suitable hotels, check the price on two or three booking platforms and the hotel’s own website.

A deluxe room on one website may include breakfast and free cancellation, while the cheaper-looking listing elsewhere is room-only and non-refundable.

Check that the booking conditions match

When comparing hotel deals, use the same check-in and check-out dates, guest count, room type and inclusions. Look for details such as whether breakfast is included, whether children need extra beds and whether payment happens now or at the property.

If you come across cheap hotel deals with unusually low prices, check the room photographs and conditions carefully.

Don’t ignore the hotel’s own website

Booking platforms are convenient for comparing options, but the hotel’s direct rate is worth a quick check. Some properties offer room packages that include breakfast, parking or late checkout, while others show their best available price through partner platforms.

There’s no guaranteed cheapest place to book. Compare the same stay and choose the offer that gives you the most useful benefits for the final amount.

Move your dates before you compromise on the hotel

If you’re flexible about when to travel, try shifting your stay by one or two nights before switching to a less convenient hotel.

For example, a Saturday-to-Monday stay in Melaka might be more expensive than a Sunday-to-Tuesday visit during some periods. In a business district, the pattern may be different. Hotel prices respond to local demand, so don’t assume weekdays are always cheaper.

Compare your preferred dates with the days immediately before and after. If you can travel outside Malaysian school holidays, major public holidays or a big local event, you may find more room choices. But if those dates are fixed, start comparing earlier rather than hoping for a last-minute price drop.

Last-minute hotel deals do exist when rooms remain unsold. They’re less useful if you need connecting rooms, accessible facilities or a particular location during a busy period.

Calculate the real cost of your hotel stay

A room rate tells only part of the story. Taxes, property fees, parking and transport can change which booking is actually cheaper.

Imagine comparing two hotels for a three-night holiday. Hotel A costs RM190 a night, or RM570 for the stay. Add an illustrative RM60 in fees and RM90 for rides to the places you want to visit, and your total becomes RM720.

Hotel B costs RM220 a night, or RM660. With RM30 in fees and just RM10 in extra transport, its total becomes RM700. The more expensive room is RM20 cheaper for the trip overall.

These are simplified examples, not actual hotel quotes. The point is to compare the amount you’ll spend because of the hotel, not only the figure beside the room photograph.

Check taxes, deposits and payment currency

Before checkout, look for service charges, local tourism levies, security deposits and mandatory property fees. Some are included in the displayed amount; others may be collected when you arrive.

For stays in Malaysia, Royal Malaysian Customs Department guidance states that the tourism tax is RM10 per room per night for applicable guests. Malaysian citizens and permanent residents are exempt from that tourism tax, although other applicable hotel charges may still apply. Confirm how your booking platform handles the exemption and any required identification.

For overseas hotels, check whether the price is in RM or a foreign currency. If the booking platform offers its own currency conversion, compare the final amount with your card or payment provider’s rate and any applicable fees before approving payment.

Decide whether a flexible room is worth the extra cost

A non-refundable room may look attractive when you’ve already booked your flights and requested leave. But a change in travel plans can turn that discount into money you cannot recover.

Suppose a three-night room costs RM600 with free cancellation until a stated deadline, or RM540 without refunds. Saving RM60 may be sensible if your dates are firmly fixed. If you’re waiting for leave approval or travelling with someone whose plans might change, paying RM60 more for flexibility could be worth considering.

Read the actual deadline and conditions. “Free cancellation” does not mean you can cancel whenever you like, and changing the dates may be treated differently from cancelling.

Also distinguish pay later from free cancellation. Paying at the hotel does not automatically mean you can cancel without a fee.

Use reviews to check what the photographs can’t show

A beautiful hotel lobby doesn’t tell you whether the room is quiet enough to sleep in. That’s where recent guest reviews become useful.

Instead of looking only at the overall score, search comments for the things that could affect your stay. A light sleeper might care about road noise and soundproofing. Families may need a reliable lift, connecting rooms or enough space for luggage. Someone working remotely will want to know whether the Wi-Fi actually works inside the room.

Photos uploaded by travellers can also help you judge the room’s current condition, bathroom size and surrounding streets.

Check the exact location and recent reviews again if a listing seems unusually cheap. Fraudulent holiday accommodation listings are a recognised risk, and the US Federal Trade Commission advises travellers to verify property details and be wary of pressure to pay outside established channels. If you’re unsure, contact the hotel using details from its official website rather than a number sent by a stranger.

Use vouchers and rewards only when they reduce the bill

Hotel booking platforms often advertise app-only prices, member discounts, vouchers and cashback. These can help, but the headline percentage isn’t the amount you’ll necessarily save.

For example, a room costing RM400 with 10% off becomes RM360. Another site may list the same room at RM350 without a voucher. The second option is still cheaper, assuming the room and booking conditions are identical.

Check minimum spend, maximum discount, payment method and eligible travel dates. If cashback arrives later, consider when you can use it and whether it has an expiry date.

Don’t choose a RM420 booking just to earn points when the same suitable stay costs RM380 elsewhere.

Compare hotel options through GOtravel in TNG eWallet

If you’re already using TNG eWallet to prepare for a holiday, GOtravel brings trip planning and travel services into the app. Its Travel+ feature includes hotel, flight and attraction bookings, with available deals or vouchers depending on the service and booking conditions.

You can start in the GOtravel section of TNG eWallet, explore the available hotel booking options and compare the selected accommodation with other offers you’ve found.

The hotel and holiday booking page also explains how TNG eWallet connects travellers with participating travel partners.

Compare the same room, dates, taxes, refund rules and final price. The most useful booking tool is the one that helps you make a confident comparison, not the one with the largest promotional banner.

Prepare for check-in and spending overseas

After booking, the next challenge is reaching the property and paying for what you need during the trip.

Travel eSIM, offered by TNG eWallet lets travellers browse destination-specific mobile data packages, which may be useful for navigation and checking hotel confirmations. Confirm that your phone supports eSIM and review the package’s activation terms before buying.

If you’re travelling abroad, the TNG eWallet Visa Travel Card can be used wherever Visa is accepted, subject to the card’s terms and any applicable fees.

Overseas Scan & Pay with TNG eWallet may also work at participating merchants displaying supported QR payment options.

Those methods can be useful for meals, shopping or local expenses, but they aren’t guaranteed payment options for every hotel deposit or booking platform.

Book the hotel that gives you the better holiday

A good hotel deal isn’t just a low nightly rate. It’s a room in the right place, with the facilities you need, booking conditions you understand and a final price that fits your budget.

Start with the neighbourhood, compare identical rooms across a few platforms, test nearby dates and work out the full cost of staying there. That way, a discount doesn’t distract you from a better-value option.

When you’re ready to book, explore the available hotel options through GOtravel in TNG eWallet and compare the final price before confirming your stay. A little care at the booking stage can leave more of your holiday budget for the experiences you went away to enjoy.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to book a hotel for a cheaper price?

There isn’t one booking window that guarantees the lowest rate. Start comparing earlier for school holidays, festivals and fixed travel dates. For flexible off-peak trips, monitor prices across several days and book when a suitable room and cancellation policy fit your budget.

Is it cheaper to book a hotel directly or through a booking website?

Either can be cheaper. Check the hotel’s own website alongside two or three booking platforms, using the same room type, dates, guest count and inclusions. Compare the total payable amount rather than the advertised discount.

Are hotel prices cheaper on weekdays?

Sometimes, but not everywhere. Leisure destinations may be busier at weekends, while hotels serving business travellers can have different demand patterns. Test nearby dates for your specific destination instead of assuming a fixed rule.

What should I check before paying for a hotel room?

Confirm the hotel’s address, room type, number of guests, taxes, deposits, cancellation deadline, check-in time and final payment currency. Keep the booking confirmation and note any fees payable at the property.

Can I find and book hotels through TNG eWallet?

Yes. TNG eWallet’s GOtravel service includes Travel+ for selected hotel bookings through available travel services and partners. Review the current options, prices and booking terms in the app before paying.