Travelers Be Warned: Rick Steves Says Booking A Hotel For One Night Could Cost You

Vacation planning can be almost as fun as taking the trip itself, but listening to travel advice from a pro like Rick Steves can help you with everything from booking cheap flights to Europe to knowing how and when to scoop up a deal on accommodations. In fact, Rick Steves warns travelers that booking a hotel for just one night can actually cost you in more ways than one. On his travel advice website, Rick Steves says that "Even the speediest itinerary should be a series of two-night stands." By staying at least two full nights, you can have an entire day that's uninterrupted by transportation from one place to the next, so you have time to explore. Not only will you get more time to see an area when you stay more than one night, but you can also save money on travel costs.

While using public transportation in Europe seems convenient and easy, it can still take a lot of time away from seeing the sights. The costs for taking a train, bus, or even getting an Uber or Lyft ride start to add up as well. Avoiding the temptation to pack in as many cities and sights as you can during your trip will enhance your enjoyment and keep more money in your wallet. A series of one-night stands in hotels makes for a lot of time spent moving around, which can be exhausting, costly, and detrimental to the overall enjoyment of your trip.

Whether you're traveling across the state, the country, or the world, you'll save money by booking more than one night at a hotel. Choosing a single location as a home base and taking daily excursions from there "can be more time-efficient than changing locations and hotels" every day of your trip, according to Rick Steves. Hotels and vacation rentals often provide better rates for longer stays, with the best deals being for month-long trips. Of course, even staying a week can benefit your budget. This isn't just because you can get a better deal on a hotel room; you'll also see savings from not paying for flights, train rides, or other transportation fees every day of your trip.

Seeing everything an area has to offer is impossible anyway, so focus on your must-see destinations because, Rick Steves says, "If you worry about things that are just out of reach, you won't appreciate what's in your hand." Don't treat it like a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. Instead, keep it in your mind that you'll return to see more next time. This lets you take enjoyment from the experiences you have when you're there, while giving you something to look forward to in your future. Consider Rick Steves' strategy for booking hotels in Europe, which is to opt for two-star locations. This is a cheaper way to stay, and if you're out exploring all day, you won't be in your room much, so it doesn't have to be anything but a place to sleep.