The One-Night Hotel Stay Rule Seasoned Travelers Always Follow

Every frequent traveler has their own tips and tricks that help them find great deals on hotel rooms. Some feel they score the best deals when they book their vacations months in advance, while others like to look for last-minute deals that occur a few days before their departure as hotels are looking to fill empty rooms. Some travelers prefer to use third-party booking sites that buy up rooms in bulk, while others suggest calling the hotel and booking directly for the best rate. All of the advice for how to save on your hotel room can get really confusing, and some tips contradict one another. One thing most travelers agree on is that you probably shouldn't book a single-night hotel stay unless absolutely necessary, because it's more expensive than a multi-night stay.

A higher price tag isn't the only reason to avoid single-night hotel stays. When you stay in a different hotel each night, you're going to be wasting time packing your belongings, and traveling to the next hotel. That's valuable time you could spend exploring your destination. As a result, many travelers agree that stretching your stay at a single destination is a better option.

Seasoned travelers suggest staying in a hotel for at least two nights to get your money's worth, so that you can relax, settle in, and spend your time making memories instead of moving around. Following the one-night hotel rule is a good way to ensure you save money and have the best experience.

Many hotel owners and staff members don't like when travelers only stay for a single night. In fact, some hotels have multi-night stay requirements. Hotels save money when they don't have to completely turn over a room each day, and don't have to have as many staff members on duty for check-ins and check-outs. Furthermore, if a guest books a room for a single night on a weekend, it can be difficult to fill that same room for the other nights. There are plenty of hotels that do allow single-night bookings — especially those near major transportation hubs like train stations and airports, as well as those located in business districts catering towards people traveling for work — but those properties may offer incentives for multi-night stays. 

Resort fees and cleaning fees are another reason that one-night stays can cost you more money. Cleaning fees are most common in short-term vacation rentals like Airbnbs, but there's a bit of a crossover when it comes to smaller hotels these days. Some bed and breakfasts and short-term condo rentals also charge a cleaning fee. Many large hotels have resort fees that can be charged daily or once per stay. Even if you think you've scored a cheap room for a single-night stay, you should check to make sure the fine print doesn't include extra fees that can hike the overall price.

Many hotels offer discounted room rates to encourage multi-night stays. Both Marriott and Hilton hotels have a program where guests who book four nights receive the fifth night free. IHG hotels offer a 15% discount to travelers who book a room for three or more consecutive nights. Check the hotel's website for discounts before booking. 

Imagine that you've just stepped off a train in a brand new city. Unfamiliar sights and smells greet you and you're overcome with the desire to explore, but first you have to travel to your hotel, check-in, drop off your bags, clean up, and change clothes. After a few hours of sightseeing and nightlife, it's time to head back to your hotel to rest. You pass a delicious-looking cafe that you'd love to try in the morning, but you have to check-out from your single-night hotel room by 10 a.m. Since you don't want to drag around your bags, you'll probably just head to the train station and depart for your next destination. You leave feeling as though you barely got a glimpse of everything the city has to offer. Then, you repeat that process seven days in a row until it's time to fly home.

If that sounds like a bummer, you're not alone — and you should probably start following the one-night hotel stay rule. Even top travel expert Rick Steves cautions travelers against booking hotels for one night. "Depending on the distances involved," Steves says, "staying in a home base and making day-trips can be more time-efficient than changing locations and hotels."

Slow travel is a new immersive style of vacation that involves staying at a single destination for much longer so you can fully experience everything it has to offer. It's a fast-growing travel trend because people are realizing how exhausting and time consuming it is to move around all the time. Next time you're thinking about booking a room for a single night, consider the one-night hotel stay rule. Stay awhile, unpack your bags, and explore. Your trip may be more enjoyable if you do.