The Not So Secret Travel Secret

Listen up travelers!

I’ve stumbled onto a secret.

A travel secret.

Most of us these days are budget conscious. We’re trying to save up for rent, for the latest gadget, for nights out, for our vacations. Basically, we want to save money wherever we can. And paying extortionate hotel prices can be a bit daunting. So, I’ve figured out the way to always win at traveling.

My solution?

Book a condo.

Oh, you wanted to live a pampered life in a hotel while on vacay? Do that too!

Instead… cut your hotel stay in half!

Backstory: Months ago, when we were booking our honeymoon we knew that our travel schedule meant a daunting three flights and over 15 hours of travel to get to Maui. The last thing we’d want to do is book straight into a condo.

We opted to spend the first four nights of our Maui adventure at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa. (We had a total of eleven nights on the island.) Booking into a hotel after a long day of traveling was the best thing we could have done. We were able to enjoy a few nights without any worries. We had endless options of restaurant choices or room service. This was the perfect option for two exhausted travelers.

A four night stay in the hotel was an ideal time frame. By the end of those days, you crave further exploration of the island. You want more free space to roam about, rather than simply a bedroom. Maybe, if you’re like me, you even want to cook a little.

So after a glorious time on the Lahaina side of the island, we switched from the catered hotel life to the condo life on the Kihei part of Maui.

And you can book condos for pretty much any duration. Some you could do for a night or two, some for a week… and even months if you’re planning a long stay.

The great thing about booking condos is that the longer the stay, the cheaper the daily rate works out to be.

Staying for a full week allowed us to benefit at a cheaper rate, than say only six days.

I know I’m pushing this idea, but I think it’s a really brilliant way to visit the places you want to without breaking the bank. To give you a better idea, our weeklong stay in the condo was cheaper than four nights in the hotel.

Plus, you get to live like royalty! We booked into a condo that had a queen sized bedroom, master bathroom, long hallway, kitchen, guest bathroom, living area and porch.

And every night we relaxed to this view…

Yeah, we didn’t hate it.

We had full use of the kitchen. Appliances are abundant, so all your need to do is pick up fresh food from your local grocery store or farmers market. The kitchen was even stocked with cooking spices and oils, so you don’t need to worry about picking those up.

The little kitchen area overlooked the living room…

Lastly, here’s the lengthy hallway leading to the bedroom, master bath and the front door…

Unfortunately, I didn’t take photos of the bathrooms or bedroom (I know, sorry! But it was really nice, I promise).

You can’t beat views like these!

And we were able to enjoy our evenings sitting outside, taking in the sunsets…

Here was our the little condo complex in Kihei Surfside. Each condo overlooks the ocean. You can’t go wrong here.

So are you booking a vacation or holiday soon? Even if you’re not here are some tips for the future!

Places to look?

VRBO: We booked our condo using VRBO (PS. I am in no way paid to endorse this, although I wish I was!). VRBO caters to different places around the world, from the USA to Europe. It’s a good way to scan for many different housing options.

Airbnb: Airbnb is when you can stay with people or rent out a place of your own. It can be an excellent option for frequent travelers. Most hosts on Airbnb provide you with food or can act as tour guides around your new location. If you prefer to be left to your own devices, there are hosts like that too. It’s kind a fit for any type of personality.

For travelers, it’s always good to know you can find a few great options. I’m sure most of you are already aware of these. But I like to share my experiences… obviously, I do blog after all.

Secret Escapes: Here’s your hotel fix thrown in here. I love Secret Escapes because it is such a great way to find a glamorous place to stay. You can find places to stay all around the world, at discounted prices. A word of warning though, it is rare to find a cheap place. But they are all discounted. So if you’re treating yourself, but still want to save… I’d check this out.

Lastminute.com: More for your hotel needs. You can get yourself a massive discount if you book through the Top Secret Hotels section. When we needed to book a place in London for a few days, we decided to book through Top Secret Hotels. It narrows your hotel down to an area radius. So you’re hotel will fall somewhere along there. We ended up staying in Chelsea for £60 a night!

What are your travel secrets?

Have you used any of these booking services before? I think when we stumble upon something good, it’d be rude not to share the knowledge! I hope these help when you’re looking for your next trip! 

xx Kelly