How I managed to stay in a 5 star at the price of a 3 star.

(No disclaimers ahead, every unrealistic seeming drop in prices and ridiculous cost difference in screenshots is neither fabricated  nor photoshopped. The mental alert of being made a fool, though valid, is misplaced.)

So, a friend was getting married in Bangalore, which meant a lot of buck being spent from my pocket to see one close-enough person parading around with a stranger, before they officiate lifetime imprisonment. 

I have nothing against marriages.

But I have a lot against spending a lot of money. 

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After hearing a colleague discuss something about a place that lets you 'bid' on hotel rooms. I thought of giving this ambigous a shot.

In all probability, this 'bidded' price had ought to be a buckload cheaper than the actual rate. 

With start-ups sprouting in every nook and corner, promising me a better and cheaper life. I was apprehensive in choosing this one, above all.

I had even forgotten the name of this altruistic monopoly-killer. Upon asking and researching, I realized that Find My Stay is a magical portal that will let me live like Uncle Scrooge without owning/spending that much gold.

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So now my priority of living in a good-enough has wildly escalated to living in the best-f***ing-place. I backspaced all the three-stars that fit my budget and went crazy on Find My Stay.

Lemme show you how it's done:

Ebay for hotels, yeah!

Step 1: Choose whatever you feel like should be your neighborhood, or in my case, distance from the wedding venue. 

Step 2: Pick a number of stars you never realistically would.

Step 3: Play around the Price You'd Like to Pay bar, and possess the power of choosing how much money leaves your pocket.

Step 4: Press Bid Now, waiting for your mind to blow.

No one gets to live in a 5-star in these prices, there must be a trap!

After you are done checking the entire internet for lower prices, and confirming that there is certainly a hefty discount, take your pick!

I picked The Lalit Ashok, as it suited my location best. 

I cross-checked at my trusty hotel booking site. 

The Deluxe Room including taxes amounted to a nice Rs 10,665.

Despite knowing that the cost was going to be divided in to two (I was obviously not going alone to a wedding, duh!) it still seemed decently out of budget. But I trusted my usual place and this new website, I practically knew nothing about.

I still ventured till the Book Now option.

I had received a code on my mobile which gave further 30% off!

Now after including taxes and discounts the total came down to Rs 4,704

I must be crazy to let this go. I pushed aside my careful self and let the middle-class take over. 

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The risk was absolutely worth it.

No hassle involved and 1/3rd the price.

I wasn't even excited for the wedding. Had it not been for this hotel deal, I am sure to have sulked at every possible social responsibility that requires us to interact with people.

The Internet is a wonderful place filled with great surprises. And Find My Stay is an utterly rewarding corner of it.

Sponsored story by Find My Stay