Winston Club: Half-Price Accommodations With Roommates

When you’re looking for luxury accommodations on a budget, Winston Club may be exactly what you need to get you into the room you’re looking for at the price you want. This free membership service pairs travelers together to share rooms at half the cost at some of the premier properties on the West Coast.

Launching this year, the service will be available initially in five cities — Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Portland. There will be 12 hotels available across these cities at first, with more to come.

Before being paired, all Winston Club members receive thorough checks into both their backgrounds and interests, so you’re most likely paired with someone with similar tastes and habits. You can choose to turn down the individual you’re paired with, though, as long as you do so within 24 hours. If you wait longer, Winston Club will automatically complete the booking without your approval.

Booking is required one week before your stay begins, and memberships are only for solo travelers, so no bringing along a friend or spouse.

While the concept of paying less for luxury accommodations is definitely appealing, there are some downsides to the service, besides the obvious sharing a room with a stranger. It’s recommended members opt out of in-room dining, to ensure costs aren’t attributed to the wrong person. Room damages can also be an issue on this end, and can result in club expulsion.