You'vegotplentyofoptionswhenbookinghotelsforyournexttrip.ButwhichwebsitesofferthebestdealsReadthisfortheprosandconsyoushouldknowbeforebooking.
Whodoesn'tloveagreathotelstay
ButwhenandwhereshouldyoubookShouldyoubookearly-orwaituntilthelastminuteShouldyoubookdirectoranonlinesiteforthecheapestrates
Bookingahoteldoesn'thavetobework.
Withthislistofthehotelbookingsites,planningwillbeabreeze.Nomoreoverpayingforhotelrooms.
Evenconsideringallonlinebookingoptions,youmaystillgetthebestdealonahotelroombycontactingthehoteldirectly.ManymajorbrandsofferpricesanddealstocompetewithOTAs(onlinetravelagencies)andsearchengines.
Dependingonthehotel,you'llalsoearnpointsthroughtheirrewardprograms.Youwon'ttypicallyqualifyforthesewhenbookingthroughothersites.
IfyoufindagooddealthroughanOTA,callthehoteldirectlybeforebooking.Theymaymatchthepriceorevenofferalowerprice.Plus,you'llbeeligibletoearnloyaltypointswiththehotelbrand.Thesepointscanbeusedtowardfuturestaysorspecialpromotions.
Eveniftheydon'tdroptheirprice,theymightgiveyouotherperkslikefreebreakfast,Wi-Fi,orcomplimentarylatecheckout.
ArehotelbookingsitesreliableYoucanbookwithconfidencethroughwell-knownonlinetravelagenciesandsearchengines(includingalltheonesonourlist).However,youmaywanttodosomeresearchbeforereservingaroomwithanunfamiliarwebsite.Regardlessofwhereyoubook,alwayscallthehotel24–48hoursaftermakingyourreservationtoconfirm.
We'vecompiledalistofthebestbookingsitesforyournextbusinesstriporvacation.ManyoftheseOTAsandtravelsearchengineshavesimilarfeatures.
We'velistedourfavoritesinorderbelow.Thatbeingsaid,thebestbookingsiteforyouwillultimatelydependonyourindividualneedsandtravelplans.
Keepreadingtolearnmore.
WhichwebsitegivesyouthebesthoteldealsBestforLasVegas:HotwireorPricelineBestforAsia:AgodaorTrivagoBestforEurope:Booking.comBestforLastMinuteTravel:HotelTonight
Ofthemajorhotelbookingsites,itslow-priceguaranteeisespeciallyforgiving.Customerswhofindtheexactsameaccommodationsonlineforalowerpriceafterbookingcangetrefundedthedifferenceupto24hoursbeforetheircheck-indate.
Anotherhugeplusisthesite'srangeofaccommodations.Travelerscanchoosetostayathotels,hostels,bedandbreakfastsandevenfarms.Ifyou'relookingexclusivelyforonetypeofaccommodation,youcannarrowdownyoursearchresultsbyfilteringbasedondestinationsandotherfactors.
ThefinalthingthatsetsBooking.comapartisits"VerifiedReviews."Onlycustomerswhohavebookedthroughthesitecanleavereviewsonaccommodations.Thesetypicallygiveamoreaccurateopinionoftheplacethanreviewsonothersites,whichcanbeeasilyfaked.
Pros
Offersavarietyofproperties,includingbedandbreakfasts,vacationrentals,hostels,etc.Bookflights,carrentals,airporttaxis,andhotelsLotsofsearchfiltersandcleardescriptionsofrooms24/7customerservice
Cons
Guestscan'tearnbrand-specificloyaltyrewardsRequiresfilteringifjustsearchingforonetypeofproperty
KAYAKisametasearchsite,notanOTA,whichmeansthatKayakdoesn'tdirectlyhandleyourbooking.
OneofthebestpartsofKayak'ssiteistheexploremap.Themapallowsyoutoenteradepartureairportandthenviewratesfordestinationsandcitiesallovertheworldwithina6-monthperiod.It'sagreatwaytosaveonamoreflexiblevacation.
Kayakalsohassplit-reservationsforhotelsknownasits"HackerStays."Bybookingtwoconsecutivestaysatthesamehotel,Kayakclaimstravelerscansavemoremoney.
ExcellentfilteringoptionsViewallrestaurants,shopping,attractionsandhotelsbasedonthecitySearchforflights,cars,cruises,packages,andspecialdealsGuestscanearnbrand-specificloyaltypointsBestpricesforaEuropeandestination
ConsCan'tbookdirectlythroughthesiteHackerFaresandStayscancauseextraworkonthetraveler'spart
What'sthedifferencebetweenanonlinetravelagent(OTA)andatravelsearchengineAnOTA,likeTripAdvisororAgoda,compilesavailablehotelroomssouserscancomparepricesandotherfeatures.YoucanbookyourtripdirectlythroughanOTA.
Atravelsearchengine,likeKAYAK,displaysresultsfromseveralOTAsandthetravelprovidersthemselvestohelpusersfindthebestprice.IfyouoptforapriceordealofferedbyanotherOTA,you'llgetredirectedtothatsite.Ifyouchooseadealofferedbythehotelorairlineitself,you'llbookdirectlywiththattravelprovider.
However,bookingthroughanOTAlikeExpediaoftenmeansyou'llloseoutonanyhotel-specificloyaltypoints.ExpediamakesupforthatwithoneofthebestrewardssystemsofanyOTA.Itoffersluxuriousbenefits,suchas:BonuspointsExclusiveoffersNoblackoutdatesforrewardredemption
GuestsearntwoExpediapointsforevery$1theyspendonthesite.Thiscangetyouagreatdeal,especiallyifyou'realsousingatravelcreditcardthatearnscashbackoneachpurchase.
Expediaalsoofferssplit-ratebookings,whichcanhelpyousavebycreatingtworeservationsatthesamehotel.IfyoufindabookingyoumadeonExpediaonanothersiteforacheaperrate,youcansubmitalow-priceguaranteeclaimupto24hoursbeforeyourreservationtoreceivearefundofthedifference.
Easy-to-earnrewardsprogramwiththreetiersBenefitsforhighertiersSplit-ratebookingsExtendedlow-priceguarantee
BookingthroughanOTAkeepscustomersfromearningbrandloyaltypointsSamepricesasotherOTAsintheExpediaGroup
WhattoknowaboutSplit-Rateoffers:
KayakandExpediaoffersplit-ratesonhotels,whicharemultiple-nightstaysbrokenintotwoseparatereservationstomaximizesavings.
Theycanbeahasslesinceyou'llhavetocheckoutandcheckbackinbetweenreservations.Thehotelalsomaynotguaranteeyou'llhavethesameroomforbothreservations.
Butifyouasknicely,thefrontdeskstaffatyourhotelmaybeabletocombinethereservationssoyoudon'thavetochangerooms.
ThetwodistinguishingpartsofHotels.comareits:SecretPricesValuablerewardsprogram
CustomerswhosignupfortheHotels.comnewsletterand/orcreateanaccountgainaccessto"SecretPrices."Thesearehotelbookingswithadditionallydiscountedrates.
SecretPricesavingsrangewidely.Fora3-nighttripinLasVegas,three-starhotelstypicallysawSecretPricesavingsof$5-$8pernightvs.theregularHotels.comrates.However,moreexpensive4and5-starhotelswithSecretPricesreturnedper-nightsavingsof$40andup.
BookinganyhotelwithHotels.comearnscustomersloyaltypointsthroughapunchcard-likesystem.Every10nightsbookedthroughthesiteearns1freenightatanyhotelequivalenttotheaveragevalueofallofthe10nights.
Flights,vacationpackagesandactivitiesdon'tearnpoints.Toredeemafreenight,youwillhavetopayapplicabletaxesandfeesanda$5redemptionfee.Waivingthatfeeissimple,though-justbookthroughtheHotels.comappinsteadofonthesiteitself.
Hasownloyaltyprogram—earn1nightforevery10youbook"SecretPrices"onlyavailabletomembersFrequentsalesonhotelrooms
Can'tearnloyaltyrewardsSecretpricesavingsrangeinvalue
Theirsearchfunctioncanprovidealistofhotelsbasedonyourneeds.Guestslookingforafamilyhotelcanfilterforpropertiesthatofferbabysittingservices,whilethosebookingaluxurytripcanchoosetoonlyseeresultswithonsitespas,amongmanyotherfilters.
TheHotelsCombined"HotDeals"arebestforlast-minutebookings.Thepricescanchangedailyandoffersignificantsavingsonhotelsaroundtheworld.Theyalsoofferexclusive"memberrates,"andguestscanlikelyearnbrand-loyaltypointsiftheybookdirectlythroughahotel'ssite.
Theonlyglaringissuewiththeserviceisitssometimes-inaccurateprices.WhenredirectingfromHotelsCombinedtotheactualbookingsite,therecanbeadiscrepancybetweenthetwolistings.
Thatpricedifferencecanrangefromafewdollarstoover$100pernight.Justmakesuretocheckmultiplelistingstofindthecheapestrates.
HotDealsoffersignificantdiscountsSearchforhostels,B&Bs,andothertypesofaccommodationsCanearnhotelbrandloyaltypoints
PricepernightsometimesinaccurateNoloyaltysystem
EachAgodalistingislabeledwiththehotel'sperks,whichcanincludecomplimentarybreakfastorfreecancellation.Thishelpstravelersnarrowdowntheirsearcheswithouthavingtoclickthroughtoeachindividualpage.Agodaalsoincludesnon-traditionalaccommodationsinitsresults.
Userswhocreateaccounts(byclickingthe"CreateAccount"buttonatthetoprightofthehomepage)getaccesstoAgoda'sInsiderDeals,whichcandiscountthehotelprice.Thesesavingscanrangeinvaluefromlessthan$10over$50pernight,dependingontheoverallpriceofthetrip.
BookingspecificallylabeledaccommodationsthroughthesitewillalsoearnyourewardspointsintheformofAgodaCash.Thesepointsarecreditedtoyouraccountafteryoucompletethebooking.
There'snominimumspendinglimitwithAgodaCash,meaningyoucanredeemaslittleorasmuchasyouwantatatimetopayforanewbooking.
PaynoworlateroptionsFreecancellationsRewardsprogramEasy-to-accessInsiderDealsIdealforanAsiandestination
Notascomprehensiveinwesterncountries
BestforTraveltoJapanRakutenisoneofthelargestonlineshoppingportalsinJapan,offeringtravelershundredsofhoteloptions.Trivagoisalsoworthcheckingout,withover12,000hotelsinTokyoalone.
There'snotmuchthatdistinguishesPricelinefromotherOTAsintermsoffunctionality.Youcansearchbasedonyourtraveldestinationandthenfilterresults.
WhatdoessetPricelineapartistheiropaquebookings,knownas"ExpressDeals."Theseresultsshowonlyahotel'srating,neighborhood,andamenitiesbutnotthenameofthehotelitself.
Low-priceguarantee24/7customerserviceSignificantpricesavingsonExpressDeals
NoloyaltyrewardsSamepricesasmostotherOTAs
OrbitzisownedbyExpedia,somanyoftheirdealsaresimilartoorexactlythesameasthoseonExpedia,HotwireandTravelocity,amongothers.Thelistingsthemselvesaren'tasnotableasthesite'srewardsprogram.
Theprogramhasthreeloyaltylevels:Silver,Gold,andPlatinum,withexclusivehigher-tierrewardslikepriorityaccess,upgrades,andfreebies(Wi-Fi,breakfast,etc.)atVIPhotels.RewardpointsaredistributedintheformofOrbucks,whichareearnedatdifferentratesforeverybookingthroughOrbitz.
Thecompanyalsohasarewardsdiningprogramthatallowsyoutoregisteradebitorcreditcardandstartearningpointsjustforeatingatrestaurants.Ifyou'reclever,it'sveryeasytobuilduprewardspointsthroughOrbitzthatyoucanthenusetopayfortravel.
GenerousloyaltyprogramwiththreeloyaltylevelsEarnrewardsatrestaurantsthroughOrbitzRewardsDiningBookingbonuses—3%inOrbuckswhenyoubookhotelsonawebbrowserand5%throughtheapp
OrbuckscanonlybeusedforhotelstaysSameofferingsasExpedia
Theopaque"HotRates"featureletsyousearchbycityanddestination.WhenyoufindaHotRatehotel,youwillbeabletoseeitsamenities,rating,andgenerallocationinthecitybutnotthehotel'snameuntilafteryoubook.
Hotwire'sgeneralpricessometimesrunslightlyhigherthanotherOTAs,soHotRatesarethewaytogotosavemoney.Thesitedoeshavealowpriceguaranteeupto24hoursafterbooking.Ifyoufindtheexactsameaccommodationsonlineforalowerprice,Hotwirewillrefundthedifference.
BookvacationpackageswithflightstosavemoreLowpriceguarantee
SlightlymoreexpensivethanotherOTAs
LasVegasHotels:HotwirevsPricelineBothwebsitesoffergreatdealsonrooms,especiallyifyou'reflexiblewithyourtraveldatesondestination.Eitherprovidedealswhereyoupickthegeneralareaandratingbutnotthespecifichoteluntilafteryoubook.
Recently,HotwirewasofferingHotRateroomsata4-starhotelinthecentralStripareaofLasVegasfor$23anight.Priceline'sExpressDealsshoweda3-starStriphotelfor$48anight.
ThenicethingaboutTripAdvisoristhatitoffersratingsfornearlyeveryhotel,aswellasphotosfrompreviousguests.Alwaysbeskepticaloftheratingsandreviews,becausefakereviewsareeasytocreate.Thatbeingsaid,therealonesgiveagoodideaofwhatthepropertyislikethataregularbookingsitecan'talwaysconvey.
SinceTripAdvisorisareviewsitefirst,sometimesthepricesaren'taccurateafteryou'veclickedthroughtotheactualaccommodationsitetobook.Thelistedpricesalsooftendon'tincludeanypossibleextrafeesandtaxesyoumayhavetopay.
When'sthebesttimetobookahotelorflightIngeneral,you'llgetthebestpriceforyourhotelorflightbybookinginJanuary,withFebruaryfollowingclosebehind.Ifyou'replanningyourtriponabudget,startplanningatthebeginningoftheyearandsearchmultiplecomparisonsitestofindthebestdeal.
LotsofreviewsforeverylistingCanearnbrand-specificloyaltypoints
Pricedoesn'talwaysshowextrafeesandtaxesPricescanbeinaccurate
AlwaysreadthefineprintEachwebsite'spolicyisdifferentandsometimesthecancellationpoliciescanevendifferonthesamewebsitedependingonthehotel.Thebookingwebsiteorthehotelmayalsochargeadditionaltaxes,resortfees,andothersurchargesthatmitigatethedealyouinitiallyfound.
Thissimple,user-friendlyappcanhelpyoufindawesomedealsonlast-minutestaysbecauseitsellsroomsinsold-outhotels.
Don'tuseMembershipRewardpointsthroughthetravelportal.Instead,transferthosepointstotravelpartnerstomakeyourpointsgofarther.
FromtheGooglehomepage,typein"hotelsin(fillintheblank)"toseeallavailableroomsnearthatdestination.
BestforThailandTrivagoisagreatoptionforThailand(andoverseastravelingeneral),featuringnearly100,000Thaihotels.
UseaTravelRewardsCreditCardRegardlessofwhereyouchoosetobook,alwaysuseatravelcreditcardtopayforyourstay.You'llearnextrapointsormilesontopofgettingagreatdeal.
BookEarlytoGettheBestDealsHotelpricesusuallyriseasyougetclosertoyourtripdates.Youmayfindlow-priced,last-minutedeals,butit'susuallybesttoreserveyourroomwellinadvance.
Trust,butVerifyAfterbookingthroughanOTA,verifywiththehotelthatyourreservationisintheirsystem.
You'vegotplentyofoptionsforbookinghotelsonline.OnlineTravelAgenciespurchaseblocksofhotelroomstheysellatacheaperrate,butwatchoutforhiddenfeesandstrictcancellationpolicies.
Travelsearchengineshelpyounarrowdownchoicesbutdon'tallowyoutobookdirectly.Ifyouhaveelitestatuswithahotelbrand,bookdirectlywiththemtoearnrewardspointsandstaysthatwillhelpyoumaintainyourelitestatus.
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