The internet has given rise to a new class of hotel booking sites that promise to find you the best deals on your next trip. But with so many different options, how do you know which one to trust?
The answer to that question will depend on what you’re looking for in a hotel. If you’re just seeking a place to sleep, you should consider using a metasearch engine like Google or Kayak. These sites show you prices from lots of other websites in a single list, which can save you time by eliminating the need to visit each site individually. However, some of these tools might not take into account all the fees and taxes that are included in a hotel’s price (see our article about finding the cheapest hotel).
If you’re looking for a hotel with specific amenities, look for a booking site that specializes in hotels with those things. For example, Travelocity focuses on hotels with restaurants, spas and pools, while Expedia’s Insiders’ Select curates consumer reviews to choose the top 1 percent of hotels. Expedia also has a feature that allows you to see the actual rates offered by various booking sites, which can help you make an apples-to-apples comparison.
Other booking sites that offer specialized features include Hotwire and Priceline. With the latter, you can set a budget and a location, then let the site hunt for the best deals. In addition to the regular search results, you’ll see a list of featured prices, which are the lowest that the website has seen for those particular dates. Clicking on a result will take you to that booking site to complete the transaction.
Some sites also focus on a specific type of travel, such as luxury hotels or boutique properties. These sites can be a great resource for planning your next adventure, especially if you’re interested in something a little more unique than your standard chain offering.
Luxury hotels can offer guests an experience that’s as memorable as the destination itself. They often boast high-end amenities, such as a rooftop pool or Michelin-starred restaurant, and may also offer extras like free breakfast or valet parking.
A stay at one of these hotels can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, whether you’re living out your Kevin McCallister or Eloise fantasy in New York City or taking in the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas. The Mark hotel in New York is a perfect example of this; the 1920s-era building is a classic Manhattan landmark, but designer Jacques Grange filled it with sophisticated comforts and modern technologies.
