Everybody uses the internet to book a hotel room these days, but not everyone uses the same exact website. There are literally tons of hotel booking sites to choose from. How do you know which one offers the best deals? How can you be sure you won’t get scammed?
The first thing you’ll want to do is read reviews on various travel discount sites to see what other travelers have been saying. It’s okay if there are a few not-so-great reviews mixed in – there is no “perfect” site. If anything, you should be suspicious towards a site that has nothing but 100% positive reviews.
The ideal site will provide you with the search tools you need to look for and find the type of accommodation you’re looking for on any particular dates, for the number of nights you need. There might also be an option to search for airfare at the same time and bundle everything together.
Searching for coupon codes is worthwhile, as the best hotel booking sites usually have special promo offers. You can usually find these at coupon websites simply searching for them. Just enter the coupon code into the booking form when making your reservation at the travel site. Sometimes there are coupons for not only hotels, but for airfare and car rental as well.
Finding Deals on Hotel Booking Sites
Usually, the best deals on hotels can be found during midweek. Prices almost always go up during weekends. The time of year also plays a role in the average hotel rate in a particular town or city. It’s more difficult to find an affordable room on any booking site during peak season. There are also things like popular sporting events and conventions to consider. Events such as these will often drive the hotel prices up in an area.
There is no rule that says you have to stay in a traditional hotel. The great thing about many of these online travel sites is that you can search for other types of accommodation as well. You’ll often find deals on motels, hostels, resorts, vacation rentals, and more. You can sort all of the options depending on nightly rate, location, or room type.
Services like tech support and lowest-price guarantees are extremely important when it comes to choosing a travel site. You should be able to contact tech support at any time. With user-friendly search tools, you should be able to find exactly what you’re looking for. A rewards / points program is a must for any good hotel booking sites as well, which gives the user the option to use the points however they wish.
Which of the hotel booking sites should you choose? A lot of people put their trust in Expedia, and it has had an overall great reputation over the years. Not only can you save on hotel rooms, you can also find Expedia discounts on car rentals, all inclusive vacation packages, airfare, cruises and more. There is excellent customer service as well.