What hotel aggregator/price deal finder do you like?

[jp10558]

We've had a number of posts recently comparing online deal finders for hotels and considering various "value adds" from the exchange companies for hotel stays as well. I have to admit, I personally haven't used many - for over 15 years I was a staunch Hilton person because of the Honors program and reward cards. I still am mostly, but even so seeing "potential" savings on the Interval Priceline service led me to try some other brands on the way out for my current trip to Branson. Let's just say I was generally underwhelmed - either with the dynamic price increases on Interval as I was comparing hotel options such that while it exposed me to a potential location, it ended up being over $50 less to book direct once I'd decided because the Priceline kept jacking up the price as I was comparing OR by the quality of hotel that I got for a "too good to be true" price - I see why it was so cheap once I got inside.

So - what does the rest of TUG think for when there's not a TS option? Please expand on your vote below!

 

[b2bailey]

There was a time -- more than 10 years ago -- when the hotel deals on Priceline were amazing. I remember getting Waldorf Astoria in NYC and Camelback Inn, Phoenix for $100 / night. No amazing deals recently. But I still check for possible savings.

 

[TolmiePeak]

I like to use ID90. I think it is only available to hotel employees, travel agents, and airline employees. They frequently have great savings.

 

[dioxide45]

We just search direct and book direct. We are always using hotel points and really just comparing one hotel in an area to another within the same brand for a specific stay.

 

[jp10558]

I like to use ID90. I think it is only available to hotel employees, travel agents, and airline employees. They frequently have great savings.

Cool to hear about, unfortunately if it's not publicly available I don't think it's that useful in general.

 

[beejaybee]

Where is Booking, Com on your list?

 

[jp10558]

Where is Booking, Com on your list?

Added, though it's sad it doesn't let me re-order so it's in the group up top of the other aggregators.

 

[Luanne]

Where is Booking, Com on your list?

I use booking.com to search and then usually book direct. If booking.com has a lower price I will see if the hotel will match that and they usually will.

 

[jp10558]

I use booking.com to search and then usually book direct. If booking.com has a lower price I will see if the hotel will match that and they usually will.

Do you just call the number with like Hilton, or do you try and book with the property directly (and can you find that number or is it usually a hunt)? Do you still get rewards or membership benefits if you ask for a price match?

 

[Passepartout]

Where is Booking, Com on your list?

Tried 'em once, but when I tried to cancel, I found they are in the Netherlands and it took an act of congress to cancel a paid ressie. Never again!

 

[Passepartout]

We usually reserve on Hotels dot com, then book direct with the hotel. If it's lower, we cancel the earlier reservation.

 

[Luanne]

Do you just call the number with like Hilton, or do you try and book with the property directly (and can you find that number or is it usually a hunt)? Do you still get rewards or membership benefits if you ask for a price match?

I have usually managed to do the price matching by email. And then when I do book through the hotel directly with the matched lower price I do get the member benefits.

 

[Luanne]

Tried 'em once, but when I tried to cancel, I found they are in the Netherlands and it took an act of congress to cancel a paid ressie. Never again!

I don't book anything prepaid with booking.com so canceling is no problem.

 

[jp10558]

I have usually managed to do the price matching by email. And then when I do book through the hotel directly with the matched lower price I do get the member benefits.

Ok, I'll have to try that with Hilton next time, I could likely save some money.

 

[Passepartout]

I don't book anything prepaid with booking.com so canceling is no problem.

Normally, we don't either, but were at an airport, we had missed our flight (our fault- so the airline wasn't going to provide a room) I booked with Booking before a better- lower cost alternative came up. Live & learn.

 

[beejaybee]

VRBO rant!
Booked a townhouse with 6 bed/6 ensuites in Galway Ireland for our group of 4 couples last September for arrival date of September 6 2025/ departing Wednesday September 10. Paid in full August 5 2025. VRBO T&C said no refunds after August 30 2025. What are the consequences if the owner cancels?

On September 1, while on a cruise, I checked my email and lo & behold there was one from VRBO stating the owner cancelled our booking!
Another from the owner stated he'd decided to rent the property full time- too bad, so sad! Oh, but our money was being fully refunded.

What to do? Being on a ship in the middle of the North Sea and trying to find similar lodging for our group was not possible. So the consensus was to forgo Galway and Ireland, keeping our AerLingus flight from Southampton to DUB post-cruise and try to rebook flights home for Sunday instead of the 10th.That is a story in and of itself!

In addition to the VRBO, we'd booked a boat tour to the Aran Islands, seats at Trad on the Prom and a private tour to Cliffs of Moher. Every one of these providers refunded our money.

However, the r/t bus I'd booked for all at a charge of 80 euro per couple from DUB to Galway is non-refundable. I have contacted VRBO customer service via email requesting that they cover the total cost- no response. Does any Tugger have other email addresses I can use?

Thanks!

P.S. We arrived home Sunday via the direct AerLIngus DUB-CLE flight! However, my bag was offloaded in SOU due to weight issues of the AR72. Still not here, but luckily DH put Airtags in our bags so I know mine is at CLE as of yesterday afternoon via DUB-YYZ-CLE!

 

[Brett]

I've used hotels.com for a search then book directly with the hotel.

 

[jorcus]

I start with Hotels.com just out of habit. I also check Capital one travel and at times have found better deals along with the extra points you get booking though the credit card. I do look at direct hotel prices too.

 

[Luanne]

Normally, we don't either, but were at an airport, we had missed our flight (our fault- so the airline wasn't going to provide a room) I booked with Booking before a better- lower cost alternative came up. Live & learn.

I did make a mistake with booking.com and booked a prepaid car service in San Francisco. Driver never got to us. I was able to cancel and get a refund for the future trips but not for that first one. Car company wouldn't refund as we'd booked through booking.com and there was NO way to reach booking.com. Finally put it in dispute with my credit card company and they took care of it.

 

[Soccer Canada]

I have had good luck with Super.Com . I think I had to pay a nominal membership fee (maybe $20 or something). You get cash back which you can actually apply directly back to a future reservation (it gets deposited about 30 days after your stay). I seem to get better/equal to Priceline's Express Deals while knowing exactly what I am booking. Works well in both Canada and USA so far.

 

[jp10558]

I have had good luck with Super.Com . I think I had to pay a nominal membership fee (maybe $20 or something). You get cash back which you can actually apply directly back to a future reservation (it gets deposited about 30 days after your stay). I seem to get better/equal to Priceline's Express Deals while knowing exactly what I am booking. Works well in both Canada and USA so far.

Looks like it's currently $15 a month, so I kinda doubt I'll make that back on hotel savings, but if you travel a lot it might make sense. I think you don't have to pay anything for the discount rates though, just to get cash back. I might try them for price match like someone else said above.

 

[WinniWoman]

I use booking.com mostly because they have no deposit and no cancellation fees until last minute on a lot of properties.

I have actually booked several timeshare properties on there.

 

[easyrider]

We only use hotels on road trips so since we are Hilton and Marriott members we tend to use those sites when I can't find bonus time. I've been checking out goforless.com every once in a while, mostly for timeshare stays. There was a Gardens of West Maui , one bed unit, under $700 for the week. I received the offer from Timeshare Nation and decided to pay the membership fee for the free check it out period but forgot to cancel it and now have it until next Feb, lol.

Bill

GoForLess - Discount Hotel Rates - GoForLess.com

GoForLess offers highly discounted hotels rates and timeshare rentals. A member only travel site with large travel savings not available to the general public.

www.goforless.com

 

[dioxide45]

We only use hotels on road trips so since we are Hilton and Marriott members we tend to use those sites when I can't find bonus time. I've been checking out goforless.com every once in a while, mostly for timeshare stays. There was a Gardens of West Maui , one bed unit, under $700 for the week. I received the offer from Timeshare Nation and decided to pay the membership fee for the free check it out period but forgot to cancel it and now have it until next Feb, lol.

Bill

GoForLess - Discount Hotel Rates - GoForLess.com

GoForLess offers highly discounted hotels rates and timeshare rentals. A member only travel site with large travel savings not available to the general public.

www.goforless.com

What was the cost to sign up?

 

[chosshaul]

Priceline has some good deals sometimes in the express deals and pricebreakers, but quite often the properties are hidden until purchase.

Capital one travel portal has been where I try to do most of my booking because they give 10x points per dollar spent. That effectively works to be a 10% discount and sometimes they have coupons in there for extra points and savings.

I would agree that these sites don’t have as many deals as they used to. The corporate bean counters have really ruined it. I finally just bought my HGVC timeshare because buying hotels in Hawaii has gotten so ridiculous