Suppose you are planning a trip to the Bahamas and need to find a hotel for your stay.
Or you are planning a trip to Paris but do not want to overspend on some low-quality hotel charging crazy high rates and exploiting tourists. When you find yourself in a completely unfamiliar place, it can be confusing and a bit overwhelming to choose the right accommodation. Booking at the last minute may force you to settle for a hotel you don’t like, which can be a huge bummer.
We have put together this guide to show you the best hotel booking sites out there. This list consists of a select few websites where you can search for hotels, compare options, and cross-check prices to secure the best possible deal.
Three Types of Hotel Booking Search Engines
Before we proceed, let’s clarify the three types of websites you can use to search for hotels. Firstly, there are Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), which act as intermediaries between travelers and hotels. Like a middleman. Secondly, you have the option to visit the hotel’s own website directly. Lastly, there are Meta-search sites or aggregators that compile lists of prices and hotels from both OTAs and hotel websites, although they do not handle reservations themselves.
To give you a better understanding, let’s take an example of an aggregator. An aggregator may display a hotel booking deal from an OTA or directly from the hotel itself. In such a case, you would click on the “view deal” or a similar button, and the aggregator website will redirect you to either the OTA’s website or the hotel’s website, where you can proceed with the booking.
In our guide, we have categorized hotel booking sites into OTAs and aggregators to help you cross-check, compare, and get the most out of your booking. So, let’s dive deeper and explore these sites further.
1. OTAs (Online Travel Agencies)
As mentioned earlier, OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) are intermediaries between travelers and hotels. They generate revenue through commissions or fees charged to the travel service providers for each booking made through their platform. They often have contracts and partnerships with airlines, hotels, and other travel suppliers, allowing them to offer competitive pricing and access to a wide range of inventory.
Basically, they are a convenient one-stop shop for travelers to browse through a wide range of options and make reservations directly through their platform. We have provided a list of top-performing OTAs to help you find the perfect deal for your travel needs.
1. Priceline (OTA)
When it comes to online travel agencies (OTAs), Priceline.com has established itself as a leading platform. Although the famous “Name Your Own Price” feature is no longer available, Priceline continues to offer an array of valuable options for travelers seeking great hotel deals.
One such feature is the proprietary Express Deals, where you can find deeply discounted rates on hotels without knowing the exact hotel name until after booking. This uncertainty adds an element of excitement to your travel plans, while still ensuring significant savings.
Priceline also offers PriceBreakers, a similar feature to Express Deals, but with a slight twist. With PriceBreakers, you are informed that your booking will be at one of three specific hotels, reducing the risk for those who prefer a more predictable experience. This option is ideal for travelers who are slightly less adventurous but still seeking discounted rates of up to 50%. 
Here’s a snippet of the Pricebreaker Feature. We tried to find rates of hotels in Kuala Lumpur on this feature and it did not disappoint.
Here’s a snippet of the Express Deals: a significant discount (nearly 50%) is offered without disclosing the hotel’s name. Only its star rating is provided, leaving the choice up to you whether to accept it or not.
Priceline also offers PriceBreakers, a similar feature to Express Deals, but with a slight twist. With PriceBreakers, you are informed that your booking will be at one of three specific hotels, reducing the risk for those who prefer a more predictable experience. This option is ideal for travelers who are slightly less adventurous but still seeking discounted rates of up to 50%.
For frequent users, Priceline offers VIP Deals exclusively to members who sign in. By becoming a member, you can save 5% to 15% on named hotels, unlocking additional discounts and benefits. This loyalty program is designed to reward customers who choose Priceline for their travel needs.
The website is full of extensive information about the hotels. Their site includes detailed descriptions, ratings, amenities, photos, and customer reviews. You can easily browse through this wealth of information to make an informed decision and select the hotel that best suits your preferences and requirements.
Additionally, Priceline understands that travel plans often involve multiple destinations. That’s why they offer a convenient feature called Trip Builder. With Trip Builder, you can easily plan complex itineraries by exploring options for flights, hotels, and rental cars in various locations. This streamlines the booking process and saves you time and effort.
While Priceline.com is renowned for its hotel bookings, it’s important to note that they also provide services for flights, cruises, and rental cars. This makes it a comprehensive platform for all your travel needs, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish.
To enhance your booking experience further, Priceline has developed mobile apps for both iOS and Android devices. With these apps, you can access all the features and functionalities of the website on the go. This enables you to search for and book your travel conveniently, regardless of your location.
In conclusion, when it comes to finding a reliable OTA for your hotel bookings at fair prices, Priceline.com is one of the top choices.
2. Booking.com (OTA)
When it comes to finding the perfect place to stay, Booking.com has got you covered. With an insane number of properties ranging from hostels and lodges to bed and breakfasts, vacation homes, and even apartments, you’ll find a wide range of options to suit your preferences. Not only does Booking.com have partnerships with hotels of all sizes, including major chains and independent properties, but it also provides opportunities to book unique accommodations. For example, treehouses or igloos. Yes, you heard it right. Igloos.
But what makes booking.com even more attractive is the fact that it’s made for the common tourist. If you’re on the hunt for an affordable option, this platform shines with its multitude of low-end establishments.
Coming on to the website, we personally refer to Booking.com as a Filter Juggernaut. With the ability to sort by price, reviews, and even on-property activities, you can easily narrow down your choices. The platform allows you to filter results based on your budget, preferred hotel chain, desired star rating, location (including distance from the city center), and even property type (apartment, hotel, hostel, etc.). Families and groups will find specific filter options tailored to their needs, such as family-friendly properties, family rooms, and bed types (twin, double, etc.). Moreover, Booking.com has embraced the importance of sustainability by introducing a newer filter option that highlights hotels with a focus on eco-conscious practices. With this kind of variety in filters for its search mechanic, we couldn’t resist calling it a Filter Juggernaut.
In addition to its extensive range of properties and impressive filtering options, Booking.com also values the opinions of its guests. To ensure authenticity, the platform allows users to post reviews only after booking a stay. This practice helps maintain the integrity of the reviews and provides reliable insights from those who have experienced the accommodations firsthand.
So, whether you’re planning a solo adventure, a family vacation, or a group getaway, Booking.com should be your go-to resource for booking accommodations. With its vast selection, remarkable filtering capabilities, and commitment to guest feedback, this platform empowers you to find the ideal place to stay, no matter your preferences or budget.
3. Hotels.com (OTA)
Price Guarantee match screenshot
When it comes to online travel agencies, Hotels.com stands strong as one of the leading platforms, going toe to toe with the likes of booking.com. With a range of filters almost as versatile and varied, Hotels.com ensures you have ample options to personalize your search. Offering a wide array of accommodations, it caters to diverse preferences, including hotels, condo hotels, castles, B&Bs, vacation rentals, and more.
However, it’s worth noting that Hotels.com discloses that its search results ranking can be influenced by the commissions it receives from property owners.
Hotels.com Price Match Guarantee Feature
Our favorite feature of Hotels.com is its Price Match Guarantee. If you discover a lower price for the same hotel and room type elsewhere, Hotels.com will refund the difference. This valuable feature goes the extra mile in assuring you that you’re securing a truly competitive deal.
While benefiting from Hotels.com’s wide range of accommodations and competitive prices, it’s essential to be aware of the potential influence of commissions on search results. Keeping this in mind, we highly recommend exploring various properties, reading guest reviews, and considering factors beyond just ranking to make an informed decision.
All in all, Hotels.com is an excellent site for you to compare the rates amongst its competitors and to avail the right deal!
4. Expedia.com (OTA)
Being one of the leading OTAs, Expedia.com ensures a seamless and hassle-free booking experience. With its comprehensive array of filter options, you’re bound to discover an optimal stay on Expedia.com without having to make significant compromises.
Expedia.com is inclusive and welcomes travelers from all walks of life. Through its LGBTQ Welcoming Filter, it offers a wide range of LGBTQ+ friendly accommodations, ensuring a safe and comfortable experience for all travelers. Also, it caters to the needs of both family and business travelers. For families, the platform offers a range of family-friendly accommodations, including hotels with spacious rooms, child-friendly amenities, and convenient locations near family attractions. On the other hand, for business travelers, Expedia.com provides a selection of business-friendly hotels equipped with amenities like conference facilities, business centers, and Wi-Fi connectivity, ensuring a productive and comfortable stay.
You can access all of these options through its versatile filter list
However, another filter option that caught our eye was the ‘Sign Language Capable Staff’. To cater to the needs of individuals with hearing impairments, the platform partners with hotels that have sign language-capable staff. Expedia.com ensures that there is a filter available for every possible need, catering to a diverse range of preferences.
Another filter option that is pretty intriguing is the ability to sort out locations with their proximity to popular places. We never realized we needed this filter until now.
Similar to Hotels.com, Expedia.com has transparently stated that its search rankings can be influenced by the commissions received from property owners.
Also when searching for hotels, the platform displays the total price upfront, including any applicable fees, ensuring you have a clear understanding of the cost from the get-go. Nobody likes those unexpected last-minute surprises.
5. Agoda (OTA)
As a top-performing OTA, Agoda has established itself as a go-to platform, providing you with a seamless booking experience and an array of benefits. Unlike other online travel agencies, Agoda offers prices that are equal to or below the industry average, ensuring that you get a great deal for your hotel bookings. Additionally, Agoda goes the extra mile by offering “Secret Deals.” These exclusive discounts of $10-$40 on mystery hotels add an element of excitement to your booking experience. The catch? The hotel’s star rating and neighborhood are only revealed after you complete the payment.
Agoda’s homepage features a user-friendly search box that allows for customization based on your specific travel needs. Whether you’re traveling with your family or as part of a group, Agoda caters to your requirements. If you’re traveling with children, you can specify their ages to find family-friendly accommodations. For group travel, Agoda offers the convenience of finding group rates for bookings of more than 10 rooms. This level of customization ensures that your accommodation aligns perfectly with your travel plans.
The results page is designed to provide a comprehensive overview without overwhelming you with unnecessary details. Utilizing the property type filter, you can easily search for hotels, resorts, vacation homes, and more, depending on what’s available in your desired destination. Within each category, you have the flexibility to sort by the cheapest hotel rooms, top-rated hotels, or even the distance from popular landmarks in the city. For even greater discounts, the Hot Deals tab awaits, occasionally revealing those coveted Secret Deals. These Secret Deals disclose the neighborhood and hotel star rating, building anticipation until the hotel name is finally revealed upon completion of your booking.
Whether you’re seeking a luxurious hotel or a cozy vacation home, Agoda’s extensive selection ensures that you find the perfect match for your travel needs. The straightforward search features, along with the enticing Secret Deals, make Agoda a reliable and trusted platform for finding your dream hotel.
Note: Please be aware that Booking.com, Priceline, Kayak, and Agoda are all under the same parent company; however, they may not necessarily provide identical prices. Therefore, it is advisable to check each platform individually to compare the offers.
2. Hotel Booking Aggregator
Now that we have seen some of the best OTAs, let’s move on to the Aggregators or the ‘Meta-Search’ Engines. Aggregators specialize in gathering data from various airlines, hotels, car rental companies, and other travel-related businesses and presenting it in a centralized and user-friendly format. Aggregators’ results may include deals from other OTAs as well as the hotel company itself.
Also, unlike OTAs, aggregators usually redirect users to the specific service provider’s website or booking platform to complete the reservation or purchase.
1. Kayak Aggregator
Kayak.com is a go-to platform for hotel bookings, offering a range of features that simplify the process and ensure you find the best deals. It provides a suite of travel planning tools that streamline your journey. Track your flights, manage your itineraries, and receive real-time flight status updates, all conveniently from one portal.
The thing that has us super excited about this aggregator is it’s user-friendly interface. It is designed with your convenience in mind. Its intuitive and straightforward layout ensures a seamless navigation experience. Whether you’re exploring different accommodation types like hotels, rentals, resorts, or guest houses, or utilizing the robust filter options such as the “nearby” feature, which lets you specify landmarks or addresses, Kayak.com provides all the necessary tools to find your perfect hotel.
Kayak.com enables you to compare rates across different OTAs
You will find yourself fiddling around with its filter options all day long.
Also, you may never have to miss out on great hotel deals again. Kayak.com offers a convenient price alert feature that keeps you updated on price drops or changes for your selected hotels. By setting up price alerts, you’ll receive timely notifications, providing you with the opportunity to secure the best prices for your desired accommodations.
We highly recommend adding the hotels you like as a ‘favourite’ and waiting for a couple of days. You may find that the selected hotel is getting a further discount. It may not work every time but it’s worth giving it a shot.
Kayak.com is more than just a hotel booking platform. It’s a travel companion that will help you manage your entire journey. From tracking flights to finding the best hotel deals, Kayak.com ensures that your travel plans are seamless and cost-effective.
2. Tripadvisor
Founded in 2000, it is not only the largest but one of the most well-known websites out there. The plethora of services they offer is simply jaw-dropping. Featuring one of the largest collections of attractions, tours, and other activities worldwide, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
You can browse through destination guides, learn about local customs, explore transportation options, and even check the weather conditions. Additionally, TripAdvisor allows you to book accommodations directly through its platform, comparing prices from multiple online travel agencies and hotel websites. This saves you the hassle of visiting multiple websites and ensures that you secure the best deals for your chosen accommodation.
And it’s not just limited to hotel bookings. It also offers listings and reviews for an extensive range of restaurants, ensuring that your taste buds are treated to culinary delights wherever you go. You can explore menus, read reviews, and even make reservations, all in one place.
One of the core pillars of TripAdvisor is its extensive collection of reviews and ratings. Thousands of travelers have shared their honest experiences and opinions about hotels, restaurants, attractions, and various travel-related businesses. These user-generated reviews serve as a trusted resource for making informed decisions. Whether you’re searching for a cozy bed and breakfast, a trendy boutique hotel, or a mouthwatering dining experience, you can rely on the reviews to guide you.
And this nifty little feature is further fleshed out by its inclusion of a travel forum. Yes, you read that right. The platform hosts active travel forums where you can engage in discussions, ask questions, seek advice, and share your own experiences. It’s like having a community of knowledgeable friends who are eager to help you plan your trip. From insider tips to off-the-beaten-path recommendations, the travel forums provide a platform for personalized interactions and valuable insights.
With such versatility and robust features, you can use TripAdvisor not only for hotel bookings but also as a mini-travel social media website. You can interact with like-minded individuals, share your experiences, explore and research different activities/attractions, and a lot more.
3. Trivago
Hotel? Trivago. Chances are you have heard this iconic line one too many times in your lifetime. Founded in 2005, Trivago has become one of the most popular travel websites out there, thanks to its creative marketing efforts. It has now become a household name.
The website is very competitive to it’s peers, offering almost the same features to what other websites provide. It offers various filters and sorting options to refine your search results. You can filter hotels by price range, star rating, distance from a specific location, amenities, and more. Sorting options include popularity, price, distance, and guest rating, allowing you to prioritize the factors that matter most to you. Also, It provides user reviews and ratings for hotels, allowing you to gain insights into the experiences of previous guest.
In simpler terms, Trivago aims to simplify the hotel booking process by aggregating prices from numerous travel websites and presenting them in a user-friendly interface. Rather than searching multiple websites individually, Trivago allows you to compare prices, availability, and other hotel-related information all in one place, saving you time and effort.
While Trivago may not have a standout feature that sets it apart from the rest, it is worth considering for price comparisons. Trivago has built a reputation for offering competitive prices and holding its own against other aggregators.
Best Hotel Booking Sites FAQs
1. Which Website is the best for hotel booking?
There is no such thing as a single best website that can consistently offer the best hotel deals. It is more likely that you will find good deals on a few hotels on one website, while other websites may have good deals on different hotels. Therefore, it is beneficial to be aware of multiple websites so that you can compare deals for the same hotel and secure a favorable rate.
If your main concern is not just the price but also ensuring a safe booking at a reliable hotel that won’t deceive you, the websites we have mentioned are among the top choices for hotel bookings. These websites have a proven track record and are widely recognized as some of the most trustworthy options available.
2. How do I get the best price?
You can start by setting up ‘Price Alerts’ on your favorite destinations and hotels. This will help you get notifications or alerts whenever there’s a drop in price. You can even start comparing hotel rates a few weeks or even months before your desired booking deadline. This allows you to gather data and track pricing fluctuations over time. By monitoring prices, you can identify when hotel rooms become cheaper or more expensive.
Since there isn’t a single best website for booking hotels, it is important to compare prices not only week to week but also across different hotel sites. You don’t need to go to extremes, but including two to four sites in your search is likely sufficient to cover your bases and observe any fluctuations.
Also, it’s worth attempting to negotiate a match or even a lower price compared to what an online travel agent (OTA) like Expedia or Kayak offers. This approach may involve some additional effort, but it allows you to work directly with the hotel in case you need to make adjustments to your reservation or encounter any issues with your booking.
3. How do I save money during hotel booking?
When it comes to saving money during hotel bookings, there are several tips to consider. First, be flexible with your travel dates, as adjusting them to weekdays or shoulder seasons can result in significant cost savings. Additionally, choosing a hotel in a less popular or more affordable area can help reduce expenses while considering the proximity to attractions and transportation options. Exploring alternative lodging options such as vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, or hostels can also offer lower rates and unique experiences. Don’t limit yourself to a single booking site; compare prices across different platforms to find the best deals. Bundling your hotel reservation with other travel arrangements like flights or car rentals can often result in discounted rates. Check if you qualify for special discounts or membership programs through travel organizations or associations you belong to, including loyalty programs, student discounts, or military discounts. Joining hotel rewards programs can earn you points and exclusive discounts for future stays. Lastly, before finalizing your booking, search for valid promo or coupon codes applicable to the hotel or booking site to enjoy additional discounts or perks such as free breakfast or room upgrades. By implementing these strategies, you can optimize your savings and make the most of your hotel bookings.
4. How are OTAs (Online Travel Agency) different from Aggregators?
The OTAs and Aggregators have always been assumed by many to be one and the same. However, that is far from the truth. OTAs act as intermediaries between travelers and travel service providers, allowing users to compare options and make bookings directly through their platform. Aggregators, on the other hand, focus on aggregating and comparing prices from various sources
Also, another key difference is that OTAs usually facilitate the entire booking process, from search to payment. Users can browse available options, compare prices, read reviews, and make reservations within the OTA’s website or app. Aggregators, however, typically redirect users to the service provider’s website for the actual booking. They present the information from multiple sources in one place, but the final booking is made on the provider’s platform.
It’s worth noting that some companies operate as both OTAs and aggregators, offering a combination of services.
5. How reliable are hotel reviews on booking websites?
Hotel reviews on booking websites can provide valuable insights into the experiences of other travelers. However, it’s important to approach them with some caution. Reviews can be subjective, and opinions may vary. It’s useful to read multiple reviews, consider the overall rating, and take note of any common feedback trends. Additionally, some booking websites verify reviews to ensure authenticity and minimize fraudulent or biased content.
All in all, we highly recommend cross-checking the consistency of reviews across different platforms to get a clearer picture and to protect yourselves from fraudulent or fake reviews.
Read Next:
Leave a Reply