The festive season is here, and with it come long weekends, family reunions and last-minute trips. But hotel rates can vary a lot from one booking site to another, especially around Diwali, Christmas and New Year. Comparing prices before you book is the simplest way to protect your travel budget. Here are five websites worth bookmarking.
1. Wego:
Wego is a travel metasearch platform that compares hotel and flight prices from hundreds of travel sites in one place. You can filter results by price, location, star rating and guest reviews, view hotels on a map, and set price alerts for your trip. Wego also shows the total price upfront, so there are fewer surprises at the payment page. Tip: use the map view to find a well-located stay close to the festive action, and switch on price alerts if your dates are flexible.
2. Trivago:
Trivago focuses on hotels and compares rates from multiple booking sites. Its filters and map view help you narrow options by budget and neighbourhood. It is handy when you want to see how the same hotel is priced across different sites.
3. KAYAK:
KAYAK searches flights, hotels and more, and offers price alerts so you can watch rates before you commit. It suits travellers who want to plan the flight and the stay together.
4. Google Hotels:
Search for hotels in your destination on Google and you land on Google Hotels, where you can filter by price, rating and amenities and track prices for your dates. It is a fast way to get a sense of the going rate before a deeper comparison.
5. Skyscanner:
Better known for flights, Skyscanner also lets you search hotels, with filters for price, rating and free cancellation. It is useful if you are still deciding when to travel and where to stay.
Before you book
-
Compare the total price, including taxes and fees, not just the headline rate.
-
Read the cancellation policy, because festive plans often change.
-
Use flexible dates or price alerts if you can, as weekday stays are often cheaper.
-
Book early for popular destinations, since rooms fill up fast in festive weeks.
A few minutes of comparison can free up a budget for what really makes a getaway special. Happy travels!
