Best Hotel Booking Sites for Cheap Hotels

A lot of work goes into finding the perfect hotel when considering price, location, and level of luxury. Are you just looking for somewhere to sleep, or a resort where you are planning to remain for almost all of your vacation? Either way, finding the right hotel can be tough.

This is where online travel agencies can play a useful role in aggregating large amounts of hotels in one easy-to-use tool, and sometimes, even offering deals on hotel prices for customers.

Let’s take a look at the best hotel booking sites for cheap hotels.

What is an Online Travel Agency?

Before we jump into the list, you’ll notice that every website on the list is what is called an online travel agency (OTA). Online travel agencies are similar to their in-person counterparts from back before the digital age They make it easy for the customer to access a wide range of hotels from which to make their selection.

The difference with online travel agencies is that they are completely self-serve and act as hotel search engines, allowing customers to browse and book the hotel that is best for them. This makes it easy for consumers to quickly sort hotels by their requirements such as level of luxury, location, and of course, price. Not to mention, scouring multiple hotel booking sites for hotel deals can be a great way to secure the lowest price.

Note that when you book with an online travel agency, they are acting as the middleman between you and the hotel. These hotel booking sites are securing the room on your behalf and are often accepting payment on the hotel’s behalf, depending on the terms and conditions of the booking. This means that if you need to change or cancel your reservation, you will need to contact the online travel agency you booked through.

Before You Book: Consider Booking Direct

Before you use a hotel booking site, you should always consider visiting the hotel’s website and booking direct. The main reason is that you will not be able to earn Marriott Bonvoy points, Hilton Honors points, World of Hyatt points, or any other loyalty program currency on your booking.

Similarly, bookings through online travel agencies will not honor any loyalty program status that you hold. When you consider how easy it is to earn Marriott Platinum Elite status or Hilton Honors Diamond status, this is a major hit as it can mean you are losing out on suite upgrades, free breakfast, late checkout, and more.

Learn More: Miles & Points: A Guide for Beginners

Finally, many hotel chains offer price matching in the form of various programs such as Marriott’s Best Rate Guarantee, Hilton’s Price Match Guarantee, and Hyatt’s Best Rate Guarantee. This means that if you find a lower rate through an online travel agency, you may be able to submit the rate through one of these programs to be able to still book directly with the hotel while receiving the lower rate.

Ultimately, if you find a good hotel deal through an online travel agency or hotel search engine and the hotel won’t match the rate or have gift cards to burn, booking through one of the sites below might make the most sense.

The Best Hotel Booking Sites for Cheap Hotels

There are many online travel agencies available for making hotel reservations, but we have curated a list of our favorites. Many of the websites on the list below are incredibly well-known, and as a result, have an excellent selection of hotel rooms that can be booked.

Hotels.com

Hotels.com is an online travel agency and booking platform that allows users to search and book hotels worldwide and is one of the best hotel booking sites. It offers a wide range of accommodation options, including hotels, resorts, hostels, vacation rentals, and more.

While they don’t offer gift cards anymore, you used to be able to redeem RBC Avion points at 1 cent per point for Hotels.com gift cards which was a great deal when you had a pile of points.

Hotels.com provides a user-friendly search interface where you can enter your destination, travel dates, and the number of guests to find available hotels. You can also apply filters such as price range, star ratings, amenities, and guest reviews to refine your search.

As they are one of the biggest and most well-known online travel agencies, the platform has a vast inventory of hotels across the globe, ranging from budget accommodations to luxury resorts. This wide selection allows customers to compare prices and choose the option that best fits their preferences and budget.

Like many online travel agencies, Hotels.com regularly offers deals, promotions, and discounts, making it a good option for finding cheap hotel rates. They have a dedicated “Deals” section on their website, where you can explore discounted rates, last-minute hotel deals, and special offers to ensure you are getting the most value out of your dollar.

Hotels.com is part of a rewards program called OneKey which encompasses other brands such as Expedia and other online travel agencies. Through this program, you can earn a minimum of 2% back on your Hotels.com booking in the form of OneKeyCash.

The program also offers additional perks, such as member-only prices and which are denoted when you search for the hotel. If you are going to book a Hotels.com hotel, create a free account to see if there are any further discounts you can take advantage of before booking.

Finally, Hotels.com provides guest hotel reviews and ratings for all properties. A cursory check can ensure you know exactly what you are getting when you stay at a hotel and that there aren’t any surprises.

As always, before booking with Hotels.com you should compare prices across multiple hotel booking platforms to ensure you’re getting the best deal. Additionally, always review the hotel’s cancellation policy and any additional fees before finalizing your booking to ensure you understand your reservation fully.

You can view hotel rates on Hotels.com here.

Expedia

Expedia might be the most popular online travel agency that allows users to book flights, hotels, vacation packages, car rentals, cruises, and various other travel services. It provides a convenient platform for travelers to search, compare, and book accommodations at competitive prices, including cheap hotels, across the globe.

Interestingly enough, if you hold a card that earns TD Rewards points, such as the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite card, you can redeem points through Expedia for TD at a rate of 0.5 cents per point. This is a great use case for booking through Expedia if you are looking to liquidate your TD Rewards points at maximum value.

Expedia.com features a user-friendly search interface where you can enter your destination, travel dates, and number of guests to initiate a hotel search. The website has a massive inventory of available properties, so it is easy to find one that fits your budget.

Expedia.com frequently offers deals, promotions, and discounts on hotel bookings. These can include special rates for specific destinations, last-minute deals, package deals, and member-exclusive offers. Keep an eye out for these to secure even cheaper hotel rates.

Similar to Hotels.com, Expedia.com is part of a rewards program called OneKey. Through this program, you can earn a minimum of 2% back on your Hotels.com booking in the form of OneKeyCash. These points can be redeemed for hotel discounts, flights, and other benefits.

Remember to compare prices and check multiple hotels before finalizing your booking. While Expedia.com can help you find cheap hotel rates, it’s always beneficial to explore other platforms and directly check hotel websites for potential discounts or promotional offers.

You can view hotel rates on Expedia here.

Trip.com

Trip.com is a popular online travel agency that provides a platform for booking cheap hotels and various other travel-related services. It offers a wide range of options for travelers seeking affordable accommodations across the globe. 

Customers can use Trip.com to intuitively search for hotels based on their desired destination, travel dates, and number of guests. The search results provide a list of hotels along with relevant details such as pricing, amenities, guest reviews, and ratings.

Trip.com frequently offers special deals and discounts on hotel bookings. These may include limited-time promotions, flash sales, or exclusive member discounts. Users can take advantage of these offers to secure even more affordable rates for their next vacation.

They also have a loyalty program called Trip.com Rewards. Members can earn loyalty points, called Trip Coins, on hotel bookings and redeem them for future discounts or even free stays.

Trip.com is a reliable online platform that offers a range of features and services to help travelers find and book cheap hotels worldwide. With its user-friendly interface, competitive pricing, and extensive options, it has become a popular choice for those seeking affordable accommodations during their trips.

You can view hotel rates on Trip.com here.

Priceline

Priceline is an online travel agency that allows users to search for and book various travel-related services, primarily focusing on discounted hotel accommodations. Customers can opt to explore Express Deals or Pricebreakers, which displays a list of discounted hotels without revealing their names initially.

Users can view the general location, star rating, amenities, and discounted price but won’t be able to know the name of the hotel until they make a booking. While these bookings can be had at a deep discount, ensure you read the terms and conditions as you may not be able to cancel or make any changes to these bookings.

Priceline.com also offers a traditional hotel search engine, similar to other options on this list which provides a search engine that customers can use to find the perfect hotel for their next vacation, based on several criteria.

You can view hotel rates on Priceline here.

Google Hotels

Google Hotels is a powerful tool that allows users to search and compare hotel prices from various sources, making it easier to find affordable accommodation options. It aggregates information from multiple online travel agencies, hotel websites, and other sources to provide users with a comprehensive view of available hotel options and prices.

While Google Hotels aggregates pricing across multiple online travel agencies, it also aggregates user reviews and ratings from various sources, giving you insights into the quality and experiences of past guests. This information can help you make informed decisions when choosing a hotel.

Depending on the hotel, you may have the option to book directly through Google Hotels or be redirected to a partner website to complete the reservation. Google provides links to the relevant booking platforms, making it convenient to finalize your booking.

Ultimately, Google Hotels is one of the best tools for comparing many online travel agencies at once to ensure you are getting the absolute best price possible.

You can view hotel rates on Google Hotels here.

Kayak

Similar to Google Hotels, Kayak is a popular online travel agency and metasearch engine that allows users to search and compare prices for flights, hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages through its intuitive search.

One of the key features of Kayak.com is its ability to search multiple travel sites and hotel booking platforms simultaneously. It compares prices from various sources, including online travel agencies like Expedia and Booking.com, as well as directly from hotel websites. This allows you to quickly identify the best deals and find the cheapest rates for your preferred hotel.

Once you’ve chosen a hotel, Kayak.com redirects you to the respective booking site to complete the reservation process. It’s important to note that Kayak.com acts as a search engine and doesn’t handle the actual booking of reservations. Therefore, you’ll be directed to the platform where the best price was found to finalize your reservation.

If you’re flexible with your travel plans, Kayak.com offers a feature called “Price Alerts.” By setting up an alert for your desired destination and travel dates, Kayak.com will notify you via email or push notification if there are significant price changes or deals available for your desired hotel.

You can view hotel rates on Kayak here.

Conclusion

While we recommend booking direct with the hotel where possible, sometimes outlying reasons may result in a need or desire to book through an online travel agency. 

If you do find yourself booking through an online travel agency, ensure you check multiple hotel sites to find the best price for your desired hotel room and double-check the terms and conditions of the booking before finalizing your reservation.

Frequently Asked Questions