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Booking a hotel can be stressful and can sometimes feel overwhelming. You want the best option at the best price. However, with so many platforms available it is difficult to compare and decide. Which hotel booking platform shows the best prices? A new study revealed valuable information.
InsureMyTrip, an American travel insurance comparison agency, did the hard work. Experts gathered data from the most popular online booking websites and analyzed 1,000 hotels in top destinations in the United States and abroad.
The agency selected 50 hotels in 20 of the most popular cities for American travelers—ten US and ten international—and asked for prices for the same dates on the same day to avoid price fluctuations. The results may surprise some travelers.
InsureMyTrip compared and analyzed results from these sources:
- Booking.com
- Expedia
- Hotels.com
- The official website of each hotel.
The study showed that the most popular platform may not be the best option. They can all have interesting deals, but some platforms are more reliable than others. Also, the best booking option may vary depending on the destination.
Cheapest hotel booking platforms
InsureMyTrip discovered this Booking.com shows the most expensive options. During the analysis, only 7% of cases offered better offers. These were the platforms with the cheapest bookings:
- Hotels.com: This booking site usually has the best hotel deals. According to the report, 69% of the time this platform offered the best prices. Using this platform can help travelers save around $43.83.
- Expedia: This platform has prices similar to Hotels.com and shows the second best prices with a difference of only a few cents or a few dollars.
- Hotel Direct: Booking directly from the hotel may not be a bad option, but, in most cases, it can be a bit more expensive.
On average, booking your hotel through Booking.com you can pay about $33.13 more than you would through Hotels.com.
The report also showed which site has the best prices by city. These are some of the top destinations considered by InsureMyTrip:
- New York: Travelers can save up to $73.82 by booking through Hotels.com in this city.
- Angels: The best option is to book directly through the hotel’s website. This strategy can help you save about $39.68.
- Miami: Using a reputable platform can be a good strategy to avoid popular Florida rental scams, but visitors should choose Hotels.com to get the best prices.
- London: Both sites, Hotels.com and Expedia, offer travelers good prices.
- Dubai: Expedia offers the best hotel deals for this destination.
- Paris: Hotels.com and Expedia are the best hotel booking platforms when visiting this charming city.
According to the study, destination can also influence pricing on any platform. When traveling to the United Arab Emirates, Bangkok, Thailand or Malaysia, Expedia usually has the best prices. Some websites are more popular and reliable in certain destinations, so travelers should take this into account when finding the best options.
How to save money when booking a hotel
The study has made it clear that Booking.com may not be your best ally and if you don’t have much time to compare hotel prices from different websites, Hotels.com is definitely the safest bet. However, those who want to save money should always compare at least two or three options.
Another great strategy is to stay tuned through social media channels. A new one The Instagram hack is saving travelers 30% to 50% on hotel bookings and even 75% when lucky. You can send messages directly to the @Hotel Instagram account, enter your destination and wait for a reply and an email with a special discount.
At Travel Off Path, we’re constantly sharing tips and deals. You can also visit our guide Top 10 Booking Hacks for Cheap Hotel Deals and find the best savings options for your next trip.
Read more:
Use this Instagram trick to snag up to 75% off your next hotel stay
Top 7 American Destinations Americans Are Traveling To This Fall
Travel Insurance covering Covid-19 for 2022
This article originally appeared on Travel Off Path. For the latest news that will affect your next trip, please visit: Traveloffpath.com
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