websites like hotel tonight We have long tried to solve the dilemma of when to book a hotel room to get the best price. Online travel agencies such as Booking.com and Hopper have also added price protection programs for the same reason. Still, travelers complain about how difficult it is to find good deals. Well, it’s a new site. hotel slashhas joined this quest, promising its members discounted hotel rates and a tracking service that monitors price drops on bookings.
“We are travel hackers at heart,” said Jonathan Weinberg, co-founder and CEO of HotelSlash.he runs too auto slash, a car rental trading platform that tracks bookings, notifies travelers of price drops, and allows them to cancel (most car rental companies allow free cancellation). And you can rebook at a lower rate.
Hotel Slash targets “cost-conscious leisure travelers,” he added.
For the next three months, the site will offer a 90-day free trial, but Weinberg said it will always offer a limited free trial period to new users. After that, the annual membership fee will cost him $29.95.
How does it work and what are the benefits of cooperating with interest rate hawks?
room reservation
Users can select a destination (specific hotel or city), travel dates, number of travelers and book hotel rooms through HotelSlash. Unlike other booking sites, HotelSlash sends an email with a link to the results, adding a step to the process. Emails appear within minutes and results are guaranteed. Even if you search for a specific lodging (Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas), you’ll see not only the price for that room, but also the prices for nearby hotels. This includes different room types and rates, including non-refundable or non-refundable prepaid.
Weinberg said the discounted prices HotelSlash receives are “managed user group rates,” an industry term for prices negotiated by membership organizations and businesses such as AAA and Costco.
Not for those who accumulate loyalty points. The site does not allow users to enter membership numbers and travelers can request points directly from the hotel, but there is no guarantee that the hotel will honor it.
“There are fewer travelers in hotel loyalty programs than airline loyalty members,” said Henry Hartveldt, travel industry analyst and president of market research and advisory firm Atmosphere Research Group. “Travelers will prefer to book through third parties.”
To their credit, HotelSlash is very clear about what’s included in their rates, taxes, etc. We are also transparent about our terms and conditions, requiring users to click a box after a specified date that says, “I understand and agree that the booking is non-refundable.”
tracking rate
The most promising is HotelSlash’s service, which monitors rate drops, in which case users are warned and can cancel existing reservations (assuming there are no penalties for cancellation) in order to make new bookings at lower rates. You can make a reservation. (To protect themselves from price hawks, some hotels have changed their cancellation deadline from 24 hours to 48 or 72 hours for him.)
“We recommend booking as early as possible,” said Weinberg, adding that users have saved an average of 25% over the past two years when the website was in development. “The longer we look for better deals, the better off we are.”
Hotel rates can fluctuate, but being able to cope with declines is often a matter of luck and hard work. Hartveldt independently confirmed his five-day reservation in Atlanta recently and found that the daily rate had dropped by $50 for him, so he rebooked. “If it costs you $30 a year and you can find a lower rate for the same hotel, same room or better, and it’s more than a $30 membership, you’ll pay for it on a single stay,” he said. rice field.
Conclusion
As with most travel bookings, the hardest working travelers – those who frequently compare and check prices – tend to save the most.
Many hotel booking sites aim to make your work easier by offering a price guarantee. Booking.com Matches lower prices found elsewhere, but it is the traveler’s responsibility to find it and seek a refund. paid, hopper You can freeze hotel rates and pay the difference if they increase. Otherwise, the user will be stripped of the charges, which may vary. HotelSlash takes care of the later stage work, often cheaper, when it undertakes price monitoring.
However, consumers should always conduct a comparison search when making their first booking.
I checked HotelSlash and found some better rates than the hotel website. I have found similar rates at other online agencies. I also found slightly better rates directly on the hotel’s site, but had to scrutinize the terms to compare them. For example, for a 3-night refundable stay at the Paris Las Vegas Resort & Casino in Las Vegas in June, I got a quote from HotelSlash for $831 including tax, but excluding the almost $138 resort fee, Total $969. The Expedia price, including taxes and fees, was $981. The initial quote from the hotel itself was $702, but when I clicked through to the payment page it came to $952 including taxes and fees.
As with online travel agencies and hotel websites, the lowest advertised fares are often non-refundable and inherently risky. “Don’t book a non-refundable rate unless the savings really make sense and you’re 110 percent sure of your plans,” Hartveld advises. “Plans change, so it’s always good to have flexible rates.”
Elaine Gulsak writes the “Thrifty Traveler” column. follow her on her instagram @eglsack.
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