Before you travel, download at least one hotel search and booking app. If something goes wrong, you can always grab your phone and find a replacement for your hotel. Prices in applications do not differ significantly from each other, so evaluate the interface and usability more..
I had a case in St. Petersburg when booking through a hotel website cost 20% less than through an app. Therefore, always check the hotel website. It will not always be cheaper in the application. The best strategy is to compare prices from multiple sources, including the hotel's official website, as it sometimes offers options that are not shared with aggregators or offers the same prices minus commissions.
Booking.com
Booking.com is a service for booking hotels, apartments and hostels. It was founded in 1996 and people have trusted it for many years. Through it you can book a hotel, buy an air ticket and order a transfer. Booking.com's goal is to provide all possible services in one place..
The service does not require additional payment for booking or payment by credit card. You can communicate with the owner of the property directly through the application or by calling the specified phone number. After booking, you will receive an electronic confirmation without having to print anything. Booking.com also offers 24/7 customer support in over 40 languages.
When searching, you can choose your preferred metro distance, room amenities and complimentary breakfast, and see the distance to nearby attractions. Most properties have at least a few reviews, allowing you to learn the pros and cons of each property from previous guests..
If you are going to a country whose language you do not know, the hotel address in the local language can be viewed in the app. Just show it to your taxi or Uber driver.
Available for Android / iPhone / Web .
Airbnb
Airbnb is the most famous short-term rental service. There are no hotels here. Only private houses and apartments from owners. Thanks to ad moderation, a reliable selection and rating system, there are practically no scammers here. Airbnb has tons of options wherever you go (Russia, France, China and even Africa).
When a booking is made, money is “held” in an Airbnb account. They will be transferred to the account of the landlord only if you live in the apartment for the specified number of days and no emergency occurs. The reservation can be canceled any day after arrival, the balance (minus the service commission) for unused days will be returned to your card.
The design of the application is very user-friendly. It's easy to use and a pleasure to browse through the list of suggestions. Free dates for check-in are calculated automatically. If you wish, you can write to the owner of the apartment in the chat application, but this is not necessary. To book accommodation, you just need to indicate your bank card number, select the dates you want and confirm your choice.
Available for Android / iPhone / Web .
Trivago
Trivago's greatest strength is its price comparison. The service aggregates information from sites such as Expedia, Hotels.com, LateRooms, Booking.com, Priceline, HotelTonight and many others. This allows you to find all possible hotels by comparing prices in one place. In addition, it shows interesting hidden offers at low prices that are not available to the "man on the street".
Available for Android / iPhone / Web .
KAYAK
KAYAK provides a full range of travel services. We must give him his due, he does it just fine. Plus, the interface is one of the nicest on this list. KAYAK searches hundreds of travel booking sites to find the best one. The page of the selected hotel will show the cost of booking through various sites.
You can find the flight you want, get a perfect hotel room and rent a car - all in one place. At the same time, spending less money than if you rented all this separately. KAYAK shows private offers available only via smartphone.
There are some useful filters here as well. You can filter by the number of connections, airlines, departure time, additional amenities. On top of that, there is a Price Alert feature so you never miss a great deal. With the AR function, you can scan a suitcase to determine its size and find out if its dimensions are suitable for hand luggage or not.
There are a huge number of types of housing. There is absolutely everything. From camper to palace. In order not to read every review, you can go to the "Reviews" tab and see the average rating for staff, cleanliness, location and service.
Available for Android / iPhone / Web .
Hotels.com
On Hotels.com, you can book not only a hotel, but also any other type of short-term rental accommodation. Special offers can be compared before booking.
The app features "Secret Price" offers and also has a great loyalty program. Special Offers will save you money when booking last minute deals. Last minute weekend sales are also available. Owners of the "Gold" or "Silver level" are provided with additional travel privileges for living in the VIP class.
Of the chips - this is information about the number of rooms in the hotel and the number of floors, as well as requirements upon arrival. Of the minuses, it is worth noting that when you open the list of hotels on the map, prices are not visible.
Available for Android / iPhone / Web .
Google maps
The well-known Google Maps is not a hotel booking application. Yes, but there is a good reason for listing this app. The application will use geolocation to show all nearby places where you can stay.
This is a great option when you need to find a hotel or hotel, but there is no time to search. Just go to the application, let it determine your location, and you are there. Google Maps will also show you a variety of leisure options, attractions, bars and restaurants.
You can filter hotels by star rating, amenities, availability of WiFi, the ability to check in with a pet, and much more. And also you can specify the price range per night.
Available for Android / iPhone / Web .
Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor will not only help you find and book a hotel room, but also find a cheap flight. The site has a huge number of user reviews with detailed information about the place of interest.
Essentially, Tripadvisor is a complete travel planning tool. You can map out a complete travel plan, find hotel rooms, restaurants, book round-trip flights, and find attractions. There is even the possibility of buying a ticket for excursions.
Available for Android / iPhone / Web .
Expedia Hotels
Expedia Hotels works with hotels around the world. In addition, the application allows you to save not only on the hotel, but also on air tickets and car rental. Savings can be up to 25 percent if you take advantage of hotel offers available only via smartphone. When searching for a hotel room, you can sort offers by price, free opt-out or reviews.
The mobile app contains exclusive offers that cannot be found on their website. Including double Expedia Bonus Points for every dollar spent.
Available for Android / iPhone / Web .