Cheap Hotels & Hotel Booking
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we’re proud to say that no other travel company offers more hotel booking options or provides a better reservations experience. We pride ourselves on delivering the best hotel prices from the largest selection of hotels and resorts, both in India and across the world. Whether you are looking for a brief stay in Kochi, a weekend getaway in Singapore, business accommodations in Hong Kong or a two-week holiday across Europe, Expedia has the widest range of cheap hotels available. Compare rates from over 130,000 hotels among our extensive worldwide network to guarantee you get the best deal on your hotel booking. Our network covers everything from luxury hotels to airport hotels to discount accommodations; at Expedia, choice is the name of the game.
A cheap hotel room is a budget travel must, and there are several
places to find the best of the bunch. Although rooms from online sources
are a good starting point, it's also a smart to look at privately owned
options and locations that are a short drive from the action. By
breaking away from the usual discount hotel haunts, a traveler can save
even more than usual.
Online Travel Discount Sites
The first places many budget travelers look are the big Web travel
discounters like Expedia and Travelocity. All these are trusted sources
that turn up very good deals. Better yet, reservations booked through
these sites often carry a guarantee, with extra help if something goes
wrong with the room. Frequent site users may even receive coupon deals
that can save $100 or more on selected bookings.
However, these
sites may not have the absolute cheapest prices. Hotel chains offer a
block of rooms at a certain rate to these sites, reserving other rooms
for their proprietary search systems. These other rooms come up on
search aggregator sites but not travel discounters. Also keep in mind
that some chains and local hotels don't list through these sites,
leaving some cheap hotel options out of the running.
Travel Aggregator Search Sites
Aggregator sites pull search results from lots of sources,
including hotel websites. By allowing the user to compare results from a
large number of sites and hotels, it's more likely that you'll get the
cheapest Internet rate possible. According to the Independent Traveler,
"The very broad net cast by the aggregators can still result in
significant savings, especially when compared with searching a single
booking site." Within a few clicks, the user can leave the site and
complete the booking with minimal difficulty. Popular aggregators
include Kayak.com and Mobissimo.com.
Membership Travel Clubs
These days, a club membership is often good for booking affordable
travel. AAA and Student Advantage often extend discounts to members for
hotels, hostels and other cheap lodging. While there is a nominal fee
to join, the savings from your first reservation may make up the cost
altogether. Plus, membership services have customer care representatives
that can help if there's a problem. These membership programs can also
save money on other parts of the trip, including attractions, food and
plane tickets.
Local Establishments
Smaller, nonchain establishments are often just as clean and safe
as a large chain hotel, and they can be significantly cheaper during the
off-season. Plus, they often come with customer care that the large
hotels can't extend. AOL.com's Sid Stetson writes, "The Shady Pine Hotel
might not have a concierge or minibar, but the owner can tell you where
to get the best steak in town, how to avoid traffic and where you can
find cold medication at three in the morning." To find these hotels,
look up the town's tourism website, or call the Chamber of Commerce for
recommendations. If there's a rate discount or special going on, they'll
often be the first to know.
In the Suburbs/Outskirts
If driving or commuting isn't an issue, look at booking away from
the center of town. Hotels that lie on the periphery are almost always
cheaper than the hotel right in the heart of the city. Find rates for
these hotels through the chain website, or change your Internet search
to include the entire vicinity, not just the immediate area. Stetson
says, "When situated a little farther out from the attractions, cheap
hotel rates abound in order to lure business."
