But with so much choice, which sites are best and cheapest?

We have compared prices and deals for ten luxurious hotels in the ten most popular cities for a stay on September 28-29 (a weekend) with a room sleeping two adults.

We considered all the discounts and perks, analysing the cheapness and usability of 5 websites and popular booking platforms. Let’s see how different they are, why it is useful to use booking platforms, and why it might not be the most helpful option.

The cheapest prices are highlighted below.

 

1. Istanbul, Ramada Plaza By Wyndham Istanbul City Center

Standard Double Bed Room 

Price:
• Booking.com 129$
• Trip.com 126$
• Agoda 123$
• Expedia 129$

 

2. London, The Landmark

Standard Double Room

Price:
• Booking.com 623$
• Trip.com 553$
• Agoda 555$
• Expedia 531$

 

3. Dubai, Grand Cosmopolitan Hotel

Superior Room Double Bed (complimentary transfers to the Kite Beach and to Mall of Emirates) 

Price:
• Booking.com 79$
• Trip.com 120$
• Agoda 93$
• Expedia 79$
• Priceline 124$

 

4. Antalya, Akra

Deluxe Room with City View 

Price:
• Booking.com 265$
• Trip.com 319$
• Agoda 222$
• Expedia 249$
• Priceline 293$

 

5. Paris, Brach Paris — Evok Collection

Classic Room 

Price:
• Booking.com 770$
• Trip.com 752$
• Agoda 721$
• Expedia 748$

 

6. Hong Kong, The Ritz-Carlton

Deluxe King Room

Price:
• Booking.com 462$
• Trip.com 462$
• Agoda 462$
• Expedia 462$
• Priceline 513$

 

7. Bangkok, Eastin Grand Hotel Phayathai

Superior Panorama Room

Price:
• Booking.com 240$
• Trip.com 162$
• Agoda 137$
• Expedia 178$

 

8. New York City, The Pierre, A Taj Hotel

Superior King Room Interior View 

Price:
• Booking.com 861$
• Trip.com 861$
• Agoda 861$
• Expedia 861$
• Priceline 861$

 

9. Cancún, Renaissance Cancun Resort & Marina

Standard Room Deluxe King

Price:
• Booking.com 120$
• Trip.com 125$
• Agoda 120$
• Expedia 120$
• Priceline 120$

 

10. Mecca (Makkah), Address Jabal Omar Makkah

Deluxe Room Twin with City View 

Price:
• Booking.com 136$
• Trip.com 139$
• Agoda 156$
• Expedia 156$
• Priceline 155$

 

Which Site is the Best Value for Money?

Having compared all of the selected booking platforms, we have noticed some features characterising each of them. Agoda often includes some one-day offers/discounts or last room left warnings, but they are not always true. Thus, when using Agoda, you should check the hotel’s official website information.

Moreover, this website doesn’t show any taxes and charges, so you see a bare price for a room. Some sites, like Booking, show the value of those charges, and others, like Trip, Expedia or Priceline, show you only the final price, so you have to calculate the charges yourself, which isn’t convenient for everyone.

You can see that the prices of the same room differ on different booking websites. Sometimes, offers vary not only in terms of price but also in terms of some additional options, cancellation policy and prepayment options. So, it is difficult to name the cheapest booking platform.

However, it may be firmly stated that Priceline has the least variety of available hotels, and Expedia provides the least information (no special features, no information on the possibility of paying at the hotel or the last day of payment). 

To avoid drawing up such tables to consider every detail, use hotel price comparison. This useful function allows you to see prices and conditions collected from all major booking platforms on one website. This function is the main reason for the existence of so-called hotel price aggregators: Travel Supermarket, Google Hotels, Hotelin (hotelin.com), Kayak, Trivago, Hotels Combined, Trip Advisor, and many other websites.

They differ in terms of loyalty programme availability, inclusion of taxes and charges, cancellation policy, discounts and special offers, number of filters, and many other features. Make your choice and find the best offer to make the most of your stay!

 

Key Insights on Booking Platforms

Agoda:

  • Often features "one-day" offers or "last room left" warnings, but these may not always be accurate.
  • Does not display taxes and charges upfront, showing only the base price.
  • Recommended to verify details on the hotel’s official website.

 

Booking.com:

  • Provides clear visibility of additional charges, making it easier for users to understand total costs.
  • Offers a wide range of hotels and user-friendly interface.

 

Expedia:

  • Displays final prices but lacks detailed information on payment options and special features.
  • May not provide the best insights into cancellation policies.

 

Priceline:

  • Has a limited variety of available hotels compared to other platforms.
  • Useful for users looking for specific deals but may not be the best for comprehensive options.

 

Trivago:

  • Acts as a hotel price aggregator, allowing users to compare prices from multiple platforms.
  • Offers various filters and options to refine searches.

 

Advantages of Using Hotel Price Comparison Websites

  • Comprehensive Overview: Aggregators like Travel Supermarket, Hotelin (hotelin.com), Kayak, and Trivago compile prices and conditions from multiple booking platforms, providing a holistic view of available options.
  • Time-Saving: Users can quickly compare prices, cancellation policies, and additional perks without visiting multiple websites.
  • Informed Decisions: Access to a wide range of information helps travellers make better choices based on their preferences and needs.

 

Find Your Next Stay

While booking platforms offer various features and benefits, using hotel price comparison tools can streamline the process of finding the best deals.

By aggregating information from multiple sources, these tools help travellers navigate the complexities of hotel bookings, ensuring they make the most of their stay.

Always consider checking both booking platforms and hotel websites directly for the best rates and offers.