Last-Minute Hotel Bookings Made Cheaper
Travelers used to think that the best way to get a deal was to plan ahead, travel during the off-season, stay outside the city, or share a bathroom. No matter which method tourists chose, in the past, finding affordable hotel rates required some kind of trade-off.
Today, the best way to score an unbeatable hotel rate is to wait until the 11th hour to reserve a room. By downloading any last-minute hotel booking apps, a room can be booked that day for a reservation the same night. It is a win-win situation - hotels are able to fill up empty rooms at the last minute and travelers are able to find reduced hotel rates. All you need is some patience, courage, and of course, a smartphone.
Here is a list of the best last-minute hotel deal apps:
HotelTonight (Android, iOS): The original same-day booking app, HotelTonight offers staff tested hotels in more than a hundred cities. With tags like Hip, Luxe, or Charming, it is easy to find the right accommodations for any type of traveler. Deals change daily and can be reserved only from noon onward.
Booking.com Tonight (iOS): Priceline and Booking.com collaboration has the most properties and offers the best comparison shopping. Deals become available at midnight and they are valid for one and two-night stays only.
Blink (iOS): A Europe only app, Blink releases deals at 11 am everyday with a curated selection of four hotels per city. It focuses on midlevel and luxury brands (Sofitel, Hilton, and Melia) over independent hotels.
Lastminute.com (iOS): This Travelocity-owned app lets you book a week before checking in. The discounts are significant – up to 55 percent off, particularly for the “Top Secret Hotels” you pay for before finding out the name. Also, the app lets you scan a photo of your credit card instead of typing in your payment info.
Other apps include, but are not limited to: Orbitz, HotHotels, and Hotels Now.
The market is crowded with last-minute booking apps catering to the type of flexible traveler who is willing to take risks and go out on a limb to discover some major savings. While the majority of consumers still book in advance, airlines can leverage the last-minute booking opportunity by possibly partnering with these apps and websites by offering last-minute flights and deals.
http://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-blog/carry-on/2013/7/2/trip-doctor-how-to-get-last-minute-hotel-deals
http://travel.nytimes.com/2013/06/30/travel/last-minute-hotel-bookings-made-cheaper.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
