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Booking tips to find the best hotel rates PDF Print E-mail
Monday, 07 April 2008 00:00
It may sound like a strange question to ask, but why do people compare different websites before booking a hotel? The answer to that question may seem simple, but is actually quite complex. After all, why doesn’t a hotel room have the same price on all websites?

The very reason why people compare is indeed because different websites offer sometimes very different prices for hotel rooms. There is a plethora of reasons behind this phenomenon. Hotel rooms are often sold through a chain of multiple wholesalers and retailers, and by tapping into different inventories, and dealing with different channels, price differences will occur in the end. Another reason is that hotel sites control the margin they take on a specific room at a specific time, and this margin will also affect the final price.

The important thing to remember is that prices differ. Often they differ just a bit, but sometimes they do indeed differ by a large margin, and you don’t want to be stuck with that booking before finding out that it can be booked cheaper elsewhere.

Research has pointed out that on average travelers compare three to four websites before they make a purchase. This is a healthy figure, and supports what people have been doing for ages, which is comparing different shops before making the purchase.

Since you will want to weigh your options anyway, we have built a handy tool for you at HotelMinutes.com. We remember the best hotel websites for you, and make it super easy to compare your itinerary across multiple vendors. You only have to type in your itinerary once, after that you just click on your favorite suppliers, to find fast and accurate price quotes for the hotel you are looking for. Could it be any simpler? We don’t think so. Good luck while making your next hotel booking with HotelMinutes.