Going on a trip and need to book a room? Here are some of the best places to find a great deal to book hotels online.
Online booking sites allow you to compare the world’s hotels to find the best deal. Whether you like to stay in only the finest establishments, want to rent a flat and immerse yourself in the local scene, or are looking to stick to a budget, there are literally thousands of options out there. You just need to know where to look.
Top sites to book hotels online
1. HotelsCombined
Compare all the top travel engines such as Expedia and Booking.com in one place to find the most competitive price.
- Winner of World’s Travel Award for the World’s Leading Hotel Comparison site in 2014
- No booking fee
- Top rated on Trustpilot
Go to HotelsCombined website View coupon codes for HotelsCombined
2. Wotif
Search and book hotels and other travel services worldwide with a locally based Australian travel agent.
- Daily deals
- Australian based
- Over 500,000 properties available globally
3. Hotels.com
An offshoot of Expedia, Hotels.com has got the scale to search every corner of the web to help you find your perfect hotel.
- Customer reviews for every property available
- Rewards program
- Toll-free helpline from Australia
4. Booking.com
One of the most popular online hotel booking sites in the world.
- Over 690,000 properties available
- No booking fees
- 24/7 customer service
5. Expedia.com.au
Search for all types of accommodation including guesthouses, B&Bs, hotels, hostels and more.
- One of the largest online accommodation search networks available.
- Price match guarantee.
- Rated 92% by customers on Feefo reviews.
Go to Expedia.com.au website View coupon codes for Expedia.com.au
6. Accor Hotels
For high-flyers and lovers of luxury: Accor Hotel group offers the only the best for your hotel needs.
- Members receive exclusive treatments, prices and offers
- Online check-in/checkout service
- Le Club Accor Hotels loyalty program cares for you throughout your travel
Go to Accor Hotels website View coupon codes for Accor Hotels
7. Hotwire
Not too picky and just looking for a great deal? Check out Hotwire's mystery hotels and bag a bargain.
- Book a hotel based on location and rating to save big
- Up to 65% off the regular room price
- You can also book your flights, car hire or a complete package
8. Groupon
Get a discount coupon to use at a hotel booking site, or search for discounted accommodation with Groupon directly.
- Flash sales every day
- Everything available with the app
- Last minute deals
9. Catch (formerly Catch of the Day)
Snatch a deal on rooms in Australia, Southeast Asia and the South Pacific with Catch's (formerly Catch of the Day) curated travel deals - often with loads of extras thrown in to sweeten the deal.
- Negotiated offers with loads of extras
- "Peace of Mind Guarantee" valid within 14 days of purchase
- Partners with Scoopon to share hotel deals
Go to Catch (formerly Catch of the Day) website View coupon codes for Catch (formerly Catch of the Day)
10. Scoopon
If you love snagging a great deal on hotel packages, check out what Scoopon has on offer.
- Hotel stays and packages available in Australia, Bali, Thailand, China, Vietnam and more
- Endorsed by travel show Getaway's Catriona Rowntree
- Savings of up to 85%
Which agents don’t charge a booking fee?
- Expedia
- Wotif
- Webjet
- HotelsCombined
- Millennium Hotels
- Booking.com
- Virgin Australia
- Turu
How much do these agents ask for a hotel deposit?
| Agent | Deposit required |
|---|---|
| Hotels.com | Varies depending on property |
| Expedia | No deposit required |
| Wotif | Varies depending on property |
| Booking.com | No deposit required |
| Turu | Total reservation amount required at the time of booking |
| Accor Hotels | Deposit required by some hotels |
| Groupon | Deposit may be required depending on the offer |
| Scoopon | Deposit may be required depending on the offer |
| Hotwire | Total reservation amount required at the time of booking |
| Gezi | Deposit varies depending on the property |
| Roomer | Total reservation amount required at the time of booking |
Which agents offer cheap rooms?
One of the most important things to consider when you want to find a cheap place to stay is that hotels, hostels, b&bs, guesthouses and holiday rentals will vary greatly in price depending on the time of year, the time of booking and how full they are. That’s why it's important to compare lots of different properties before making a reservation. You might be able to find a bargain on a normally pricier hotel if you book last minute and grab a room that is still unsold.
Renting whole apartments is another way to get more value from your accommodation. Sites like Roomorama or Turu tend to offer self contained accommodation. If you are sharing with a friend it could even be cheaper than a traditional hotel, and you can save extra by using the kitchen.
If you don’t mind shared accommodation, hostel booking sites are definitely a budget way to travel.
Always read the terms and conditions when making a reservation to get the best deal and take advantage of the price match guarantee. While most larger booking engines will offer comparable pricing (and often will advertise the same hotels) extras like taxes, booking fees and other charges can really add up over time. Larger sites such as Expedia, Booking.com and HotelsCombined advertise thousands of hotels at once and allow you to search by price, so you can book a hotel room that is on sale for your dates.
Which agents offer a Price Match Guarantee?
- Hotels.com – Price match guarantee for the same room in the same accommodation right up until you check in.
- Expedia – If you find a cheaper rate Expedia will match it and give you a $50 travel voucher, with some conditions.
- Wotif – Wotif will match any lower price for the same room and accommodation within 24 hours of booking, with some conditions.
- HotelsCombined – HotelsCombined will refund the difference if you find the same accommodation for a lower price, unless it is a link provided by HotelsCombined.
- Booking.com – Price match guarantee with any other price for the same accommodation available for booking online.
- Accor Hotels – Accor Hotels will match any lower price available online, and then beat it by 10%.
Which sites let you book a hotel with Paypal?
Most larger booking sites will support PayPal payments, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you will be able to use it for all hotels. While the option is there, hotels themselves are often able to opt to accept the payment method or not. If a hotel accepts PayPal, you should see a little PayPal icon on the hotel information when you go to make a reservation.
Booking.com, Expedia, Hotelscombined, Wotif, and Hotels.com all support PayPal payments.
Best hotel promo codes and deals August 2018
Novotel
Book in advance and save 25%
Make a reservation for a Novotel property at least 30 days in advance and save up to 25% on the regular price.
Last verified
Ibis
Save up to 25% on advance bookings
Book a stay at an Ibis property at least 30 days in advance and save up to 25%.
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Swiss BelHotel
Get 10% off bookings
Book direct with Swiss-Belhotel and get an instant 10% off your stay.
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Lastminute.com.au
Book a Secret Hotel for up to 40% off
Not fussed about where you stay? Book Lastminute's secret hotels where the name is revealed when you book for up to 40% off the regular price.
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Britannia Hotel
Weekly Britannia Hotel offers: Rooms from £38 per night
Reserve a stay at a select Britannia Hotel from just £38 per night for two people, including breakfast. Available hotels vary from week to week.
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Red Carnation Hotels
The Rubens: Book Early & Save up to 20%
Get up to 20% off on the best available rate when you book a minimum of 14 days in advance. T&Cs apply.
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Red Carnation Hotels
The Montague: 4 nights for the price of 3
Book 4 nights at The Montague and pay for only 3 nights. Available on all standard room types including Single, Double and King rooms. T&Cs apply.
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Red Carnation Hotels
The Chesterfield Mayfair: 3 nights for the price of 2
Stay for 3 nights for the price of 2. Stay a little longer with us in a junior suite or executive suite including the dormer suite, Duchess suite, Philippe suite and Stanhope suite and enjoy a complimentary third night. Terms & conditions apply.
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