Whether it’s a spontaneous trip or a surprise getaway, last-minute hotel deals can be surprisingly affordable. Thanks to major advances in booking and inventory technologies, hotels are much smarter about managing their room supply on a nightly basis. This means they can often pass on efficiencies to travelers, who in turn can find lower rates.
One trick to scoring these lower rates is to keep your dates as flexible as possible. The more flexible you are, the more likely you are to find a last-minute deal. For example, in a recent search, the top-rated app Hotel Tonight offered rooms at the Four Seasons in Miami for $157 a night compared to $259 on the hotel’s website and at the Westin Resort & Spa, Cancun for $75 (vs. $200).
Mastering the Art of Scoring Last-Minute Hotel Deals
While it’s important to keep your dates as flexible as possible, you should also be on the lookout for hidden costs that can pop up with these types of bookings. Be sure to check the price on a hotel’s home page and then tap “book now” to see if there are additional fees or taxes that you’ll need to pay before checking in. For example, on a recent search on the Hotel Tonight app, a room at the Viceroy Santa Monica Hotel in Los Angeles was listed as $440 on the home page, but the total cost with taxes and fees was $528.
Whether you’re a solo traveler or manage business travel, you’ll save time by finding last-minute hotel deals on Hotel Engine. Our search tools help you snag lower real-time prices than the competition and we offer a variety of hotel loyalty programs that allow your travelers to earn more on their bookings, even at the last minute. We also make it easy for you to remove credit card authorization forms from the check-in process and provide incidental coverage if needed, giving you peace of mind knowing that your travelers will have accommodations should unexpected travel hiccups arise.
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