Hotel booking app?
Discussion
For years I've been a loyal IHG member. I've booked via the member app and collected points. However, last year I wasn't 'loyal enough' and didn't hit the number of stays, missing by three nights. Okay no big deal, but I could have saved quite a few quid (and stayed in better hotels for less) by using a Web scraper like Trivago, etc.
Has anyone got any recommendations? Hotels.com used to give a free night if you reached so many bookings, I don't know if that's still a thing?
Or does another loyalty programme give better benefits?
Mostly I stay in the UK, but international (I guess all do) would be a bonus.
Has anyone got any recommendations? Hotels.com used to give a free night if you reached so many bookings, I don't know if that's still a thing?
Or does another loyalty programme give better benefits?
Mostly I stay in the UK, but international (I guess all do) would be a bonus.
Jordie Barretts sock said:
For years I've been a loyal IHG member. I've booked via the member app and collected points. However, last year I wasn't 'loyal enough' and didn't hit the number of stays, missing by three nights. Okay no big deal, but I could have saved quite a few quid (and stayed in better hotels for less) by using a Web scraper like Trivago, etc.
Has anyone got any recommendations? Hotels.com used to give a free night if you reached so many bookings, I don't know if that's still a thing?
Or does another loyalty programme give better benefits?
Mostly I stay in the UK, but international (I guess all do) would be a bonus.
I use TopCashback and book through Expedia - the percentage does vary but it's somewhere in the region of 8% back. I travel a lot for work so it can add up to significant amounts. I've just checked it and IHG are also on the site with 8% cashback too but there are a raft of exclusions. Has anyone got any recommendations? Hotels.com used to give a free night if you reached so many bookings, I don't know if that's still a thing?
Or does another loyalty programme give better benefits?
Mostly I stay in the UK, but international (I guess all do) would be a bonus.
Booking.com is one i've used in the main but I often find hotels on there and then go to the hotel specific website to see if there is a better deal that way, I am very much price driven rather than looking for who will give me the best loyalty scheme, it's not that I look for the cheapest hotel but the best price for my chosen hotel
If you book enough on booking.com you end up with their different levels of loyalty which gives some pretty good discounts on some properties. I did a lot of travel in '22, and was getting better prices on there than virtually anywhere else. Always use their phone app as often the deals are better then on the webpage.
Jordie Barretts sock said:
For years I've been a loyal IHG member. I've booked via the member app and collected points. However, last year I wasn't 'loyal enough' and didn't hit the number of stays, missing by three nights. Okay no big deal, but I could have saved quite a few quid (and stayed in better hotels for less) by using a Web scraper like Trivago, etc.
Has anyone got any recommendations? Hotels.com used to give a free night if you reached so many bookings, I don't know if that's still a thing?
Or does another loyalty programme give better benefits?
Mostly I stay in the UK, but international (I guess all do) would be a bonus.
I always worry about booking sites, because the hotel often doesn't know about the booking.Has anyone got any recommendations? Hotels.com used to give a free night if you reached so many bookings, I don't know if that's still a thing?
Or does another loyalty programme give better benefits?
Mostly I stay in the UK, but international (I guess all do) would be a bonus.
Booking.com is one of our partners and I know what a bunch of shysters they are. I would not book my own holiday with them, in case I turned up to find my booking was illusory.
I have done OK out of IHG but if at all possible I try to book directly with the hotels. It sometimes takes some haggling, but cutting out intermediaries usually pays off.
I’ve found that booking directly seems to be the cheapest way for most chain hotels these days.
Having said that, I always check with an agent like Virtuoso to see if they can book the hotel as it will tend to come with hotel credit (typically $100), breakfast, room upgrade and early check in & out. Typically only available at hotels at the higher end of the market.
Having said that, I always check with an agent like Virtuoso to see if they can book the hotel as it will tend to come with hotel credit (typically $100), breakfast, room upgrade and early check in & out. Typically only available at hotels at the higher end of the market.
I mainly use booking with hotels as a backup, both through ba to get their points. Always worked for me, booking.com 37 times last year, hotels maybe 5 times.
I find the price differences miniscule for where I stay so convenience is a factor. One thing to note is Hotels is not UK registered so doesn't include vat (hence why at face value can seem cheaper); they can work out more expensive if for business and looking to recover vat.
I can understand the issue with ihg. Years ago I was very loyal and had a monstrous amount of points. Fortunately I used most of them up on various trips including two rooms for a week in New York but still lost a heap. I was on good terms with the staff at Crowne Plaza Blackfriars.
I find the price differences miniscule for where I stay so convenience is a factor. One thing to note is Hotels is not UK registered so doesn't include vat (hence why at face value can seem cheaper); they can work out more expensive if for business and looking to recover vat.
I can understand the issue with ihg. Years ago I was very loyal and had a monstrous amount of points. Fortunately I used most of them up on various trips including two rooms for a week in New York but still lost a heap. I was on good terms with the staff at Crowne Plaza Blackfriars.
Edited by sleepezy on Sunday 14th January 01:36
Booking.com for me, Expedia as a backup. Will book direct occasionally - am currently in The Waterfront Livingstone, booked direct as I was also here last July.
Drove across Mexico, Acapulco to Tulum, with all accommodation through booking.com. Everything went smoothly. Flights over Christmas to Cape Verde, and my current trip to Zambia/Zimbabwe all booked through booking as well. Huge discount on my current trip when compared with going direct as well.
Hotels I will never use having booked a hotel in Uganda through them, and on contacting the hotel to ask a question about the local area was told there was no booking, and they did not have any agreement with hotels.com.
Drove across Mexico, Acapulco to Tulum, with all accommodation through booking.com. Everything went smoothly. Flights over Christmas to Cape Verde, and my current trip to Zambia/Zimbabwe all booked through booking as well. Huge discount on my current trip when compared with going direct as well.
Hotels I will never use having booked a hotel in Uganda through them, and on contacting the hotel to ask a question about the local area was told there was no booking, and they did not have any agreement with hotels.com.
Loyalty programs can be tricky sometimes, huh? I remember feeling the same frustration when I missed out on perks because of technicalities. While I don't have specific recommendations for UK stays, I've found that comparing prices across different booking platforms like Trivago or Hotels.com can often lead to great deals. Also, have you checked out https://tripsavannah.com/savannah-pet-friendly-acc... ? It might offer some insights for finding affordable accommodations in the UK.
Edited by Sweetex on Sunday 21st April 22:47
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