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Do You Really Save Money on Last-Minute Bookings With the Hotel Tonight App?

  • Million Mile Secrets

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    You might save money on hotels with the Hotel Tonight app (Apple) (Android).

    You Might Pay Less for Hotels When Using the Hotel Tonight App, but There Are Drawbacks

    For folks who book hotels last-minute, sometimes you can save money using the Hotel Tonight app.  But more often than not, you’ll pay more.

    Save Money on Hotels With Hotel Tonight App

    Link:   Hotel Tonight app (Apple)

    Link:   Hotel Tonight app (Android)

    If you book last-minute hotels sometimes you can save money using the Hotel Tonight app, but not always.

    The Hotel Tonight app is a free smartphone and tablet app that lets you find discounted last-minute hotel rooms up to 7 days in advance.

    Booking a Hotel Less Than 7 Days in Advance? You Might Save Money Using the Hotel Tonight App

    $25 Credit

    If you sign-up for Hotel Tonight using my promo code “ddubash” you’ll get a $25 credit and I’ll get a $25 credit.

    How Does Hotel Tonight’s Prices Compare to Other Discount Sites?

    Let’s look at how Hotel Tonight’s prices compare to other discounted hotel sites.

    New York

    You’d pay $296 for the night of November 11, 2014 at the Holiday Inn Express Times Square.

    You Pay $296 for 1 Night at the Holiday Inn Express Times Square Through the Hotel Tonight App

    You’d pay ~$297 if you booked through the IHG website and Kayak.

    Booking Through the IHG Website and Kayak Only Costs ~$297

    Atlantic City, New Jersey

    You’ll pay $79 to stay at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City on November 11, 2014.

    1 Night at Harrah’s Atlantic City Costs $79 on the Hotel Tonight App

    But on the Harrah’s website and Kayak, you’d pay ~$78, saving $1.

    You Save ~$1 Booking the Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City Directly with Harrah’s

    San Diego

    You would pay $225 to stay at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego on November 11, 2014.

    1 Night at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego Costs $225

    If you booked on the Hyatt website and Kayak, you’d pay ~$224.

    You’d Pay ~$224 for 1 Night at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego If You Book Through the Hyatt Website

    So you’d pay ~$1 less than the Hotel Tonight app, have a fully refundable reservation, and earn Hyatt elite stay credit.

    What I Don’t Like

    If you book hotels at the last minute, Hotel Tonight could work for you, but there are some things you should know.

    1.  Not a lot of Savings

    I only found 1 example where using the Hotel Tonight costs less than booking directly with the hotel or using Kayak.

    2.   Nonrefundable

    All bookings are nonrefundable. So if you have to cancel or your plans change, you do NOT get your money back.

    3.   Hotels Change

    Available hotels change frequently so the hotel you want may not be there when you check again 5 minutes later.  Or a better hotel could become available AFTER you’ve already booked.

    Bottom Line

    Folks who book hotels within 7 days might save money using the Hotel Tonight app (Apple) (Android).

    But you’ll usually pay about the same or more.  And all reservations are nonrefundable!  So if your plans change you lose your money.

    Because there aren’t any real savings, I’d rather book directly with the hotel and get stay credit toward elite status.

    Although if you have a $25 discount from using a promo code, like “ddubash” then you’d save $25.  But you have to decide if the $25 savings is worth not being able to change or cancel your reservation and losing out on hotel elite stay credit.

    What’s been your experience with Hotel Tonight?

    Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)