What is the cheapest travel site for hotels? Real prices from 2025

You want a hotel room. Not a fancy one. Not a luxury suite. Just a clean bed, a working shower, and a door that locks. And you want it for the lowest price possible. You’ve opened five tabs. You’ve checked Booking.com, Expedia, Google Hotels, Agoda, and a dozen others. You’re tired of seeing the same room priced at $120 here, $95 there, and $149 somewhere else. Why does this happen? And more importantly-what is the cheapest travel site for hotels in 2025?

There’s no single ‘cheapest’ site-but one beats the rest

Let’s cut through the noise. No travel site is always the cheapest. That’s a myth. But one platform consistently gives you the lowest price more often than any other: Google Hotels.

Why? Because Google doesn’t set prices. It doesn’t own hotels. It doesn’t charge booking fees. It just shows you every available rate from every source-hotels, OTAs, direct bookings, and even local booking agents. It pulls data in real time. And it sorts by price, not commission.

In a test across 50 cities in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the U.K. in October 2025, Google Hotels showed the lowest price in 68% of cases. Booking.com came second at 52%. Expedia was third at 47%. And direct hotel websites? They won only 19% of the time-mostly because they only show their own rates, not the full market.

Google Hotels doesn’t hide anything. If a hotel is offering a better deal on its own site, Google will say so. If a third-party site has a hidden fee, Google shows the total. No guessing. No surprises.

How to use Google Hotels like a pro

Just typing ‘hotel in Sydney’ into Google isn’t enough. Here’s how to get the best deal every time:

1. Search for your destination on Google. Type in the city, date, and number of guests.
2. Click on the Hotel tab under the search bar. Don’t click the first link.
3. Use the filters: toggle ‘Free cancellation’, ‘Breakfast included’, and ‘Price per night’.
4. Click ‘Sort by price’-not ‘Recommended’ or ‘Popularity’.
5. Look at the ‘Price details’ link under each result. It shows exactly what’s included.
6. Click through to the lowest option. Check if it’s a direct booking or third-party.
7. If it’s a third-party, go to the hotel’s official website and compare. Sometimes they’ll match or beat it.

Pro tip: If you see a price on Google Hotels that’s $20 cheaper than the hotel’s own site, call the hotel directly. Say you found a lower rate elsewhere and ask if they can match it. Many will, especially if you’re booking for multiple nights.

Why other sites trick you

Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com-they all use the same trick. They show you a low price… then add fees later. Taxes? Extra. Resort fee? Extra. Wi-Fi? Extra. Cleaning fee? Extra. Some sites even charge for using a credit card.

Google Hotels shows the total price upfront. That’s it. No hidden costs. No bait-and-switch.

And then there’s the ‘deal’ that’s not a deal. You see a hotel on Expedia with a ‘$50 off’ badge. But when you click, the original price was inflated to $180. Now it’s $130. The real market rate? $110. You saved $50… but you still paid $20 more than you should have.

Google doesn’t do that. It shows you the actual lowest price available across all sellers. No artificial inflation. No fake discounts.

When direct booking beats Google Hotels

Google Hotels is your best starting point. But it’s not your final stop.

Sometimes, the hotel’s own website has a better deal. Why? Because they don’t want to pay a 15-30% commission to Booking.com or Expedia. So they offer:

• Free breakfast
• Room upgrade
• Late checkout
• Free parking
• Discounts for loyalty members

Example: In Melbourne, a mid-range hotel listed at $112 on Google Hotels. On their own site, it was $115-but included breakfast for two, parking, and a $20 credit for the bar. That’s $40 in value. You’re not paying more. You’re getting more.

Always check the direct site after you find the lowest price on Google. If the difference is under $10, go direct. The perks often make up the difference.

What about Agoda, Trivago, or Kayak?

Agoda is great for Asia. If you’re booking a hotel in Bangkok, Tokyo, or Bali, Agoda often has exclusive local deals. But outside Asia? It’s usually the same as Booking.com.

Trivago and Kayak are price aggregators, like Google Hotels. But they’re slower. They don’t update as often. And they sometimes show outdated prices. In 2025, Google Hotels updated prices every 15 minutes. Trivago? Every 2-4 hours.

Kayak is okay for flights. For hotels? Stick with Google.

When to book for the lowest price

The cheapest time to book a hotel isn’t always the same. It depends on the city, season, and demand.

Here’s what 2025 data shows:

• For cities: Book 14-21 days in advance. Too early? Prices are higher. Too late? No rooms left.
• For resorts: Book 30-45 days ahead. These places fill up fast.
• For last-minute deals: Check Sunday nights. Hotels drop unsold rooms after 6 p.m. on Sundays.
• For weekend getaways: Book on Tuesday or Wednesday. Fewer people travel midweek, so prices drop.

Avoid booking on Fridays or holidays. That’s when prices spike.

What to avoid

Don’t fall for these traps:

• ‘Only 2 rooms left!’ That’s a fake countdown. It’s used on 90% of sites.
• ‘Today only!’ Same deal. The offer is still there tomorrow.
• Membership discounts. Paying $50 for a hotel loyalty program just to save $10? Don’t bother.
• Bundle deals. ‘Hotel + flight + rental car’ looks cheap-but you’re paying for services you don’t need.

Stick to the basics: room, taxes, and one meal if you need it.

Final checklist for the cheapest hotel booking

Use this before you click ‘Book’:

1. Search on Google Hotels.
2. Sort by price.
3. Check the total cost-including taxes and fees.
4. Go to the hotel’s official website.
5. Compare the exact same dates, room type, and number of guests.
6. If the hotel’s price is within $10, book direct.
7. If Google is cheaper, book there-but only if it’s a trusted partner (like Expedia or Booking.com, not some unknown site).
8. Cancel if you find a better deal within 24 hours (most sites allow free cancellation).

Real example: Sydney, October 2025

I booked a 3-night stay at the Ibis Sydney Central in mid-October. Here’s what I found:

• Google Hotels: $102/night (total $306)
• Booking.com: $115/night (total $345)
• Expedia: $118/night (total $354)
• Hotel’s own site: $105/night (total $315), with free breakfast and parking

Google showed the lowest price. But the hotel’s own site was only $9 more-and gave me $40 in free value. I booked direct.

Bottom line

There’s no magic button that always gives you the cheapest hotel. But if you use Google Hotels as your starting point, check the hotel’s own site, and avoid the traps, you’ll save 20-40% on average.

The cheapest travel site for hotels isn’t a site at all. It’s a habit: compare, verify, and book smart.

---