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How To Find Last-Minute Hotel Deals

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(credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Are you thinking of taking a last-minute vacation? Dont fret, because you can still get a good bargain on hotels; its just a matter of knowing where to find it and how to do it. With the travel industry being more competitive than ever, there are several outstanding companies all vying for your almighty dollar. In spite of missing typical tips like booking 45 days in advance or booking on a weekday, read on to learn about great tips on how to find a last-minute hotel deal.

Hipmunk.com (Credit, Randy Yagi)
Hipmunk.com (credit: Randy Yagi)

Using Price Comparison Websites

Because of the competitive nature of hotel reservations, there is an enormous collection of online travel companies offering last-minute deals. Its as easy as performing an online search using keywords like "last minute hotel deals." While more familiar sites like Trivago and Kayak allow you to compare multiple sites for the best price, Hipmunkis increasingly getting more attention and has been described by Forbes as the Worlds Best Travel Site.

Expedia (Credit, Randy Yagi)
Expedia (credit: Randy Yagi)

Other Online Booking Sites

Its important not to ignore the long-established online booking sites, such as Booking, Trip Advisor, Expedia, Travelocity,Orbitz, Hotels.com, Hotwire and Priceline. Other sites worth visiting include Getaroom, BookingBuddy and relatively new to the travel game but the worlds top search engine – Google Hotel Finder.

Related: Best Budget Vacation Destinations

Hotels Tonight App (Credit, Randy Yagi)
Hotels Tonight App (credit: Randy Yagi)

Mobile Apps

Some sites, such as Expedia and Orbitz, offer discount coupons simply by using their mobile app. Each site is currently offering a $25 discount by booking through a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet. Also worth checking out is Booking.coms Tonight App for last-minute deals and the Hotel Tonight app, first introduced in 2011 and also specializing in last-minute hotel deals. Initially available for Android and then iOS, this increasingly popular mobile app recently added an app for Windows devices and is currently offering a $40 coupon for Windows users using the promo code WINTONIGHT.

Smart Phone
(credit: istockphoto.com)

Call the Hotel Directly

Before booking a trip online, it helps to call your hotel of choice directly to inquire on any last-minute deals. Although it takes an extra step before making a final decision, consider this: hotels would rather book a last-minute deal than leave a room unoccupied. This is also important because many hotels have to pay a fee to be featured on online travel booking sites. Additionally, if you have a card from organizations like AAA or AARP or youre a government employee or in the military, you can save even more.

Groupon Hotel Room (Credit, Randy Yagi)
Groupon Hotel Room (credit: Randy Yagi)

Deal of the Day Sites

Groupon and Living Socialoffer tremendous bargains for hotels, sometimes saving more than 50 percent online or via their mobile apps. However, booking in advance is a far better prospect than last-minute booking, but requires a bit of patience in sorting out the available properties. For last-minute European hotel deals, try using Groupons Blink app for same- or next-day bargains.Related: Tips For Your Next Road Trip

Randy Yagi is a freelance writer covering all things San Francisco. In 2012, he was awarded a Media Fellowship from Stanford University. His work can be found on Examiner.com Examiner.com.

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