For booking smaller, independent hotels, a dizzying array of apps and websites
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unique services: for example, insider rates that required you to sign up for an
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TravelPony mostly replicates the search engines of major OTAs such as Orbitz
and Priceline.
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rooms at steep discounts only to have their approach copied by industry
heavyweights. Last-minute deals are advertised everywhere now, and
HotelTonight is a subsidiary of Airbnb.
As a result, a tip that works today may not work tomorrow. So it’s best to invest
time in checking niche hotel-booking sites only when your trip has unique
requirements. For instance, As You Stay lets you book a hotel room for a few
hours (from one to 23) at a fraction of the rate you would pay for a full day. And
when you’re traveling during a busy time and accommodation prices are sky-
high, sites such as Rocketmiles can get you a rebate on expensive rooms in the
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Living like a local can be a great way to experience a new place, in which case
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listings, from entire New England farmhouses to a single room in a Tokyo
apartment. HomeAway, meanwhile, focuses on vacation-home rentals and
has fewer shared accommodations. Even traditional hotel companies are getting
into home sharing, with Marriott recently announcing plans to start its own
HomeAway-like service.
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next vacation, but achieving this trifecta isn’t always easy. Armed with the tips
and services above, you can at least embark on your trip knowing that you did
your research. And that can make for a very enjoyable vacation.
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