There are few things in life I love more than traveling. But you know what I don’t love? The price tag on accommodations.
In the spirit of saving, I recently found a new tool that a fellow travel enthusiast of mine swears by, called Hopper. I’ll be measuring the Hopper app up against other travel booking sites I’ve used in the past to see if I can find the ultimate money saving hack for travel enthusiasts like me. Read on to see what I discovered…
If you’re flexible on dates, but not on cash… Hopper
With Hopper, you can choose your destination and then select your dates using the Color-Coded Deals Calendar for hotels. This tool helps you easily identify which dates have less expensive rates, so you can plan your trip with your budget limitations in mind. I love that Hopper gives me an idea of what to expect when I’m planning my trip, and since my schedule is usually flexible, I can adjust dates and save extra money. Pro tip: Green = the best deals, and Red = peak rates.
I couldn’t find other travel sites that were fully transparent about prices prior to booking. Scoring a deal usually involves a lot of back-and-forth experimentation!
If you hate missing a great deal on a hotel… Hopper
One really unique service that Hopper offers is the Price Freeze tool, which gives you the ability to freeze the price of a booking for up to 21 days. Before making a reservation, you can choose the length of the freeze and pay a deposit up front. As long as you book the room within the specified date you chose, the lower booking price is guaranteed if the rates drop within the freeze duration. If the price goes up, Hopper will cover up to $300 of the increase.
There is no comparable Price Freeze option when booking through other sites I’ve used. And while some do offer a Hotel Price Guarantee, the process of booking the lower price is often time sensitive and arduous.
If you appreciate having the security to change your plans… you’ve got a few choices
Sometimes things come up—I personally can’t count the number of times I’ve needed to rearrange my trip itinerary at the last second. Most bookings through Hopper allow you to cancel or change your reservation instantly within the app. No fees, no frustration, and no need to worry if your plans change.
Some other sites, like Expedia, offer this service as well, but their cancellation policies are confusing and typically limited to “fully refundable bookings” selected from the get-go.
If you like to keep your eyes on the future… Hopper
When money is tight, finding the right moment to book a trip can be anxiety-inducing, and I think this is where Hopper truly shines!
The Price Predictor within the app is 95% accurate, and can save an average of $65 per trip. You may not be able to see the future, but with the help of this handy app, you can get pretty close!
The ultimate winner?
Let’s hear it for Hopper! Thanks to this app, I’m saving my precious dollars for the adventures ahead rather than the bed I’ll be sleeping on!
I love knowing I’m getting the best deals, a flexible booking I can change on a dime, and some extra tools to help me make the best decision for me and my itinerary! If you like to splurge on experiences rather than room rates, I’d encourage giving Hopper a try!
