Google Hotels review

Google Hotels is the quickest way to see what a room should cost before you commit to one booking site. Google says prices come from hotel owners, online travel agencies, metasearch engines and other travel providers, and its Price Accuracy Policy requires partners to send prices that include taxes and fees and match the total on their booking page. Results can be filtered by price, user rating, hotel class and amenities, viewed on a map, and sorted by lowest price or highest rating, and Deal or Great deal badges flag good value against similar hotels nearby. Google also says hotels don't pay to appear in results and can't pay to influence ranking, though labeled ads may sit at the top. The trade-off is that Google does not take the booking itself: you reserve with the hotel or an agency, and changes and refunds follow that seller's rules. That is also an advantage, because you can often pick the hotel's own refundable rate.

Who it is for

Price checkers who want to see the total price from many sellers before booking anywhere.

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Prices from hotel owners, online travel agencies and metasearch engines side by side
• Price Accuracy Policy that requires partner prices to include taxes and fees
• Deal and Great deal badges against similar hotels in the area
• Filters for price, user rating, hotel class and amenities, plus a map view
• Tracked hotel prices and vacation rental search where available

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Google says hotels can't pay to influence their ranking in results
• Strength: Shows the total price with taxes and fees from partners
• Strength: Book with the hotel or an agency, so you can pick the best refund terms
• Weakness: Paid ads can appear at the top of results, marked with an Ad badge
• Weakness: You book on a partner site, so support and refunds go through that seller
• Weakness: Some prices are customized by device or sign-in and marked with an asterisk

Key facts

• Price sources: Hotels, online travel agencies, metasearch engines
• Taxes and fees in prices: Required by Google's Price Accuracy Policy
• Paid ranking: No, per Google; ads are labeled
• Deal badges: Deal and Great deal
• Average price shown: Median rate over the next 90 days

Where it ranks

Google Hotels is No. 2 in our Best Hotel Booking Sites verdict.