Travel is a game of setbacks and secret hacks.
Videos by TravelAwaits
As travel costs climb and airport chaos causes widespread delays, you could make the argument that modern tourism is a risky, expensive venture. On the other hand, the travel world has simultaneously seen a proliferation in deal sites and platforms designed to help you save.
There’s just one catch about the inundation of resources: We don’t know which travel apps are actually worth the hassle.
New companies launch while stolid favorites fall to the wayside. While some travel deal sites, like Priceline and Kayak, are here to stay, others don’t stand the test of time.
If you’re looking for reliable travel apps that help you save on bookings, including those in the luxury space, here’s where to find them. I’ve included what makes them special, along with the drawbacks that you should keep in mind when downloading the app and/or signing up for a service.
Travel apps that help you save on bookings of all types
HotelTonight
HotelTonight shows you a list of hotels (from budget to upscale properties) that have significant savings. You can shop for hotels directly on their website based on stars, rating, features, and more. HotelTonight also has an app where you can find even more exclusive deals.
- How it works: Hotels list their unbooked rooms at the last minute to fill them up. You can find a steal by booking one of these rooms, even at the last minute.
- The catch: Hotels don’t want to fill those empty rooms until it’s down to the wire, meaning you might not see deals until you’re a few days out. Also, you won’t have much control over where your room is located because you’re booking on a third-party app.
Daypass, Dayuse, & ResortPass
These three travel apps different but deliver on a similar purpose. You can use them to book hotels for the day, gain access to hotel’s cooler amenities (from spas to rooftop pools), and even take advantage of resorts for the day. That’s a great setup if you need to fill an afternoon before a flight or find yourself marooned in paradise due to cancellations. At the same time, they also let you pop into luxury properties for a short period of time instead of paying high room rates to stay overnight.
- How it works: Hotels and resorts list their temporary day rates for things like hotel rooms, rooftop pools, resort pools, spa services, and more. Daypass and Dayuse are more focused on hotel offerings, while ResortPass is more focused on pools and resort-style amenities.
- The catch: Some rates are still pretty pricey. Plus, you need to read the fine print to figure out what is included in your day pass, including time restraints, drink vouchers, etc.
ThirdHome & Kindred
If you’re comfortable listing your home, you can stay at private residences for participating travelers. The travel apps listed above, ThirdHome and Kindred, are a bit more upscale, meaning homes are vetted for quality, and users must list their homes in addition to renting out others. ThirdHome is specifically for second homes.
- How it works: Members list their homes, which are then approved by ThirdHome and Kindred. From there, members can book stays in other homes. When they head out of town, they can also list their property. In short, you’re joining a network of participating travelers.
- The catch: You’re staying in someone else’s home, and they could stay in yours. Not everyone is comfortable with that setup. Plus, ThirdHome has annual membership fees, meaning you need to spend a bit to access those free stays.
Whimstay
I think of Whimstay like the HotelTonight counterpart for private rentals on VRBO and Airbnb.
- How it works: Private rental owners list their properties at the last minute in the hopes of filling up their rooms. Again, like HotelTonight, you’ll find steeper deals closer to the booking dates. You can also find deals on weekday bookings, since these tend to fill up last.
- The catch: You need to wait until the last minute to find savings on Whimstay, which can be a little nerve-racking.
Skiplagged
Skiplagged helps you find discounted airfare rates by exposing ‘hidden inefficiencies’ in airline workflows, meaning you could land a hidden-city discount flight. You can also book bundled flight and hotel stays. As Skiplagged proudly puts it, ‘our flights are so cheap United sued us… and we won’.
- How it works: Skiplagged’s platform combs the internet for ‘skiplagged’ rates for flights and hotels. In short, it finds those deals that you probably wouldn’t find on your own, thanks to ever-aggressive airline pricing algorithms.
- The catch: Like any third-party booking site, getting a hold of Skiplagged support is a doozy, and you won’t have any rights with airlines if something goes wrong. Also, airlines don’t like the platform; United isn’t the only carrier to have sued Skiplagged.
