How do travel apps that claim they can book, for example, a hotel for cheaper than the original price, do it? Is it legit?

Question

How do travel apps that claim they can book, for example, a hotel for cheaper than the original price, do it? Is it legit?

In: 235

Answer 1

Here are some ways they do it:

* **Buying in bulk**. Some travel apps negotiate with hotels to buy a large number of rooms at a discounted rate, and then sell them to customers at a lower price than the hotel’s website. This way, the travel app makes a profit and the hotel fills up its rooms.

* **Dynamic pricing**. Some travel apps use algorithms to adjust the prices of hotel rooms based on supply and demand, seasonality, location, and other factors. This way, they can offer lower prices when the demand is low or the hotel is not popular. For example, Skyscanner shows an interactive price chart that shows the cheapest days to book a hotel.

* **Last-minute deals**. Some travel apps specialize in offering deals for hotels that have unsold rooms close to the check-in date. This way, they can help the hotels avoid losing money on empty rooms and attract customers who are looking for a bargain. For example, HotelTonight offers discounts of up to 60% for bookings made within seven days of arrival.

These methods are usually legit, but you should always check the reviews and ratings of the app and the hotel before booking.