The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Digitally minded? Try apps for finding last-minute rooms
It pays to wait before booking a hotel reservation.
Smartphones and tablets are giving travelers a reason to wait until the last minute to book a hotel: discounts if you reserve a room for the same day using an app.
Kayak, Priceline, Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia all offer apps that let travelers search for hotel rooms, often discounted 10 percent to 50 percent for stays that begin the day you book.
For travelers who are stuck in a city for an extra night or just planning a last-minute getaway, this mobile booking option is quite handy. I used a few apps on my iPhone on a recent driving trip and was surprised at how helpful it was to be able to zoom in on a map and choose a hotel that was affordable and close to a highway exit.
Here are some pros and cons of the apps I’ve tried. can view them on a map where you select a pin to see the hotel’s price and name. “Mobile exclusive” deals are marked with a flag indicating how much you’re saving.
Recent deal: Element New York Times Square, $126 with taxes (versus | about $462 booking through various online agencies two weeks in advance).
Pros: The app scrolls through photos of the selected property; hotel descriptions include nearby attractions, guest ratings and a list of amenities. Check-in/checkout policies and fees for things like Internet access and parking are also displayed.
Cons: You can’t filter the list of hotels by neighborhood. Initial prices displayed do not include taxes.
Available for: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad (all with iOS 5.0 or later), Android. shows each hotel’s base rate in balloons above the street where it is (most competitors show pins, without prices). Once you select a hotel, Kayak displays rates available from different travel agencies, including taxes and fees, making it easy to find the lowest price. There’s also a “call hotel” link if you prefer to book by phone.
Cons: Using the list view, you cannot sort the results by neighborhood and price at the same time.
Available for: iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows Mobile 7, Kindle Fire. about $404).
Pros: Orbitz automatically scrolls through a set of photos of the selected property, with descriptions of amenities.
Cons: You can’t see all the prices at once on the map. Instead, you have to click on each pin. Initial rates displayed do not include taxes. Before booking, you must agree to terms and conditions that cover things like “intellectual property,” but the service just mentions that “Orbitz may charge a fee for the service.”
Available for: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android.