We’ve all been there: 12 tabs open on your device, checking a bunch of hotels (with equally as many room types) – and they all look fairly similar.
Comparing hotels can get frustrating fast. The trick is to narrow things down and compare what matters most to you side-by-side. Here’s how to get started.
Define what matters most to you.
First things first, figure out what’s most important for you. This could be the location, the price, or a free breakfast. Or maybe you really need kid-friendly amenities or a pet-friendly hotel.
Other things to consider include guest ratings, check-in/check-out times, and flexible cancellation policies. Once you have this clear in your mind, you can start comparing.
Find the hotels you want to compare using KAYAK’s hotel search.
Add in your destination, dates, and who’s travelling, and KAYAK will search hundreds of hotel and travel sites for you. Then you can start narrowing down your options using filters.
Here are some options to start with:
- Trying to save money? Filter by price
- Want something reliable? Lean into guest ratings 8+
- Business trip? Use the map to find the best location
Go a step further and Ask AI to narrow down your options. Here’s a sample prompt:
“Find me a hotel in Vancouver for my partner and me with free breakfast and free cancellation. The location needs to be in the city centre. My dates are August 10–12.”
Compare the details side-by-side.
If you’re stuck between a couple of options, this is where KAYAK’s side-by-side comparison can really help.
Select the “Compare” button for up to three hotels and you can view them together on one screen. Compare the prices, ratings, and perks in one place and make your choice with confidence.
Things you can compare side-by-side:
- The total price (not just the nightly rate)
- Guest ratings and number of reviews
- Where it is & what it’s close to
- What’s included (breakfast, cancellation, room type)
Tip: If you like the look of a hotel but the price isn’t quite right, set a Price Alert to see if it drops.
Note: This feature isn’t available on the KAYAK App right now. For the best comparison experience, open up your laptop.
FAQs
When comparing hotels, check what’s most important to you. Key things to think about include price, location, and reviews (plus the number of reviews). You can compare all of these side-by-side on KAYAK.
To compare ratings and reviews at a glance, you can use the hotel search or KAYAK’s side-by-side comparison feature. For a deeper dive, click on each and read a sample of the most recent reviews.
A good rating can be easily skewed if a hotel has only a few reviews. Look for hotels with at least 50 reviews. Reviews should be consistent and match what you want from a hotel.
