Hotel booking sites like Hopper, Kayak and HotelTonight provide an exceptional resource of accommodations ranging from luxury resorts and hotels to budget hostels.
Utilizing built-in search filters that let you quickly compare prices, ratings, and amenities in order to find your ideal place can save both money and time when booking and planning travel arrangements.
In this article, I cover the best hotel booking sites in Canada, how to use them and their pros and cons.
Key Takeaways
- The top hotel booking sites you can use include Hopper, Kayak, HotelTonight, Trivago, Expedia, Hotels.com, Booking.com, and Hotwire.
- The best sites to book hotels in Canada help you find deals that give you significant savings, exclusive offers and access to numerous hotel reservation services.
- An easily navigable interface, comprehensive filters and offers, promotions or discounts, as well as trustworthiness are key factors when selecting a hotel booking site.
- Hotel booking websites save both time and money, but be wary of any suspicious websites, as some could potentially steal your personal data.
Best Sites to Book Hotels in Canada
| Hotel Booking Site | Features | Bonus |
| Hopper | User-friendly interface; 24/7 price alerts; lowest hotel prices; offers rewards and discount programs | Get a $25 bonus using the enocho8pr promo code |
| Kayak | Provides access to hundreds of hotel reservation services such as Booking.com, Priceline, Expedia, and Agoda; price alert tracker; comprehensive search engine | – |
| HotelTonight | Finds last-minute hotel deals; offers discounted hotel rates on same-day bookings or reservations made up to seven days in advance; offers loyalty programs | – |
| Trivago | Offers free access to over 300 booking sites and thousands of hotels in Canada; provides expansive selections of cheap hotels near your desired location; multiple website comparison | – |
| Expedia | Offers flexible booking solutions that enable easy cancellations and refunds of hotel bookings; gives access to bargains and flash deals from hundreds of its partner hotels; members loyalty program; book-now-pay-later setup; | Sign up for Expedia Rewards to avail of yellow member prices that give up to 15% savings while collecting points toward your next trip. |
| Hotels.com | Offers Basic, Silver and Gold Rewards programs that reward points, provide access to properties, complimentary room upgrades, etc. | – |
| Booking.com | Features 19,000+ hotels for reservation; lists top picks, most booked hotels and those near popular landmarks; shows all included fees | – |
| Hotwire | Ideal to use when booking last-minute hotel offers; offers lowest price guarantee | – |
| Trip.com | A free hotel booking site offering competitive pricing; asks for specific filters to narrow down search results | Offers many promos and exclusive hotel offers that provide savings of up to 70% on hotel payments |
| TripAdvisor | A free premier hotel booking website with excellent user rating; provides a sort filter that lets you sort properties based on best value or traveller rankings | – |
1. Hopper
Hopper is one of the fastest-growing hotel booking websites for finding great hotel deals in Canada for free.
You can book hotels through the Hopper Canada mobile app to save an average of $61 per night and get an additional $25 off from their exclusive offers in various Canadian regions.
Signing up with Hopper rewards programs, such as their referral program, allows you to gain travel credits by sharing your referral code with others. They also offer Carrot Cash, a form of cashback, when you book exclusively through Hopper.
Pros
- Easy user-friendly interface
- 24/7 price alerts
- Lowest hotel prices
- Rewards and discount programs
Cons
- Hidden fees and too many notifications
Read our in-depth review of Hopper or get a $25 bonus using the enocho8pr promo code.
2. Kayak
Kayak is widely considered one of the premier hotel booking websites in Canada, providing access to hundreds of hotel reservation services such as Booking.com, Priceline, Expedia, and Agoda and offering you their latest hotel deals.
Kayak makes searching for hotels easy; just enter your travel schedule, location, and budget and search without incurring additional costs.
Accommodation options range from budget inns such as Inns of Banff and Hi Edmonton to luxurious properties like the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver and Greystone Lodge; each offers great value.
They offer a special recommendations section where they showcase Canadian hotels with outstanding reviews, ideal times and seasons to book hotels and tips on finding suitable accommodations.
Pros
- Comprehensive search engine
- Price alert tracker
- User-friendly interface
- Notable search filters
Cons
- Limited customer support
- Third-party booking sites
- Laden with advertisements
3. HotelTonight
HotelTonight can be an ideal way to find last-minute hotel deals in Canada, offering discounted hotel rates on same-day bookings or reservations made up to seven days in advance.
Also, HotelTonight makes hotel searches and bookings easy with its user-friendly app, making the search and reservation process straightforward.
While the app may offer last-minute bookings, it can still provide a great way to save money on quality hotel stays.
Pros
- Loyalty programs
- Great deals
Cons
- Limited selection
- No rewards for referrals
4. Trivago
Trivago provides free access to over 300 booking sites and thousands of hotels located throughout Canada, so you’re bound to find something suitable; simply compare and select what meets your needs best!
The platform provides access to an expansive selection of cheap hotels near your desired location, along with reviews from prior guests.
Websites on Trivago also provide some popular hotel searches in Canada, including Quebec, Prince Edward Island, and Ontario, as well as average hotel costs.
Pros
- Fresh user-interface
- Multiple website comparison
Cons
- Fewer hotel choices
- Hidden fees
- Featured low prices are not available
5. Expedia
Expedia offers one of the most flexible booking solutions for travellers, enabling you to cancel and refund hotel bookings easily.
As one of the fastest-growing travel agencies, Expedia boasts many bargains and flash deals from hundreds of thousands of hotel partners around the globe and in Canada.
Promos and deals they provide include big discounts for 60-day advance bookings as well as last-minute packages suitable for tight budgets.
Signing up for Expedia Rewards enables you to take advantage of yellow member prices, saving up to 15% while simultaneously accruing points toward your next adventure.
Pros
- Book now and pay later scheme
- Members loyalty program
- Lower prices than direct booking
- Flash deals and bundle discounts
- Expedia travel insurance policies
Cons:
- No guarantee on lowest prices offered
- No Guarantee on booking fee refundability
6. Hotels.com
Hotels.com provides one of the world’s widest selections of accommodations nearby top tourist spots in Canada – be they luxury or budget.
Hotels.com offers many perks to members via its Basic, Silver and Gold Rewards programs, including earning reward points per night of stay, VIP access to properties, complimentary room upgrades, late checkout times and much more!
Pros
- Generous rewards program for loyal members
- Gift cards
- Filter options
Cons
- Poor refund and cancellation procedures
- Lack of access to cheaper deals
- Subpar customer service
7. Booking.com
Booking.com is one of Canada’s premier hotel booking sites, featuring more than 19,000 hotels available for reservation.
The website displays hotels that are in popular regions or near popular landmarks; additionally, the top picks and most booked hotels for Canada are listed here.
Each hotel in their listing displays a brief description, guest comments, and availability on your specified dates.
Review scores can also be found based on feedback from travellers, which they rate as either superb, very good, good, or pleasant.
Pros
- All fees included as shown
- More coverage on accommodations
Cons
- Pressure sale tactics on customers
8. Hotwire
Hotwire is one of the best booking sites for last-minute hotel offers in Canada.
Hotwire claims you can book 4-star hotels for 2-star prices across top hotel brands such as Hyatt, Hilton, Doubletree, Kimpton, and Intercontinental.
Keep in mind that hotel rates on Hotwire mobile app are substantially more cost-effective.
Pros
- 24/7 customer support
- Lowest price guarantee
Cons
- Not the site for finding luxury accommodations
- No available accommodation type filter
9. Trip.com
Trip.com is one of the free hotel booking sites offering competitive pricing in your desired destination area.
Trip.com goes beyond traditional searching by asking you for specific airports, stations, and landmarks that could narrow your results further.
The website also offers many promos and exclusive hotel offers in Canada that can save you up to 70% on hotel payments.
Pros
- Big discounts
- Top-grade customer service
- Online payments are secured
Cons
- Slow refunding process
10. TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor is one of Canada’s free premier hotel booking websites, boasting excellent user ratings based on hotel stays.
Here, you can easily view and assess whether a potential hotel has received high marks to ensure the best value.
This website offers a selection of Canadian hotels and places to stay, providing travellers with everything from budget accommodations to lavish stays.
TripAdvisor has an incredible feature to make booking accommodations simpler: its sort filter. Here, you can sort properties based on best value or traveller rankings to quickly find accommodations.
Pros
- Beneficial customer reviews
- Complete filtering options
Cons
- Average hotel rates
11. Skyscanner
Skyscanner is the ideal way to book hotels and compare their prices to find your perfect accommodation.
This website displays some of Canada’s leading hotels, including Hyatt, Expedia, Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts, and Booking.com.
Your search can be refined according to top reviews, lowest price, highest number of stars, or proximity to landmarks.
Pros
- Search as you move the map
- Hotel discounts
- Available user reviews
Cons
- The fare calendar still needs to be live updated.
12. Priceline
Priceline is a free and reliable all-in-one booking app offering attractive airfare and hotel rates, car rentals, tour and activity packages, and cruise expedition deals at competitive rates.
Over 200 countries and thousands of hotel accommodations are featured on the platform, making it a useful source for finding accommodation deals at unbeatable competitive rates.
Priceline stands out among travel sites because their flexible booking policies enable you to adjust or even cancel most hotel reservations as your plans change.
Pros
- Save Money
- Find Great Hotel Deals
Cons
- Difficult to Locate Best Price
- Many Non Refundable Bookings
13. HotelsCombined
HotelsCombined is an all-in-one search-and-compare hotel booking platform that lets you compare hotels from thousands of websites, such as Booking.com, Agoda, Hotels.com, and Hotelopia.
Your search options include star ratings, guest reviews, amenities offered, and extra benefits such as freebies.
This platform stands out as one of the top hotel booking websites, as all reviews posted are from genuine travellers who review properties they have stayed at.
Pros
- Helpful filters
- Great hotel rates
Cons
- Less options compare to other sites
14. Agoda
Agoda is one of the best hotel booking sites, offering some of the lowest-priced hotels, homes, and apartments. In Canada, it boasts more than 20,000 vacation rentals and hotels, with nightly rates starting at $15.
Every day, new offers and coupons for local and international hotel reservations become available.
To book with Agoda, enter your desired destination or property along with its check-in/check-out dates, number of travellers, and length of stay information for free.
Pros
- Daily deals and coupons
- Cheap room rates
Cons
- Not received hotel bookings
- Slow refund process
- Hotel is not as advertised
15. Airbnb
Airbnb has quickly become one of the free go-to travel booking apps. It is popular among group travellers such as families and friends and travellers looking for off-the-beaten-path places and accommodations.
Airbnb features the Airbnb Categories feature that gives you a diverse and unique selection of beachfront, surfing, cabins, tiny homes, islands, houseboats, and anywhere else your imagination takes you around the globe.
Also, it allows you to communicate directly with your host for all the best local advice and updates regarding your booking.
Pros
- Great for long-term stays
- Ideal for accommodating large groups
- User-friendly interface
- Guest host communication
Cons
- Excessive fees
- Overwhelming options and varieties
- Amenities may not meet hotel standards
16. Google Hotels
Google Hotels is an easy and free hotel booking platform that makes searching tailored to your preferences simple.
It allows you to filter your hotel search based on price, rating, and most-reviewed or eco-certified certification status.
Google is arguably the most accessible booking site, providing instantaneous results.
Pros
- Improved visibility on Google
- Direct booking to Google
- Access to valuable information
Cons
- Incomplete listings within your area
17. Momondo
Momondo, one of the world’s top free booking sites, allows users to search quickly and book prices for hotels, flights, and cars on various travel websites with just one tap.
Additionally, Momondo compares hotel listings from travel websites such as Booking.com and Expedia.com to provide customers with accurate comparison results.
This website has no hidden charges and has been featured by CNN, The New York Times, and Frommer’s.
Pros
- Comparison of hotel prices
- Accessibility to non-hotel lodgings
- User-friendly interface
Cons
- No partnered hotel brands
- Limited exclusive offers
18. Hostelworld
Hostelworld is one of the best free hotel booking platforms for solo travellers on a tight budget.
Over 178 countries are featured on this hostel network, including Canada, with 76 hostels across 37 cities nationwide.
The app provides invaluable insights, such as photos, user reviews, and ratings from previous guests. And you can search hostels by entering your desired location and travel date into the search bar.
Pros
- Loyalty Program
- Secure payment bookings
- Presence of user reviews
Cons
- limited customer service
- inferior app functionality
Pros and Cons of Hotel Booking Sites
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of online hotel booking websites:
Pros
- Saving both time and money when booking hotels online
- 24/7 hotel bookings
- Comparing hotel prices and amenities in real-time
- Book hotels across Canadian cities.
- Real-time notifications for changes in booking
- Filter your search according to your preferences.
Cons
- You could miss out on special offers or loyalty points.
- There may be fake websites stealing personal data.
- There may be hidden charges or restrictions.
- Internet access will likely be needed.
How To Choose the Best Hotel Booking Site
Consider these factors when selecting the ideal hotel booking sites:
- Consider selecting an online hotel booking site with a robust set of filters to narrow your search.
- Rely on trusted booking platforms, such as Booking.com, Hotels.com, Expedia Kayak and Hotwire.
- Search for websites offering discounts, promos, or exclusive offers.
- Choose an easy-to-use hotel booking website that enables you to compare multiple hotel prices easily.
FAQs
According to Frommer’s, Google Hotels is one of the premier and most trusted hotel booking sites because of its fast search capabilities and robust filters that help find great prices in the market.
According to Skyscanner, Tuesday offers the cheapest hotel rates in Canada with almost a 10% discount, and NerdWallet study recommends you should book a hotel stay at least 15 days before your trip. Avoid booking on Fridays as prices tend to go up going to weekends.
Realistically, direct booking in hotels typically offers the best and cheapest rate compared to booking through third-party websites, helping avoid reservation misunderstandings and hidden fees.
Booking.com often provides lower hotel room rates than traditional hotel sites by reserving multiple rooms from each hotel and taking advantage of huge discounts and savings offered to them by booking directly through them.
