Use This Tool to Get Cheaper Hotel Rates, Even After You Book

Like everything that costs money, hotel stays have gotten more expensive. But what you see is not necessarily what you have to settle for if you join HotelSlash, a search and booking engine that tracks prices and alerts you to deals and discounts on your existing reservations.

Rates on HotelSlash may not look all that different from other booking sites at first, but the benefit is in the platform's price tracking after you actually reserve your room. Typically, price monitoring is available for hotels (and flights) prior to booking, or the feature doesn't pull deals specific to your reservation--but HotelSlash looks for discounts and upgrades on your room or one that is comparable to it.

Unlike price-tracking via engines like Google Travel and AutoSlash, though, HotelSlash isn't free. An annual membership costs $29.95, though you can try it out first with a 90-day trial. All you need to do is create an account with your name, email address, and country of residence. (No credit card is required to sign up, so you don't have to remember to cancel to avoid being charged if you're not satisfied.)

HotelSlash says its early users saved an average of 30% off published rates and fees when booking one month in advance, meaning you could make up your annual fee and then some on a single reservation. If you travel more than once or twice a year, $30 would be a worthwhile investment.

How to use HotelSlash to book and monitor discounted rooms

HotelSlash looks like most other booking engines. To search for hotel deals, enter your destination--a city, address, landmark, or property name, for example--your check-in and check-out dates, and the number in your party, and click Confirm. You'll have the option to select the number of beds (one, multiple, or no preference) and accessibility needs. You'll need to sign up or log in to submit your request.

You should receive an email from HotelSlash within a few minutes with a link to your options. You can view property, room, and amenity details and book directly through HotelSlash's website. Once you've booked through the platform, HotelSlash will monitor your reservation for price drops (as well as upgrades) and notify you if a better deal arises.

How to track prices on an existing reservation with HotelSlash

If you booked a refundable hotel reservation through a different travel search engine and want to hold out for a deal, forward your confirmation email to save@hotelslash.com. If a lower rate for your booking comes up, you'll receive an email from HotelSlash with a link to view and reserve a room at the cheaper price.

Note that HotelSlash does not offer automatic rebooking or cancelation services--you must go back and cancel your original reservation once you've confirmed your new booking to avoid being charged twice. HotelSlash also won't track prices for nonrefundable rooms.

Before booking or rebooking through HotelSlash, be sure to review the room and reservation details carefully to ensure the offer matches your preferences. Once you've confirmed your reservation, you can't make changes to your room or your travel dates--you'll have to cancel and rebook (as long as your reservation is refundable). You also cannot apply any hotel loyalty program information, though some properties may allow you to add it to your reservation when you check in.