15 sites to book hotels online in Australia

Going on a trip and need to book a room? Here are some of the best places to find a great deal to book hotels online.

Stephanie Yip's headshot

By

Stephanie Yip

Updated

Online booking sites allow you to compare the world’s hotels to find the best deal. Whether you like to stay in only the finest establishments, want to rent a flat and immerse yourself in the local scene, or are looking to stick to a budget, there are literally thousands of options out there. You just need to know where to look.

hotels

1. HotelsCombined

Compare all the top travel engines such as Expedia and Booking.com in one place to find the most competitive price.

  • Winner of World's Travel Award for the World's Leading Hotel Comparison site in 2014
  • No booking fee
  • Top rated on Trustpilot

Go to HotelsCombined

wotif

2. Wotif

Search and book hotels and other travel services worldwide with a locally based Australian travel agent.

  • Daily deals
  • Australian based
  • Over 500,000 properties available globally

Go to Wotif

Conceptual of travel and vacation.

3. Lastminute.com.au

Looking for an affordable stay? Lastminute.com.au guarantees the cheapest price and hotel deals available daily.

  • Lowest price guarantee
  • Pay now or pay at hotel option
  • Member discounts

Go to Lastminute.com.au

Overhead view of lesbian couple holding hands while relaxing in lounge chairs by hotel pool

4. Agoda

Find your next staycation with one of Australia's largest accommodation booking sites.

  • Option to pay later
  • 24/7 support
  • Free cancellation

Go to Agoda

hotels

5. Hotels.com

An offshoot of Expedia, Hotels.com has got the scale to search every corner of the web to help you find your perfect hotel.

  • Customer reviews for every property available
  • Rewards program
  • Toll-free helpline from Australia

Go to Hotels.com

booking

6. Booking.com

One of the most popular online hotel booking sites in the world.

  • Over 690,000 properties available
  • No booking fees
  • 24/7 customer service

Go to Booking.com

expedia

7. Expedia.com.au

Search for all types of accommodation including guesthouses, B&Bs, hotels, hostels and more.

  • One of the largest online accommodation search networks available.
  • Price match guarantee.
  • Rated 92% by customers on Feefo reviews.

Go to Expedia.com.au

Amazing evening landscape of Fira, infinity pool caldera view Santorini, Greece with cruise ships at sunset. Cloudy dramatic sky sunset, wonderful summer scenery, travel vacation, holiday. Inspire

8. Oaks Hotels & Resorts

Find the best offers and start booking your dream holiday with Oaks Hotels & Resorts.

  • Benefits for MyOaks Club members
  • Special offers tab
  • Gift vouchers available

Go to Oaks Hotels & Resorts

Accor Hotels

9. Accor Hotels

For high-flyers and lovers of luxury: Accor Hotel group offers the only the best for your hotel needs.

  • Members receive exclusive treatments, prices and offers
  • Online check-in/checkout service
  • Le Club Accor Hotels loyalty program cares for you throughout your travel

Go to Accor Hotels

hotwire

10. Hotwire

Not too picky and just looking for a great deal? Check out Hotwire's mystery hotels and bag a bargain.

  • Book a hotel based on location and rating to save big
  • Up to 65% off the regular room price
  • You can also book your flights, car hire or a complete package

Go to Hotwire

groupon

11. Groupon

Get a discount coupon to use at a hotel booking site, or search for discounted accommodation with Groupon directly.

  • Flash sales every day
  • Everything available with the app
  • Last minute deals

Go to Groupon

hotels

12. IHG Hotels

From cheap to high-end stays, IHG offers a wide range of hotel accommodation ideal for both money-saving and luxury travellers.

  • Rewards program
  • Virtual assistant
  • Special offers

Go to IHG Hotels

Swimming pool and beach umbrellas on white sand beach from above, Morris Bay, Old Road, Antigua, Caribbean, West Indies (Swimming pool and beach umbrellas on white sand beach from above, Morris Bay, Old Road, Antigua, Caribbean, West Indies, ASCII, 12

13. Scoopon

If you love snagging a great deal on hotel packages, check out what Scoopon has on offer.

  • Hotel stays and packages available in Australia, Bali, Thailand, China, Vietnam and more
  • Endorsed by travel show Getaway's Catriona Rowntree
  • Savings of up to 85%

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Treasury on Collins Apartment Hotel

14. 10Travlr

Score a deal on hotel and resort packages in Australia and abroad with 10Travlr's deals that often include extras like wine, parking or late check-out.

  • Pay now or pay later
  • Customer support available
  • Special offers tab

hotels

15. Catch (formerly Catch of the Day)

Set in an historic 1850s manor and decorated with antique furnishings, this 4-star boutique exudes old-world charm and hospitality.

  • Room types: 17 individually decorated bedrooms
  • Taxi ride from Hordern Pavilion: 5 minutes
  • Features: Kitchenettes, laundry, indoor pool and Wi-Fi
Amy Bradney-George

I've booked a lot of hotels online, all around the world, and one of the most common requests is to provide ID and the card you've used for your online booking. Most hotels also require a security deposit, usually in the form of what's known as an 'authorisation hold' on a debit or credit card. I always use a credit card for the booking and the security deposit, so that I'm not short of cash if it takes a while for the hotel to release the hold.
— Amy Bradney-George, Personal finance expert

Which agents don’t charge a booking fee?

How much do these agents ask for a hotel deposit?

AgentDeposit required
Hotels.comVaries depending on property
ExpediaNo deposit required
WotifVaries depending on property
Booking.comNo deposit required
Accor HotelsDeposit required by some hotels
GrouponDeposit may be required depending on the offer
ScooponDeposit may be required depending on the offer
HotwireTotal reservation amount required at the time of booking
GeziDeposit varies depending on the property
RoomerTotal reservation amount required at the time of booking

Which agents offer cheap rooms?

One of the most important things to consider when you want to find a cheap place to stay is that hotels, hostels, b&bs, guesthouses and holiday rentals will vary greatly in price depending on the time of year, the time of booking and how full they are. That’s why it's important to compare lots of different properties before making a reservation. You might be able to find a bargain on a normally pricier hotel if you book last minute and grab a room that is still unsold.

Renting whole apartments is another way to get more value from your accommodation. Sites like Roomorama or Turu tend to offer self contained accommodation. If you are sharing with a friend it could even be cheaper than a traditional hotel, and you can save extra by using the kitchen.

If you don’t mind shared accommodation, hostel booking sites are definitely a budget way to travel.

Always read the terms and conditions when making a reservation to get the best deal and take advantage of the price match guarantee. While most larger booking engines will offer comparable pricing (and often will advertise the same hotels) extras like taxes, booking fees and other charges can really add up over time. Larger sites such as Expedia, Booking.com and HotelsCombined advertise thousands of hotels at once and allow you to search by price, so you can book a hotel room that is on sale for your dates.

Which agents offer a Price Match Guarantee?

  • Hotels.com – Price match guarantee for the same room in the same accommodation right up until you check in.
  • Expedia – If you find a cheaper rate Expedia will match it and give you a $50 travel voucher, with some conditions.
  • Wotif – Wotif will match any lower price for the same room and accommodation within 24 hours of booking, with some conditions.
  • HotelsCombined – HotelsCombined will refund the difference if you find the same accommodation for a lower price, unless it is a link provided by HotelsCombined.
  • Booking.com – Price match guarantee with any other price for the same accommodation available for booking online.
  • Accor Hotels – Accor Hotels will match any lower price available online, and then beat it by 10%.

Which sites let you book a hotel with Paypal?

Most larger booking sites will support PayPal payments, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you will be able to use it for all hotels. While the option is there, hotels themselves are often able to opt to accept the payment method or not. If a hotel accepts PayPal, you should see a little PayPal icon on the hotel information when you go to make a reservation.

Booking.com, Expedia, Hotelscombined, Wotif, and Hotels.com all support PayPal payments.

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Written by

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Stephanie Yip was the travel editor at Finder and has been writing about travel and lifestyle for over a decade. She has written for a range of travel publications including Thomas Cook Magazine and Showpo. Stephanie has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia, and has visited over 50 countries (and counting). She has a passion for sharing her experiences and knowledge of travel and helping consumers stretch their travel cash while on holiday. See full bio

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