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Mobile technology makes it easier than ever to save money on travel.

Key Point

• Hotel costs add up quickly and can take up a large part of your vacation budget.
• Apps like Hopper and Hotel Tonight give you discounts when booking hotels.

Traveling is fun, but it costs money. Transportation and accommodation are usually the most expensive expenses when planning a trip. With the right app, you can potentially save money on your hotel stay. This allows you to stretch your vacation budget even further.

Many free travel planning resources are available to make planning your next vacation quick, easy, and fun. These tools not only save you time, but they also help you keep more money in your bank account.

Looking to book a hotel without breaking your vacation budget? Try these apps:

1. Hotel Tonight

Hotel Tonight helps travelers take advantage of discounted hotel stays. Easily browse rates, reviews and hotel details within the app.

This app is a useful resource if you need to book a hotel last minute but don’t want to pay for it last minute. Many hotels partner with this app to sell hotel rooms at discounted prices, reducing the number of vacant and unsold rooms.

However, this app is not just for last minute bookings. Hotel Tonight can also be used to book hotel stays up to 100 days prior to check-in.

2. Hopper

Hopper is another travel planning app that can help you save money.

You can use the app to search for flights and hotel stays. The app uses historical data to predict prices, so you can tell if prices are higher, lower, or about average.

Hopper will also let you know if prices change as your travel date approaches. You can also set up alerts to notify you when prices go down to get you a hotel deal.

A unique feature of this app is the ability to do price freezes. If you need time to decide before booking a hotel, you can pay a deposit to lock in your rates.

If the price increases after the freeze, the hopper will cover the price increase up to a certain limit. If the price drops, you can book at a cheaper rate. Failure to book will result in the loss of your deposit.

3. Hot wire

If you haven’t used Hotwire yet, this is another app that can help you save money on travel.

You can book your next hotel stay using our website or mobile app. One of the features that sets Hotwire apart from other travel booking tools is its offering of branded Hot Rate hotels.

Get better hotel deals by letting Hotwire select your hotel.

Here’s how it works: You’ll see rates, hotel ratings, and approximate locations. Hotwire also displays the names of three hotels. One of them is the hotel you book.

But here comes the element of surprise. You don’t know what hotel you are going to book until you book and pay for the room. Please note that Hot Rate hotel stays are non-refundable and non-cancellable.

If you are an adventurous traveler and like good deals, this could be a great way to save money. If you don’t want surprises, this feature isn’t for you.

You don’t have to neglect your personal financial goals when planning your vacation.

Be sure to use money-saving tools and apps when planning your next trip. You might be able to save time and put more money in your pocket.

When you book your trip, consider using a travel credit card to earn valuable rewards.