How I Use Google Travel’s Handy Hotel Search Feature

The exterior of the Pan Pacific Whistler, part of the Global Hotels Alliance
Pan Pacific Whistler, one of many hotels you could search and book via Google Travel’s hotel feature. Photo: Pan Pacific Hotels.

Google Travel‘s hotel search feature has become a powerful and very useful resource. Our editor, Matt, even has it in his list of the most useful frequent flyer tools and apps in 2025.

Why is it so useful? Because it allows you to easily compare hotels in your destination of choice based on brand, price, location, reviews, and amenities. All in one streamlined view and in a single currency!

At AFF, we talk a lot about flights and frequent flyer points. But finding great value and memorable stays on the ground matters too. That’s where Google Travel’s hotel search feature really shines.

Here’s a quick guide to the most useful features that I use when searching online for accommodation.

Filter by brands

If you have – or want – status with a particular hotel chain, the ability to filter properties in your desired location by brand is a huge plus. That way, you can be sure that you’re able to use the benefits of your status (for example, being able to use the club lounge), as well as earning points and elite qualifying nights.

(By the way, you can learn more about hotel loyalty programs in Course 9 of the Australian Frequent Flyer Training!)

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Learn all the tricks to travel better, for less, with our Frequent Flyer Training courses. The first two courses are free for all AFF members.

Not only that, but Google Travel’s hotel feature makes it easy to filter in or out for multiple brands or even specific chains within a brand. Which is useful if you have a particular style of travel you prefer, or if you’re a member of multiple hotel loyalty programs.

Google Travel hotel search in Istanbul, sorting by brand
Google Travel’s hotel search portal has lots of useful filters.

Filter by amenities

Only want to stay in accommodation with a pool or a gym? You can easily filter for these facilities in Google Travel’s hotel feature, using the amenities dropdown. There are plenty of other filters too – like free breakfast, pet-friendly properties, or hotels with onsite parking.

This makes it so much easier to find properties that include everything that you need for your stay! Once you’ve narrowed down the hotels that include your desired amenities, all that’s left is to decide how much you want to spend.

Compare prices

I wrote in a previous article how I used the Google Travel hotel feature to save myself $700 on my Conrad Hong Kong stay. It’s great that not only can you compare prices between different hotels, but also for the same hotel using different booking portals.

For example, if you have a particular property in mind that is bookable on many different sites, you can use this feature to track prices in a consistent currency. No matter what currency the original website uses, you’ll see every listing converted into your preferred currency. You can also switch the prices to be shown as your “Stay Total (including taxes)” rather than your “Nightly Total”. This makes comparing different websites prices very easy at a quick glance.

Conrad Hong Kong Pricing Screenshot Google Travel
Google Travel screenshot showing prices for total stay cost at the Conrad Hong Kong on random dates from different websites.

By making full use of these features, you’ll be on your way to checking into a hotel that fits your needs. Whether you’re loyal to a particular brand, chasing specific amenities, or simply hunting for the best price, Google Travel’s hotel search feature makes it easier to book a stay that suits your style.

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Definitely an underrated and useful tool from google.

The only caveat to point out is that often Hotels will have prices that are cheaper if you are a member of their program, same goes for Booking.com and Expedia. I understand that because these cheaper prices are unobtainable to the general public (i.e you must be a member of a certain program), google will not show that rate - fair enough. You will need to click through to see what rate is available to members.
Regardless, it's a great tool to compare and discover accommodation at your destination.

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Yeah, I find the same with TripAdvisor that I get different rates on clicking through to booking.com and some of the hotel programs.

Good places to start though!!

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Best part is that clicking through Google Hotels sometimes gives you lower prices than going direct to that OTA.

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The other major consideration however is that booking through third party sites will often invalidate any hotel status benefits.

Got caught out by this even with the Qantas/Accor partnership… booked through Qantas hotels and denied all benefits on checking in at Accor.

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The other major consideration however is that booking through third party sites will often invalidate any hotel status benefits.

Got caught out by this even with the Qantas/Accor partnership… booked through Qantas hotels and denied all benefits on checking in at Accor.

Yes, I'm not aware of any programmes except via Amex FHR/HC where you can still get hotel status benefits with 3rd party bookings.

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