Trivago, Traveloka, TripAdvisor: What's the difference?

I'm sure you have all heard about hotel booking apps such as Trivago, Traveloka and TripAdvisor.  They all have similarities and I'm not quite sure what are their differences.  I'd like to share with you on how I use these three apps and my opinions on each.

My Travel apps

I've been using TripAdvisor for the longest time in my search for best rated hotels.  Their review sections are legit and believable.  I, myself, is also a contributor to review some hotels and restaurants.  Yes, TripAdvisor also have various restaurants posted per location and even things to do on those locations.  I also make use of TripAdvisor's hotel search for best prices as reference but I haven't really tried booking from them. I will tell the reason why later.

TripAdvisor Mobile App

Trivago has been popular because of their TV commercial.  Since then, there were a lot of reviews already on various hotels which I'm quite skeptical with since they're just fairly new.  Similar to TripAdvisor, Trivago also provides best prices on hotel search.  But the booking companies that they are partnered with were mostly Booking.com (or at least that’s what’s always showing upon search).  Unlike in TripAdvisor, you will find various booking companies upon search such as agoda, booking.com, hotel quickly, hotels.com and even our local Travel Book.  Although these are also available in Trivago, you will notice that mostly Booking.com appears the cheapest.  Again, I also use Trivago as reference in finding cheap hotel deals.  Trivago, by the way, only has hotel search unlike with TripAdvisor and Traveloka which has flight search (TripAdvisor even has restaurant search and things to do).

Trivago Mobile App

I came to know Traveloka through their sponsored ad in Instagram.  I seldom use this app in search for cheapest hotel deals since for me Trivago and TripAdvisor are enough.  But anyway, when you try searching for hotels, their booking partners are also similar to the two apps mentioned above.  They even show prices from TripAdvisor.  What I find very useful to this app is their flight search.  The prices that they will show you upon search on the cheapest flight is very close to the prices when using the airline's app directly. This is very convenient when you want to know which of the airlines provides cheapest flight deals.  Similar to the two apps mentioned above, I only use this for reference.  TripAdvisor also has flight search but I haven't really used it.

Traveloka Mobile app

I only use these 3 apps for reference.  I haven't really used them for bookings, whether flight or hotel deals.  The reason being is that I also have accounts in booking sites such as agoda and Travel Book where I can accumulate points so I directly booked with them instead. (I’m not sure though if you can still accumulate points when booking through TripAdvisor and be directed to agoda or Travel Book.) And there were times that booking directly from booking sites can be a bit cheaper.  But I still use these apps, again for reference.

In may last HongKong trip, these three apps were very useful to me: Traveloka in search for cheapest flight (I booked a flight 3 weeks before our travel schedule), TripAdvisor and Traveloka for hotel deals.  In my hotel search, both TripAdvisor and Traveloka shows different cheap deals that makes it quite confusing.  There are some booking sites which appears both in these apps but shows different prices.  Well, in the end, I just booked directly to my chosen hotel's website.  It is a bit cheaper than these apps.

Trivago, Traveloka and TripAdvisor are great apps in your hotel and flight search.  They will be very useful and really saves time in your search.  But I suggest you still include in your research the hotel's website price and promo deals.  There will be times when your chosen hotel will no longer have available room on your preferred date but when you ask directly the hotel, there could still be available rooms for you. So be resourceful!

Which of these apps you find useful? Or do you have any other recommended similar app?

Review: Raffles Hotel, Makati

The excerpt of this review came from my TripAdvisor account.

My boyfriend and I got to celebrate our 2nd year anniversary here and they provided us with an anniversary cake! We enjoyed every detail this hotel has to offer: lovely room, courteous and helpful staff, responsive butler, personal touches, food inclusions (not only buffet breakfast but also afternoon tea and evening cocktails).

We felt very relaxed and at home during our short stay. Though butlers were very responsive, they sometimes did not meet our expectation on some of our requests but its not really a big deal. We still felt well taken care of with their personal touches. I think the only cons we experience was when we ask for their assistance in hailing a cab for us. Though its common here in the Philippines for cab drivers to choose passengers or even ask for additional fee other than the metered rate, I just hope the management will do something about this and how to address this concern. They took quite a while to get us a cab.

Overall, we still enjoyed our stay and would want to come back if time permits. I would also recommend this to friends for their relaxing staycation.

Stayed May 2014, traveled as a couple

Sharing below are the pictures of our stay.

Hotel Room - All rooms are called Suites.  We stayed in the Junior Suite  

Small Living Room with mini ref, electric kettle, snacks, utensils underneath the TV cabinet

Small Dining Area with coffee machine and tea service

Big bedroom view from the living room

Bedroom with city view

Big bathroom with bath tub, separate shower and toilet and 2 sink

Other view of bathroom

Some toiletries

Coffee maker and tea service

Alcoholic drinks area

Glasses and other utensils storage

Snack storage

Electric kettle

Other refreshments

Pool area

Panoramic View

Nice Lounges

Afternoon Tea at the Writer's Bar

Writer's Bar

Canapes, sweets and breads

My (ex) boyfriend (now my husband) and I enjoying the afternoon tea

Wall painting at Writer's Bar

    

My Tea

Bread and spread

Pastries

Yum!

                          

Evening Cocktails at Writer's Bar - cocktails and some food we ordered.

Cocktail with pica pica

Finger food

Cocktail

                                      

Pita bread with bacon

Closer pic

Small bottles of mayo and ketchup

Chicken wings

This hotel is highly recommended.  A truly relaxed staycation.

Should you wish to have your staycation here, you may book and check the rates from this link.

Review: Ace Hotel and Suite

It was a not so well planned anniversary weekend when my boyfriend and I decided spend it around the metro rather than taking an out of town trip.  Our budget was constraint yet we wanted to find a nice hotel with a relaxing pool within metro manila.

Browsing through my Belle De Jour planner, I found a coupon for Ace Water Spa. I've been wanting to bring my boyfriend there since its a one of a kind massage which I know he will enjoy.  Besides, with his stressful work, he really needs a good massage and relaxation.  Browsing further through my planner, I came across another coupon, 30% off on published rate at Ace Hotel and Suites.  The coupon already includes a free entrance at Ace Water Spa.  I think that's already a good deal!  Plus, the discounted rate really fits our budget.

Ace Hotel and Suite is quite a new hotel, located in the Pasig area.  Ace Water Spa in Pasig is also quite new as well.  I'm just not sure which of these open first or both was launched at the same time.  The location of Ace Hotel and Ace Water Spa are the same.  It's like Ace Water Spa was the swimming area of the Ace Hotel and Suite, located at the ground floor.

We availed the Junior Suite as we find it roomy and spacious unlike the Deluxe Room.  Plus, it has a mini sala perfect for our plan to have a midnight snack on that area.

It was an ordinary weekend yet customers were quite full and in line at the reception area. It didn't took us long though when we were served.  It was a smooth transaction and no questions asked when I handed the Belle De Jour coupon for the discount.  Well maybe because I have prior reservations and informed them about the coupon.  Our room accommodation is inclusive of buffet breakfast, free one time use of Ace Water Spa for two and two discount coupon on next visit to Ace Water Spa.

Even though we only have one backpack, a bellboy still assists us in our room.  I like the security of their elevator.  Only authorized people can use it or those who have their room key card.  You will be flashing the card before pressing the desired floor for it to be operated.  So I guess visitors would really have to be fetched at the reception/lobby area by the tenant.

Our room was indeed spacious and I love it.  They also provide closet with slippers, laundry bag and a safe.

work area and the sala

tv between sala and bed

spacious room

our bed with side table and closet

We have also a mini bar with coffee, tea, mineral water and wine as complimentary drinks.

work area with mini bar at the back

complimentary wine

Fruits were also served in our room minutes after our arrival.

complimentary fruits

The air conditioning in the room was great as it is strong. Our bed was huge! The bed sheets and pillow cases were clean.  The pillows were fluffy yet comfortable enough to sleep on.  The blanket or comforter was just thick enough to cover us from cold.  I like how their tv can swivel so we can watch whether we're on our bed or on the mini sala.

facing the sala

facing the bed

Complete toiletries were provided including razor, shaving cream and comb which you don't normally see in some upper middle class hotels.  They also have hair dryer in the bathroom.  They have an enclosed shower area with rainfall shower head. The toilet has an available bidet.  Our only concern though is that water easily gets clogged at the shower area.  Waters from the shower and faucet both have hot and cold temperature regulator.

enclosed shower area

organized container for toiletries placed on the sink

On their buffet breakfast, there are quite a number of choices combining american and filipino dishes, though the buffet area is not that big.  You can also ask them to cook omelette with your choice of toppings and some pasta.  Drinks are also a variety: fruit shakes, tea, coffee, water and juices.  You also have a choice to order ala carte instead of availing the buffet breakfast.  Besides, they only served it until 10am.

I will blog about Ace Water Spa in my next post.  Overall, we enjoyed our stay in Ace Hotel and Suites.  They also offer longer stays with details below.  I would definitely love to go back to this hotel.  We truly feel relaxed and we don't even have to travel far to experience it.