Update 5/30/24: The Guestbook has launched a browser extension meaning you can book directly on the hotel chains website now. In most cases you’ll probably still be better going through a portal but a flat 5% might be preferable to some people. Hat tip to reader @DWhite
Original post: The hotel booking space is one of the most saturated markets online, due to the fact that these sites are often charging fees of 15-25% to the hotels for each booking. The Guestbook is a new hotel booking website that has thrown their hat into the ring, it differentiates itself by offering 5% cash back on all bookings and you’re able to book directly with the hotel.
The Basics
- All bookings on the site earn 5% cash back sent directly to your PayPal account
- Bookings can be made directly with the hotel, rather than online through The Guestbook
- They have ~450 boutique hotels worldwide in the system
Booking Process
Their search process works like any other site, you select your search area and dates and it’ll bring up a list of properties and a map to the right. What’s nice is that it’ll also show you the stay benefits (list of other purchases that will qualify for 5% back like in hotel restaurant, mini bar etc) and let you compare the price with other sites like Hotels.com & Travelocity (although I found that this wasn’t always if ever accurate). Unfortunately like most other sites, they don’t include the taxes & fees in the initial search (should be illegal since they are compulsory charges). Interestingly, they seem to charge more in taxes & fees than competing sites:
I also found that booking direct seemed to bring up lower prices than what The Guestbook was showing, although this might be due to the different room rates (e.g advance purchase/non refundable etc etc).
Rewards
As mentioned, you’ll earn 5% cash back and it will be sent either to your PayPal account or Visa eGift Card, bitcoin, or gift cards to major retailers (good news for those with a frozen PayPal account). To receive this cash back you need to send The Guestbook either the reservation or bill.
To receive rewards the e-mail address you use with The Guestbook needs to be the same e-mail address associated with your hotel booking.
Elite Benefits
If the hotel has a loyalty program, then you can receive all of the normal elite benefits that you normally would (e.g elite stay credits, hotel points, elite status recognition). In practice since most of these hotels are boutique non-chain hotels, they don’t have a rewards program.
Our Verdict
This is a neat idea and something that has been tried before (and failed), the problem is that hotels offer loyalty programs to encourage consumers to book directly. The reason they are able to offer such generous benefits/points is because they aren’t paying the massive fees to online travel agencies. There is little point in them offering both, which is why you never see the bigger chains join these online booking sites that allow elite benefits.
5% cash back is also woeful, you could use almost any cash back shopping portal and get higher rates than that. Personally I use Hotels.com and pair that with their free night after every ten nights to score ~17% back before any coupons. They don’t give me any elite benefits, but when it comes down to it neither are The Guestbook and Hotels.com looks to be significantly cheaper.
You can read our other hotel booking reviews below:
William Charles
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