A traveler says she found a way to save money on hotel bookings by using price-match policies offered by major hotel chains. Creator Ayisha, who posts under the handle @awaywithayisha, shared the method in a TikTok video that has drawn more than 42,800 views. Her advice is simple: before booking directly with a hotel chain, check if the same room is listed for less on a third-party site such as Expedia. If it is, some hotel brands will not only match that lower rate but beat it by an extra amount. Ayisha said she recently used the method at a Hilton property near SeaWorld, bringing the price of her room down from around $240 to roughly $180. She added that Marriott has a similar policy, though there are conditions travelers should know before trying it. The traveler explains how the price-match call works In her video, part of a series she calls “Travel Tip Tuesdays,” Ayisha said hotel brands like Marriott and Hilton will not just match a lower price found elsewhere but also give an extra discount for booking directly with them. @awaywithayisha STOP OVERPAYING FOR HOTELS! Did you know that Marriott and Hilton have price-match guarantees that can help you save money when you find the same hotel room cheaper on a third-party site? Before you book that “cheaper” rate on Expedia, Hotels.com, Priceline.com etc., check the hotel’s direct website first. If you find the same room, same dates, same conditions for less on an eligible third-party site, you may be able to submit a price-match claim and get the lower rate, while still booking directly with the hote! This is one of those little travel hacks that can save you $$$ over time, especially when you’re booking hotels for family trips! My tip: ALWAYS compare prices before you hit “book.” Third-party sites aren’t automatically the best deal! Save this for your next trip and send it to someone who LOVES a good hotel deal! #TravelTipTuesday #TravelTips #TravelHacks #fypシ #hotels ♬ original sound – awaywithayisha She said she prefers to use this method for last-minute trips. Instead of submitting a request by email, she calls the hotel directly. “When you call, I feel like you’re putting them on the spot and they have to check everything right away,” she said. “And then when they check it, and if everything lines up, they are going to book the hotel for you over the phone.” Ayisha explained that for the price match to work, the third-party listing must be cheaper, and other details like cancellation terms and room type must match exactly. She then described a recent trip to Orlando, where she needed a one-night stay near SeaWorld for a visit to SeaWorld and Aquatica. She said she called a Hilton property with a lower rate from Expedia in hand and was able to get the price down from $240 to about $180. “So the next time you’re staying at a Hilton or Marriott property, I would definitely suggest trying this hack,” Ayisha said. “It’s always worth seeing if you could save money anywhere.” The policy can lead to unexpected discoveries, such as when a guest at a Hilton Orlando found an item in the lost and found after housekeeping cleaned. Hilton’s current policy, according to Best Hilton Hotels, allows guests to receive a matched rate plus an additional 25 percent off. The site states that guests can submit a claim online before booking or within 24 hours after, and that Hilton typically reviews the claim within a day or two before adjusting the reservation to the lower rate minus 25 percent. Hilton does not allow claims to be submitted at check-in or right before booking, so the comparison needs to be done in advance. Marriott’s policy works in a similar way. According to Traveling For Miles, Marriott gives guests a choice between 25 percent off the matched rate, or 20 percent off at Design Hotels, or 5,000 Bonvoy points instead. To qualify, guests must book through an official Marriott channel, find a lower rate elsewhere, and file a “Best Rate Guarantee Claim” through Marriott’s website. As with Hilton, the third-party rate has to differ from Marriott’s listed rate by at least 1 percent. Ayisha addressed questions in her comments section about which properties the hack applies to. She wrote that the guarantee applies to most properties, but named some exceptions: vacation club properties, luxury lines, and rental homes. She said this made sense for vacation club properties in particular, since those are “a property they want you to invest in and get a timeshare.” An image she shared listing Marriott’s Best Rate Guarantee exclusions names several properties and categories that don’t qualify, including The Ritz-Carlton Montreal, The Ritz London, Marriott Vacation Club, Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, and all-inclusive properties, among others. Other hotel chains offer similar price-match policies. According to Frequent Miler, IHG, Wyndham, Choice, and Best Western each have their own versions of the guarantee, though the specific terms and rewards differ from those offered by Hilton and Marriott. Hyatt also has a price-matching policy in place. Such policies can lead to disputes, as one woman’s complaint about a different hotel involved missing items and a points-only resolution. Viewers responded to Ayisha’s video with a mix of support and caution. One commenter, who said they work as a supervisor at a hotel carrying the Marriott Bonvoy brand, wrote, “please keep in mind this does vary by property!” Another was more skeptical of the process, writing, “Nah they have so many loopholes they always reject it.” A third commenter criticized one of the chains directly, writing, “The Hilton is so problematic why are we still giving them business.”