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On Wednesday, Google launched its Google One cloud storage plans to users across the US. Google One is really just a rebranding of Google Drive but with some new features and payment plans, including a nugget that may help travelers save on their next hotel booking.
Google One is offering cloud storage plans from $2/month for 100 gigabytes to $300/month for a whopping 30 terabytes. If you’re a paying Google One customer you may be eligible for discounts from 15%-40% for hotel reservations made through Google search. These seem to be real discounts, not fluff prices that other OTA’s advertise when you can find the same price anywhere else.
Twitter users have been sharing the discounts they’re seeing. Az Respes shows the Yotel in New York city advertised at a “1 Member price” of $57/night in September. A search on Hotels.com and Yotel’s website for the same date shows prices at $98 a night. That’s a 42% savings.
Masaki Okazawa shows the Hotel Milo Santa Barbara with a “1 Member price” $65 lower than the list price.
It’s unclear how you access these deals right now. But the two screenshots appear to indicate that you need to be using a Google Android phone and be a Google One member to receive the discounts. TPG has reached out to Google for clarification.
If these rates are real, it could mean serious competition for websites like Hotels.com, even when factoring in using a credit card like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card that earns 10x points at the website (when stays are booked and paid via Hotels.com/Venture) . Just always make sure to use a credit card that earns points on either hotel or travel purchases regardless of where you shop.
Google’s move may be a way to preempt Amazon, which many analysts predict will soon enter the travel booking space.
Lifehacker reports that Google One subscribers will receive other “special perks” like Google Play credits and more, although the company wouldn’t go into more specifics.
H/T: Doctor of Credit
Featured image by Murat Kaynak/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images.
With some great bonus categories, the American Express Gold Card has a lot going for it. The card offers 4x points at US restaurants, at US supermarkets (up to $25,000; then 1x), and 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com. It is currently offering a welcome bonus of 35,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 in the first three months.
- Earn 35,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $2,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 3 months.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. restaurants. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with The Gold Card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Shake Shack, and Ruth's Chris Steak House. This is an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Airline Fee Credit: up to $100 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees at one selected qualifying airline.
- Choose to carry a balance with interest on eligible charges of $100 or more.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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