trip1 vs HotelTonight - best for last-minute hotels?

In short

• HotelTonight is a curated mobile app owned by Airbnb, built for last-minute stays, and it accepts card payments only.
• trip1 covers 3 million+ hotels in 190+ countries, including same-day bookings, and accepts 50+ cryptocurrencies via CoinGate.
• Crypto payments confirm within minutes on trip1, so paying in Bitcoin or USDC works fine even for a same-night room.

How trip1 and HotelTonight compare

HotelTonight, acquired by Airbnb in 2019, curates a deliberately small set of vetted hotels and concentrates its best pricing close to check-in. trip1 is a broad accommodation platform - over 3 million hotels, apartments and guest houses in 190+ countries - where every booking, including a same-day one, can be paid for in cryptocurrency via CoinGate (trip1's MiCA-licensed crypto payment provider).

Choice vs curation

HotelTonight's curation is a real strength: fewer options, vetted quality, and categories like Basic, Solid and Luxe make the trade-off clear, which cuts down decision fatigue at 6pm. trip1 takes the opposite approach with a very large catalogue, which matters more when you are somewhere HotelTonight's city list does not reach.

Paying at the last minute

HotelTonight takes credit cards and Apple Pay in-app, and does not accept cryptocurrency. On trip1 you can pay with Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC and 50+ other coins. If you are booking for tonight, choose a fast network such as Lightning for Bitcoin or a Layer 2 for Ethereum so the transaction confirms quickly.

Important: Always check the network before you send. Crypto sent on the wrong blockchain cannot be reversed, and trip1 cannot recover those funds.

How far ahead you can book

HotelTonight started as a same-day-only app and now lets you book up to 100 days ahead, though its sharpest pricing still sits in the last-minute window, and most of its rooms are non-refundable. trip1 has no booking window limit, and each room carries the hotel's own cancellation policy, shown before you pay.

When to choose trip1 over HotelTonight

Choose trip1 when you want to pay with crypto, when you are in a city HotelTonight does not cover, or when you want a refundable rate. HotelTonight is excellent for a spontaneous night in a major North American or Western European city if you are happy paying by card.