Check out

Last-minute travel plans needn’t always leave a hole in your wallet. The latest entrant in the hospitality segment, checkintonight.com, offers spot discount rates for same and next day check-ins at three, four and five-star hotels. The service was launched in April 2012 and currently caters to

“I believed there should be an opportunity to provide a platform for the last-minute traveller in India. We are targeting people travelling on unplanned vacations, out-of-town business meetings, in emergencies, or those just looking for a weekend getaway,” says Abhyuday Prashad, founder of the portal,  adding that most of the rates even lower than regular tariffs at the hotels.

The check-in process is shorter if the user creates an account, either by signing up directly on the website or connecting through their Facebook account. Users also earn discount credits by creating an account. “Our aim is to be transparent and so there are no hidden fees, charges or taxes that get added on later as you reach the payment stage,” says Prashad.

While the rates for the hotels are already discounted, the founder feels that there may be an opportunity to provide even further discounted rates. “We also continue to add new hotels, some of which may have lower tariffs,” he says.

How it works:

* The website provides an overview along with the facilities and room amenities available, maps, and photos for each hotel to help users select the one best suited

to them.

* The maps tool can also be used to get directions to the hotel from the user’s current location or any other location.

* Users can also check their booking information by entering a tracking ID.

* A simple four-step process of searching for a hotel, providing contact information of the person booking as well as that of the guest, and providing payment details enables a guest to receive a confirmed reservation.