Google trick to help save £1,300 on holiday accommodation

Kate Pasola, a travel expert from consumer group Which?, has revealed a simple way for holidaymakers to cut costs on cottages, villas, and short-term lets, potentially saving more than £1,000 per booking.

Ms Pasola said: "Googling the property's name doesn't always help as cottages and villas are sometimes listed on different sites under different names or worded slightly differently.

"You could also look up the address, but many sites, such as Airbnb, don't release a property's address until they're booked.

"That's why the quickest, easiest way to cross-reference listings across the internet is by doing a reverse Google image search on a picture of the property."

The technique involves downloading a photograph of the property and using Google’s reverse image search tool to find other websites where the same accommodation is listed.

This allows travellers to compare prices.

You could save more than £1,300 on your next holiday

Which? used the method to identify savings on properties in the UK, Spain, and Portugal.

One villa was advertised for £4,369 for a week-long stay from August 26 to September 2 on one site.

A reverse image search revealed it was also listed under the name 'Quinta das Laranjeiras' elsewhere, where it could be booked for £3,067—a saving of £1,302.

The tip also delivered results for UK stays.

A 'romantic coastal rural retreat barn near Hartland' was listed at £912 on one site, but just £703 on the host’s own website—a saving of £209 for the same dates.

To use the tool, travellers can visit Google Images, click the camera icon in the search bar, and upload a photo of the property.

Do you have any upcoming holidays planned? Let us know where you're off to in the comments below.