Google experiments with hotel prices on Google Maps

(Google)

Google has been testing a feature on their Google Maps site that may one day help you find a hotel at the right price without having to head to (soon to be rival?) sites.

If permanently implemented, this feature could turn Google into one of the biggest online travel planning destinations on the planet.

"With this feature, when you search for hotels on Google Maps you'll be able to enter the dates you plan to stay and see real prices on selected listings. You can click on the price to see a list of advertisers who have provided pricing information for that hotel, indicated by the "Sponsored" text, and click through to reserve a room on the advertiser's site," said Google on their Lat Long Blog on March 22.

For now, the hotel pricing information is only viewable to a select few users but if it proves useful, Google may one day make it available to trip planners in the rest of the world.