Google Hotels Search

Search Google Hotels via agent-browser to find hotel prices, ratings, amenities, and availability.

When to Use

• User asks to search, find, or compare hotels or accommodation
• User wants hotel prices in a city, neighborhood, or near a landmark
• User asks about hotel availability for specific dates
• User wants the best-rated or cheapest hotel in an area

When NOT to Use

• Booking: This skill searches only — never complete a purchase
• Vacation rentals / Airbnb: Google Hotels shows hotels, not rentals
• Flights: Use the flight-search skill
• Historical prices: Google Hotels shows current prices only
• NEVER leave Google Hotels during search — do not navigate to Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, or any OTA as a search workaround. Exception: after presenting results, you MAY visit the hotel's own website for direct booking/promo checks (see Post-Search).

Session Convention

Always use --session hotels for isolation.

URL Fast Path (Preferred)

Build a URL with location and dates encoded. Loads results directly — 3 commands total.

URL Template

https://www.google.com/travel/search?q={QUERY}&qs=CAE4AA&ts={TS_PARAM}&ap=MAE

Where {QUERY} is the location/hotel name and {TS_PARAM} is a base64-encoded date parameter.

Encoding Dates in the URL

Google Hotels uses a protobuf-encoded ts parameter for dates. The byte layout is fixed for years 2025-2030. Use this bash function to generate it:

hotel_ts() {
  local ci_y=$1 ci_m=$2 ci_d=$3 co_y=$4 co_m=$5 co_d=$6 nights=$7
  local cyl=$(printf '%02x' $(( ($ci_y & 0x7f) | 0x80 )))
  local cyh=$(printf '%02x' $(($ci_y >> 7)))
  local col=$(printf '%02x' $(( ($co_y & 0x7f) | 0x80 )))
  local coh=$(printf '%02x' $(($co_y >> 7)))
  echo -n "08011a200a021a00121a12140a0708${cyl}${cyh}10$(printf '%02x' $ci_m)18$(printf '%02x' $ci_d)120708${col}${coh}10$(printf '%02x' $co_m)18$(printf '%02x' $co_d)18$(printf '%02x' $nights)32020801" \
    | xxd -r -p | base64 | tr -d '\n='
}
# Usage: hotel_ts CHECKIN_YEAR MONTH DAY CHECKOUT_YEAR MONTH DAY NIGHTS
# Example: hotel_ts 2026 3 15 2026 3 20 5
# Output: CAEaIAoCGgASGhIUCgcI6g8QAxgPEgcI6g8QAxgUGAUyAggB

Constraints: Years 2025-2030, months 1-12, days 1-31, nights 1-127. These cover all realistic hotel searches.

Location Formats

URL vs Interactive Features

Example: Hotels in Bangkok, March 15-20

# Step 1: Generate ts parameter
ts=$(hotel_ts 2026 3 15 2026 3 20 5)

# Step 2: Open with location + dates — results load immediately
agent-browser --session hotels open "https://www.google.com/travel/search?q=Hotels+in+Bangkok&qs=CAE4AA&ts=${ts}&ap=MAE"
agent-browser --session hotels wait --load networkidle
agent-browser --session hotels snapshot -i

# Step 3: Extract results from snapshot, then close
agent-browser --session hotels close

Example: Specific Hotel with Dates

ts=$(hotel_ts 2026 3 9 2026 3 12 3)
agent-browser --session hotels open "https://www.google.com/travel/search?q=Haus+im+Tal+Munich&qs=CAE4AA&ts=${ts}&ap=MAE"
agent-browser --session hotels wait --load networkidle
agent-browser --session hotels snapshot -i
agent-browser --session hotels close

Without Dates (Location Only)

If the user doesn't specify dates, omit the ts, qs, and ap parameters:

agent-browser --session hotels open "https://www.google.com/travel/search?q=Hotels+in+Bangkok"
agent-browser --session hotels wait --load networkidle
agent-browser --session hotels snapshot -i

Results will show "starting from" prices. Set dates interactively if the user provides them later (see deep-dive reference).

For detailed interactive workflows (calendar navigation, guest/room selector, filters), see the deep-dive reference.

Result Format

Present results as a single rich table:

| # | Hotel | Stars | Rating | Price/Night | Total | Via | Key Amenities |
|---|-------|-------|--------|-------------|-------|-----|---------------|
| 1 | Sukhothai Bangkok | ★★★★★ | 9.2 | $185 | $925 | Hotels.com | Pool, Spa, WiFi |
| 2 | Centara Grand | ★★★★★ | 8.8 | $165 | $825 | Booking.com | Pool, Gym, WiFi |
| 3 | Ibis Sukhumvit | ★★★ | 7.4 | $45 | $225 | Agoda | WiFi, Restaurant |

Parallel Sessions

Only use when the user explicitly asks for a comparison between distinct searches (e.g., "Compare hotels in Shibuya vs Shinjuku").

agent-browser --session shibuya open "https://www.google.com/travel/search?q=Hotels+in+Shibuya+Tokyo" &
agent-browser --session shinjuku open "https://www.google.com/travel/search?q=Hotels+in+Shinjuku+Tokyo" &
wait

agent-browser --session shibuya wait --load networkidle &
agent-browser --session shinjuku wait --load networkidle &
wait

# Set dates in both sessions, then snapshot both
agent-browser --session shibuya snapshot -i
agent-browser --session shinjuku snapshot -i

agent-browser --session shibuya close &
agent-browser --session shinjuku close &
wait

Key Rules

Troubleshooting

Post-Search: Direct Booking & Deals

After presenting results, always ask the user if they'd like you to check for better deals. Phrase it like:

"Want me to check [hotel name]'s direct website for promo codes or member rates? Direct booking is often cheaper than OTAs."

When to Offer

• Always when the user searches for a specific hotel by name
• Always when results show a single clear winner the user is interested in
• On request when comparing multiple hotels — offer for whichever they pick

What to Check

Open the hotel's own website in a new session (--session direct) and look for:

1. Direct booking price — often 5-15% cheaper than OTAs (Booking.com, Expedia, etc.)
2. Promo codes — look for banners, pop-ups, or a "offers"/"deals"/"promotions" page
3. Member/loyalty rates — "sign up for X% off first booking" or free membership discounts
4. Package deals — breakfast included, free cancellation, parking bundles
5. Seasonal promotions — holiday specials, early bird rates, last-minute deals

# After Google Hotels search is done, visit hotel's direct site
agent-browser --session direct open "https://www.example-hotel.com"
agent-browser --session direct wait --load networkidle
agent-browser --session direct snapshot -i
# Look for: promo banners, "offers" or "deals" links, booking widget prices
agent-browser --session direct close

Chain Hotel Loyalty Programs

If the hotel belongs to a major chain, mention the loyalty program — members often get better rates, room upgrades, or points:

How to Identify the Chain

The Google Hotels snapshot often includes the chain name:

• "Holiday Inn Express Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 by IHG" → IHG
• "Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok" → Marriott
• "Hilton Munich City" → Hilton
• "Novotel Muenchen City" → Accor
• No chain suffix → likely independent (check their website directly)

Independent Hotels

For independent/boutique hotels (like Haus im Tal):

• Check their website for promo codes (often shown in banners or a dedicated "Offers" page)
• Look for "Book Direct" incentives (best price guarantee, free extras)
• Check if they offer a newsletter signup discount
• Mention the hotel name + "promo code" in a web search if the site doesn't show any

Present the Comparison

After checking, present a direct vs OTA comparison:

## Haus im Tal — Booking Comparison

| Source | Room Type | Price/Night | Total (3 nights) | Notes |
|--------|-----------|-------------|-------------------|-------|
| Booking.com | Downtown Cozy | €183 | €549 | Free cancellation |
| Hotel direct | Downtown Cozy | €175 | €525 | Use code HIT24 for 5% off |
| Hotel direct (with code) | Downtown Cozy | €166 | €499 | Best price |

Tip: Always remind the user that you cannot complete the booking — just provide the link and any promo codes found.

Deep-Dive Reference

See references/interaction-patterns.md for:

• Full annotated walkthrough (every command + expected output)
• Location autocomplete failure modes and recovery
• Date picker calendar navigation
• Guest & room selector (the most complex widget)
• Filters (stars, price, amenities, cancellation)
• Scrolling for more results
• Hotel detail drill-down with provider price comparison
• Direct booking & promo check workflow