Travel through Expedia
Apr 3rd, 2017, 06:25 AM
#1
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Travel through Expedia
Hello all 
I am thinking about booking a trip through Expedia for the flight and hotel. Does anyone have any experiences that can give me an idea what to expect? Thank you for your assistance!
I am thinking about booking a trip through Expedia for the flight and hotel. Does anyone have any experiences that can give me an idea what to expect? Thank you for your assistance!
Apr 3rd, 2017, 09:54 AM
#2
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98% of chance it is ok.
2% chance of a nightmare.
Go on Tripadvisor air travel forum. Read the horror stories when booking with a third party.
Something as simple as correcting a misspelled name can cause chaos.
My rec is always book flights direct with airlines.
Hotels though I book mostly via Expedia (hotels.com) or booking.com.
2% chance of a nightmare.
Go on Tripadvisor air travel forum. Read the horror stories when booking with a third party.
Something as simple as correcting a misspelled name can cause chaos.
My rec is always book flights direct with airlines.
Hotels though I book mostly via Expedia (hotels.com) or booking.com.
Apr 8th, 2017, 08:03 AM
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All third party sites are parasites. They add nothing to the equation.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-39529584
Odin, just a question. How do you know if a price is a 'great deal' or not?
Let's say you checked 3 sites and one had the lowest price. Does that make it a 'great deal'? What about the 4th site you didn't check though? Or the phone call to the hotel asking them to beat the price you found on a third party site?
The only people usually telling you a price is a 'great deal' is the third party site itself.
If I want to know about a car, I don't ask the person selling cars or the people buying cars, I ask an auto mechanic. In other words, an industry 'insider'. In terms of air travel and hotels, that means asking people who work for airlines and hotels.
One of the best known industry insiders for hotels is Jacob Tomsky who wrote a book called 'Heads in Beds' a few years ago.
https://www.amazon.com/Heads-Beds-Re.../dp/1101973749
His take on third party sites is that you do not get the lowest price and certainly never the best rooms.
Another insider writing on the subject gives as their number 1 tip, book direct. That's my own personal number 1 tip as well. What's more, direct to me only means by phone directly to the hotel itself. I don't even use hotel chain 1-800 numbers. I want to talk to the actual person on the hotel's front desk, not someone in a central call centre.
http://www.thewanderlusteffect.com/h...ooking-hotels/
It's up to everyone to decide for themselves how they want to book something but my advice is to do your research with industry insiders, not tourists in a forum or by listening to the advertising on your tv which tells you that every single 3rd party booking site that exists, 'gets you the best price'. That simple statement alone should tell you that some of them must be lying to you. If they weren't then they would all show you the same price for the same room on the same night. That's just common sense.
One more thing to consider. People can and do over-emphasis the price. While we all want to pay as little as possible, the question is for what? The smallest room? The one right next to the elevator and ice machine? The one facing the back where they come to pick up the garbage bins and make deliveries at 7am? Hotel rooms are like most other things, there is an equation between cost and value.
You want to pay less but do you want to be receive the worst room in the hotel? Not everything is about finding just the lowest price. If you want a larger room facing the view, then you should expect to pay for it. What you want then is the lowest price for THAT room, not the lowest price for the worst room in the hotel. Guess which room third party sites usually get you.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-39529584
Odin, just a question. How do you know if a price is a 'great deal' or not?
Let's say you checked 3 sites and one had the lowest price. Does that make it a 'great deal'? What about the 4th site you didn't check though? Or the phone call to the hotel asking them to beat the price you found on a third party site?
The only people usually telling you a price is a 'great deal' is the third party site itself.
If I want to know about a car, I don't ask the person selling cars or the people buying cars, I ask an auto mechanic. In other words, an industry 'insider'. In terms of air travel and hotels, that means asking people who work for airlines and hotels.
One of the best known industry insiders for hotels is Jacob Tomsky who wrote a book called 'Heads in Beds' a few years ago.
https://www.amazon.com/Heads-Beds-Re.../dp/1101973749
His take on third party sites is that you do not get the lowest price and certainly never the best rooms.
Another insider writing on the subject gives as their number 1 tip, book direct. That's my own personal number 1 tip as well. What's more, direct to me only means by phone directly to the hotel itself. I don't even use hotel chain 1-800 numbers. I want to talk to the actual person on the hotel's front desk, not someone in a central call centre.
http://www.thewanderlusteffect.com/h...ooking-hotels/
It's up to everyone to decide for themselves how they want to book something but my advice is to do your research with industry insiders, not tourists in a forum or by listening to the advertising on your tv which tells you that every single 3rd party booking site that exists, 'gets you the best price'. That simple statement alone should tell you that some of them must be lying to you. If they weren't then they would all show you the same price for the same room on the same night. That's just common sense.
One more thing to consider. People can and do over-emphasis the price. While we all want to pay as little as possible, the question is for what? The smallest room? The one right next to the elevator and ice machine? The one facing the back where they come to pick up the garbage bins and make deliveries at 7am? Hotel rooms are like most other things, there is an equation between cost and value.
You want to pay less but do you want to be receive the worst room in the hotel? Not everything is about finding just the lowest price. If you want a larger room facing the view, then you should expect to pay for it. What you want then is the lowest price for THAT room, not the lowest price for the worst room in the hotel. Guess which room third party sites usually get you.
Apr 11th, 2017, 10:05 AM
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Hi,
I would not use Expedia or any of their subsidiary companies; Hotels.com, Hotwire.com, Trivago.com, Venere.com, Travelocity.com, Orbitz.com, HomeAway.com, Egencia.com, Car rentals.com and Traveldoo.com. Expedia stole $1163 dollars from me in the past and in my opinion, they should join forces with United Airlines who are known to drag and beat up their customers. The CEO of these companies sure did not go to any reputable business school because they failed, big time, on customer service. Booking and traveling for a vacation or business should be a good experience. Not with companies like Expedia and United Airlines. They steal and strong arm you. It’s time people boycott these companies.
Now, a couple of companies that I’ve used recently were quite good; booking.com and kayak.com. However, I still recommend dealing directly with the airline because any minor problem usually can be corrected without fees or a small fee (exception is United Airlines).
So, if you’re in the mood to be disrespected, robbed, dragged and manhandled then Expedia and United Airlines await your call.
Regards,
One pissed off former customer of Expedia and now United Airlines
I would not use Expedia or any of their subsidiary companies; Hotels.com, Hotwire.com, Trivago.com, Venere.com, Travelocity.com, Orbitz.com, HomeAway.com, Egencia.com, Car rentals.com and Traveldoo.com. Expedia stole $1163 dollars from me in the past and in my opinion, they should join forces with United Airlines who are known to drag and beat up their customers. The CEO of these companies sure did not go to any reputable business school because they failed, big time, on customer service. Booking and traveling for a vacation or business should be a good experience. Not with companies like Expedia and United Airlines. They steal and strong arm you. It’s time people boycott these companies.
Now, a couple of companies that I’ve used recently were quite good; booking.com and kayak.com. However, I still recommend dealing directly with the airline because any minor problem usually can be corrected without fees or a small fee (exception is United Airlines).
So, if you’re in the mood to be disrespected, robbed, dragged and manhandled then Expedia and United Airlines await your call.
Regards,
One pissed off former customer of Expedia and now United Airlines
Apr 18th, 2017, 07:24 AM
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I have used Expedia several times over the years, without any problems.
In Baltimore, I checked into a hotel reserved via Expedia, to find the room was much different than advertised. I called Expedia, who dealt with the hotel, and moved me into a one bedroom suite free upgrade. The hotel was graciousand accommodating about it.
Several times, I have found a hotel's website says it's sold out, but Expedia has had a room available at a very good price.
Always, do your research, investigate all possibilities, and choose the best for you.
For airfare, I always buy directly from the airlines, though.
In Baltimore, I checked into a hotel reserved via Expedia, to find the room was much different than advertised. I called Expedia, who dealt with the hotel, and moved me into a one bedroom suite free upgrade. The hotel was graciousand accommodating about it.
Several times, I have found a hotel's website says it's sold out, but Expedia has had a room available at a very good price.
Always, do your research, investigate all possibilities, and choose the best for you.
For airfare, I always buy directly from the airlines, though.
Dec 8th, 2017, 06:23 AM
#9
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Thanks for everyone's info. Looked at a lot of blogs and saw almost nothing but nightmare stories. I understand that people don't usually post anything about GOOD experiences (human nature), I was not willing to risk it on an international trip that is so important to me. So - booked direct with everyone.
Thanks!
Kelly
Thanks!
Kelly
