experience with booking hotel through Expedia

Has anyone ever had any problems? I never did but just booked a week somewhere through them due to hotel being sold out on their website and am a bit nervous.

Re: experience with booking hotel through Expedia

I've used Expedia numerous times and never had a problem.

Re: experience with booking hotel through Expedia

experience with booking hotel through Expedia

I have used Expedia many times, and have had a problem. Learnt my lesson though...we booked airfare through them for a trip from the UK to Florida, when we were due to go home there were storms in the states, and it was travel chaos, the airlines did not help us at all because we did not buy the tickets through them, we spent hours on the phone with expedia in the uk and expedia in the states and they were no help at all. So nowadays I don't book flights through them, I use them as a price comparison site and buy direct from the airlines, I almost always get the same price.

I have had no problems booking hotels through them though.

Re: experience with booking hotel through Expedia

Hotels divvy up its inventory - for example, Expedia might get some room nights, some stay with the hotel itself, others go to tour operators and other third party sites, etc. etc. So just because there is no availability on the hotel's site doesn't mean you should worry b/c you found availability on Expedia.

Something to note about Expedia - the hotel pays them on average 25% of the room rate, not to mention a discounted rate, versus booking direct (0% lost) or with a travel agent (typically 10% commission). The priority isn't going to the customer who booked with Expedia, so you can expect to get the lesser of two rooms and so on. If the hotel oversells, the Expedia customers are going to be the first ones bumped.

You get what you pay for. It always pays to work with a travel agent - they can get you good deals and have relationships with hotels. Plus in the event that something should go wrong, you've got someone in your corner. Plus a TA doesn't cost you anything - the hotel, cruise line, etc. pays them.

Hope that helps!

Disclaimer: I am not a travel agent but do work in the travel industry.

Re: experience with booking hotel through Expedia

I booked my entire trip (air & hotel) to Hawaii thru expedia and did not have any problems.

Re: experience with booking hotel through Expedia

No issues with hotels but I usually book flights directly through the airlines. Generally, cheaper that way as well.

ETA: That being said I usually book hotels directly as well. Expedia is good for last minute arrangements in my experience.

Message edited 6/27/2012 11:01:02 PM.

experience with booking hotel through Expedia

Just came back from Vegas, and no issues booking rooms through Expedia.

Re: experience with booking hotel through Expedia

I have used them for hotels and haven't had any problems - but I don't usually use them because I have found the same hotel cheaper elsewhere. I have never had a problem with hotels but as someone mentioned above I have had friends use them for airfare and have had issues when their flight was canceled or they had an issue that needed rebooking. I will say that in general I find that they are not necessarily the cheapest price.

As someone else mentioned they do have inventory set aside. Not sure how all of that works though - because - like airlines I believe hotels DO overbook because of the averages of those who cancel last minute.