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Overheard from travelers

The Sydney Boulevard Hotel

in Australia

"Booking the Executive Room-City View at a really affordable price via Agoda is quite a steal."

- Bellarmine from the Philippines

Hotel Eucalyptus

"We booked Hotel Eucalyptus through Agoda after reading a handful of reviews, and it was easily the best decision we made for our trip to Santorini."

- Joyce from Canada

Meeru Island Resort & Spa

in the Maldives

"Our experience was truely memorable and hastle free. All thanks to Agoda and Meeru :) "

- Kewal from India

Find and compare hotel deals

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Can I really save on hotels near me and accommodation in other popular destinations by using KAYAK? Yes! KAYAK searches for hotel deals on hundreds of hotel comparison sites to help you find cheap hotels, holiday lettings, bed and breakfasts, motels, inns, resorts and more. Whether you are looking for a last minute hotel or a cheap hotel room at a later date, you can find the best deals faster at KAYAK.

Las Vegas Hotels

• The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower $16+
• OYO Hotel And Casino Las Vegas $30+
• Harrah's Las Vegas Hotel & Casino $32+
• Silver Sevens Hotel & Casino $33+
• Circus Circus Hotel, Casino & Theme Park $41+
• SAHARA Las Vegas $43+
• Excalibur Hotel & Casino $45+
• the D Las Vegas $45+
• Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino $46+
• The Orleans Hotel & Casino $48+
• Plaza Hotel & Casino $48+
• Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino $51+
• Luxor Hotel and Casino $52+
• Four Queens Hotel and Casino $54+
• The LINQ Hotel & Casino $54+
• Tuscany Suites & Casino $55+
• Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino $56+
• Horseshoe Las Vegas $64+
• Rio Hotel & Casino $65+
• Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino Las Vegas $73+
• Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino $74+
• South Point Hotel, Casino, and Spa $81+
• New York-New York Hotel & Casino $85+
• Treasure Island - TI Hotel & Casino, a Radisson Hotel $85+
• Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World $89+
• MGM Grand Hotel and Casino $91+
• Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Curio Collection by Hilton $94+
• Park MGM Las Vegas $95+
• Hilton Vacation Club Polo Towers Las Vegas $97+
• Paris Las Vegas $103+

London Hotels

• Book A Bed Hostels $24+
• Generator London $34+
• Nx London Hostel $37+
• Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage $37+
• Corbigoe Hotel $63+
• Ramada London North M1 $72+
• King Solomon Hotel $76+

Boston Hotels

• Hi Boston Hostel $67+
• Ramada by Wyndham Boston $156+
• The Revolution Hotel $170+
• Temple Place Suites $175+
• DoubleTree by Hilton Boston Bayside $203+
• Found Hotel Boston Common $210+
• Studio Allston Hotel $220+
• Hilton Garden Inn Boston Logan Airport $223+
• Aloft Boston Seaport District $234+

Nashville Hotels

• Millennium Maxwell House Nashville $114+
• Hotel Preston Nashville Airport $118+
• Placemakr Wedgewood-Houston $128+
• Best Western Suites Near Opryland $129+
• Radisson Hotel Nashville Airport $141+
• Comfort Inn Downtown Nashville - Music City Center $143+
• Club Hotel Nashville Inn & Suites $144+

San Francisco Hotels

• Hi San Francisco Downtown Hostel $49+
• The Mosser $68+
• Axiom Hotel $126+
• BEI San Francisco, Trademark Collection By Wyndham $128+
• Staypineapple, An Elegant Hotel, Union Square $129+
• Hotel G San Francisco $131+
• Chancellor Hotel On Union Square $131+

New Orleans Hotels

• Super 8 by Wyndham New Orleans $53+
• Maison Saint Charles by Hotel RL $90+
• Hampton Inn and Suites New Orleans Convention Center $92+
• Hampton Inn & Suites New Orleans Canal St. French Quarter $96+
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham New Orleans Downtown $97+
• Wyndham New Orleans - French Quarter $98+
• International House Hotel $102+

Amsterdam Hotels

• Via Amsterdam $45+
• The Flying Pig Uptown $46+
• Amsterdam Teleport Hotel $46+
• Generator Amsterdam $50+
• Clinknoord Hostel $51+
• Budget Hotel Tourist Inn $56+
• The Flying Pig Downtown $69+

New York Hotels

• Hi New York City Hostel $58+
• West Side Ymca $105+
• Radio Hotel $155+
• Pod 51 $156+
• The Washington $158+
• Pod Times Square $164+
• The Gallivant Times Square $172+
• OYO Times Square $178+
• Pod 39 $180+

Orlando Hotels

• Monumental Movieland Hotel $51+
• Grand Hotel Kissimmee At Celebration $52+
• Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Orlando Resort & Suites Intl Drive $68+
• Rosen Inn International $69+
• Rosen Inn Closest to Universal $74+
• Rosen Inn At Pointe Orlando $76+
• Avanti International Resort $78+

Paris Hotels

• St Christopher's Inn Paris - Canal $35+
• St Christopher's Inn Paris - Gare du Nord $38+
• Generator Paris $40+
• Le Regent Montmartre by Hiphophostels $49+
• Hotelf1 Paris Saint Ouen Marché Aux Puces $49+
• The People - Paris Nation $49+
• hotelF1 Paris Porte de Châtillon $54+

Miami Hotels

• Selina Gold Dust $53+
• La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Miami Airport North $70+
• Motel 6 Miami. Fl $78+
• Miami Gardens Inn & Suites $78+
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Miami Airport East $85+
• Days Inn by Wyndham Miami International Airport $88+
• Holiday Inn Miami West - Airport Area $95+
• Holiday Inn Miami-Doral Area, An IHG Hotel $101+
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Miami-Kendall $105+
• The Palms Inn & Suites $107+
• Staybridge Suites Miami International Airport $108+
• Courtyard by Marriott Miami West/FL Turnpike $109+
• Best Western Plus Miami Intl Airport Hotel & Suites Coral Gables $110+
• Pullman Miami Airport $110+
• Radisson Red Miami Airport $112+
• Hyatt Place Miami Airport East $112+
• Life House, Little Havana $118+
• citizenM Miami Worldcenter $121+
• Hampton Inn Miami Airport East $123+
• Eurostars Langford $124+
• Comfort Inn & Suites Downtown Brickell-Port of Miami $129+
• Yotel Miami $131+
• Hilton Garden Inn Miami Dolphin Mall $132+
• Holiday Inn Port Of Miami-Downtown $132+

Key West Hotels

• Seashell Motel and International Hostel $75+
• NYAH Key West - Adult Exclusive $126+
• Heron House Court - Adult Only $168+
• Heron House - Adult Only $187+
• Hilton Garden Inn Key West / The Keys Collection $188+
• Duval House $200+
• The Garden House $200+

Myrtle Beach Hotels

• Days Inn by Wyndham Myrtle Beach $58+
• Ocean Plaza Motel $74+
• Oceanfront Viking Motel $79+
• Polynesian Beach & Golf Resort $83+
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Myrtle Beach - N Kings Hwy $89+
• Bermuda Sands on the Boardwalk $91+
• Sun N Sand Resort $106+

Rome Hotels

• Seven Hills Village $29+
• Litus Roma Hostel $42+
• Colony Hotel $56+
• Hotel Philia Rome $61+
• Ibis Roma Fiera $64+
• Happy Village $66+
• Generator Rome $69+

Chicago Hotels

• Freehand Chicago $45+
• Chicago Getaway Hostel $59+
• Travelodge by Wyndham Downtown Chicago $126+
• Millennium Knickerbocker Chicago $158+
• Warwick Allerton Chicago $161+
• Hotel Saint Clair - Magnificent Mile $165+
• Congress Plaza Hotel $166+
• Hotel Versey Days Inn by Wyndham Chicago $173+
• Club Quarters Hotel Central Loop, Chicago $177+
• River Hotel $177+
• Hotel Felix $178+
• The Whitehall Hotel, BW Premier Collection $184+
• citizenM Chicago Downtown $184+
• Club Quarters Hotel Wacker at Michigan, Chicago $190+

San Diego Hotels

• Stay Classy $57+
• Super 8 by Wyndham San Diego Hotel Circle $97+
• California Suites Hotel $102+
• Best Western Seven Seas $105+
• Ramada Suites by Wyndham San Diego $109+
• Days Inn by Wyndham San Diego Hotel Circle $125+
• Kings Inn San Diego $143+
• Porto Vista Hotel $147+
• Wyndham Garden San Diego near SeaWorld $148+
• DoubleTree by Hilton San Diego - Hotel Circle $162+
• Hilton San Diego Mission Valley $164+
• The Sofia Hotel $165+
• Gaslamp Plaza Suites $167+
• Best Western Yacht Harbor Hotel $169+
• Staypineapple, Hotel Z, Gaslamp San Diego $177+
• Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Mission Valley/Hotel Circle $181+
• Wyndham San Diego Bayside $182+
• Bay Club Hotel & Marina $184+
• Horton Grand Hotel $187+
• DoubleTree by Hilton San Diego - Del Mar $188+
• Best Western Plus Bayside Inn $189+
• Best Western Plus Island Palms Hotel & Marina $197+

Los Angeles Hotels

• Boutique Hostel $34+
• Freehand Los Angeles $48+
• City Center Hotel $100+
• Four Points by Sheraton Los Angeles International Airport $108+
• Rotex Western Inn $110+
• The Dixie Hollywood $122+
• USC Hotel $126+
• La Quinta Inn & Suites LAX $132+
• Holiday Inn Los Angeles - LAX Airport $138+
• H by H Hospitality $138+
• Aventura Hotel $150+
• citizenM Los Angeles Downtown $151+
• Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX $153+
• Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel $156+

Washington, D.C. Hotels

• Generator Hotel Washington DC $52+
• Days Inn by Wyndham Washington DC/Connecticut Avenue $101+
• Citizenm Washington DC Noma $134+
• Motto by Hilton Washington DC City Center $136+
• Citizenm Washington Dc Capitol $139+
• Washington Plaza Hotel $145+
• Henley Park Hotel $146+

Honolulu Hotels

• Kuhio Banyan Club $106+
• Royal Grove Waikiki $116+
• Ohia Waikiki Studio Suites $129+
• Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki $139+
• Ewa Hotel Waikiki $142+
• Pacific Marina Inn $150+
• Luana Waikiki Hotel & Suites $154+

Cancún Hotels

• Hotel Casa Mallorca $56+
• Wyndham Garden Cancun Downtown $71+
• Suites Malecon Cancun $80+
• Avani Cancún Airport Hotel $83+
• Hilton Garden Inn Cancun Airport $111+
• Real Inn Cancún $112+
• The Westin Resort & Spa, Cancun $122+

Barcelona Hotels

• InOut Hostel Barcelona $26+
• Barcelona Pere Tarrés Hostel $35+
• Mellow Hostel Barcelona $35+
• Bcnsporthostels $41+
• Ideal Youth Hostel $44+
• Generator Barcelona $50+
• The Central House Barcelona Gracia $55+

Frequently asked questions about hotels on KAYAK

How does kayak find such low hotel prices.

KAYAK processes and displays results from 2M+ properties and hundreds of third party sites, allowing it to find a variety of hotel prices and options which allow users to save up to 35% on hotels. KAYAK also displays millions of verified reviews so users can see as many available hotel options as possible.

How do I find the best hotel deals on KAYAK?

A simple hotel search at https://www.kayak.com/hotels scans for prices on hundreds of travel sites in seconds. We gather hotel deals from across the web and put them in one place. Then on the search results page you can use various filters to compare options for the same hotel and easily choose the best hotel deal from all of the deals coming straight from the travel sites to your screen, with no extra fee from KAYAK.

What is special about hotel reviews on KAYAK?

All hotel reviews on KAYAK are by verified guests, so you know that what you're reading is legit (and not the bellhop's extended family trying to help boost reservations). With over 138047968 reviews on KAYAK, you can be sure you’re getting the full picture to help inform which hotel room to book.

How do I create a Price Alert to track hotel prices on KAYAK?

On KAYAK you can create one by signing in and going directly to Price Alerts in your account or you can look for the "Track Prices" button on the top left-hand side of flight results. If you're searching hotels, select "Set Price Alert" at the top right of the hotel results list. If you're on our app, you can get to Price Alerts using the app's navigation menu and follow instructions there.

How do I earn OpenTable Dining Points for hotel stays?

You can now earn between 1,000 - 10,000 points for staying at over 400,000 participating hotels available on KAYAK. Diners can earn points for hotels booked directly on www.kayak.com/diningrewards .

How can I find cheap hotels?

There are some obvious approaches to take to find the cheapest hotel rooms. Hotels that are not in a downtown area, traveling outside of the high season and staying in hotels that are lower star ratings are all generally good ideas. But there are other trends that can help. KAYAK data from the last 12 months has shown the cheapest day to book your room for is January for domestic stays and Saturday for international stays. The month with the lowest average prices was October for stays in the United States and Saturday for international breaks.

When is the best time to book a hotel?

You can often get deals on last minute hotel bookings but how far in advance to book really depends on where and when you’re staying. Based on data for all hotel stays made on KAYAK over the last 12 months, prices remained below the average up to 2 weeks before check-in. For last minute hotel bookings made within a week of your arrival, the cheapest time to book was 4 days before check-in.

Can I book other types of accommodation on KAYAK?

Yes! There are lots of other accommodation types than just hotel rooms. You’ll find Beach hotels, Boutique hotels, Budget hotels, Hotels with a casino, Family friendly hotels, 5 stars hotels, Luxury hotels, Pet friendly hotels, Hotels with a pool, Hotels for couples and Hotels with a spa, the perfect accommodation for your needs.

Search cheap hotels with KAYAK. Use the hotel finder to search for the cheapest hotel deal for all major destinations around the world . KAYAK searches hundreds of hotel booking sites to help you find hotels and book hotels that suit you best. Since KAYAK searches many hotel sites at once, you can find discount hotels quickly. Discover hotel discounts now and make your hotel reservation today.

Not what you’re looking for? Find thousands of other hotels , flights , car rentals and trains and buses with KAYAK.

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Most hotels are fully refundable. Because flexibility matters.

As a One Key member you can save 10% or more on over 100,000 hotels worldwide.

Save up to 30% when you add a hotel to your flight as a One Key member.

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Tips for Booking a Hotel with Expedia

Booking the right hotel is one of the most important factors when it comes to getting the most out of your vacation. If you're looking to plan an unforgettable trip, you'll need to find the right place to stay. Learn how Expedia can help you book the right hotel for your needs whether you're taking the family on a vacation, traveling with someone special, or just taking some time away for yourself.

How to book a hotel on Expedia?

When you book through Expedia, the entire process is simple. You'll find a wide range of accommodation options and destinations to choose from, as well as a variety of search filters to help you find exactly what you're looking for. That means you can search exclusively for hotels with a pool , pet-friendly policies , or family-friendly amenities . Las Vegas hotels and New York hotels are especially popular, but you'll also find options for other destinations like  Myrtle Beach .

What are the most important things when choosing a hotel?

Finding the right hotel means opting for stays that cater to your unique needs. Quite a few factors go into what a hotel is like to experience, and you'll need to consider them all.

• Amenities: think about what kind of amenities you need to have. You'll find options for pools or fitness centers in hotels all across the country and beyond.
• Location: the location can also play a major role in your experience, especially if you want to be close to certain attractions like downtown or the beach.
• Price & Reviews: you'll want to find a balance between affordability and positive reviews to get as much as you can within the budget you've set.

How far in advance should I book a hotel?

You can sometimes book a hotel as late as the day before check-in, but most of the time, you'll want to book well in advance. You can see what's available up to 40 days in advance, and even monitor the price trends if you're not ready to book right away. Prices tend to go down the closer it gets to the date, especially around the 21-day mark. 21 days from your check-in, prices are generally somewhat normal, with prices often falling, then briefly rising, then falling again. Last-minute bookings can be especially cheap since hotels are desperate to book their last few rooms.

While it varies by destination, you should generally book a hotel room between 1 and 3 months before you travel. Seasonality plays a major part in rates and availability, too. For example,  California or Florida are often fully booked during the busy summer months, so it's wise to reserve at least 6 months ahead when traveling at that time of year. You should also reserve well in advance if you're heading to major events. For instance,  Madison Square Garden Hotels  should be reserved early when there are sporting fixtures or concerts taking place. The same applies for local holidays. Hotels in New Orleans , for example, get booked out early for ‘Mardi Gras' festivities, while  hotels in Mexico  can be hard to come by for 'Day of the Dead' celebrations.

How can I find the cheapest hotels?

To find the cheapest hotel rooms, you'll need to consider several factors that affect the price. The time of year you visit can play a major role in price, with the off-season tending to be cheaper overall. Hotels with lower star ratings are going to be more affordable as well. Additionally, you'll find cheaper options in less popular neighborhoods, which can be an easy way to save since a lot of cheap neighborhoods in popular destinations are located right next to the hot spots. Keep in mind, however, that these are general trends rather than strict rules. Hop over to the  cheap hotels  page for gathering budget accommodation ideas. There, you could score the best cheap hotels in the United States of America  and countless more popular spots across the globe. You'll also see alternative cheap lodging options, including  hostels , vacation home rentals and motels .

How can I find some of the best deals on hotels?

If you're looking for the best hotel deals, you'll want to implement several filters into your search. You can sort your results by price so that the cheapest options are automatically put at the top of the list. Then, adjust your filters to match your budget, and whether or not you want to only include fully refundable properties. If you become a member, you'll find even more hotel discounts.

You can also download and book through the  Expedia app  to unlock exclusive discounts on select  United States hotels  and destinations worldwide. You could land significant savings on  Los Angeles hotels , as well as generous discounts on  hotels in Chicago  and other top holiday spots. When booking in advance, you'll often score early-bird deals. That said, don't rule out last-minute offers, especially during low-season dates . Hotels in Key West  and other American seaside resorts often have amazing discounts outside of the school holidays.

Why should I book a hotel with Expedia?

When you book with Expedia, planning the ultimate vacation is easier than ever. Not only will you be able to find a hotel for your trip, but we can take care of your flight as well, with the potential for additional savings if you book your flight and your stay together. Plus, you'll find flexible cancellation policies on numerous hotels along with opportunities for booking on short notice. You can become a member of our One Key Loyalty Rewards program for free and enjoy even more discounts.

There are also  'book now, pay later' hotels . As well as amazing deals, you'll have 24/7 access to support through the  service  page, giving you peace of mind while travelling.

Are hotels fully refundable on Expedia?

Some hotels offer flexible cancellation policies when you book with Expedia. You'll be able to see on the results page which hotels in your search are fully refundable, as each that qualifies will be marked with "fully refundable" in green letters. Additionally, you can set the 'fully refundable' filter when searching to only show results that offer free cancellation hotels .

What types of accommodation can I find on Expedia?

You'll encounter a plethora of different lodging types on Expedia, such as charming boutique hotels in Cancun and more tropical destinations. Large family-friendly and adult-only  hotels in Hawaii  and other beach resorts are popular among those seeking a relaxing break in the sun. For even more comfort, consider  all-inclusive hotels in Puerto Rico and other summer holiday spots. This type of accommodation includes all meals and drinks, so you don't even have to lift a finger while on holiday.  Bed and breakfasts ,  apartments  and holiday ski hotels  are just some of the other lodging types you can choose from.

Is it possible to filter accommodations based on specific amenities?

Yes, you'll find an array of filters that let you laser in on the best places to stay based on the amenities you need. Whether you need business facilities in your  Manhattan Hotel or are seeking relaxing  spa hotels in Miami , Expedia's many search filters make it easy to find the best place to stay.

How can I explore different star-rated accommodations and accommodation brands?

If you like to stay in a specific hotel, type the brand name into the search bar to see all available options. Expedia works with most of the major chains, including Hilton, Hyatt Hotels and Marriott. Scroll down further, and below the search field, you'll see the filters for star ratings. Whether you're seeking  5-star hotels in Nashville  or  budget hotels in New York , Expedia makes booking a breeze.

Are there accommodations located near popular points of interest or in specific neighborhoods?

One of the great things about using Expedia's hotel booking site is that you can filter search results by area and popular locations. For example, when searching for  hotels in Orlando , you can select the “Walt Disney World® Resort” filter to view properties near the theme park. There's even a handy map so you can pinpoint the best place to stay in destinations worldwide.

Are luxury accommodations available on Expedia, and how can I book them?

If you're seeking a high-end experience, take your pick from the many  luxury hotels  available on Expedia. You can locate upscale lodging by ticking filters, like 5-star hotels, or ordering results by 'price high to low' and 'Guest rating + our choice'.

Do you cater to different types of travelers, such as business or leisure travelers?

Of course. When searching and booking a hotel room, you can filter by hotel and traveller type, including:

• Family-friendly
• All-Inclusive
• LGBTQ-welcoming
• Business-friendly

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

Hotel deals on domestic destinations.

• Las Vegas hotels
• New York hotels
• Los Angeles hotels
• Chicago hotels
• Orlando hotels
• Miami hotels
• San Francisco hotels
• Myrtle Beach hotels
• New Orleans hotels
• Nashville hotels
• Houston hotels
• Boston hotels

Book hotels internationally

• Paris Hotels
• London hotels
• Cancun Hotels
• San Juan hotels
• Puerto Rico Island Hotels
• Toronto Hotels
• Niagara Falls Hotels
• Tokyo Hotels
• Rome Hotels
• Vancouver Hotels
• Cabo San Lucas Hotels
• Barcelona Hotels

Best Hotel destinations on a budget

• Find Cheap Hotels & Deals
• Cheap Hotels in the USA
• Cheap Hotels in the Caribbean
• Cheap Hotels in Europe
• Cheap Hotels in Florida
• Cheap Hotels in California
• Cheap Hotels in Hawaii
• Cheap Hotels in Southeast Asia

Best destinations for All Inclusive Resorts

• Find All-inclusive Hotels & Resorts
• All-inclusive Hotels in Costa Rica
• All-inclusive Resorts in the Caribbean
• All-inclusive Resorts in Mexico
• All-inclusive Resorts in Maldives
• All-inclusive Hotels in the Bahamas
• All-inclusive Hotels in US Virgin Islands
• All-inclusive Hotels in Puerto Rico

More ways to stay & save

• All Accommodation Types
• Bed & Breakfasts
• Vacation Rentals
• Guest Houses

Recommended hotels

• Top Domestic Hotels
• Top International Hotels
• Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, HI
• Wilderness at the Smokies - Stone Hill Lodge, TN
• The Cosmopolitan Of Las Vegas, NV
• SAHARA Las Vegas, NV
• Excalibur Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, NV
• Golden Nugget Lake Charles, LA
• TWA Hotel at JFK Airport, NY
• Great Wolf Lodge Pocono Mountains, PA
• The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, NV
• Tahiti Village Resort & Spa Las Vegas, NV
• Harrah's Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, NV
• Great Wolf Lodge Wisconsin Dells, WI
• Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort Orlando, FL
• The Guitar Hotel at Seminole Hard Rock, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Circus Circus Hotel, Casino & Theme Park Las Vegas, NV
• Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center Orlando, FL
• Sunburst Inn, St.Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
• The Westin Maui Resort & Spa Ka'anapali, HI
• Bellagio Las Vegas, NV
• Tropicana Atlantic City, NJ
• The Mirage Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, NV

Top Hotel Brands

• Best Western
• La Quinta Inn
• Red Roof Inn
• Extended Stay America
• Holiday Inn
• Comfort Inn & Suites

Other useful links

• The Best Travel Deals
• Last Minute Deals
• Hotel Deals
• Las Vegas Top Hotels
• National Park Hotels
• Northern Light Hotels
• Disney World® Resorts
• Adults Only Hotels
• Ocean Front Hotels
• Pet Friendly Hotels
• Kid & Family Hotels
• Top Waterpark Hotels
• Beach Condos
• Ski Resorts
• Beach Hotels

Best Online Travel Agencies

Booking.com is our top choice for making your trip arrangements

Ligaya Malones is an editor, blogger, and freelance writer specializing in food and travel. Ligaya's work has appeared in publications including Lonely Planet and BRIDES.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Planning a trip can be easier through an online travel agency than if you handle each aspect of the planning separately. You can book hotels, air travel, rental cars, and more through a single site, and booking everything together sometimes results in discounts. By inputting a destination, a range of dates, and other preferences, you will see a list of options for each aspect of travel.

The best online travel agencies offer options from the largest number of airlines, hotels, car rental agencies, and more. Look for sites that offer discounts for combining reservations for different aspects of your trip. For example, the best sites will have lower rates if you book both plane tickets and a hotel through their services. The best sites also provide reviews from customers who actually have booked through the service. These are our top picks.

• Best Overall: Booking.com
• Best Budget: Skyscanner
• Best Price Predictor: Hopper
• Most Innovative: Kiwi.com
• Best for Eco-Conscious: Kind Traveler
• Best for Social Impact: I Like Local
• Best for Design-Forward Homestays: Plum Guide
• Our Top Picks
• Booking.com

Kind Traveler

I Like Local

• See More (4)

Final Verdict

Frequently asked questions, methodology, best overall : booking.com.

 Booking.com

This industry leader offers one of the most comprehensive trip planning platforms on the Internet.

Lots of options to choose from

Interface is easy to use

Numerous filters to customize your search

Tricky to tell whether changes/cancellations can be made with Booking.com or the vendor directly

Booking.com was founded in 1996 and has grown into an industry leader that stands out for being one of the most comprehensive trip planning platforms out there. From one website, you can compare and book accommodations, flights (including one-way and multi-city flights), sightseeing activities, and even airport taxis. The website lists more than 28 million accommodation options, from hotels, hostels, and B&Bs to vacation homes and luxury resorts—you can browse more choices per destination on Booking.com than other online travel agencies. The website also performs well on cost and typically returns lower-than-average prices for flights and hotels. 

Booking.com's interface is also easy to use. On the home page, search for a hotel by entering your chosen destination and dates. Then, use the extensive list of filters—such as price range and distance from the city center—to narrow the results down and find the best fit. You can also search for a specific hotel, or seek inspiration by clicking through options grouped by destination or property type or by topic such as the country’s best Michelin-starred hotel restaurants or the top cities for vegan travelers. The flights, car rental, and other tabs are just as intuitive. 

Best Budget : Skyscanner

 Skyscanner

You can compare prices across airlines, hotels, and car rentals.

Simple interface

Option to toggle searches between specific dates or by monthly calendars

Search Everywhere button is great for spontaneous planners

Extra clicks are required to make a final purchase

Must read fine print for changes/cancellations—may need to deal directly with the vendor

Ads on the sidebar can be distracting

Find deals on airfare, hotels, and car rentals with an aggregator site like Skyscanner , which uses a metasearch engine to compare prices from all online travel agencies and the airline, hotel, or car rental company in question. Run searches with fixed dates, opt to compare airfare prices month to month, or click “Cheapest Month.” Searches also include options for nearby airports or non-stop flights only. With hotel searches, you can choose to select only from properties with free cancellation, a cleanliness rating of 4.5/5 or higher, or 3- or 4-starred hotels only. Car rental searches include an option to select “return car to different location.”

Once you’ve found the best rate, click on the link to be redirected to the third-party site to make your booking. Feeling spontaneous? The Search Everywhere button on the homepage offers a list of the cheapest flight deals for destinations both locally and across the world—just plug in your departure airport first.

Best Price Predictor : Hopper

The company claims a 95 percent accuracy rate at predicting when flights and hotel rates will be cheapest.

Color-coded system makes it easy to determine cheapest days to buy

App is easy to use

Option to track flights and receive alerts when the best time to buy arises

Some have mentioned the app functions better as a research tool than a booking tool

Unclear whether Hopper will price match if you find a cheaper flight elsewhere

Hopper is a travel app available on iOS and Android that aims to help travelers save on airfare by usng historical data and their own algorithm to predict when flights will be cheapest. Just type in where and when you’d like to fly and Hopper will present you with a color-coded pricing calendar indicating how much tickets are likely to cost. (Green is the least expensive, then yellow, orange, and red for most expensive.) Hopper will also recommend you either buy now or wait, or you can choose to watch a trip and receive notifications on the best time to buy. In addition, the app has expanded to offer hotel and car rental price predictions, too.

Some newer features since the app’s inception in 2009 include an option to freeze a price for a limited time—for an extra fee—as well as exclusive app-only discounts. Hopper is free to download, and you can choose to book directly through the app, though some users mentioned they use Hopper as more of a research tool before booking directly with the airline or hotel. The company claims a 95 percent accuracy rate at predicting flight rates up to a year ahead.

Most Innovative : Kiwi.com

This metasearch engine scours the web to piece together the ideal itinerary using planes, trains, buses, and more.

Creative itineraries get you where you need to go, especially if you’ve got a multi-stop trip

Kiwi Guarantee offers rebooking or cancellation protections

Nomad option appeals to travelers with a lot of flexibility

Creative itineraries mean you may not fly out of the same airport you flew into

Kiwi Guarantee has an additional fee

Charges all-in-one fee for booking flights, trains, buses (though you can always purchase a la carte)

Travelers planning multi-city destinations and seeking a bargain, as well as those looking to take planes, trains, and automobiles to get there, might consider Kiwi . Kiwi is a metasearch engine that scours and pieces together itineraries from various airlines (even if they don’t have a codeshare agreement), considers multiple airports (even if your arrival airport is different from departure), and offers booking options, whether you’re looking at very specific dates or more general ones (up to 60 nights).

Some will find the ability to make multiple bookings for a particular trip more convenient than going at it manually several different times, though note that you must opt into the Kiwi Guarantee program to access rebooking and refund protections should your reservation change or be canceled. Kiwi’s Nomad option allows you to plug in a bunch of destinations you’d like to visit and the length of your intended stay, and the website will churn out the most affordable itineraries for review.

Best for Eco-Conscious : Kind Traveler

A give-and-get business model means booking accommodations with exclusive perks, a donation to environmental organizations, and more.

All participating hotels include a local give-back component

Exclusive savings and perks

Participating hotels are located in some of the most beautiful places in the world

Inventory is much smaller compared to other booking platforms

Some of the amenities mentioned are based on availability only

In 2022, Kind Traveler (an online trave agency focused on hotel bookings) announced an increase in environmentally and socially conscious hotels, charity donations, voluntourism opportunities, and additional perks like waived resort fees or a welcome amenity.

Unlock exclusive hotel rates and perks from participating Kind Traveler hotels with a minimum $10/night minimum donation to a local charity. For example, stay at the Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives and receive up to $33 off the nightly rate and perks such as a food and beverage credit and an Earth Lab or Alchemy Bar workshop when you make a donation to Manta Trust. The organization funds coastal research to protect the island nation’s large yet fragile population of reef mantas.

Select from more than 140 participating hotels from the Hawaiian Islands to Bozeman, Montana, and the Maldives. Charities include wildlife, human rights, arts, education, and environmental preservation organizations.

Best for Social Impact : I Like Local

Choose from a host of travel experiences with the peace of mind that 100 percent of the cost goes directly to local partners.

Social impact mission woven into organization’s business model

Immersive experiences led by local guides

Range of experiences offered

May not be best fit for those seeking upscale, luxury experiences and stays

Can’t sort experiences by a list of countries (though an interactive map is available)

No experiences outside of Africa and Asia

For an online travel agency with a booking platform designed to route dollars spent directly to the communities travelers intend to visit, consider I Like Local . Visit the website to browse a host of travel experiences in countries including Indonesia, Kenya, and Cambodia. Experiences include homestays and farmstays as well as wellness and culturally oriented experiences—from cooking and cycling tours to weaving classes.

To search for an experience, select from drop-down items like travel dates and experience categories, or view a global map and click on a country to view experiences that way.

The platform got its start in 2014 and has grown to 4,000 local hosts across nearly 20 countries. As a social impact organization, 100 percent of each booking fee goes to local hosts. To date, 16,000 travelers have booked with I Like Local.

Best for Design-Forward Homestays : Plum Guide

Browse and book seriously vetted, design-forward vacation homes.

Highly curated inventory of vacation rentals across the world

Design-forward

Thorough vetting process

Does not publish guest reviews

Other platforms have homes available across more destinations

When it comes to booking a vacation home, serviced apartment, or condo, travelers are spoiled for choice. Plum Guide is an online travel agency that specializes in accommodations—though not just any home makes its directory. The company claims that each potential home listed on its site must jump through 150 hoops to be included, from internet speed and mattress and pillow quality to the showers’ water pressure and the home’s proximity to dining, shopping, and attractions.

Search by a featured collection on the website such as “ pet-friendly homes ” or “one-of-a-kind homes in Palm Springs.” Scroll to the bottom of its homepage to view its top destinations, as well as a list of all destinations where Plum Guide homes are available, including Barbados, Mexico, Portugal, Switzerland, the U.S., and Turkey. Note: From the top right-hand corner of the site, use the dropdown menu to select currency of choice.

As long as you know what you value most out of your travel experience—such as affordability, social impact, or luxe accommodations—there’s an online travel agency to help plan your next trip. Be sure to read the fine print, as some agencies are third-party websites and not direct vendors. If you're not sure where to start, Booking.com is your best bet for a smooth user experience and hard-to-beat offers on flights, hotels, and other travel arrangements.

What Is the Biggest Travel Agency?

Our choice for best overall, Booking.com, is known as an industry leader with listings for all major hotels, airlines, car rental companies, and more. It boasts more choices for accommodations per destination than any other site, and we found its interface to be user-friendly.

Are Online Travel Agencies Worth It?

This depends on your needs and priorities. The best online travel agencies certainly can save time by booking everything all at once. However, if you're someone who is good at haggling and enjoys the details of planning a trip, you might be able to find better deals by reaching out to hotels or other destinations and speaking to someone personally.

Is It Cheaper to Book Online Than With a Travel Agent?

Not always. A travel agent you know and trust should have the experience and connections to find deals that can match or surpass what you'll find online. Additionally, if something goes wrong, travel agents provide you with an actual person you can use as an advocate to correct the problem . But if you don't have access to a good travel agent, online sites still provide plenty of ways to streamline planning and save money .

We considered dozens of online travel agencies and narrowed down the options based on user experience, volume and quality of inventory, unique offerings and specials, and customer reviews. We also assessed travel companies’ environmentally and socially conscious policies.

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Best online travel sites 2022

Use the best online travel sites to plan your trip ahead of time so you can enjoy your time away.

• Buying advice
• Testing process

The best online travel sites are wonderful not only plan your next trip for peace of mind, they're also a fun way to get excited ahead of your next adventure. You can simply go to one site and plan most of your trip's main parts from flights and hotels to rental cars and excursions. If what you're after is just hotel bookings, check out our list of the best hotel booking sites .

While what many of these sites offer is similar, it's the way in which they do it which is important. The last thing you need is a stress-inducing website when planning to go away to relax and unwind. So we've reviewed the best sites based on their price, of course, but also on the way they work, with the ease of use and clarity as important features. We also checked to make sure you won't suffer any extra charges added on top at the last minute. Plus, we took rewards schemes into account, which could help you save money upfront or in the longer term if you use some sites more than once.

With all that in mind, these are the very best online travel sites out there right now.

The best online travel sites

1. expedia.com: best online travel site overall .

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Expedia is a big name in online travel sites and hotel booking services and owns many popular sites like Hotels.com and Hotwire.com. We're fans of the original, though, thanks to its clean and straightforward to use interface. Hit the packages section of the site, and you can add up to five connecting flights, choose to add accommodation for all of or only part of your trip, and tag on car rentals too. 

It's all suitably well laid out, and it only takes a few seconds to start putting together your itinerary. However, we do wish there were a few more options for filtering out accessibility issues. Still, for most people, Expedia.com has everything they'll need, and there's even the option of a cruise too if you fancy it. It's as aspirational to look at as it is useful to, well, use and there are extra discounts for booking multiple parts of your vacation with the site. A Things To Do section rounds off the site's bid to help you plan your entire trip in one place.

2. Booking.com: Best for ease of use

Booking.com

Booking.com is a giant in the world of holiday bookings and not only offers over half a million properties in more than 207 countries but also offers flights and car rental services too. As such you can do it all from this one spot which makes it a very easy-to-use option. That said, there is a lot going on, and the user interface can be a little overwhelming at times. 

But with a superb rewards program, it is a great option that encourages you to keep coming back, making it easier to use as you become accustomed. You can even sort your taxi hire from this site meaning there is very little to think about when you get traveling as it's all been planned ahead of time. You also don't have to pay a booking fee on lots of hotels, allowing you to remain flexible – ideal if you're traveling about a lot on your journey.

3. CheapTickets.com: Best for finding things to do 

CheapTickets.com

CheapTickets is another site acquired by Expedia, but it does things a little differently. You can easily add on flight, hotel, and car or any combination of the three for package deals, although multiple flights are under a different option. So far, so Expedia (if less intuitive), but you can also clearly purchase event tickets from the site, which is far more useful if you want a one-stop-shop place to buy your trip. It's something other sites provide, but CheapTickets is that bit keener to entice you into the process, even if the site itself is a little cheesier looking than others. 

There's also the site's Vacation Value Finder, which lets you tweak how much you're willing to spend and what you're looking for from a vacation before making some fun suggestions. It's perfect for finding a last-minute deal if you don't have your heart set on one place. Students will also appreciate a section dedicated to them with extra discounts once you verify you're a student. All in all, it's a great varied site for numerous different needs. 

4. Priceline.com: Best for user reviews 

Priceline.com

Priceline is a big deal in the online travel site world for a good reason. It's effortless to use with options available for flights, cars, hotels, or any combination of the three. It's mildly annoying that Priceline's super cheap Pricebreaker deals don't extend to bundles, so you won't get an incredible bargain like you would if you booked separately. However, combining the set is still a worthwhile deal with discounts offered for the more you bundle together. 

One thing we really appreciated is that every hotel we looked at had dozens of reviews, and they're all from verified customers. It takes seconds to gain a reasonably accurate picture of what to expect from wherever you're considering booking. That's the perfect peace of mind when you're booking online, and you can't be sure of what you're getting without user reviews backing hotel statements up. Clearly laid out, you can focus on enjoying rather than worrying. Finally, Priceline is keen to make its VIP scheme easily accessible with straightforward discounts offered to you over time -- something that not all sites so clearly highlight. 

5. Kayak.com: Best for aggregated results 

If you're short on time, Kayak is pretty useful. That's because you simply enter where you want to go, and it aggregates results from multiple different sources. While it means you never book directly with Kayak, it does mean you get results quickly and without having to search around yourself, even if you will feel a bit overwhelmed with adverts while you search. 

The site itself looks a little basic, but under the hood is a surprising number of different filters (although no accessibility ones to speak of) and all the critical information you could require, although obviously you'll be sent to another site for the full details. The site also has a deals section, which has some great bargains for things you can do once you reach your destination, along with cheap car rental deals. It might not be pretty, but if you simply don't want to do the groundwork yourself, Kayak has you covered. It can be a real time-saver, and we reckon it's particularly useful if you're mostly researching possible trips in the future and want rough price estimates. Just watch out for the fact you can’t bundle in car rental deals. 

6. Hotwire.com: Best for renting properties 

Hotwire keeps things straightforward. All you need to do is enter what you're looking for, and a somewhat dated interface tells you what's available. It's not as pretty as some sites, but we really liked the extensive property type filters available. Want to stay on a houseboat or in a chalet at your destination? Hit the relevant filter, and you can find out if that's an option in the locale. That might not matter if your heart is set on a hotel, but it's a nice bonus even amongst the awkward site layout. 

Elsewhere, it's mostly business as usual, but that's no bad thing. Well laid out discounts are available to compare reasonably quickly, and most locations have plenty of reviews. If you feel like tracking down specific deals, you can do that too, with the site keen to offer up discounts to central locations if you're not quite sure where you'd like to visit next. It feels like the site needs updating when you compare it to its rivals, but it works well and speedily enough.

7. Agoda: Best for private home rental in Asia 

Agoda is a great option if you want to look for accommodation that isn't a hotel as this specializes in offering apartments and private rentals. In fact, there are dedicated market managers that work on finding properties, especially in Asia. As such you can find unique destination rentals at decent rates and should you change your mind there is a helpful 24-hour free cancellation policy in place. 

Everything is very easy to use and if you want to make more than one booking you can make great savings. Customer support is also a plus, as there is a 24-hour multilingual customer support service available when booking. With millions of reviews, Agoda makes finding a property very easy with a feeling of trust that can offer great peace of mind.

What to look for in an online travel site

Booking Travel Packages Travel packages can let you combine flights, hotel reservations and car rentals together for a better deal than booking separately. Some companies, like Priceline, pick hotels and flights for you, to get you to your destination for the lowest price. Other companies let you mix and match flights, hotels and car rentals to fit your schedule.

Booking Airfare One of the biggest reasons for searching on a travel site is to find cheap airfare. While there are dozens of airfare-specific websites, travel sites also give you the option to add hotel stays and car rentals. The best travel sites combine flight information from over nine different airlines and let you sort flights by price, number of stops, duration and flight class.

Booking International Travel Finding airfare for international travel is the easiest part of booking an overseas trip. AirGorilla helps you find accommodations and rent GPS units with your rental car, so you can find your way around. Often, sites will recommend hotels that are far from your actual destination or event. Searching for reservations on a site that gives accommodation recommendations will help you schedule an international trip with less stress.

How we tested the best online travel sites

We looked at how easy each site is to use during our testing, such as how quickly the site loaded and how easy it was to find what we were looking for. We considered whether the site felt cluttered with adverts or seemed like a dated interface. We also looked at how easy it was to find Contact Us pages, price guarantee information, and any kind of special deals section. 

We also considered how easily bundle deals could be arranged and how extensive they were and any potential discounts tied to them. We checked filter options to see how flexible and easy it was to look up different needs along the way.

We looked at trips between Los Angeles and Miami, Paris to Lisbon, and New York City to Los Angeles during testing. We also looked at lesser-known routes to see if they were also catered for appropriately.

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Jennifer has been freelancing for over 10 years. In the past, she's written about all things tech and gaming wise for outlets as varied as The Independent, Playboy, Eurogamer, and TechRadar. In her spare time, she spends far too much time watching films, attempting to train her pet guinea pigs, and mastering making the perfect burrito.  She's a full time freelancer, but a regular tech news contributor to Top Ten Reviews.

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This just in! Airfares offered on Thursdays tend to be the cheapest, according to flight demand on Travelocity in 2021. Tuesday and Wednesday prices are also good, but you may want to prepare your budget if booking during the weekend, as data shows that is when prices are generally at their highest.

What are the cheapest days to fly?

Frequent travelers may already know this, but earlier in the week can be the cheapest time to fly. In 2021, flights departing on a Monday were generally the cheapest of the week, whereas you may pay a premium for weekend flights when demand is usually high. On average, tickets were most expensive for Saturday departures, so if you need to fly out on a weekend, you might look for deals ahead of time.

How far in advance can you book a flight?

Trying to figure out how early you should book your flight? It’s possible to start comparing international airfares on Travelocity up to 12 months in advance. However, it does depend on the carrier as not all airlines release their prices that far out. According to our 2021 flight demand trends, last minute planners can still bag a bargain with some of the cheapest fares appearing 0-2 weeks prior to their travel dates.

*According to flight demand on Travelocity.com from January to December 2021. Savings are subject to change based on departure location, date and destination.

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Top Routes to Orlando

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Top Routes to Los Angeles

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• Philadelphia (PHL) to Denver (DEN)
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• Los Angeles (LAX) to Denver (DEN)
• Phoenix (PHX) to Denver (DEN)
• Boston (BOS) to Denver (DEN)
• Detroit (DTW) to Denver (DEN)
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• Boston (BOS) to Miami (MIA)
• Detroit (DTW) to Miami (MIA)
• Dallas (DFW) to Miami (MIA)
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• Charlotte (CLT) to New York (JFK)
• Phoenix (PHX) to New York (JFK)
• Kingston (KIN-Norman Manley Intl.) (KIN) to New York (JFK)
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• Chicago (ORD) to Dallas (DFW)
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• Orlando (MCO) to Dallas (DFW)
• Atlanta (ATL) to Dallas (DFW)
• Raleigh (RDU) to Dallas (DFW)
• Phoenix (PHX) to Dallas (DFW)
• Houston (HOU) to Dallas (DFW)
• Newark (EWR) to Dallas (DFW)

Top Routes to Tampa

• Philadelphia (PHL) to Tampa (TPA)
• Detroit (DTW) to Tampa (TPA)
• Chicago (ORD) to Tampa (TPA)
• New York (JFK) to Tampa (TPA)
• Minneapolis (MSP) to Tampa (TPA)
• Newark (EWR) to Tampa (TPA)
• Boston (BOS) to Tampa (TPA)
• Dallas (DFW) to Tampa (TPA)
• Raleigh (RDU) to Tampa (TPA)
• Hartford (BDL) to Tampa (TPA)

Top Routes to Washington

• Los Angeles (LAX) to Washington (DCA)
• Orlando (MCO) to Washington (DCA)
• Boston (BOS) to Washington (DCA)
• Jacksonville (JAX) to Washington (DCA)
• Dallas (DFW) to Washington (DCA)
• Tampa (TPA) to Washington (DCA)
• Hartford (BDL) to Washington (DCA)
• Phoenix (PHX) to Washington (DCA)
• Detroit (DTW) to Washington (DCA)
• Charlotte (CLT) to Washington (DCA)

Top Routes to Atlanta

• Los Angeles (LAX) to Atlanta (ATL)
• Philadelphia (PHL) to Atlanta (ATL)
• New York (JFK) to Atlanta (ATL)
• Dallas (DFW) to Atlanta (ATL)
• Orlando (MCO) to Atlanta (ATL)
• Boston (BOS) to Atlanta (ATL)
• Baltimore (BWI) to Atlanta (ATL)
• Raleigh (RDU) to Atlanta (ATL)
• Newark (EWR) to Atlanta (ATL)
• Tampa (TPA) to Atlanta (ATL)

Flight search

• Adults Remove adult 1 Add adult
• Children Aged 2-11 Aged 2 to 11 Remove child 0 Add child
• Infants In seat Remove infant in seat 0 Add infant in seat
• Infants On lap Remove infant on lap 0 Add infant on lap
• Premium economy

Find cheap flights from Moscow to anywhere Close dialog These suggestions are based on the cheapest fares to popular destinations in the next six months. Prices include required taxes + fees for 1 adult. Optional charges and bag fees may apply.

Useful tools to help you find the best deals, popular destinations from moscow.

Frequently asked questions

17 Best Travel Sites for Hotels, Flights, Tours and Car Rentals

Booking.com tops our list for the best travel booking websites, but there are a few others we recommend for specific purposes.

With so many travel booking websites on the market today, finding the best deals for your travels can be tedious. Thankfully, there are several top travel websites you can use when booking flights, hotels and tours.

From flight aggregators to hostel and hotel booking sites, the websites in this list will make planning and booking your travels a little easier. Whether you’re trying to score cheap flights or find the best tour on the other side of the world, these are the best travel sites for making it happen.

I realize all of this information can be a little overwhelming. Every online travel site out there seems to do something different, and sifting through hundreds of search results to find something you like is time consuming. The offers are endless, but the ideal booking site doesn’t overwhelm its users with options or questionable services.

I have personally used every single company on this list for booking travel , and most play a crucial role in allowing me to adventure around the world. These are the best travel booking sites for helping you plan the ultimate trip.

• Best to Find Cheap Hotels: Booking.com
• Best Hotel Rewards Program: Hotels.com
• Best Site for Vacation Rentals: Vrbo
• Best Booking Site for Hostels: Hostelworld
• Best Booking Site for Hotels in Asia: Agoda

Best Hotel Search Engines & Booking Sites

Finding the right accommodation is one of the most important decisions to make while traveling. Location, amenities, and cost are all factors to consider when looking for the right hotel or hostel for your adventure.

And while there are dozens of hotel booking websites to choose from, finding the right place doesn’t have to be complicated.

Here are the best sites I’ve used for fining hotel deals:

Booking.com : Best to Find Cheap Hotels

Booking.com has, by far, the largest number of hotel search results. With over 5.7 million listings in 227 countries, they’re the first place you should look to find hotels online. In addition to hotels, Booking.com also has hostels, guesthouses, apartments, vacation rentals, and all-inclusive resorts available.

With Booking.com, the advertised price is the final price you pay. Other travel websites may have hidden taxes and fees that aren’t explicitly stated, so you’ll end up paying more than you thought at the reservation desk. But with Booking.com, there are no unexpected fees or hidden resort charges. This makes budgeting and trip planning much easier.

All reservations come with a price match guarantee. That means Booking.com will refund the difference if you find a lower price for your hotel on another website after you book. This best price guarantee is an unbelievable perk that could save you a lot of money in the long run.

And once you make your second booking, you’ll automatically become a Booking.com Genius, which rewards you with member-only discounts and offers (even freebies). It’s like accessing a whole world of insider information without actually having to sign up for anything. Genius members receive 10% to 15% off rates, free breakfast, and free room upgrades.

Plus, Booking.com also lets you search for and book your flight, rental car, and attractions, so you can just put in your travel dates and create full vacation packages from one site!

Hotels.com : Best Hotel Rewards Program

Although they aren’t as big as Booking.com, Hotels.com is still a great option when looking for the best deals on hotels. They have over 300,000 hotels in over 19,000 locations around the world. Besides traditional hotel rooms, they also have apartments, cottages, hostels, motels and all-inclusive resorts.

Like other travel sites, Hotels.com lets you filter the search results by date, price, and amenities. You can also sort by distance to find hotels close to certain attractions or neighborhoods. Plus, look at hotel reviews by real, verified users.

Despite the name, Hotels.com lets you search and reserve more than just hotels. They also have a wide range of vacation rentals available including chalets, condos, and full houses.

One of the main reasons for booking with Hotels.com is to take advantage of their unique rewards program. Once you sign up and book 10 nights, you’ll get to stay one night for free. Your free night can be redeemed at one of their 200,000+ properties in popular destinations around the globe without restrictions or blackout dates. Hotels.com also shares a rewards program with Expedia and Vrbo, so you’ll be able to take advantage of savings with any of these sites.

Hotels.com reward members or app users can also unlock secret deals on accommodation. These are specially negotiated discounts that will save you even more money for certain hotel or accommodation listings.

App users can also find last-minute deals using the “Deal for Tonight” feature. You’ll find huge discounts (up to 40%) when looking for a room with same-day check-in.

Vrbo : Best Site for Vacation Rentals

If you want the comforts of home while you’re halfway around the globe, then Vrbo is an excellent alternative to traditional hotel booking websites. Vrbo is a search engine that lists thousands of homes, vacation rentals, apartments, and condos for anyone who wants to experience a country while living like a local, whether staying in the city center or out in the woods.

Ideal for couples, families, or those needing a bit more privacy, Vrbo lets you relax without the hassle of dealing with a host or other travelers. They also tend to list more luxury vacation rentals that have a much higher standard compared to other rental sites.

For this reason, the vacation rentals on Vrbo might cost more than your average hotel from other travel sites. However, you’ll get much nicer accommodations.

Vrbo also has great customer service. All guests are protected by their Book with Confidence Guarantee, which comes with a 24/7 hotline, payment protection, and even last-minute cancellation coverage. So if your host cancels your booking before you arrive, the Vrbo team will try and find another place for you to stay. You can also buy travel insurance so you get a full refund in case you have to cancel.

In addition, Vrbo has a rewards program called One Key that lets you earn rewards on every dollar you spend on travel. This loyalty program is shared across Vrbo, Expedia, and Hotels.com, so you’ll be able to get package deals no matter how you travel.

Hostelworld : Best Booking Site for Hostels

Hostelworld is the top travel site for researching and booking hostels all over the world. They operate in over 178 countries and have a database of seemingly every hostel in existence.

When looking for a hostel, you’ll find accurate ratings and hotel reviews from real users on this booking site. The review score considers information about security, facilities, services, atmosphere and overall value for your money. And they only accept reviews from people who have booked through Hostelworld, so you know the reviews are genuine.

If you want to save money, Hostelworld is an excellent option for those on a tight budget. That’s because most hostels allow you to book a bed in a dorm room, which is far cheaper than booking a private room. But if you want some extra privacy, some hostels have private rooms with (or without) en-suite bathrooms.

You’ll be able to filter hostels by certain amenities, like free breakfast or on-site laundry. You’ll also see a list of different events happening at the hostel during your stay, from pool parties to pub crawls.

However, Hostelworld really shines when it comes to its great customer service. They will refund the price difference if you find your hostel on another site for cheaper. And if you can no longer go on your trip, you have up 24 hours before check-in to cancel without losing your deposit.

Agoda : Best Booking Site for Hotels in Asia

Agoda started out as the top hotel booking site for hotels in Asia, but since has expanded its offerings worldwide. They also have non-traditional accommodation types like homes and hostels. From capsule hotels in Tokyo to private bungalows in Bali, Agoda has over 2 million properties to choose from.

Generally speaking, prices for Agoda hotels are comparable to other travel websites. However, you can save money by booking a hotel through their secret deals program.

With the secret deals program, the identity of the hotel will remain anonymous until you complete your booking. But you’ll be able to see the hotel’s star rating, neighborhood, and amenities before reserving. Some luxury hotels don’t like to advertise their cheap rooms openly, so this is a way to sell rooms at discount prices without making it too public. If you aren’t set on staying at a specific hotel or chain, this program is an excellent option for saving money on accommodation.

By booking on Agoda, you have the opportunity to maximize your earnings with the Agoda PointsMAX program. Once you sign up and link your Agoda account to one of your other mileage programs, you can earn up to 6,000 points per stay. Some of their current partners include American Airlines AAdvantage, United Mileage Plus and KLM/AirFrance Flying Blue.

Couchsurfing : Best for a Free Place to Crash

If all you need is a couch to sleep on, Couchsurfing will help you to find it. Instead of spending the night in a hotel, you’ll be using this booking site to find a couch to sleep on in the home of a friendly host. Trust me — it’s not as awkward as it might seem!

For those needing a bit more privacy, some people also list their private rooms through Couchsurfing. But generally speaking, you’ll usually be staying in the same living quarters as the host.

You’ll also be able to connect with like-minded people from all over the world who want to share their culture and show you the best parts of their city. They’ll tell you about the best local hangouts and restaurants so you can avoid the tourist traps. They might even be interested in joining you for sightseeing in the city or drinks at the local pub. In my experience, hosts are eager to interact with their guests.

When you’re browsing for places to stay, you can search for hosts by gender, age, language, and house preferences. Whether you’re allergic to cats or looking for wheelchair-friendly accommodation, you can easily find the ideal housemate. Remember, you should be looking at the host just as carefully as you look at the apartment itself. Make sure you read the reviews left by other guests. The more reviews, the more confident you’ll feel about staying with that host.

The goal, ultimately, is for you to return the favor whenever you’re at home, thus keeping the Couchsurfing spirit alive around the world. (Trust me, it can be just as fun to host as it is to surf.)

But best of all, unlike pretty much all other travel websites, Couchsurfing is completely free! It’s customary to bring a gift or cook for your host as a token of appreciation for letting you stay in their place, but besides that, you’ll be able to see the world without spending a single penny on accommodation.

• Best Hotel Booking Websites
• Airbnb Alternatives
• Airbnb vs. Vrbo
• Airbnb vs. Hotels

Cheap Flight Booking Websites & Search Engines

In the world of online travel, booking a flight is one of the most important initial steps to having a great trip. And unless you’re planning on spending thousands to sip champagne in business class, the cost of your ticket will probably be a significant deciding factor in what you book.

Although you could book directly with the airlines, using online travel agencies (OTAs) allows you to compare pricing to find the best rates for your trip. To help you figure out where to book your next flight, consider one of the flight search engine travel sites in this section.

Keep in mind that these search sites are not booking sites . They simply compare rates for flights and redirect you to other sites to complete your purchase. You’ll get tons of results, but it’s up to you to sort through them. You should also take the time to use more than one website to compare pricing. Results may vary!

If they send you to a small website you’ve never heard of, do your research to make sure the company is dependable (although these OTAs don’t tend to deal with shady booking websites—a big reason these are the ones I recommend). It’s important to look at the fine print, as some companies might have their own cancellation fees or change fees in addition to the fees set by the airlines.

Google Flights

It seems that you can find anything you want from Google. There’s Google Maps, Google Scholar, Google News, Google Earth, and now Google Flights.

Google Flights is always the first search engine I turn to when I’m looking for the best flight deals. They scan through all available flight options for both major airlines and online travel agencies and then sort through the results to show you the best possible option for your trip. Like Google Maps, or anything else from Google, they’ve really mastered the art of searching, and this is one of the best sites to find deals.

The calendar view makes it easy to pick dates with the best price. And if you haven’t locked down your travel dates, you can check for flights with their flexible date tool. For example, you can search for the cheapest flights in January or even a one-week trip in the next six months.

You can also use the Date Grid in Google Flights to see the cheapest flight combinations for different departure and return dates. Or, check the Price Graph to compare how the prices are likely to change over the next few months. This is a great tool for identifying significant price drops for your desired route.

Many times you’ll want to search for a specific airport, but if you’re also flexible with your destination, you can search for flights by continent or country. This flexible search is an excellent option if you’re looking for a last-minute weekend getaway without a set destination in mind.

And unlike other travel websites, Google Flights will make sure you’re getting the best rates by offering money-saving recommendations. They’ll let you know that by flying in two days later — or to a different airport nearby — you could save even more money.

Whether you’re booking an RTW adventure, a weekend getaway to New York or simply browsing for inspiration for your next trip, start with Google Flights. And if you’ve got the time to really learn how to use Google Flights , I highly suggest it. Knowing how to squeeze the most out of this incredible tool is a skill well worth having.

Skyscanner is a great travel site for cheap airline tickets, and it’s always my second stop after Google Flights. They search through over 1,200 different airline companies and smaller OTA sites to compare the best offers for your travels.

You can also use their “Everywhere” search engine to look up the cheapest flight going anywhere in the world. The results show the average price for a country, so you’ll need to narrow down the search by destination city to see the exact price for a specific airport. However, you’ll get a better idea of which countries tend to have cheaper flights.

It’s also easy to filter for nonstop flights, included luggage, nearby airports, departure/arrival time, and more so you can find deals on the exact flights you’re looking for.

I recommend downloading the Skyscanner app. Not only can you search and book flights through the app, but you can also use the “Explore” feature to find destinations for solo travel, quick getaways or last minute trips (which is especially handy if you’re traveling open-ended).

One last bonus: Skyscanner also lets you search for deals on hotels, vacation rentals, rental cars, and even complete vacation packages. This travel site has it all.

Momondo is another flight search engine that should be on your radar. This company scans through thousands of airline companies and OTAs to display rates for both domestic and international flights. And unlike other sites, Momondo shows prices for many of the smaller OTAs overlooked by Google Flights and Skyscanner.

I also use Momondo to find out when the best time to fly is. I particularly love their matrix that highlights an entire month, meaning you can compare prices to find the lowest price possible.

On the search results page, Momondo offers bar charts that show prices for different departure and return dates. You can use this feature to spot any significant price drops for flights if your dates are flexible. Play around with these features — it takes some getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, you can score some fantastic travel deals.

You can also look at the “Flight Insights” page to see price trends and analytics for your exact route. This page uses historical search data to show you the cheapest month, day, and even time of day to book. It will tell you the cheapest airlines that serve your route, along with how far in advance you should be booking to save the most money.

In addition, you can consult the “Price Forecast” feature to see if prices are expected to increase or decrease in the near future. If so, you can set a price alert to notify you if the cost of your flight drops.

Dollar Flight Club

Finding inexpensive flights can be time-consuming, but Dollar Flight Club simplifies the process by sending exclusive deals straight to your inbox. Most of their offers are 60-90% off the list price, with savings averaging around $500 .

Dollar Flight Club uses technology and historical data to find cost-saving deals. Although you can’t search for specific dates or destinations, you will still find great domestic and international deals if you’re flexible with your plans.

When you sign up for the free version of Dollar Flight Club, you’ll get one email a day for your selected departure region. Or, you can upgrade to premium to get four times as many deals for multiple departure airports. Premium members also receive instant SMS alerts as well as deals for cheap domestic flights over the weekend. Signing up for Premium Plus will give you access to their rewards program with more deals and offers for tickets for business and first-class flights.

Going (Formerly Scott's Cheap Flights)

Going was formerly known as Scott’s Cheap Flights, and it is another one of my favorite travel sites for finding affordable flights. Like Dollar Flight Club, they send emails for flight deals on domestic and international airline tickets. Most deals are 40-90% off the original price!

But instead of using an algorithm to find great deals, members of the Going team search all of the fares by hand to find deals. This goes a step above others to make this one of the best travel sites out there.

When you sign up for the free version, you’ll receive 15-20 selected deals per month. Even though you’ll select a specific airport as your preferred point of departure, it includes deals from an array of different cities. If you only want to see deals from your specific city, then you’ll want to upgrade to the premium version. Not only does the premium membership include an extra 30-35 deals per month, but it also includes error fare flights and offers for summer and holiday travel.

While Scott’s Cheap Flights has rebranded and changed the name, it’s still an awesome place to find flights for your vacation package.

• How to Find Cheap Flights
• Cheap Flight Hacks
• How to Use Google Flights
• 11 Genius Hacks to Take the Stress Out of Flying
• How I Booked an $8,967 First Class Airplane Ticket for $5.60

Recommended Tour Companies

Sometimes, we all need a little bit of adventure to keep us on our toes while we’re on the road.

Maybe you’re a solo traveler interested in joining a group backpacking experience through Asia. Perhaps you want an action-packed itinerary full of hiking, diving, and bungee-jumping (just make sure you have travel insurance that covers those adventure activities). Or maybe you simply want an agency to take the stress out of planning by giving you a list of all the top places you must visit. Whatever your reason, here are the best travel sites for tours and fully guided vacation packages.

GetYourGuide

GetYourGuide is a search engine with a massive database of tours and attractions in over 7,000 destinations around the globe. I’m talking more than 40,000 activities like street food tours, skiing and snowboarding trips, skip-the-line museum passes, and boat excursions. You name it, GetYourGuide has it, and their one of the best sites for finding and reserving travel activities.

If you’re visiting a new city for the first time, GetYourGuide also takes the hassle out of planning the perfect itinerary. You can reserve your spot on a tour or purchase your tickets for an event directly through their website or mobile app.

Best of all, all tours come with detailed reviews full of handy insider information, so you can hear first-hand from past clients if the activity is worth it. Not to mention, most of the offers are more affordable than if you were to book directly at the attraction itself.

It’s not the best place for all-inclusive vacation packages, but when it comes to travel sites for tours, GetYourGuide tours are a great way to soak in the culture of a city. From wine tasting to helicopter rides to snorkeling, you’ll be able to get the lowest price (guaranteed) by booking on GetYourGuide.

G Adventures

If group tours are more up your alley, then G Adventures is one of the best sites for you. Whether you’re traveling Europe by train, cruising through the Galapagos, or cycling through the countryside in China, there’s a tour for almost every traveler.

These aren’t your run-of-the-mill group tours. G Adventures are small groups (averaging 10 travelers) that all share a common desire to explore the world. When you look online, you’ll see tours organized by travel style. You’ll be able to book vacation packages specifically catered to 18 to 30-year-olds, tours focusing on health and wellness, and even active tours for adventure lovers.

Solo travelers are also welcome to join a tour with G Adventures. Whether you’re looking for full vacation packages or short day trips, you can expect to meet some awesome people along the way.

They’ve also partnered with National Geographic to create immersive tour experiences. Whether you’re learning how to tango in Argentina or cooking authentic meals with a local Thai family, these tours will give you a deeper appreciation for your destination’s history and culture.

Intrepid Travel

Intrepid Travel is like G Adventures in many ways — they offer small-group tours for adventurous travelers in more than 100 countries. Tours are divided into themes, like adventure cruising, cycling, and culinary. And if you’re interested in meeting other like-minded travelers, they have also organized trips specifically for people between the ages of 18-30.

But Intrepid sometimes goes to places where G Adventures does not, and vice versa. Intrepid also has tons of amazing deals available year-round. Many trips are discounted up to 50% and some tours can be reserved with just a $1 deposit. And if you’re eager to leave ASAP, then you can browse a variety of last-minute deals.

They’ve also partnered with Lonely Planet to create unique, niche experiences. With hundreds of single or multi-day vacation packages, you’ll be able to get off the beaten path to see the world through the eyes of a local.

But the biggest perk of traveling with Intrepid Travel comes down to the group leaders and small group sizes. You won’t feel like you’re just getting carted around because every tour is led by a local guide, meaning you get a more authentic experience.

One important note, for many trips, Intrepid requires you to have travel insurance . That’s a good idea anyway though.

Best Rental Car Sites

For many trips, you’ll need to rent a car to get around once your flight arrives. Finding rental cars can be frustrating and expensive.

Fortunately, by using one of these car rental sites , you can find the best prices and reserve your vehicle ahead of time, so there’s no stress at pickup. These travel websites let you search through many car rental providers, compare pricing, and make a reservation. Here are the best travel sites for finding rental cars:

Rentalcars.com

It’s all in the name here. Rentalcars.com is owned by the same company as the hotel site, Booking.com . It is a search site that lets you find car rentals and easily book them online.

Rentalcars.com has a great streamlined process for searching, filtering, and paying for your rental car. With just a few clicks you can find the best deal and have your car reserved. Plus, listings on Rentalcars.com typically have free cancellation when you book through their site. That’s a big win in my book because I hate stressing about what will happen if my flight is delayed or if I have to cancel my trip.

Rentalcars.com typically has great discounts available. In my experience, I’ve often been able to find the best prices compared to other rental car websites.

They also offer insurance directly though their site, though you may not need it if your travel insurance already covers rental cars.

Ultimately, one of the main things I look for in rental cars is the lowest price possible. Would I like to drive a BMW around on vacation? Sure. But typically I’m saving pennies for a trip and don’t want to spend them all on car rentals.

Priceline is one of the best travel websites to find low-price car rentals. They will often offer “Express Deals” which give you a much lower price than you’d get going directly through a car rental agency.

How do they do it? Priceline was the first travel site to offer “opaque rentals.” While that sounds complicated, it just means that you don’t know what car you’ll get until you pick it up. As long as you aren’t picky, this is a fantastic way to save cash on car rentals.

As a bonus, you can get package deals if you use Priceline to reserve flights, hotels, or even trips with a cruise line. They also have a loyalty program that can help you save on travel over time. For many travelers, this could be a one-stop shop for the ideal vacation package.

Unlike the other travel websites on this list, Kayak doesn’t let you reserve rental cars directly through their website. Instead, Kayak is just a big search site that filters through dozens (or maybe hundreds?) of other rental companies, travel websites, online travel agencies, and other related resources. You put in your travel dates, and Kayak gives you a list of options offering competitive prices. They then give you a link to book your car through the site or company that’s offering the deal.

The benefit of Kayak is that, because it is searching so many different travel websites, you can find great deals that other websites may not show.

If you want help with your entire trip planning process, Kayak also lets you search for flight deals, hotel deals, and even complete vacation packages.

Travel Booking Websites FAQs

What is the best travel site to book through.

Booking.com is the best (and largest) travel booking site.

Is it cheaper to book through a travel agent or online?

Booking online will almost always be cheaper than using a travel agent.

How do I get the best travel deals?

You can get great travel deals by comparing across multiple travel booking sites.

What is the best rental car site?

Rentalcars.com is our top pick for the best rental car website.

What is the best site for cheap flights?

Google Flights is always a good starting point when searching for cheap flights.

Jeremy Scott Foster

I’m curious why Airbnb is not listed, are they not a good option?

Given their high (and increasing) fees, lack of consistency and poor customer service, the TravelFreak editorial team can’t, in good faith, recommend booking with Airbnb. We do consider them to be a viable option, but can’t stand behind them as a company nor recommend them to readers.

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38 Online Travel Booking Statistics & Trends of 2024

Even if the travel and tourism industry is recovering, there have been substantial changes in how people travel.

We’ve seen a significant change, both in terms of how frequently people travel as well as how they plan, book, and manage their trips.

To investigate these recent developments, the best place to do so is online, as that’s where most people book and pay for their travel rather than through pricey travel agencies.

In this article, we've gathered some intriguing online booking statistics that’ll give you a sneak peek into changing tastes and behaviors of travelers for post-pandemic tourism.

Whether you're a travel company looking to take advantage of travel trends or a traveler looking for the most popular destinations, this post is for you.

Key Online Travel Booking Statistics

• The size of the global online travel market is predicted to reach $1.2 trillion in 2027 .
• 50% of travelers spend less than a week doing the research before departing on vacation.
• 87% of visitors desire to travel sustainably.
• The most lucrative online travel market is in Asia-Pacific.
• The average traveler makes 38 website visits before deciding and making a booking.

General Online Travel Booking Statistics

1. 72% of employees are enthusiastic and prepared to take their next business trip this year..

If all relevant safety precautions are followed, at least 45% of travelers worldwide are willing to fly for business to attend a conference or business event.

Online travel booking trends and stats show that 48% of business travelers are willing to provide their health information.

According to a survey by Expedia, the average number of business trips for 38% of the respondents was once every two to three months. 32% make one or more business trips per month .

2. 86% of travel agents favor improving the customer experience to increase online digital travel sales.

According to 74% of the online booking companies polled, purchasing and selling travel arrangements can be simpler. In the coming 12 months, the following factors are anticipated to increase travel intention:

• Mobile applications that provide travel notifications (44%).
• Check-in via self-service (41%).
• Cashless transactions (41%).
• Flexible refunds and guarantees (40%).

3. 63% of travelers believe technology is crucial for limiting health risks in a post-pandemic environment.

(SaleCycle)

Three issues top the list of worries for survey respondents among leisure travelers today:

• Concern about catching COVID-19 (41%).
• Requirements for quarantine or self-isolation in certain places (41%)
• Travel-related last-minute adjustments or cancellations (37%)

4. The preferred payment methods for online travel bookings are UPI and e-Wallets.

Countries all over the world are transitioning to cashless systems. Paying for airlines, hotels, car rentals, and other services have become easier with the help of PayPal, Alipay, Google Pay, and Amazon Pay.

Travel App Statistics & Trends

5. online travel bookings reached their highest level of $755 billion in 2019, then fell 46% to $403 billion in 2020..

Online travel bookings then climbed to $613 billion in 2021. Booking Holdings continued to be the leading digital travel agency business in 2021. The big three achieved over 60% of revenue growth last year.

6. Only 27% of consumers preferred booking trips through apps.

(TripAdvisor)

Those that did, liked some of the distinctive characteristics they provided, such as:

• Notifications of price alerts (79%)
• How quickly reservations could be made (39%)
• The additional functionality (30%)

7. App-enabled digital travel firms observed an increase in mobile bookings.

Following the launch of travel apps, some businesses reported a rise in the percentage of people booking online via mobile. Mobile travel booking statistics also demonstrate that travel app users aren't devoted to their apps and often delete them once they've served their purpose.

In fact, about 50% of users delete their travel app within a month of downloading it. Numerous of these are presumably caused by the fact that the app is no longer needed.

8. The majority of mobile users favor travel apps over mobile websites.

(Travelport)

The decision is primarily influenced by customer experience. Users prefer the travel apps' lightning-fast experiences, as they are typically smoother and easier to use than a mobile web page.

When comparing costs, many people also complain that making a reservation on a mobile web page is difficult. Switching between various websites and options on a mobile phone isn’t like on a desktop computer, which is far much easier.

9. Booking.com is the most downloaded online booking app over the past four years.

(StratosJets)

It recovered from a decline in the previous year in 2021. TripAdvisor, trivago, and Skyscanner have also had trouble reaching 2019 numbers.

Hopper was the most popular online travel app in the US in 2021. Airbnb downloads decreased in 2021 , while Vrbo, its primary rival, surged to 10.5 million.

Online booking stats also show that 17% of Americans purchased a travel app subscription to aid in their travel preparation last year. Furthermore, 83% of US adults want to make travel bookings online.

Mobile vs. Desktop Booking Statistics

10. even though mobile drives the most online traffic, it’s still underutilized as a tool for online bookings..

(Travelport Digital Report)

About 80% of American consumers still like using their desktops or laptop when making a reservation. Worldwide, these figures are consistent; in France, 33% of travelers book on their mobile phones . In Germany, it's 15%, and in the UK, 25%.

The fact that the same consumers who book through the desktop site are content to conduct their research online makes this trend even more unexpected.

11. 72% of mobile bookings happen in the 48 hours that follow last-minute Google searches containing the terms “today” and “tonight.”

Google search statistics also show that 44% of individuals who make online bookings do so on a mobile device and 64% on a desktop.

That represents a change from 2021 when 41% of reservations were made on mobile phones and 59% on desktop computers.

Data from StratosJets also show that the percentage of customers who give up on their travel purchases is 91% for mobile users and 85% for desktop users.

12. Before deciding on their vacation itinerary, 83% of tourists conduct research on their mobile devices.

(Think With Google, AdColony)

Recently, people have been changing how they use their phones to plan trips. 70% of mobile users look for activities to do when traveling, 66% check for appealing locations, and 58% decide on their lodging choices.

Furthermore, 87% of corporate travel managers and business travelers alike want a more straightforward booking procedure, and 42% of respondents, planning a trip is more difficult than going on one.

Booking & Travel Planning Statistics

13. videos and images are the two most vital factors influencing decisions among travelers during the consideration stage of trip preparation..

(Hospitalitynet)

When choosing hotel rooms online, consumers also consider a hotel's ability to display its amenities and guest experience.

The biggest turnoffs for most leisure travellers are boring displays, unattractive food photographs, and unattractive hotel rooms.

14. Approximately 72% of brand-new clients will conduct some kind of research before making a booking.

Only 6% of individuals say they don't believe customer reviews, compared to 15% of customers who don't trust companies without reviews.

According to these figures, hotels and travel agencies have nothing to lose by requesting online reviews. Only 22% of individuals will post a review if they aren't asked to , which rises to 80% when businesses actively urge customers.

Some businesses worry about the fallacy that only dissatisfied customers post reviews, which is not true. According to travel industry statistics, only 5% of reviews will be unfavorable, with an average of 95% being favorable.

Hotels and digital travel companies must use SEO and powerful social media tactics to have a strong online presence and increase online sales.

That’s because many potential clients rely on social media and an online presence when making travel bookings. According to Google, the most well-liked online products have an average rating of 4.2 to 4.7 and about 39 reviews.

15. 29% of those who make reservations prefer direct travel bookings.

Reasons include the ability to:

• Request additional amenities (28%).
• Look for the best deal (21%).
• Searching for loyalty programs (21%).
• Negotiate prices (18%).
• Discover rewards for direct booking (11%)

16. It's projected that by 2023, over 700 million people will purchase a flight online.

Furthermore, 70% of all consumers use a mobile device to research flights

17. Half of all American travelers spend weeks researching before departing on vacation.

However, the second category of customers has their trip planned for months. These consumers look for activities in the twelve weeks preceding their trip rather than making air or hotel bookings.

According to online hotel booking statistics, older travelers (aged 55+) are more inclined to make reservations more than four months in advance , while younger travelers (aged 18 to 34) tend to put off online travel research until the last month or week.

18. 41% of travelers prefer to use online travel agencies (OTAs), while 29% use travel operators or agents.

According to demographic data, those under 35 years are more likely to book hotels using OTAs. 70% of respondents said they would use an OTA to make a reservation if hotel sites and OTAs had equal prices.

Even though using a physical travel agency can save passengers up to $452 and four hours of preparation time per trip , only 24.3% of Americans use them.

Most online sales in the travel industry currently occur on one-stop digital stores that let customers plan their entire trip on one website . By the end of the year, these corporations will control 41% of the online travel sales market.

Research from Hospitalitynet shows that 12% of visitors believe that using booking websites should be significantly faster and easier than making online hotel bookings using hotel websites directly.

Some main factors influencing consumer decisions are security, ease of use, loyalty discounts, and reliable online reviews from the OTAs.

19. Travelers who plan their trip spend 47% less on lodging than their more impulsive counterparts who book while traveling.

They also spend 81% less on transportation. This less impulsive online travel booking segment provides a desirable target market for online companies that sell reservations across various categories.

Many people conduct travel-related searches on online travel sites like TripAdvisor and Expedia. According to TripAdvisor, which recorded 224 million travel bookings in a single month, 80% of travelers will spend about four weeks researching a destination before booking.

20. Hotel websites account for two-thirds of all digital travel booking revenues.

That’s surprising because TripAdvisor and Booking.com receive millions of visitors each month. You might think they are the ones driving up most of the revenue.

Furthermore, 60% of consumers believe digital travel bookings are their most expensive online purchase. Many customers have higher expectations for bookings now that more businesses are paying attention to the customer experience.

90% of all consumers say they expect a personalized experience from their virtual travel assistant when they book their trips online, which isn’t surprising. Customer dissatisfaction may contribute to low conversion and cart abandonment rates since many travel websites are still comparatively outdated.

These figures imply that the market for digital bookings is huge and underserved. Online travel booking services should look at their sales funnel to determine why they are losing so much business.

21. Digital worldwide travel sales are currently rising at a pace of 15.4%, and online hotel bookings are growing at a rate of 10.3%.

(ThinkWithGoogle)

Google reports that Monday is the most common day for conducting travel-related searches and booking, while Saturday is the least popular day. The same survey revealed that most hotel bookings happen between 6 am and 10 am.

Sustainability Travel Booking Statistics

22. sustainable tourism is one of the biggest travel trends for 2022 because of the threat posed by climate change..

2017 was designated as the UN's “International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development,” which encouraged sustainability concerning the industry's sociocultural, economic, and environmental facets.

More and more travelers are becoming more conscientious of their decisions. According to a different poll, 70% of international travelers say they would book a hotel sooner if they knew it was green and sustainable.

23. In 2022, 63% of travelers are prepared to put more effort into making more environmentally friendly travel decisions.

(Booking.com, The Vacationer)

That’s a 10% increase from 2021. 30% of travelers say they'll choose more environmentally friendly options when researching travel online before booking, even if it causes them inconvenience.

52% of respondents intend to choose more environmentally friendly options when booking travel, but only if doing so won't inconvenience them . 57% said they would like to stay in accommodations with sustainability certification.

24. 87% of visitors desire to travel sustainably.

(TravelAgentCentral)

According to a survey of travelers, 81% of respondents said they value sustainable travel.

Of those, 50% claim that news stories about dire climate change events have influenced their choices to make more environmentally friendly travel arrangements. Therefore, 33% would rather go outside of the busiest times to avoid adding to the congestion.

More and more people want to reduce their environmental effects at home and abroad, but they encounter several obstacles. The following are the major global barriers to traveling more sustainably:

• Costs: Expensive alternatives (42%)
• Lack of Knowledge/Certification: unable to make travel more sustainable (32%).
• Time restraints: traveling sustainably would take time (22%).
• Destination: The alternatives are limited (22%)
• Luxury/comfort: Sustainable travel falls short of their expectations for comfort or luxury (20%).

Businesses in the tourism industry must figure out how to inform and encourage sustainable travel. Visitors researching travel online should learn what various hotels are doing to encourage environmentally friendly practices and how they respond to economic and environmental changes.

25. Sustainability and carbon footprint were listed as the top factor by 7% of survey respondents when making vacation plans.

(The Vacationer)

Online hotel booking statistics show that 56% of those surveyed concurred that they don't actively look for eco-friendly lodging options but will book one if it's convenient. With 67% of high-income travelers saying they would rather spend money on a better hotel room and experience.

Many hotels are now concerned that implementing sustainable projects may harm their bottom line. Accommodation quality becomes less important as more tourists prioritize experiences. The following are some motivating elements for eco-conscious travel:

• Being moved by natural sights when traveling themselves (60%)
• Observing the effects of tourism in other places (54%).
• Recognizing the advantages of sustainable tourism (47%).
• 42% of people report the negative effects of unsustainable tourism in their own nation.
• Feeling bad about their environmental impact (32%).

26. 23% of travelers choose to travel locally to reduce their carbon footprint.

Global travelers are paying more attention to the distance traveled and their transportation modes. Online travel booking statistics show that more than one in five use travel websites to look for bike rentals and public transportation options in their intended location.

33% of respondents said they would be prepared to spend an additional $50 to $250 on travel to reduce the journey's carbon footprint. Those who stayed at a sustainable hotel in the previous year did so to:

• Lessen the carbon impact on the environment (41%).
• Discover the culture of the region (33%)
• Better community engagement (31%).

User Behavior in Online Travel Booking

27. booking a trip takes americans 29% longer on average in 2022 than in 2019..

(Tripadvisor)

52% of American tourists place a higher value on the time they spend researching travel online than any other aspect of the booking process. 55% of Britons share this sentiment.

People take 6% longer to arrange a trip in Germany, while this number rises to 16% in Australia. While Australians spend 60% of their time preparing for trips, Singaporeans spend 68% visiting local travel sites and researching travel online before booking.

28. 43% of Americans dislike making travel reservations.

According to travel industry statistics, a third of families find it extremely time-consuming to conduct online hotel bookings and look for the best flights, while 23% don't enjoy planning vacations.

When booking reservations, one in three tourists put flexibility ahead of everything else. Another challenge for travelers is the lack of transparency in making travel reservations. Too many options to compare can sometimes get difficult.

Digital booking statistics show that booking a trip isn’t among the top three simplest online purchasing experiences. Above it is online restaurant bookings, clothing purchases, and online browsing and purchasing physical and digital items.

29. The average traveler makes 38 website visits before deciding and making a booking.

45% of vacationers prefer to arrange their entire trip on a single website that offers choices for flights, lodging, auto rentals, and extras.

According to research, nearly 42% of consumers take more than five years to make vacation reservations . 60% of questioned tourists think there are too many hidden fees and expenses when choosing a trip.

Online Travel Booking Market Share

30. the online travel booking industry is expected to grow by $204.81 billion by 2026..

(ResearchAndMarkets)

The publisher has closely watched the online travel booking platforms market and is anticipated to increase by a CAGR of 4.91% between 2022 and 2026.

A comprehensive analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, challenges, and vendor analysis for about 25 vendors are in this study on the online travel booking platform market.

The research provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of the global market, the newest drivers and trends, and the general market environment.

The market is driven by the widespread use of smartphones, as well as by the growing concentration of online travel companies.

31. The digital travel market is predicted to increase from $800.72 billion in 2021 to over $1.2 trillion in 2027.

Over the past ten years, most sectors have gone digital. Particularly, the travel industry has continued to make enormous efforts to develop its online presence.

Review and travel-related e-commerce websites make up most of the online travel booking industry. It allows customers to conveniently reserve from home and frequently entices them with packages and cost-cutting options.

As a result, many tourists now prefer to plan their trips online rather than through traditional brick-and-mortar travel firms.

The primary worldwide digital travel market is also driven by rising consumer spending power, government initiatives to promote tourism, increasing internet and credit card usage, and new online segments.

It’s no surprise the yearly value of the travel business. It’s expected to be over $1.2 trillion in the coming years.

Most of the increase in online travel will come from the rising popularity of bookings made through websites like Booking.com, TripAdvisor.com, Skyscanner.com, etc., for international hotels and flights.

32. Expedia and Booking.com have acquired rival websites and mobile apps to increase their market share.

(BusinessofApps)

Kayak, Priceline.com, and Agoda are owned by Booking.com, while Expedia Group owns trivago, Orbitz, Vrbo, and Travelocity.

Expedia and Booking.com have expanded their services to include flights, taxis, car rentals, cruises, and excursions to increase their travel portfolio.

The business strategy is the same across the board; the app gets a tiny commission for each booking. Like past travel agents would arrange the airline, ground transportation, hotel, and events in a packaged trip, the goal is to be a one-stop vacation destination.

Airbnb also initiated this augmentation in 2016 with the launch of Experiences. In response to the pandemic preventing short-term travel. It also began to promote long-term stays in 2020. Services for co-working and transportation might be next on their list.

Even though Booking, Expedia, and Airbnb are the three main platforms, there are still several others, including Hopper, Hotels.com, Skyscanner, TripAdvisor, and Trip.com, that either compete in a particular market (flights for Skyscanner; hotels for Hotels.com) or operate a similar one-stop shop for all things travel-related to Booking and Expedia.

33. From 2021 to 2027, the global online travel market will expand at a CAGR of 10.58%.

(Booking.com)

The international online travel market is divided into two types: Online Travel Agencies and Direct Travel Suppliers. OTAs are becoming the world's most popular method of making reservations.

One of the best examples of digital change in business and society over the past 25 years has been the development of online travel agents.

OTAs have developed into digital marketplaces that provide direct access to digital travel options for B2C and B2B clients. OTAs are a cross between an e-commerce platform and a travel agency.

34. It’s anticipated that the travel accommodation sector will continue dominating digital travel services.

Travel accommodations are now the largest contributor to the travel market as a result of enterprises expanding globally due to globalization. Online booking is accessible for various travel accommodations, including hotels, resorts, vacation rentals, and more.

35. The online booking market is divided into mobile/tablet and desktop segments based on the type of device.

Due to its ease, comfort, and all-day accessibility, digital travel booking via a mobile, tablet, and desktop is the preferred method for most young travelers. Consumer habits in digital media are always evolving.

Mobile usage is steadily increasing, while desktop usage is steadily declining. Even said, these patterns are still evolving quickly, so the internet travel sector must adjust.

According to online booking statistics by STRATOS, 82% of all travel bookings worldwide occurred without a human being involved in the process.

Statistics on Online Travel Booking Demographics

36. baby boomers are the ones driving the growth of the online travel industry..

(Statista, TripAdvisor)

The online travel market comprises Millennials, Generation X, and Silver Hairs. However, Baby Boomer travelers with more money, time, and a strong desire to travel dominate the market.

They look for novel traveling experiences and engage in active vacations that include sightseeing and learning about different cultures. OTAs must change to reflect the preferences of younger travelers as they grow more involved and important in the travel industry.

Most Gen Xers and Millennials are wary of conventional advertising and would rather rely on word-of-mouth. In 2022, digital travel businesses that continue to rely on stock images and conventional advertising will observe a gradual decline in their clientele.

37. 60% of Millennial travelers are willing to spend more to get what they expect.

(CondorFerris)

34% are delighted to plan their trip through an agency. The 25–40-year-old Millennial age group includes business travelers and people just starting their professional lives.

Compared to travelers in the higher age category, these travelers are more likely to spend money on the trip, as they place a significantly greater emphasis on traveling for experiences.

They want to see and do unique things in unusual places without dealing with tedious details like hotel reservations. Digital travel booking statistics also show that this age group prefers to use travel companies for all their trip arrangements.

Although they use travel agents to make their hotel reservations, 52% of them will visit the hotel's website to learn more. Agents who present themselves as authorities in a particular field are quite successful with millennials.

Travel sales will increase for an agent who can provide distinctive experiences and intimate knowledge of the top accommodations, restaurants, and locations—especially if they can also maintain a strong social media presence.

38. According to online travel stats, the most lucrative travel market is in Asia-Pacific.

Geographically speaking, Asia-Pacific has the most potential for growth in the online boom, with China and India representing the most attractive markets. The emergence of the middle class, increased disposable money, and wider adoption of Internet services contribute to the growth.

While Ctrip's online travel agency dominates the Chinese travel sector, India's top OTAs are Yatra and Cleartrip. OTAs are increasingly being used to make reservations in the area.

What the Future Looks Like for the Online Travel Booking Industry

Online travel booking is here to stay. That means travel companies should constantly reinvent themselves and adapt to keep up with fast-evolving developments.

With some of the highest cart abandonment rates among all online industries, tourism also struggles to benefit from mobile-friendly websites.

These online travel booking statistics somewhat reflect the inherently competitive nature of hotel bookings, but they also show that all travel agencies need to modernize their marketing and sales strategies. The first thing to get the best live chat software :

• The LiveChat installation process is super easy and comes with a free WordPress plug-in. The chat platform offers personalized customer support with the help of AI and the customer's recent history.
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• SendinBlue not only does the tool have advanced live chat capabilities , but it also has premium email marketing functionalities. You can get started for free on Sendinblue – what are you waiting for?
• Tripadvisor
• The Vacationer
• GlobeNewswire
• Travel Weekly
• Booking.com
• Marketsampler
• Hospitalitynet
• Think With Google
• Travelagentcentral

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Anastasia has been a professional blogger and researcher since 2014. She loves to perform in-depth software reviews to help software buyers make informed decisions when choosing project management software, CRM tools, website builders, and everything around growing a startup business.

Anastasia worked in management consulting and tech startups, so she has lots of experience in helping professionals choosing the right business software.

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The 10 best online travel agencies in 2024

The top 10 online travel agencies.

• Booking.com
• Lastminute.com

Best online travel agencies for business travel

1. travelperk.

Main offerings and features:

• Industry-leading travel inventory
• Flexible booking with FlexiPerk
• Safety alerts with TravelCare
• Integrated travel policy & approval flows
• Centralized invoicing
• Easy & real-time expense reports
• Carbon offsetting with GreenPerk
• 24/7 fast customer support in target 15s
• VAT reclaim
• Integration with 3rd party tools , such as expense management or HR software like Expensify and BambooHR

Save time and money on your business travel with TravelPerk

2. sap concur.

• Works with some of the biggest brands
• Easy tracking and reporting of expenses for expense reports
• Many connected apps, such as Uber and Airbnb for cars and hotels
• One solution for a variety of business travel spending

Click below to compare both platforms’ features and benefits

• Ample integrations
• Award-winning mobile app
• Employee-centric travel management

Click below for a more detailed comparison between both platforms:

Best online travel agencies for leisure travel, 1. booking.com.

• Intuitive booking tool and website
• Flight + Hotel booking for easily planning trips with no cross-referencing travel websites
• Simple car rental options and taxi hire
• Available in over 40 different languages and offers over half a million properties across 207 countries
• You can book experiences in your destination city to entertain you on your travels
• Genius rewards program

• Simple interface and booking tool
• Deals when making more than one booking
• 38 different languages and offers a 24-hour, multilingual customer support service
• Free cancellation within 24 hours of booking
• Millions of reviews to help make your decision

3. Lastminute.com

• Filter hotels according to budgets, star ratings, guest ratings, board types, and more
• ATOL protection on flight + hotel bundles
• Flash sales for last-minute deals
• Payment plans to spread out the cost of travel
• Extra entertainment booking for your trips, like theatrical productions and day trips
• Gift cards for gifting travel

• Expedia rewards for hotels, cars, and more
• Experienced support
• Compare cruise lines
• Big savings when booking flights, hotels, and car rentals
• Operates in nearly 70 countries and in over 35 different languages
• Luxury travel options

• Book hotels, flights, cars, and bundles
• 24/7 support
• Lower prices on the app
• Great last-minute deals for spontaneous travel

6. Bookmundi

Best online travel agencies for flights

1. skyscanner.

• Super flexible booking filters
• Cheaper flights and hotels than other OTAs
• Price alerts for travel routes of interest
• Easy-to-use booking tool and UI
• Hundreds of location and currency options
• One-way, return, and multi-city travel options

2. Kiwi.com

• Simple flight booking tool
• Partnerships with Booking.com and Rentalcars.com
• Discover deals anywhere with the option to open up your search
• Easy-to-use app

How do online travel agencies work?

What are the advantages of booking through an online travel agency.

• Access to comparison tools
• Peer reviews to help you with your decisions
• Flexible cancellation policies
• All your travel in one place
• Local flights and deals

Rewards programs

Comparison tools, peer reviews, flexible cancellation.

Flexiperk: Cancel anytime, anywhere. Get a minimum of 80% of your money back.

One account for all of your travel needs, a local approach to global travel, wrapping up.

Make business travel simpler. Forever.

• See our platform in action . Trusted by thousands of companies worldwide, TravelPerk makes business travel simpler to manage with more flexibility, full control of spending with easy reporting, and options to offset your carbon footprint.
• Find hundreds of resources on all things business travel, from tips on traveling more sustainably, to advice on setting up a business travel policy, and managing your expenses. Our latest e-books and blog posts have you covered.
• Never miss another update. Stay in touch with us on social for the latest product releases, upcoming events, and articles fresh off the press.

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Online travel market - statistics & facts

How big is the online travel market, what are the leading online travel agencies (otas), what travel products do consumers book online, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Online travel market size worldwide 2017-2028

Distribution of sales channels in the travel and tourism market worldwide 2018-2028

Most popular travel and tourism websites worldwide 2024

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Online Travel Market

Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide 2023

Further recommended statistics

Industry overview.

• Premium Statistic Market size of the tourism sector worldwide 2011-2024
• Premium Statistic Travel and tourism revenue worldwide 2019-2028, by segment
• Premium Statistic Distribution of sales channels in the travel and tourism market worldwide 2018-2028
• Premium Statistic Online travel market size worldwide 2017-2028
• Premium Statistic Revenue of the travel apps industry worldwide 2017-2027
• Premium Statistic Estimated EV/Revenue ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment
• Premium Statistic Estimated EV/EBITDA ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment

Market size of the tourism sector worldwide 2011-2024

Market size of the tourism sector worldwide from 2011 to 2023, with a forecast for 2024 (in trillion U.S. dollars)

Travel and tourism revenue worldwide 2019-2028, by segment

Revenue of the global travel and tourism market from 2019 to 2028, by segment (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue share of sales channels of the travel and tourism market worldwide from 2018 to 2028

Online travel market size worldwide from 2017 to 2023, with a forecast until 2028 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue of the travel apps industry worldwide 2017-2027

Revenue of the travel apps market worldwide from 2017 to 2027 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Estimated EV/Revenue ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment

Estimated enterprise value to revenue (EV/Revenue) ratio in the online travel market worldwide as of April 2024, by segment

Estimated EV/EBITDA ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment

Estimated enterprise value to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio in the online travel market worldwide as of April 2024, by segment

Online bookings

• Premium Statistic Travel product online bookings in the U.S. 2024
• Premium Statistic Travel product online bookings in Canada 2024
• Premium Statistic Travel product online bookings in the UK 2024
• Premium Statistic Travel product online bookings in China 2024
• Premium Statistic Travel product online bookings in India 2024
• Premium Statistic Importance to book a trip fully online among travelers worldwide 2023, by generation

Travel product online bookings in the U.S. 2024

Travel product online bookings in the U.S. as of March 2024

Travel product online bookings in Canada 2024

Travel product online bookings in Canada as of March 2024

Travel product online bookings in the UK 2024

Travel product online bookings in the UK as of March 2024

Travel product online bookings in China 2024

Travel product online bookings in China as of March 2024

Travel product online bookings in India 2024

Travel product online bookings in India as of March 2024

Importance to book a trip fully online among travelers worldwide 2023, by generation

Share of travelers who think it is important to be able to book their trip entirely online worldwide as of July 2023, by generation

Market leaders

• Premium Statistic Revenue of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2023
• Premium Statistic Marketing expenses of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2023
• Premium Statistic Marketing/revenue ratio of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2023
• Premium Statistic Number of employees at leading travel companies worldwide 2022
• Basic Statistic Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Most popular travel and tourism websites worldwide 2024

Revenue of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2023

Leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide from 2019 to 2023, by revenue (in million U.S. dollars)

Marketing expenses of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2023

Marketing expenses of leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide from 2019 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Marketing/revenue ratio of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2023

Marketing to revenue ratio of leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide from 2019 to 2023

Number of employees at leading travel companies worldwide 2022

Number of employees at selected leading travel companies worldwide in 2022

Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide as of September 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps worldwide 2023

Number of aggregated downloads of selected leading online travel agency apps worldwide in 2023 (in millions)

Most visited travel and tourism websites worldwide as of April 2024 (in million visits)

Booking Holdings

• Basic Statistic Revenue of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023
• Premium Statistic Number of bookings through Booking Holdings worldwide 2010-2023, by segment
• Premium Statistic Operating income of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023
• Premium Statistic Net income of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023

Revenue of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023

Revenue of Booking Holdings worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Number of bookings through Booking Holdings worldwide 2010-2023, by segment

Number of bookings through Booking Holdings worldwide from 2010 to 2023, by business segment (in millions)

Operating income of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023

Operating income of Booking Holdings worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Net income of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023

Net income of Booking Holdings worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Expedia Group

• Premium Statistic Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2017-2023, by business model
• Premium Statistic Operating income of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023
• Premium Statistic Net income of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023

Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023

Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2017-2023, by business model

Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide from 2017 to 2023, by business model (in million U.S. dollars)

Operating income of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023

Operating income of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Net income of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023

Net income of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

• Premium Statistic Airbnb revenue worldwide 2017-2023
• Premium Statistic Airbnb revenue worldwide 2019-2023, by region
• Premium Statistic Airbnb operations income worldwide 2017-2023
• Premium Statistic Airbnb net income worldwide 2017-2023

Airbnb revenue worldwide 2017-2023

Revenue of Airbnb worldwide from 2017 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Airbnb revenue worldwide 2019-2023, by region

Revenue of Airbnb worldwide from 2019 to 2023, by region (in billion U.S. dollars)

Airbnb operations income worldwide 2017-2023

Income from operations of Airbnb worldwide from 2017 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Airbnb net income worldwide 2017-2023

Net income of Airbnb worldwide from 2017 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Trip.com Group

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Get the best deal without the hassle: The best sites to book flights

If you're not booking direct, try one of these sites to book flights.

Finding cheap flights can feel like a full-time job, with prices varying wildly across different booking sites and search engines. Spend too little time searching, and you could easily overpay. But go down an endless rabbit hole of flight searches, and the “deal” you scored may not be worth the hassle. 

Google Flights: The easy, feature-packed option

• Kayak: The price comparison specialist  

Capital One Travel: Great value for cardholders

Expedia: bundle flights, hotels and earn rewards, bottom line.

The good news is that not all flight search engines are created equal. Some make it easier to find great deals without the headache of combing through countless options and websites. When you use the right flight booking site for your needs, you can take the stress out of trip planning while still saving big. 

Don’t worry – we’re here to help! We compiled some of the best sites to book flights and get fantastic value with minimal effort.

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For simplicity combined with powerful search capabilities and features, it’s hard to beat Google Flights. Just enter your origin, destination, and travel dates, and Google instantly pulls flight results from across hundreds of airlines and online travel agencies. 

The search filters are robust. You can quickly narrow things down by airline, number of stops, departure times, flight duration, price range, and more. You can even filter out basic economy fares or flights on certain aircraft types. 

One of the most useful features is the explore map, which is great for finding cheap destinations if your travel dates are at least somewhat flexible. Just select your home airport and possible travel dates, and Google will show you the lowest fares to different regions of the world.

The main downside of Google Flights is that it doesn’t always surface the absolute cheapest fares, particularly for international routes to less traveled destinations. But for a fast, clean search experience with plenty of customization, Google Flights is tough to top.

Kayak: The price comparison specialist  

While Google Flights queries a huge range of sources, Kayak takes things even further by scanning across hundreds of individual airline and online travel agency websites to try to find the lowest fares. It doesn’t sell tickets directly, but it streamlines the booking process by linking you straight to the cheapest option to finalize your purchase.

Kayak’s flexible date search calendar is cleanly designed and makes it easy to see at a glance the cheapest days to fly for your particular route. You can quickly compare fares across an entire month or two to find the best deal. But most importantly, in testing, Kayak frequently surfaces lower fares than Google Flights, especially for international routes. 

For frequent Capital One credit card users, the issuer’s dedicated travel portal could be the most rewarding flight booking site. Key benefits include bonus rewards on travel purchases made through the portal as well as statement credits that can trim costs.

Those with the premium Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card earn a hefty 5x miles spent on flights and hotels booked through Capital One Travel. In addition, Venture X cardholders receive up to a $300 annual travel credit that can be used to offset bookings made through the Capital One Travel portal.

So, booking even just a modest $300 flight through the portal would essentially make it free after factoring in the travel credit.

Capital One Travel also partners with travel data company Hopper to provide pricing forecasts and recommendations on when to book to get the best deal. As an added incentive, they’ll give you up to a $50 credit toward future travel if the price drops for the same itinerary within 10 days of when you booked with their recommendation.

For some travelers, factors like earning rewards from bookings and packaging flights with hotels can be higher priorities than finding the absolute rock-bottom price. 

For those looking at the fuller picture, Expedia could be the best flight booking site.

Through Expedia’s new One Key rewards program, travelers earn back 0.2% of their flight booking cost in the form of OneKeyCash. It’s not a huge return, but it can help offset costs a bit and stack with rewards earned from your credit card and the airline itself.

More compelling are the credits you’ll earn toward elite status in the One Key program. Work your way up to the higher elite tiers, and you’ll unlock benefits like bonus OneKeyCash earnings, hotel upgrades, and price protection on bookings.

Additionally, Expedia advertises potential savings of up to 30% when bundling your hotel and flight into a vacation package. While actual discounts will likely be smaller in many cases, it’s still worth pricing out the package option if you need both air and hotel for an upcoming trip.

At the end of the day, there is no definitive “best” flight booking site for every situation. The right option for you will depend on your particular priorities and how much time and effort you’re willing to invest to potentially save a bit more.

For those looking for simplicity and a quick, powerful search experience, it’s hard to beat Google Flights. For comparing prices across the most sources, Kayak is a great option. Those wanting to earn extra rewards or discounts for packaging a hotel should look at sites like Expedia, while certain Capital One cardholders can get value from the issuer’s travel portal.

Whichever route you take, using the right flight booking site for your needs can make finding a great deal much easier.

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Thailand's a magnet for tourists, and for good reason! From its mouthwatering food to its stunning scenery, there's something for everyone. But timing your trip right can make all the difference. Here's a breakdown to help you pick the perfect time to visit Thailand:  The best time to visit Thailand for good weather

For many travelers, the cool and dry season from November to February is considered the best time to visit Thailand for optimal weather conditions. This is when the whole country sighs in relief – comfortable temperatures, low humidity, and barely a drop of rain. 

We’ve all been there- gripping the armrest of the plane seat with white knuckles as the aircraft jostles and jolts its way through the sky. For many passengers, turbulence is the bane of air travel, transforming what should be a stress-free journey into a nerve-wracking ordeal.

In a recent study conducted by Turbli, a leading aviation research firm, the most turbulent flight paths in the United States were identified, highlighting regions where passengers are most likely to encounter the daunting effects of rough air. From coast to coast, these are the routes that test even the most seasoned flyers. What is turbulence?

What you need to know about direct versus third-party travel bookings

When you're planning a trip, there are several ways to make reservations for your flights, hotel and rental car. Two of the most common options include booking directly with the provider and using a third-party service, such as an online travel agency. But is one method better than the other?

Let's go over each method's benefits and everything you should consider before booking a trip.

What is a direct booking?

A direct booking involves paying for and reserving your travels through the airline, hotel or car rental agency itself. For example, if you want to book a stay at a Hilton hotel , you can use the Hilton website to make your reservation. Or, if you want to fly on United Airlines, you can book your reservation through the airline's website.

What is a third-party booking?

A third-party booking encompasses any sort of travel that's reserved with a separate provider (such as OTAs like Expedia and Priceline) and not directly through an airline, hotel or car rental agency. Other examples of third-party providers include travel agents and credit card travel portals (like Chase Travel℠ and Amex Travel ).

Benefits of booking directly

At TPG, we often recommend making direct bookings for travel. Here are some of the top benefits of booking directly:

Direct bookings cut out the middleman

If there's an issue with your travel, such as a flight delay or cancellation, you can deal with the airline itself and not a third party. Or, if the airline makes changes to your flight times and the new schedule doesn't work for you, you can reach out to the carrier to switch your flight to a more appropriate time — or even cancel it altogether.

Dealing with an airline directly can be much more efficient than trying to navigate reservation changes with a third party. It can mean the difference between having several rebooking options or having none at all because other travelers (who likely booked directly with the airline) got first priority.

The same goes for hotels and rental car agencies. Let's say you decided to revise your travel dates, so you want to make a voluntary change to your reservation. You may not be able to easily do this with a third-party booking site, especially if you used an OTA.

Oftentimes, third-party reservations have more restrictive policies regarding changes or cancellations. Or, you may be charged a fee to make changes. For example, if you contact JetBlue to make a ticket change on a travel agency booking instead of one made via JetBlue's website, you'll be charged a $50 service fee per person. If you can't self-manage your reservation on JetBlue's website and you want to avoid the service fee, the airline advises contacting the third party that booked your ticket for assistance.

However, the third-party booking site itself may also impose change fees. For example, Priceline's website states that "if your flight's fare rules allow a change, a per ticket exchange processing fee may apply." Similarly, Hotels.com 's terms and conditions disclose that it may also charge for reservation changes.

You can earn rewards and qualify for elite status

Typically, airline bookings have been eligible for miles-earning progress that counts directly toward elite status whether you book directly or via a third party. This means that if you book a flight through a third party and include your loyalty program number on the reservation, you should earn miles that adhere to the airline's fare class rules. If you have status with that airline, you will be eligible for status perks, such as seat selection or a free checked bag.

Related: When you will (and won't) earn miles on your flight

The same is not true for third-party hotel bookings , though. When you book a hotel reservation through a third party, you typically do not earn points or qualify for any status benefits through loyalty programs.

If you're booking with an independent travel agent or travel adviser, be sure to ask whether your reservations will qualify for status-earning metrics like points, nights or stays. In some cases, your travel agent may be booking a package deal that won't earn hotel rewards, but you may still be able to include a frequent flyer number to get airline miles or status benefits. In other cases, you may be able to book through a program like Hyatt Prive or Hilton Impresario that does qualify for points and elite night credits.

Promotions or perks are often available to frequent guests

Direct bookings are more profitable to the airline, hotel or rental car agency, as these companies do not have to pay a commission to a third party for your reservations. Thus, you can reap benefits that encourage you to continue booking directly.

For airlines, hotels and rental car agencies, there may be discounts or promotions available to customers who book directly. Additionally, loyalty program members often receive targeted offers and coupon codes that can only be redeemed when you book directly.

When it comes to hotels, you may get a better room by booking directly, even if you don't have elite status. Hotels often give the worst rooms (think: ones with no view, that are small, that are not as updated, that sit next to a service elevator, etc.) to people who book via a third party.

Of course, there are exceptions to this. For example, hotels booked via programs like American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts often offer an upgraded room type.

If the hotel happens to be oversold, booking directly means you're less likely to be " walked " (or moved to another hotel because the property you booked is full). However, loyalty program members who book directly, even those with top-tier status, can still be walked. It's just more likely that the hotel will prioritize customers with status over those who booked with a third party.

If you find a lower price for your hotel from a third party, you may be able to price match or take advantage of a "best rate guarantee." This allows you to book directly but pay a lower price by providing proof of the OTA's price. Keep in mind that your proof has to be for the exact same room type; some hotels may classify a room one way on their websites and differently with an OTA, making it harder to request a price match.

Benefits of third-party bookings

Third-party bookings can make sense for lots of travelers for several reasons. Here are some of the top benefits of third-party bookings:

It is easier to quickly compare prices between different options

Sometimes, when you're planning a trip, you want to compare your options for flights, hotels or rental cars. Instead of going to several different airline, hotel or rental car websites, you can use one third-party site or a travel agent to shop and compare prices.

If you don't have a lot of time to do research but want to stick to a set budget, third-party bookings can be a quick way to book a trip within your budget parameters. They also typically allow you to package airfare, hotel and a rental car into one booking, which can help simplify planning.

You'll often find lower prices and discounts

While you may sometimes find promotions and discounts when making direct bookings, third parties frequently offer steep discounts as well, especially on last-minute hotel stays. Many hotels would rather sell the room via a third-party company and pay the commission instead of the room going unsold. Just keep in mind that you may get the smallest room with a view of a brick wall, as the hotel has no incentive to upgrade you to anything nicer.

Additionally, some of the lesser-known OTAs may offer bigger discounts compared to the more mainstream OTAs. However, buyer beware: They may also be harder to deal with if you run into any problems on your trip or your booking needs a modification or cancellation. Programs like these include brands like HotelTonight.

Some OTAs have their own rewards programs

If you frequently book travel through an OTA, it can be worthwhile to join its rewards program.

Members of One Key , the loyalty program for Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo, receive 2% in OneKeyCash for every dollar spent on eligible hotels, vacation rentals, activities, packages, car rentals and cruises. They also get 0.2% in OneKeyCash for every dollar spent on eligible flights.

Similarly, Priceline has a VIP program that offers benefits and discounts based on your status level. Status is earned through completed trips or from having the Priceline VIP Rewards™ Visa® Card .

The information for the Priceline Rewards card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

In some cases, you have a travel advocate

Booking trips through an independent travel agent or travel adviser (rather than an OTA) can actually work to your advantage, especially if you find yourself needing to pivot during a delay or cancellation.

When you need to contact an airline or hotel, it can sometimes be difficult to navigate time zones. But if you book with a travel agent, you can be sleeping in the middle of the night while they handle the rebooking logistics for you.

Travel agents also often have insider information about specific destinations and can recommend activities based on your interests. As an added bonus, they can help you pick activities that fit within your set vacation budget.

Related: Is it better to book a cruise through a travel agent? We say yes

Should you avoid third-party bookings?

The biggest reason to avoid third-party bookings is that these sites function as middlemen, which can cause problems if you have delays or cancellations. It may be difficult to reach a human to speak to if you book a trip with an OTA or credit card travel portal. A lot of communication and customer service for these services is done through email or online chat. When you're trying to rebook travel, time is of the essence, and most people usually don't want to deal with long waits or extensive conversations.

Having travel insurance that covers you for delays and cancellations, either through your credit card or a separate policy you purchased, is always smart, especially if your bookings are through a third party.

Also, be sure to watch out for fees with third-party bookings. For example, Priceline adds a convenience fee when selecting a seat for a flight, even when the airline itself doesn't charge one. Change and cancellation fees are also common with third-party companies.

That being said, there are several instances when third-party bookings might be the best way to book your travel.

For a last-minute reservation when your plans are unlikely to change, a third-party booking may be a smart choice if it saves you money rather than booking directly. However, if you think you may need to cancel or reschedule your travel, changes are much easier to make when trips are booked directly. It's important to read the fine print, as third-party reservations may be nonrefundable with no options to book a refundable rate (unlike direct bookings, which often offer both refundable and nonrefundable options).

Another instance when you may want to book with a third party is when using credit card benefits that require reserving travel through the card issuer's travel portal. Such benefits may include the annual $50 hotel credit from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the $300 annual travel credit from the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card . The only way to use these benefits is to make your bookings via Chase Travel℠ or the Capital One travel portal .

Third-party bookings can also be a great option when you want to reserve a hotel that isn't part of a major chain, so earning rewards or having status doesn't matter as much.

Bottom line

If being able to easily reach a live customer service representative and seamlessly rebook travel (if needed) is important to you, skip the OTAs and stick with direct bookings. Spending a little more to have those safeguards in place can be worth it.

That said, there may be times when it makes sense to book via a third party. If you've determined the benefits (like a potential deal) outweigh the drawbacks, making a third-party booking may be the best way to go.

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• 13 must-have items the TPG team can't travel without

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Pros and cons of an online Travel agency vs. offline travel agency

What is the difference between an online travel agency and an offline travel agency? We will look at the pros and cons of online travel agencies vs. offline travel agencies

By Jessica Freedman

February 9, 2024

As travel managers constantly look for ways to optimize their corporate travel programs, part of doing so is understanding the differences between going digital or taking your travel management needs offline. In this explanatory guide, we will look at the pros and cons of online travel agencies vs. offline travel agencies so that you are prepared to understand the differences in order to choose the travel booking tool and management system that is most suitable for your company.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• What is a TMC?

What is an OTA?

Pros and cons of online travel agencies, offline travel agencies, pros and cons of offline travel agencies, how to choose the best corporate travel platform.

Let’s start with a short introduction to some simple terminology to give you a guiding hand.

Types of online booking tools

For starters, to recognize the difference between online travel agencies and offline, it’s important to understand that there is a wide range of online booking tools available for travel. Let’s take a look at the different types:

Travel aggregators

Corporate online booking tools, direct bookings, travel agencies.

Travel aggregators are websites that essentially consolidate the travel offers and prices from multiple sources all in one place. This allows users to book at the lowest prices based on the results listed in the search results. This helps users find the best prices out of all the results the aggregator has found. This way it is easy for consumers to know that they are booking at the lowest price possible.

TMCs like BCD (which we will discuss more in detail below) can function as a travel aggregator. For instance, for hotel bookings, TMCs combine GDS content with content from Expedia, Booking.com, HRS, and others offering this all together in a mobile app or website. In the case of AMEX, they have a proprietary online booking tool, called KDS, which also serves as a travel aggregation tool.

 When it comes to business travel, corporate online booking tools are frequently used by businesses to keep a hand on their business travelers. Corporate online booking tools are ideal for keeping track of trips, travel spend, and ultimately streamlining business travel.  GetGoing  and Booking.com for business are examples of corporate online booking tools, as well as EHI Direct .

Direct bookings are carried out by going directly to the airline, hotel, train or rental car company’s respective sites and booking directly instead of through a third party.

We will look more at online travel agencies, or OTAs below, but the idea is that you can get access to travel inventory all in one place. Online travel agencies are the most common way of booking online travel.

What is a TMC?

A TMC, or a Travel Management Company uses a Global Distribution System (GDS) as a travel booking tool. TMCs started before the boom of online travel. Travel was booked in a traditional way via telephone or email and then arrangements were made by travel agents.

Nonetheless, TMCS have evolved since their beginnings, investing in making business travel more digital even though they still have a way to come in terms of technology. TMCs offer the value of industry experience while offering more personal service through their agents. TMCs integrate custom-built booking  preferences to give business travelers the best choices within their travel  policy , allowing them to compare options. As a travel manager you can work with your TMC to decide how you want to set up your business travel program.

A TMC like BCD Travel, AMEX, and CWT can help companies make the most of their travel in general beyond just booking travel. They can give a helping hand with cost analysis, reporting, duty of care, etc., but that isn’t to say that an online travel agency won’t provide you with data reports of your travel spend.

Full-service business and corporate travel management companies can help optimize, manage and improve your business travel, ensuring you adhere to your travel policy, and providing seamless booking experiences, while offering a hand with travel data, allowing you to optimize your travel spend and costs to make the most out of your business travel program.

OTAs, or online travel agencies offer customers the possibility to book their travel online. OTAs started in 1996 with Travelocity being the first online travel agency. Most of them started off with a strong digital product and platform and added agent support/service as an added benefit.

They are third party agents who sell services on behalf of airlines, hotels, car rental companies, tour operators and others. They arrange and sell accommodations, tours, transportation and trips on an online platform for travelers. Some well-known travel platforms such as Booking or Expedia act both as travel agencies and tour operators allowing customers to read reviews to decide where to stay, and also book package holidays.

Several online travel agencies are only customer-facing, like the above examples, whereas other OTAs can service both B2B and B2C like Booking.com, which offers services for business clients as well as regular customers. On the other hand, OTAs like  GetGoing   and Travel Perk are designed exclusively with Business travelers in mind .

What is an online travel agent?

An online travel agent is an OTA that is part of web-based platform that allows users to book travel services over the internet. Online travel agents are intermediaries between travelers and service providers like airlines, hotels, car rental companies and tour operators. They provide a central platform to book, compare and search for travel arrangements, whether it be for business or leisure.

OTAs have a big market share

The global business travel market is a  $695.9 billion industry as of 2020 , and is expected to reach $2,001.1 billion by 2028. Whereas the online travel market is a $433.2 billion dollar industry, with the revenue share of online sales in the global travel and tourism market at 66% (according to a study by  Statista.com ).

As can be noted by the 66% market share of online travel sales, the great majority of reservations are being made via online travel agencies, and for this reason, OTAs have become an important distribution channel for tourism businesses. While OTAs are often used to book holidays and leisure trips, there are also online travel agencies, known as Travel Management Companies, or TMCs that have the same functionality as OTAs but are primarily used by companies or businesses.

Advantages and disadvantages of online travel agency

An online travel agency is convenient, has a wide range of options, allows you to easily compare prices, can be a great way to see reviews and ratings from other users, gives special deals and discounts and is available 24/7. Some disadvantages of an online travel agency is that there may be hidden fees, you have less leeway for personalization, customer service is harder to track down, and there is less flexibility.

Now that you have a better idea of some of the basic terminology, and some of the advantages and disadvantages of an online travel agency, let’s look at some of the pros and cons of an online travel agency.

online travel agency

1. an online travel agency is self-service .

Online travel agencies are a way to self-manage your travel needs. They have an integrated online booking tool that allows you to make travel arrangements, make cancellations, manage bookings and do everything that a brick and mortar travel agency would let you do with the convenience and benefits of a self-service approach. 

2. Keep track and manage travel expenses

In addition to being self-service, as a travel manager, with an online travel agency or TMC you can keep track of your travel spend and optimize your expenses while at the same time automating your travel policy so that travelers will be notified when their travel expenses are out of policy, and ensuring that you stay on budget.

3. Increased productivity

Working with an online travel agency leads to more productivity because you spend less time managing your trips. All your trip information is conveniently stored in your profile so that you can manage, edit and cancel hotel bookings, car rentals, train bookings as necessary. This means that in the case of travel managers, you can work with the OTA to automate your travel policy, which takes the automated work out of the hands of you and your travelers.

4. Help keep travelers safe

In the case of an online travel platform like GetGoing, you can have added assistance in keeping your traveler’s safe thanks to built-in AI technology that prefers the safe travel options, like not passing through high-risk countries, helping to fulfill your duty of care. You can also have access to traveler tracking and emergency support in the case of need. 

1. Less personal

While online provides great convenience, one of the cons is that it is less personal, lacking the personal touch of an in-person offline travel agency. Of course there is always the possibility to call, chat or speak to a representative, it’s not the same as a face-to-face encounter, especially for managing business.

2. Less hand-holding

For those inexperienced travelers, online travel agencies can be more “do-it-yourself” meaning that there is less hand-holding if you need it . This can take away from productivity because travelers must evaluate the options themselves, rather than having a TMC that can give you a helping hand. A TMC would be able to discover the most effective (and safest options), meaning less layovers in potentially risky countries.

3. Hard to get around the rules

When you are working with an offline agency it’s easier to bend the rules or get around travel provider’s policies. TMCs can oftentimes make changes to bookings without charges that travelers or travel managers on their own wouldn’t be able to do thanks to their business relationships with the providers.

Now that we’ve looked in depth at online travel agencies, let’s take a look at offline travel agencies, including their pros and cons.

What is an offline travel agency?

Offline Travel Agencies are travel agencies, including corporate travel departments, who operate from “brick and mortar” offices. This means that they have physical offices rather than operating as an OTA with only a website. Customers typically call or go to their offices to get travel-related services, which they provide using a GDS like Galileo. An offline travel agency usually has a team of travel agents who can help clients book flights, hotels, car rentals and other travel services.

While it’s true online travel agencies have gained popularity for their convenience, there are still many who prefer the personalized service provided by a face-to-face interactions at offline travel agencies. Offline travel agencies may cater to a specific market or specialize in certain kind of travel, i.e., business travel, group trips, leisure travel, etc. and this kind of assistance and hand-holding may give clients a sense of reassurance.

Advantages and disadvantages of offline travel agency

An offline travel agency has its advantages like the ability to get expert advice, personalized service, the face-to-face component, the ease of problem resolution, and the convenience of being hand-held along the process of booking travel. However, there are also some disadvantages like limited accessibility, potentially higher costs, limited choices, time-consuming, constraints on availability of store hours, and perhaps less transparency.

Now that you have a better idea of what an offline travel agency does, as well as the advantages and disadvantages, let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons.

offline travel agency

1. it’s more personal.

As much as we move more and more towards a digital-first approach, there is still an element of face-to-face contact that can’t be replaced. This is one of the main pros of an offline agency, being able to meet in person to book travel and even design your corporate travel program. Also for the travel agency, it’s easier to cater to the traveler’s needs, and really understand what they are looking for.

2. Enhanced service

Since online agencies tend to be more self-service, it can be argued that offline agencies offer enhanced services. Trip planning, including more complex routings or integrated travel booking, which include multiple forms of transport, accommodation and leisure activities can be more easily managed with an offline travel agency, setting them apart from their offline counterparts.

3. It’s more inclusive 

While for the purposes of this article, we are more focused towards business travel, it goes without saying that offline travel agencies are more inclusive. According to a study by the UN’s ICT agency, an estimated 37% of the world’s population (2.9 billion people) have never used the Internet. For that reason, in underdeveloped countries, an offline travel agency is still crucial in order to service this part of the population.

1. Not as flexible

With an offline travel agency, you must adhere to business hours in order to make your business travel plans. If it’s late at night and you are working after hours to plan your business trip, this means you’ll have to wait until the next business day to book your trip. 

2. Less technology-forward

Of course, offline travel agencies use technology like GDS to book your travel, it goes without saying that a traditional offline travel agency is less technologically advanced. Unlike online agencies, they don’t have to rely on technology or even have a fast website to help make travel plans. Since they are dealing with external systems for the most part, there is no precedent for having a technologically-forward website. 

3. Less efficient

While it can be efficient to work with an offline agency when you are booking complex trips with multiple providers, it can be less efficient for everyday use. With OTAs, all the information is readily available making it quick and efficient to book a trip. In the case of going offline, you have to rely on the help of an agent to take care of your everyday travel needs, which can be less efficient than handling travel plans on your own.

Now that you’ve fully understood the pros and cons of an online travel agency vs. an offline travel agency, here are some tips to choose a corporate travel platform that’s right for you.

• Look for balance between online technology with offline support
• Ease of creating your travel policy
• Safety first
• Simple approach to data
• Allows you to save money

1. Look for balance between online technology with offline support

This means that you have a tool that has all the functionalities of an online travel platform, but with expert service and assistance when you need it most. Sometimes business travel doesn’t go as planned; there might be delays, lost luggage, long wait times, cancellations, overbookings or a wide range of other issues. This is why you need to have a support system in place that is ready to help when the going gets tough. At GetGoing you have the ease of digital but with the guarantee of 24/7 service when you need it.   This way you can travel worry-free knowing that an expert is there to lend you a hand if any of these unexpected circumstances arise.

2. Ease of creating your travel policy

When it comes to creating your travel policy, you want to find a travel management company that will support you in creating a policy that allows you to save money, protect your travelers and optimize your business travel. This is why you should look for a TMC that allows you to automate your travel policy . Automation is at the core of productivity and by optimizing your travel policy, you can also save money. 

3. Safety first

Whether you decide to go with an online travel agency or an offline travel agency, ensure that your traveler’s safety is first and foremost. This means that you should be able to offer certain security measures to your travelers so that as business travel slowly recovers, they feel safe to get going. 

4. Simple approach to data

Not everyone on your team is data-savvy, so you want to find a corporate travel management system that makes understanding data easy. Whether you’re a Finance manager , an HR or Office Manager , you need to have a system that allows you to visualize your data, including travel spend, seeing how much travel is booked within your travel policy, and using detailed reports to optimize routes, supplier relations and keep your travelers happy. Having data at your fingertips is the best way to optimize your business travel program. 

5. Allows you to save money

While optimizing your travel program, and understanding your data, you will without a doubt save money.  However, another very important part of business travel is having access to corporate travel deals . Not only does having access to deals save you money, but your staff will also be more productive because they don’t have to look in a million different places for the best deals. 

Get a helping hand in business travel

GetGoing is your helping hand in business travel so that you can book, manage and optimize your business travel. We provide the ease of a digital platform but with the peace of mind of a travel agency.

• Empower your team
• Save time and money
• Gain more visibility
• Ensure safe and comfortable travel

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Booking travel online? Here's how you can avoid scams

Morgan Macfarlane arrived at her hotel in Orizaba, Mexico, last May, ready to quickly drop her bags off and go get dinner. But when she tried to check in, an employee told her they weren’t fully operational yet and didn’t have an advanced booking system.

She had booked the room and prepaid about $40 through Airbnb and pulled up the confirmation on the platform’s app on her phone. 

“And he was like, ‘That isn’t our listing,’” the 27-year-old digital advertising associate and travel content creator said.

While the address was the same, the listing she booked turned out to be fake, she said. Airbnb refunded Macfarlane’s money, and she paid in cash to stay the night at the hotel. An Airbnb spokesperson said the host had since been banned.

"False listings of course have no place on our platform," the spokesperson said in an email. "The host never received any money through Airbnb since we handle the payments for reservations and hosts do not receive initial payouts until 24 hours after a successful check-in."

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Macfarlane is not alone.

A recent survey of more than 7,000 adults in seven countries – including over 1,000 in the U.S. – from online protection company McAfee found that 35% of American respondents had been the victim of a scam while booking travel online, or know someone who has. The survey results released earlier this month also showed that 40% of those who had money stolen lost over $1,000 prior to their trip as a result.

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Among U.S. adults surveyed, 13% also said they had given credit card information to a fake website that was then used for fraudulent payments. Here’s how travelers can avoid falling prey to travel booking scams online.

How can travelers avoid scams online?

Steve Grobman, McAfee’s senior vice president and chief technology officer, said travelers should be on their guard while browsing. “The scammers know that there are people that are bargain hunting,” he said.

◾If travelers are looking at listings through a third party, they need to read reviews for the specific property, in the case of a vacation rental, for instance. Macfarlane said the listing she booked didn’t have any reviews but had photos that looked legitimate.

◾If travelers are not browsing on a well-known travel site, such as Airbnb or Vrbo, they should pay close attention to the payment methods accepted. Grobman warned never to pay by wire transfer, cryptocurrency or gift cards, which they often will not be able to get back.

“The scammers will actually sometimes use the fact that something is a good deal as rationale for why they're insisting on those forms of payments,” he said. “They'll say, you know, ‘How can we offer such a good deal? It's because we don't have the overhead of traditional credit cards.’”

◾If a deal looks too good to be true, Grobman added, it probably is. 

He said that fraudulent sites look “almost identical” to legitimate ones, making it very difficult to tell them apart. Those running the fake site may even add forged ratings, and vary them so they look more real.

“They'll do things like that to add credibility, because people have gotten in the habit of looking for things like ratings or looking for certain telltale signs that we all see on legitimate sites,” Grobman said.

He suggested trying to validate that the site exists, such as checking to see whether it has been referenced in legitimate media outlets.

Fake booking sites may also use some of the same techniques as above-board businesses, like buying keywords on Google and tracking users who may be looking for those sites. “That's why if you visit one of these sites and decide not to make a transaction, you could still get a targeted ad popping up in your browser and social media a couple of hours later, that would be for the same location that you might have been researching,” Grobman said.

◾Using a VPN, or virtual private network , that hides your IP address and physical location can help prevent that kind of tracking, he noted.

Booking travel with a VPN: Can using one save you money on hotels, car rentals? I tested it out

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What can you do if you get scammed online?

If a traveler paid by credit card, they can call the credit card company and dispute the charge, which a scammer will have a much harder time justifying than a real business. For those who have booked through a reputable broker but run into an issue with the person who listed the property or other service, Grobman said those platforms can typically mediate.

Travelers who may have been the target of a scam can also report it to the Federal Trade Commission and their state attorney general, according to the FTC’s website .

“If you can stick to sites that have a high reputation and have safeguards in place, that's always preferable,” Grobman said.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].