What travel booking site do you use?

post reply Forum Index » Travel Discussion
[Post New]02/16/2018 21:59
quote
Anonymous
Curious about preferred ways to book personal travel— flights, hotels, etc. I have typically used Expedia or Travelocity. Neither one has been working the last few days and wondering which sites are the easiest, have the most options, and best prices. Does anyone use an old fashioned travel agent anymore?
Thanks.
[Post New]02/16/2018 22:30
quote
Anonymous
kayak and google flights are my main source. theflightdeal.com to watch for "deals" for the future...
[Post New]02/16/2018 22:31
quote
Anonymous
costcotravel.com for car rental.
[Post New]02/17/2018 07:54
quote
Anonymous
The sight of the company I am actually going to use.
[Post New]02/17/2018 17:14
quote
Karina33
Member Offline
Rentacarbestprice.com for hotels, car hire, airport transport and some travel info like where to go and what to see
[Post New]02/17/2018 17:16
quote
Karina33
Member Offline
Rentacarbestprice.com for hotels, car hire, airport transfer and some travel info like where to go and what to see
[Post New]02/19/2018 03:57
quote
Anonymous
Costco travel always throw in a car from the airport, resort gift card, rebate, or something
[Post New]02/19/2018 06:27
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:The sight of the company I am actually going to use.


+1

I was on a flight from Providence to DC about a year ago and seated next to a woman who had been bumped from her flight the day prior. She had booked through Expedia and wasn’t a member of the frequent flyer program. That, apparently, gives the lowest status/priority and makes you the first one to bump in an oversell. Never booking through ma OTA again after learning that!
[Post New]02/19/2018 06:56
quote
Anonymous
Skiplagged for flights. Best prices and eaiest interface. For hotels, the hotel brand websites. Car - my bank’s referral website.
[Post New]02/19/2018 08:30
quote
Anonymous
booking.com for hotels and apartments.
[Post New]02/19/2018 08:41
quote
Anonymous


We use booking.com for apartments and VRBO for rental houses/villas, but usually with hotels/resorts and airlines, I just book directly through them.
[Post New]02/19/2018 09:11
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:That, apparently, gives the lowest status/priority and makes you the first one to bump in an oversell.


It's not just flights. I worked in the hotel industry and guests who booked through a third party site such as Expedia are not valued as much as those who book directly through the hotel. I've had instances where we'd have to walk guests to the closest property because the hotel is completely booked. Hotels give favoritism to those who book directly.
[Post New]02/19/2018 09:36
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:That, apparently, gives the lowest status/priority and makes you the first one to bump in an oversell.


It's not just flights. I worked in the hotel industry and guests who booked through a third party site such as Expedia are not valued as much as those who book directly through the hotel. I've had instances where we'd have to walk guests to the closest property because the hotel is completely booked. Hotels give favoritism to those who book directly.


Agreed.
I will use Orbitz for hotel and rental car availability and I use Google Flights for airline availability but I always go directly to the provider’s site to actually book the reservation. If you ever have to make a change to an existing reservation and you used a 3rd part site the actual provider will not deal with you. They will push you off to the 3rd party that you booked with. At least that was my experience and once was enough to convince me to book direct. Also, I never have to pay more than the price I find online to book direct.
Third party sites are great for seeing what’s out there but always book direct with the actual provider.
[Post New]02/19/2018 10:55
quote
Anonymous
I've always booked flights through Orbitz but now I'm nervous reading the above posts!

For accomodations, I did know that hotels don't value third-party sites, so I always do it directly (although, I'm sure a place like Costco would be fine)
[Post New]02/19/2018 11:00
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:That, apparently, gives the lowest status/priority and makes you the first one to bump in an oversell.


It's not just flights. I worked in the hotel industry and guests who booked through a third party site such as Expedia are not valued as much as those who book directly through the hotel. I've had instances where we'd have to walk guests to the closest property because the hotel is completely booked. Hotels give favoritism to those who book directly.


Agreed.
I will use Orbitz for hotel and rental car availability and I use Google Flights for airline availability but I always go directly to the provider’s site to actually book the reservation. If you ever have to make a change to an existing reservation and you used a 3rd part site the actual provider will not deal with you. They will push you off to the 3rd party that you booked with. At least that was my experience and once was enough to convince me to book direct. Also, I never have to pay more than the price I find online to book direct.
Third party sites are great for seeing what’s out there but always book direct with the actual provider.



Yes, this has been my experience, too. Orbitz and others are essentially selling you two one-way flights and they're not under the same Record Locator.

I once had my outbound flight canceled because of a hurricane but neither Orbitz nor the airline would refund the RETURN portion (which I couldn't take because I wasn't actually THERE). Very expensive lesson -- always book flights directly with the airlines.
post reply Forum Index » Travel Discussion
Message Quick Reply
Go to: 

Search   Recent Topics   Hottest Topics