Groupon Review [2024]: Is It Useful for Finding Travel Deals?

You may already know Groupon for its deals on physical goods like clothing, bedding, homeware, and more. But did you know that Groupon can also help you save money while traveling? 

You can use Groupon to find deals on accommodation, food, and entry to tourist attractions. In this article, I'll tell you what Groupon is, how it works, and tips for sifting through scams.

What is Groupon?

Groupon is an online marketplace that connects local businesses in 13 countries to customers looking for a deal. Over 1.5 billion Groupon vouchers have been sold since the company was launched. 

You can find all sorts of deals on Groupon, and Groupon offers lots of travel deals that can help save you money. Still, you'll also come across some activities or eateries you may otherwise skip over. 

Which Countries Have Groupon?

In 2024, you can buy Groupon vouchers for cities in the following countries:

• Canada
• UK
• USA
• and more

Which Groupon Deals Are Best for Travelers?

As a traveler, you'll be most interested in Groupon vouchers for:

• Entry to tourist attractions
• Accommodation
• Airport Parking
• Groupon Getaways
• Transport deals
• Meals
• Cool local experiences

Groupon sometimes has offers that include plane tickets, but they aren't always the best deal. If you're still looking at flights for your trip, make sure you're booking the cheapest flights available on the market with Skyscanner!

Skyscanner helps you find the cheapest flights available so that you wouldn't have to pay more for flight tickets and save that money for more things to do or food to eat! 

And if you still need to decide on a destination, check out some budget travel magazines for inspiration!

What is Groupon Getaways?

Groupon Getaways is basically what people call a "package holiday." These can take you to Las Vegas in the USA, Iceland, France, Hungary, and many other countries. 

Flights, accommodation, and sometimes entry to special events or guided tours are included in the price. You will not always get meals as part of the deal. Read over each Getaway deal's "What you get" section carefully. Every deal is different.

Customers can leave reviews for the Getaways. So be sure you read them, as not all Groupon Getaways receive only praise.

Want to make sure you get the best deal? Then check how much the trip would cost if you booked everything yourself. Groupon Getaways is a great deal in most cases, but sometimes you can create a cheaper trip yourself.

How Does Groupon Work?

Groupon works by connecting businesses with customers. It's the middle-man. On the Groupon website, you'll find thousands of listings. Each tells you which business you deal with at the bottom of the offer's page or in a byline. You usually see a location map for hotels or travel deals.

When you see an exciting offer, you don't buy the service or item straight away. You buy a voucher, which you'll then have to redeem. This can happen in person if the coupon is for a tourist attraction, a restaurant, or online via a merchant's website.

You need to create a Groupon account to buy vouchers. Your account is where your coupons are stored and where you can activate them. You can also add deals to your wishlist for later. All you need is your name, an email address, and a secure password. The website does a great job guiding you through the sign-up process.

How to Use the Groupon App?

The Groupon mobile app is an excellent tool on your phone when you're on holiday. Checking local deals while on the go is a great way to find cool places to eat or local experiences not listed in your tourist guide.

You can download the app from the Apple App Store and Google Play or enter your number on the Groupon site. They'll send you a link for the download.

How to Find Groupon Deals Near Me?

Groupon has thousands of listings. You don't want to browse deals that aren't close to your location. Luckily, it's easy to filter deals on Groupon. It would help if you allowed the website or app to access your location. If you want to avoid doing that, manually enter a place in the search bar.

Of course, the search feature also allows you to search for deals in your future destination. If you know you'll spend a weekend in London, you can quickly check out what Groupon has to offer in London.

Features of Groupon

Easy-To-Use Website and App

It's easy to browse Groupon's deals, no matter whether you use the website or app. Choose a category from the top, use the search bar to look for something specific, or browse. 

It's fantastic that the site works the same in every country, so you don't have to get used to a different layout!

Available in 13 Countries

Groupon's got offers on some fascinating destinations, as mentioned above. Many of them are popular travel destinations with a thriving tourism industry. This means there'll often be tourism-related deals.

Multiple Payment Methods

I love PayPal, and so do many other travelers. The good news is that Groupon allows you to pay for vouchers with PayPal, which adds an extra layer of safety on your end. But you can also use all major credit cards and debit cards that work as credit cards to pay.

Email Alerts For New Daily Deals at Your Destination

Say you're planning a trip to London and would love to save some bucks, but there's no deal on Groupon right now. There's still a chance the perfect deal will come. You can set up an email alert if you don't want to check Groupon daily. 

You can change the settings for that in your email preferences. Click "add another city," choose London, and you'll get email notifications.

Groupon Bucks For Every Voucher You Buy

Every time you buy a Groupon voucher, you collect Groupon bucks on your account. You can use these towards future purchases on Groupon, also called "Groupon credits."

Interactive Maps

Every Groupon listing comes with a handy interactive map. It shows you where the business is located, and you can even ask the map for directions. Under the map, you'll usually see a link to the business website, so you can check them out before you buy the voucher.

Groupon Gift 

Groupon deals can be sent to others as a gift. Instead of checking out as usual, click "Give as a gift." You'll be guided through the following steps so that the gift will arrive at the right place.

Extra Discounts For Students

You can save 9% extra on top of Groupon's deals if you register as a student. You'll need to verify your student status, but that's easy if you have your student ID.

The Groupon Promise AKA Money-Back Guarantee

Groupon wants happy customers, so they want to make refunds and cancellations easy. Even if you've already used your voucher, you may still be eligible for a refund. There are exceptions, and deals that aren't eligible for refunds are marked as "non-refundable" in the fine print.

Fine Prints That Are Easy to Understand

I mentioned fine print a few times. Boring stuff, I know. But it's essential to read them. Groupon's fine prints are to the point and contain vital information. I like that you don't have to be a lawyer to understand them!

Cancellation/Refund Policy of Groupon

How to Cancel a Groupon

If you want to cancel an unused Groupon voucher, you need to do this:

1. Log in to your account
2. Click on "my stuff"
3. Click on "view details" of the coupon you want to cancel.
4. Cancel the coupon, or contact customer service via web chat.

How Do I Contact Groupon For a Refund?

You can start the refund process without contacting customer service. When logged into your account, you can request a refund by clicking "view details" in your "my stuff" section. If there's no refund button, you can contact customer service via the live chat, as you may still be able to get a refund.

What People Are Saying About Groupon…

People have mixed opinions of Groupon. On review websites, some people rave about great savings, fun getaways, and excellent food. 

But some people reported issues with the Groupon booking system. To avoid problems with restaurant or hotel bookings, it's a good idea to double-check with the restaurant or hotel itself to see whether the Groupon booking went through.

Other negative points often mentioned are lousy customer service and that some merchants sell cheap copies of expensive brand names. Fortunately, travel-related listings seem to be less of an issue.

Are There Any Drawbacks of Groupon?

Groupon's a safe site to use. Scams happen very rarely, but that doesn't mean Groupon is perfect. Like every app, Groupon has its downsides, and here are some of them…

• A good deal can become more expensive if you want to customize it. Traveling solo, changing departure times, or going somewhere during prime time can soon make a deal less attractive.
• Some vouchers are challenging to redeem. Some places, like restaurants, only allow vouchers to be redeemed during their off-peak hours.
• Sometimes, you can get things cheaper elsewhere. I found that flights are often more affordable when you use Skyscanner.

Remember these tips, and you will find some incredible deals on Groupon.

Is Groupon Worth It?

Yes, as long as you realize it's not always perfect! 

You can find incredible deals on Groupon if you read the fine print and do your research. I know a couple who arranged their whole holiday via Groupon. 

Saving money while traveling was always a big priority for them. They saved a huge amount on parking fees at their local airport with a Groupon voucher. 

It helped that they weren't particularly picky about where to go, so they booked a so-called "Mystery Getaway" via Groupon and were lucky enough to get a week in the Maldives, including flights and accommodation, for a ridiculously low price.

Even if you only use Groupon to save here and there, it's still worth signing up. Saving a few dollars for a nice lunch or saving 50% off the entry for some tourist attractions adds up fast.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Pros:

• Great savings
• Cool discoveries
• Easy to use
• Available in 13 countries

Cons:

• Invalid for some destinations
• Some deals aren't worth it
• Bad Customer service

Plan Your Budget Adventure with Pilot!

Now that you know how to save with Groupon, you can start to craft your ideal travel experience for you, your family, and your friends