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s a budget traveler myself, I often shy away from hotels and go with Airbnb or hostels.
But if you search hard enough, there are plenty of mid-range hotel options that provide good amenities.
Other ways you can try and save money is to look for cheap flights and offers online or book last-minute deals to save money. But that's only if you're flexible enough to make last-minute plans.
Would you prefer to stay at a hotel if you had the choice? Not everyone is a fan of the hustle and bustle of hostel life.
If convenience and comfort are a priority, then Hotels.com may be just the thing for you. There are many rental booking sites, but Hotels.com is famous for offering a wide range of choices.
What about the burning question: Can you find reasonably-priced accommodation? Or is Hotels.com for premium stays only?
Find out everything you need to know about Hotels.com before booking!
What Is Hotels.com?
Founded in 1991, Hotels.com is a leading accommodation booking site. The platform boasts listings of independent and multinational hotel chains, and it's a subsidiary of the Expedia Group Company.
Want beach resorts? You can find it! What about the major hotel chains? You'll also see the prices to book those as well.
You can also find other accommodation options like vacation rentals, apartments, or motels on their website. No matter your style of travel and kind of property you prefer, Hotels.com will likely have a listing for you.
Users can download the Hotels.com mobile app to search for hotels while traveling. The app makes it easy to manage reservations and access secret prices and other perks.
Fine the Hotels.com app on both Android and iOS devices.
There's also an email subscription service to alert you on last-minute deals and popular listings.
How Does Hotels.com Work?
Hotels.com is renowned for offering many filters, which helps users narrow down their search results and find what they're looking for. Let's see how it's done:
- Visit the website
- Enter the destination
- Enter check-in and check-out dates
- Add the number of travelers and rooms
- If you have a specific hotel in mind, you can search it by name
- Add additional filters
You can apply filters like budget, guest rating, property class, payment type, property type, areas, amenities, and more!
I particularly like the "Traveler Experience" filter. It allows you to select family-friendly, business-friendly, and LGBTQ-welcoming properties.
Since it's such a popular platform, there are also lots guest reviews that you can browse through to help make your decision.
You can review the properties and select one that best fits your preferences. Payment and reservation policies differ from one hotel to the next, but Hotel.com promises secure booking on both its desktop and cellphone app.
Things to Keep in Mind When Booking
Navigating the sea of options on Hotels.com can be exciting yet a bit overwhelming, particularly if you're new to the platform or if it's your first time booking a hotel online.
Here are a few key things to keep in mind to ensure your booking process is as smooth as possible:
Your Identity: Always ensure that you enter your first name and last name exactly as they appear on your government-issued ID.
Hotels often require this information for check-in, and any discrepancies may lead to complications upon arrival. Avoid possible issues by double checking!
Property Pages: Hotels.com has detailed property pages for each hotel, including essential details like amenities, photos, location, and guest reviews.
Take your time while thoroughly exploring these pages. Specifically, I'd suggest paying attention to details like check-in/check-out times, parking availability, and Wi-Fi access.
Do you travel with your dog or other pet? Hotels.com has an option to figure out whether the hotel is pet-friendly or not.
Applicable Taxes and Additional Fees: Keep in mind that the price you see listed initially may not include all costs.
Be aware that applicable taxes and additional fees, such as resort fees or cleaning fees, can significantly increase the final price. Make sure to review the final total before confirming your booking.
Reading the Fine Print: Don’t gloss over the terms and conditions. They include crucial information, such as the cancellation policy, which can differ substantially from property to property.
Some hotels offer free cancellation until a few days before your stay, while others may charge a fee.
I'm all about flexibility, so if I have 2 great options in front of me, I always choose the one with the better cancellation policy!
Booking Confirmation: Once your booking is complete, you'll receive a confirmation email. This email is your proof of booking, so be sure to save it.
The email include important details like the hotel’s address, your check-in/check-out dates, and the room type you’ve booked. It's a good idea to print this out or save it on your phone just in case you need it.
Hotels.com Rewards Program
Hotels.com has a loyalty program. The program treats loyal customers with member prices, free stays, and other extra travel benefits.
Members also get access to "Secret MPrices" offered at selected hotels. It means you get the rental at a discounted rate, and you can combine it with other deals or offers to enjoy a higher discount.
The membership is free, and you start off as a basic member. You'll be rewarded with one stamp for every night you spend at a hotel booked through the site.
Once you've accumulated 10 stamps, you're eligible for the Silver membership. 30 stamps, and you're officially one of the gold members!
Hotel.com memberships offer extra perks like complimentary breakfast, spa vouchers, late check-out, etc.
If you're thinking of using Hotels.com for even a few of your bookings, I'd definitely opt-in to its rewards program. It's free and offers lots of perks and all you need to demonstrate is some loyalty.
Here's How to Redeem Your Rewards!
Once you've got 10 stamps, you're entitled to a free stay at a hotel. Whoop, whoop!
You can choose a night worth the average value of your previous bookings. Then it's time to book a free night at a hotel of your choice.
Features I Like
Lots of Options
Hotels.com has over 300,000 hotel listings worldwide. The choice is extensive, and property types aren't limited to hotels.
You can find guesthouses, B&Bs, condos, inclusive resorts, and many more options too. There are also self-catering properties if privacy and flexibility is a priority for you.
Useful Filters
You don't want to waste time browsing hundreds of options that don't fit your requirements.
Hotels.com has plenty of filters to help you refine the list and find the near-exact choices you're looking for at top destinations around the world.
It makes the booking platform robust, easy to use, and time-saving. You can specify your priorities, pick from the options available, and book much faster.
Discounted offers
There are plenty of last-minute deals, Secret Price offers, and other discounted listings on Hotels.com.
If you travel during the off-season, the chances of bagging a good discount are even higher.
Plus, the rewards program offers other perks, helping you get the most out of the stay. I'd definitely say that the Hotels.com's reward program is most ideal for frequent travelers.
The Limitations
Not the Cheapest
Hotels.com isn't for travelers looking for the cheapest accommodation. But there are budget-friendly options. Hotels.com caters to the traveler who seeks a mix of comfort and affordability.
Also, if the hotel has a website and offers booking facilities, it can be cheaper than booking from Hotels.com.
Another great option is Holidu if you're trying to find the lowest hotel prices.
Customer Service Issues
There are complaints about Hotels.com on sites like Trustpilot. Most of the complaints are about poor customer service and refund issues.
While you can contact support in many ways, the responsiveness looks time-consuming. It can be challenging to fix urgent problems.
For instance, what if your hotel hasn't received your reservation due to a technical error? This has to be dealt with quickly by customer support so that guests can check in without delay.
Refund issues
In some instances, hotels refused refunds, even when guests were eligible for compensation.
For other Hotels.com reviews related to refunds, complaints were that the process has taken months and months on end.
Hotels.com's customer support team hasn't successfully resolved these issues.
The cancellation and refund policy depends on the property you book with. That's why I highly recommend you clarify cancellation policies before booking.
Photo by Vojtech Bruzek on Unsplash
Is Hotels.com Worth It?
So, is Hotels.com worth your while? Yes, I think it's a great option to look at when booking accommodations. And if it had the best price and policies, I wouldn't hesitate to book with Hotels.com
Being one of the oldest booking sites, it's a trusted, reliable source for accommodation booking, catering to all budget ranges. There are many positive reviews about the user-friendly website.
Hotels.com reviews indicate that people were happy with the convenient booking system and prompt customer support.
But, as with any other booking site, Hotels.com also has its fair share of negative reviews. Hotels.com complaints include poor refund and cancellation policies, customer service quality, and not offering the cheapest in the market.
There are many OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) similar to Hotels.com. If you prefer a platform to book accommodation, local transport, and flight all in one place, try Travelocity. It's another subsidiary of Expedia.
My Rating: 4.1/5
Pros:
- Wide range of choice
- Reliable source of accommodation
- Many customizable filters
- Discounted offers & deals
- Membership loyalty programs
Cons:
- Refund and cancellation issues
- Lackluster customer service
- Lack of competitive deals
Ready to Start Planning Your Next Trip?
Now that you have all the info on Hotels.com, it's time to plan the rest of your trip! But planning can be overwhelming, so I've got a stress-free solution for you... Pilot!