Expedia

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Expedia, originally launched by Microsoft, has grown into one of the world's largest and most successful online travel platforms. With its North American roots, it's particularly strong in that market for booking vacation rental stays. Today, it's part of the Expedia Group, which owns sites like Travelocity and Orbitz. You might notice that these sites look and feel quite similar, but that's not necessarily a downside.

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Features

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Best Price Guarantee

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If you find a cheaper flight, rental property, rental car, vacation package, or activity within 24 hours of booking, Expedia will not only refund the difference but also throw in a free $50 travel coupon.

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Expedia Rewards

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This program comes in gold, silver, and blue tiers. The top tier, +gold, offers VIP access and spa discounts. Regardless of the level, you can enjoy double value at VIP hotels and even book travel for others. You earn points on nearly every booking, with extra bonuses as you move up the tiers.

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Scratchpad

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This handy feature lets you revisit your previous searches on Expedia, saving you the hassle of re-finding the same rental properties. Plus, it works across all your devices.

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Live Booking Chat Agents

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Need help with booking? Just click on the Expedia booking chat option anytime for assistance.

Hotels.com

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Hotels.com is part of the Expedia Group, but as the name suggests, it has been all about hotels. It's particularly famous for its generous rewards program, offering a free night for every 10 nights you book. Hotels.com is even more popular in many markets than its parent company, Expedia.

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Features

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Buy 10 Nights, Get 1 Free

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With the Welcome Rewards program, you can earn a free hotel night for every 10 nights you book.

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Currency Information

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Easily switch your nationality and currency at the top of the site to see deals in various currencies.

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Deal Finder

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Search through over 10,000 special deals. This tool brings up hotels that are currently on sale.

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Deal of the Day

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Feeling spontaneous? Check out the Deal of the Day for last-minute offers in cities like New York, Las Vegas, Orlando, San Diego, and Washington. These deals can be up to 50% off, but you must usually book within 24 hours.

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Customer Feedback from OpinionLab

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Share your thoughts on Hotels.com by leaving feedback and ratings about content, design, usability, and more.

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Expedia Vs Hotels.com: Pricing 

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Expedia's pricing didn't stand out as particularly impressive. However, it generally aligns well with other competitors, and in some cases, it had the lowest prices for a few rental properties. 

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Hotels.com tends to be among the more expensive options available. Its pricing is similar to Expedia's but slightly higher. Hotels.com also follows its parent company's policy of not charging extra booking or credit card fees; everything is included in the total price.

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Expedia Vs Hotels.com: Accommodation Booking

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Expedia offers a wide selection of accommodations, from budget-friendly options like hostels and motels to luxury hotels and resorts worldwide. Users can filter search results based on price, location, star rating, amenities, and guest reviews to find the ideal place to stay.

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Hotels.com specialises in hotel bookings, providing a straightforward platform focused on helping users find and reserve accommodations worldwide. Users can search for hotels based on destination, dates, and preferences, with options to filter by price, star rating, amenities, and guest reviews.

Expedia Vs Hotels.com: Loyalty Program 

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Expedia is great for travellers who rely on guest reviews. It shows up to 100 reviews in the property's native language, helping you make confident booking decisions.

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Expedia offers flights, vacation rental properties, car rentals, and vacation packages. It also offers special perks like free tickets or rental property discounts, available through premium memberships and airline partnerships. Although Expedia's pricing can be tricky, useful features like the price tracker can help you save money by alerting you when prices drop. The Expedia Mobile App also offers flight alerts and rental property booking.

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The website makes it easy to search for trips, see popular destinations, and check the weather at your destination. Booking rental property is simple, with room rates and a map showing each property’s location. You can filter by amenities and customer ratings, with reviews from verified guests only.

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Property owners can attract more guests by offering competitive prices and a price match guarantee. They can also encourage guests to leave reviews by providing review cards at checkout.

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Expedia Vs Hotels.com: Features 

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Expedia goes the extra mile with their Best Price Guarantee. They promise to match lower prices you find, whether it’s from combining holiday packages across different websites or apps. Plus, they’ll throw in a $50 travel certificate and refund the difference if you discover a better deal elsewhere.

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Hotels.com Deals and Filters: Hotels.com offers great hotel deals and a powerful filter tool to help you pinpoint the perfect place to stay. You can narrow your search by neighbourhood, landmarks, accommodation type, star ratings, average nightly rates, and even use keywords. Don’t miss their 10 Nights deal, where you get a free night after booking 10 nights; it’s a standout in the industry.

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Expedia Vs Hotels.com: Which One to Choose 

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When making a choice between Expedia and Hotels.com, consider what you require from a travel site. Expedia provides a robust Best Price Guarantee, covering flights, rental properties, car rentals, and activities all in one place. They also offer a loyalty program, Expedia Rewards, with perks such as free amenities and VIP access.

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Hotels.com specialises in hotel deals with a user-friendly filter tool. Its 10 Nights loyalty program gives you a free night after booking 10 nights. There are no extra fees. Choose Expedia for comprehensive travel services or Hotels.com for a generous loyalty program and easy booking. 

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Conclusion 

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Choosing between Expedia and Hotels.com depends on your specific travel needs and preferences; whether you prioritise comprehensive travel services and guarantees or focus on vacation rental stays with loyalty rewards and user-friendly features. Similarly, when managing vacation rentals or properties, hiring a property management company like Houst can provide specialized expertise in maximizing bookings, ensuring guest satisfaction, and handling maintenance efficiently.