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Honored Contributor
Posts: 12,413
Registered: ‎02-02-2015

13 Things You Didn’t Know About Online Travel Sites

I saw this article online about a year ago on MSN.com. It was written by Sheri Alzeerah. I don't recall if she was an independent or staff writer for some company. At any rate, you might find this interesting.

 

Before planning a trip at your go-to travel site, make sure you get the best deals with these expert tips.

 

They know who’s a Mac and who’s a PC…and who’s going to spend more.

Last Year, Orbitz tracked people’s online activities to test out a little experiment: Do Mac users spend more on travel than PC users? Turns out that on average, Mac users lay out $20-30 more per night on hotels and go for more stars, according to the Wall Street Journal. As a result, the online travel site shows these users different, more expensive travel options first. To avoid inadvertently paying more, sort results by price.

 

The software doesn’t always hook up to the hotel’s system.

A guaranteed reservation is almost impossible to come by, but the risk of finding out your flight or hotel is overbooked increases with third-party providers. The middleman’s software isn’t immune to system errors, so always call the hotel or airline to make sure your booking was processed.

 

Don’t be fooled by packages: often, they’re low-end items grouped together.

Ever notice how travel sites recommend one-stop shopping, like a hotel, rental car, and tour package all in one click? These deals usually feature travel that no one wants, like flights with multiple layovers. Check the find print.

 

If you’re trying to save on travel agent fees, you might be spending more with online DIY.

According to the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), the average service fee for booking airline tickets in 2009 was around $20. Yet that can outweigh $100 or more in straight savings, as well as added benefits (like upgrades and better flights) you can get from a travel agent. The New York Times’ frugal traveler did a series of test runs, finding the best available flights online and comparing that to what a travel agent could do. The results: usually, the travel agent came in cheaper, with fees included.

 

Last-minute travel isn’t the same deal it used to be.

At the advent of the online travel site boom, last minute was the time to book…cheap flights! Cheap hotels! Getaway this weekend! But the buy-and-fly magic has ceased to exist; now your sweet spot is about six weeks (or 42 days) before departure.

 

You aren’t likely to build airline or hotel loyalty.

Don’t book online if you want to rack up those miles or points…at most, you’ll get the minimum, and your booking won’t make you eligible for any special offers, like double points on weekend stays. Work directly with a company or travel agent to build up the loyalty points that will get you upgrades and priority rewards.

 

Travel agents often can share exclusive perks.

Online booking sites are all about dates, rates, and space, meaning...their goal is to put heads in beds, says Misty Ewing at Virtuoso luxury travel network. But for the same price, an agent might have connections and special access. “For example, when traveling in Italy, you can take a cooking class with a local resident in her home…a level of authenticity not provided by the Internet,” she says.

 

Corporate travel needs are probably better done in person.

Planning a small business trip can become a logistical mess, and online travel sites offer little help. But specialty business travel agencies can help their clients with corporate events, meetings, and special services that online travel sites don’t deal with…and might be more likely to get you refunds on unused tickets.

 

You might not see every option online.

No travel site will show you options from every airline…and no one includes budget-friendly picks like Southwest or Ryanair. But travel sites leave out even more options for lodging, listing big names, and omitting comfy little inns, bed-and-breakfast, and rentals from places like HomeAway.

 

Once your trip is purchased, you’re on your own.

All trips, no matter how well planned, are vulnerable to cancelled flights, subpar hotel rooms, or torrential weather. An online travel agency can’t provide assistant the same way an agent can. Basically, when you arrive at the airport or hotel, you’re just another client who booked at the lowest rate. “You can’t VIP yourself,” says Ewing.

 

Online deal sites can’t give first-hand experience.

A website can’t tell you the exact location of the room, the view, the size, or whether or not the room needs renovation. You’ll have to do more research on your own or risk getting stuck in the dimly lit room in the back of the building with a picture-perfect view of the A/C shaft!

 

They also aren’t as current as an agent…

An online travel site often isn’t going to share if construction is happening in the hotel or somewhere nearby. Researching on other sites might turn up this information, but an agent is likely to be the best resource for knowing what’s going on.

 

…or know who else will be staying there.

Planning a romantic getaway for two? That won’t matter to a group of high schoolers on their senior trip at the same hotel. An online travel agent can’t tell you when a large groups is in-house, making it uncomfortable for the few guests who aren’t in the group.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,306
Registered: ‎11-24-2013

Re: 13 Things You Didn’t Know About Online Travel Sites

[ Edited ]

I *always* book with Alaska Airlines on THEIR website and with Marriott by phone. Marriott is great at searching for AAA and other discounts and almost always find me something, plus I usually get a couple of nights at a discount due to the length of my stay.

 

I just don't trust travel websites. I'm sure they are OK for many but I'm more comfortable doing it myself.

 

I only travel to one place and have for years so it's easy for me, plus I always buy travel insurance.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,305
Registered: ‎06-08-2016

Re: 13 Things You Didn’t Know About Online Travel Sites

The travel websites are good for general information but with what little traveling I do, I would not use one to book a trip.

 

There are many ways to find a discount, going directly to the hotel.

 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 17,491
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: 13 Things You Didn’t Know About Online Travel Sites

I do the same thing.  I use Expedia and Travelocity to search for what I want, but I always book directly with the hotel or airline.

 

I can't tell you how many times I've been online behind someone who booked through "Hotels.com" or something and there is no record.

===================================
QVC Shopper - 1993

# IAMTEAMWEN
Honored Contributor
Posts: 12,843
Registered: ‎07-09-2010

Re: 13 Things You Didn’t Know About Online Travel Sites

[ Edited ]

I have booked with hotels dot com for my Florida trip many times. I know the hotel I want to stay at and it is a bit less. 

 

I am currently booked with expedia for air  to Vancouver tomorrow so hopefully my trip will be okay. I also checked my online accxt with the airline and saw my trip listed.

 

I booked my hotel through priceline. So although the hotel is not known to me, the location was requested. 

 

I think most times everything is fine. If it wasn't, the online travel sites would disappear and travel agencies would be everywhere. I know of 1 travel agency in Manhattan. I're sure they exist, I just don't see them. Liberty Travel was the agency I've used for many years long ago.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,475
Registered: ‎03-14-2015

Re: 13 Things You Didn’t Know About Online Travel Sites

In my opinion, this article is biased towards travel agents, in order to boost their business.

 

 

If travel websites were shady, they wouldn't have been around as long as they have.

 

I always read the reviews, and look at the customer photos, from different travel websites.

 

I fly once every  2 - 3 years on average, so I am going to stick with what works for me, which is doing my due diligence, research the hotel and/or airline, book directly with them, and take a print-out of my reservation confirmation number.

 

This has never failed to work for me.

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,002
Registered: ‎09-06-2014

Re: 13 Things You Didn’t Know About Online Travel Sites

@World Traveler,

In Europe is way easier to develop a personal relationship with a travel agency however where I live in the US there are none. 

Despite of all more than once airlines that belong to the same alliance and share codes have told me to buy my plane tickets with the other because they were lower🌻.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,055
Registered: ‎12-10-2012

Re: 13 Things You Didn’t Know About Online Travel Sites

 

I got a great tip from Peter Greenberg (Today Show travel editor).

 

In the wee small hours of the morning, he was checking out prices for an airline flight he was taking (maybe 4-5am in the morning). -- Ten minutes later he decided to book that flight, only to see that the price had gone up by $40-50 dollars.

 

He was really puzzled by this because it's not as if airlines are likely to make changes at that hour.

 

His analysis was that his computer cookies had let the site know that he needed to book this flight, so that when he came back, the computer just bumped up his price.

 

So these days, he suggests that when you go back to a site that you do it on another computer in order to get the best value. 

 

I'm guessing that clearing your cookies would have the same effect. 

 

-- bebe Smiley Happy