Orbitz vs Priceline vs Travelocity vs Expedia

[bigrash]

So i'm trying to book a trip to San Fransisco for later this year (probably October or November) but not sure which to go with. I've booked many trips with Travelocity and once with Orbitz but can't seem to find any good deals recently.

What's your experience with any of these sites? I added Hotels.com in the poll, but not sure how good they are.

 

[Lola]

We have used each of those sites at one time or another for total vacations, just airfare or just hotels...
Each one has really not given us any issues. Although i cannot really say one is better than the rest.

When i book via any of those sites, i know it is just for a cheap price, not good customer service.

 

[boomerang]

Try here for fares. Then go the airlines website for tickets.

The site I linked let's you look at how fares differ depending on the day you travel. If you can be flexible, you can really save.

Add "None of the Above" to your poll.

 

[bGIveNs33]

Why don't you go with the one that offers you the cheapest price?

/thread

 

[jamesave]

I won't book airline with priceline, but would use it for hotels.

 

[rh71]

I love priceline for hotels especially. It has never failed to find us a nice place and we're bidding low... like $100/night low - quite a few times over the years. We bid that much and got a place for September that goes for $200/night on hotels.com. Use http://www.biddingfortravel.com to assist in the bidding range for the hotel you want. Car rentals are just as good at priceline.

As for a flight, I'd stay away because the randomness of it is not exactly desirable for flying arrangements (connections, flight lengths, etc.). Flights and cruises, we always use expedia or travelocity. In our experience, the price between the two sites are practically identical - it's like it's run by the same company. The difference was like $20 at one place over another. So just do your research (use 2 browser tabs and compare), etc.

 

[jamesave]

Originally posted by: rh71
I love priceline for hotels especially. It has never failed to find us a nice place and we're bidding low... like $100/night low - quite a few times over the years. We bid that much and got a place for September that goes for $200/night on hotels.com. Use http://www.biddingfortravel.com to assist in the bidding range for the hotel you want. Car rentals are just as good at priceline.

As for a flight, I'd stay away because the randomness of it is not exactly desirable for flying arrangements (connections, flight lengths, etc.). Flights and cruises, we always use expedia or travelocity. In our experience, the price between the two sites are practically identical - it's like it's run by the same company. The difference was like $20 at one place over another. So just do your research (use 2 browser tabs and compare), etc.

rh71 elaborates my comment.

 

[bigrash]

Originally posted by: rh71
I love priceline for hotels especially. It has never failed to find us a nice place and we're bidding low... like $100/night low - quite a few times over the years. We bid that much and got a place for September that goes for $200/night on hotels.com. Use http://www.biddingfortravel.com to assist in the bidding range for the hotel you want. Car rentals are just as good at priceline.

As for a flight, I'd stay away because the randomness of it is not exactly desirable for flying arrangements (connections, flight lengths, etc.). Flights and cruises, we always use expedia or travelocity. In our experience, the price between the two sites are practically identical - it's like it's run by the same company. The difference was like $20 at one place over another. So just do your research (use 2 browser tabs and compare), etc.

thanks. Normally I book flight+hotel+car, so not sure how good priceline would be since everyone is saying not to use them to fly

 

[Mermaidman]

I use Orbitz to scout airline prices, but it can get slow when the search nets tons of results.

I use Expedia to get an idea of where hotels are located because it has a nice hotel map, but I only book hotels at the hotel web sites. Most room rates at the travel sites require pre-payment and inflict heavy cancellation penalties. Shouldn't be a problem if you're 100% sure of your travel plans.

Never used Priceline or Travelocity. I book >90% of my travel directly with the providers.

Edit: One other thing--You usually don't earn points when booking hotel rooms through a travel site.

Edit2: Most of my travel is for work, so price is only one of several factors.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I personally use Expedia.com a lot.

Have you tried http://www.kayak.com ?

 

[LS20]

i used to love hotwire, but hvae since found kayak.com

the features that it gives..that other sites dont... is analogous to Google coming out with apps that smashes the competition

i scout websites for hotels but end up booking directly from the hotels because it is the same price, without any ocmplications of a middle-man

 

[ScottFern]

I believe Travelocity and Expedia are both running the same engine created by Sabre Holdings. I use Sabre travel software at work unfortunately.

 

[HN]

i use the aggregators like kayak.com, farecast.com, and sidestop.com first to see what comes up with the lowest price. then i go to that particular site (could be the airline's site, could be expedia, could be whatever) to book the actual flight.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Hotwire.com is the best for hotels hands down. Hotwire is also located in SF.

Used them for Hotels in Reno & Chicago without issue.

For airfare I like Travelocity but their all Indian customer service is atrocious. If I can get the same price through an airline I will go the airline and book the trip to save the Travelocity head-ache!

 

[mxps]

expedia is the best overall but hotwire will give you the lowest rates but also lower caliber places to stay. example: if you shop for las vegas, hotwire wont give you rates for any of the big name hotels\casinos on the strip but rather cheaper off the strip lodges and hotels.

i would recommend using www.sidestep.com. it shops all the major airlines and travel sites and lists all the prices side by side so it is really helps you out and saves you time pricing.

 

[ballmode]

I got the best plane ticket prices from Indy to Dallas and back for 238.

 

[zoiks]

I like travelocity though I've used hotwire quite a bit as well.

 

[rh71]

I should also mention Travelzoo as a 1-stop shop for deals. Yesterday there was an offer that could have gotten us a 4-star hotel (Hyatt in Vancouver) for $119/night. It usually goes for nearly $300. Too bad we already pricelined-in and got a 3.5 star for just $20 less. Oh well - would've been nice. Use the site to find deals.

 

[DougK62]

I always get the lowest prices from travelocity.

 

[markgm]

I also use sidestep.com. I own stock in Travelzoo from the .com era when they gave it away for free. It's actually worth money now, go figure!

 

[homercles337]

Hands down, by far the best of the best:

FARECAST.COM