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7 travel sites that can save you money

  • Most travel planning sites share most of the same features: hotel details, user reviews, trip itineraries, search criteria like price, neighbourhood, and so on. They'll usually have some sort of "Best Price Guarantee."<br> <br>In many cases, their prices will hardly be different.<br><br> So what <i>should</i>you be using? It partly depends what you're looking for. We'll take a look at the pros and cons of several of the leading online agencies.
    1/8

    William Shatner for Priceline

    Most travel planning sites share most of the same features: hotel details, user reviews, trip itineraries, search criteria like price, neighbourhood, and so on. They'll usually have some sort of "Best Price Guarantee."

    In many cases, their prices will hardly be different.

    So what shouldyou be using? It partly depends what you're looking for. We'll take a look at the pros and cons of several of the leading online agencies.
  • <b><a href="http://www.priceline.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Priceline.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Priceline.com</a></b><br><br><i>Pros:</i> Hotel results display "freebies," bonuses that come with bookings; tidy, user-friendly interface; bidding options; heavy usage of William Shatner<br><i>Cons:</i> Visually unappealing and slow-loading mobile app
    2/8

    What travel site should you use?

    Priceline.com

    Pros: Hotel results display "freebies," bonuses that come with bookings; tidy, user-friendly interface; bidding options; heavy usage of William Shatner
    Cons: Visually unappealing and slow-loading mobile app
  • <b><a href="http://www.orbitz.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Orbitz.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Orbitz.com</a></b><br><br><i>Pros:</i> Versatile web interface; book theatre, tour, golf tickets and more; Price Assurance program - if another Orbitz customer makes the same booking for a lower price, you receive the difference as a credit<br><i>Cons:</i> Based on our search, looking at the Millennium Broadway near New York's Times Square, Orbitz lowest price was slightly higher than some of some of its competitors (Expedia, Hotels.com, Travelocity)
    3/8

    What travel site should you use?

    Orbitz.com

    Pros: Versatile web interface; book theatre, tour, golf tickets and more; Price Assurance program - if another Orbitz customer makes the same booking for a lower price, you receive the difference as a credit
    Cons: Based on our search, looking at the Millennium Broadway near New York's Times Square, Orbitz lowest price was slightly higher than some of some of its competitors (Expedia, Hotels.com, Travelocity)
  • <b><a href="http://www.hotwire.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Hotwire.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Hotwire.com</a></b><br><br><i>Pros:</i> Hotwire sells off travel companies' unsold inventory (hotels, flights, rental cars) at deep discounts, making their prices consistently among the lowest of all online agencies; former J.D. Power and Associates award winner <br><i>Cons:</i> The "opaque" sales model means you can't pick specific hotels - you can only specify by star rating and general location; mobile app limited to hotel bookings, does not include flights
    4/8

    What travel site should you use?

    Hotwire.com

    Pros: Hotwire sells off travel companies' unsold inventory (hotels, flights, rental cars) at deep discounts, making their prices consistently among the lowest of all online agencies; former J.D. Power and Associates award winner
    Cons: The "opaque" sales model means you can't pick specific hotels - you can only specify by star rating and general location; mobile app limited to hotel bookings, does not include flights
  • <b><a href="http://www.expedia.ca/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Expedia.ca;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Expedia.ca</a></b><br><br><i>Pros:</i> Versatile web interface; book theatre, tour, golf tickets and more; hurricane protection and travel insurance available; partnership with Groupon for deep discounts on hotels; find a better price and they will not only match it but add on a $50 coupon<br><i>Cons:</i> iOS app looks fantastic but is less intuitive than others
    5/8

    What travel site should you use?

    Expedia.ca

    Pros: Versatile web interface; book theatre, tour, golf tickets and more; hurricane protection and travel insurance available; partnership with Groupon for deep discounts on hotels; find a better price and they will not only match it but add on a $50 coupon
    Cons: iOS app looks fantastic but is less intuitive than others
  • <b><a href="http://www.travelocity.ca/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Travelocity;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Travelocity</a></b><br><br><i>Pros:</i> The Travelocity gnome is easily the most charming mascot in the industry; blind rates (like Hotwire) available along with regular discount bookings<br><i>Cons:</i> The website's design lacks the polish or the flair of Orbitz and Expedia, and the iOS app is horribly out-of-date. The functionality and product is all there, but Travelocity's design could use a refresh.
    6/8

    What travel site should you use?

    Travelocity

    Pros: The Travelocity gnome is easily the most charming mascot in the industry; blind rates (like Hotwire) available along with regular discount bookings
    Cons: The website's design lacks the polish or the flair of Orbitz and Expedia, and the iOS app is horribly out-of-date. The functionality and product is all there, but Travelocity's design could use a refresh.
  • <b><a href="http://www.hotels.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Hotels.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Hotels.com</a></b><br><br><i>Pros:</i> Over 150,000 hotels in their database; cheap, last-minute deals; excellent mobile app for booking hotels<br><i>Cons:</i> Singular focus on hotels means you can't package your room with flights, rental cars, or other activities.
    7/8

    What travel site should you use?

    Hotels.com

    Pros: Over 150,000 hotels in their database; cheap, last-minute deals; excellent mobile app for booking hotels
    Cons: Singular focus on hotels means you can't package your room with flights, rental cars, or other activities.
  • <b><a href="http://www.kayak.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:KAYAK;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">KAYAK</a></b><br><br><i>Pros:</i> Basically everything; KAYAK aggregates results from all major online agencies, streamlining your search experience and saving you the hassle of comparing five or six sites; their app is consistently ranked among the best travel apps in the world<br><i>Cons:</i> If you're picking nits, you might find the home page a little drab.
    8/8

    What travel site should you use?

    KAYAK

    Pros: Basically everything; KAYAK aggregates results from all major online agencies, streamlining your search experience and saving you the hassle of comparing five or six sites; their app is consistently ranked among the best travel apps in the world
    Cons: If you're picking nits, you might find the home page a little drab.
Most travel planning sites share most of the same features: hotel details, user reviews, trip itineraries, search criteria like price, neighbourhood, and so on. They'll usually have some sort of "Best Price Guarantee."<br> <br>In many cases, their prices will hardly be different.<br><br> So what <i>should</i>you be using? It partly depends what you're looking for. We'll take a look at the pros and cons of several of the leading online agencies.
<b><a href="http://www.priceline.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Priceline.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Priceline.com</a></b><br><br><i>Pros:</i> Hotel results display "freebies," bonuses that come with bookings; tidy, user-friendly interface; bidding options; heavy usage of William Shatner<br><i>Cons:</i> Visually unappealing and slow-loading mobile app
<b><a href="http://www.orbitz.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Orbitz.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Orbitz.com</a></b><br><br><i>Pros:</i> Versatile web interface; book theatre, tour, golf tickets and more; Price Assurance program - if another Orbitz customer makes the same booking for a lower price, you receive the difference as a credit<br><i>Cons:</i> Based on our search, looking at the Millennium Broadway near New York's Times Square, Orbitz lowest price was slightly higher than some of some of its competitors (Expedia, Hotels.com, Travelocity)
<b><a href="http://www.hotwire.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Hotwire.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Hotwire.com</a></b><br><br><i>Pros:</i> Hotwire sells off travel companies' unsold inventory (hotels, flights, rental cars) at deep discounts, making their prices consistently among the lowest of all online agencies; former J.D. Power and Associates award winner <br><i>Cons:</i> The "opaque" sales model means you can't pick specific hotels - you can only specify by star rating and general location; mobile app limited to hotel bookings, does not include flights
<b><a href="http://www.expedia.ca/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Expedia.ca;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Expedia.ca</a></b><br><br><i>Pros:</i> Versatile web interface; book theatre, tour, golf tickets and more; hurricane protection and travel insurance available; partnership with Groupon for deep discounts on hotels; find a better price and they will not only match it but add on a $50 coupon<br><i>Cons:</i> iOS app looks fantastic but is less intuitive than others
<b><a href="http://www.travelocity.ca/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Travelocity;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Travelocity</a></b><br><br><i>Pros:</i> The Travelocity gnome is easily the most charming mascot in the industry; blind rates (like Hotwire) available along with regular discount bookings<br><i>Cons:</i> The website's design lacks the polish or the flair of Orbitz and Expedia, and the iOS app is horribly out-of-date. The functionality and product is all there, but Travelocity's design could use a refresh.
<b><a href="http://www.hotels.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Hotels.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Hotels.com</a></b><br><br><i>Pros:</i> Over 150,000 hotels in their database; cheap, last-minute deals; excellent mobile app for booking hotels<br><i>Cons:</i> Singular focus on hotels means you can't package your room with flights, rental cars, or other activities.
<b><a href="http://www.kayak.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:KAYAK;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">KAYAK</a></b><br><br><i>Pros:</i> Basically everything; KAYAK aggregates results from all major online agencies, streamlining your search experience and saving you the hassle of comparing five or six sites; their app is consistently ranked among the best travel apps in the world<br><i>Cons:</i> If you're picking nits, you might find the home page a little drab.