This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money. Can an online travel agency offer a more rewarding way to book than hotel loyalty programs? For the occasional traveler, especially, Orbitz can be a good choice, while frequent travelers may be better off earning perks with traditional hotel loyalty programs.
With around , properties, Orbtiz is vastly bigger than even the largest hotel chain, Marriott, which has over 7, hotels around the world. This comes in handy if you feel limited by the selection of options from a certain hotel chain in a particular destination.
And through the Orbitz Rewards program, consumers can earn points toward discounts on hotels by booking through the site, eating at participating restaurants or using the affiliated Visa card.
And booking travel through a third-party site can occasionally be cheaper. For instance, online travel agencies can sometimes afford to layer on their own discounts, offering potential savings.
Booking combination packages that include airfare or car rentals is another way that the savings can add up on third-party sites. But consumers should still research to see if they can recreate the savings offered through such packages on their own, Mackenzie said. Home Personal Finance Travel. ET By Jacob Passy. EXPE Jacob Passy. What should I do? Orbitz has an extremely flexible airfare system that allows you to search within a given time period for the lowest flights. To secure a deal, simply enter your desired itinerary and browse the search results for the time and price that meets your need.
In addition, Orbitz has a unique feature to help you feel confident you are getting the best deal. Their Price Assurance system automatically sends you a refund check if another Orbitz customer books the same flight as you for less money.
You may not even get elite night credits and perks at hotels when you book through OTAs. However, not all OTAs offer rewards programs and some programs provide only minimal value. First off, know that booking through an OTA may not be the best option. And, you may find a lower price when you book directly. Instead, you usually must book directly with the hotel loyalty program to get elite earnings and perks. But, the airline might classify your ticket as bulk or consolidated.
And, this may yield fewer miles. Finally, if things you wrong, you might find yourself caught in the middle of a finger-pointing match.
Specifically, the OTA and travel provider may blame each other if your flight is canceled or your hotel is overbooked. So, both parties may claim the other needs to rebook you or provide compensation. Unfortunately, some travelers have learned this the hard way when trying to cancel travel during the coronavirus pandemic. But, if you decide to book through an OTA, you might as well choose one that earns plenty of rewards.
Related: Online travel agency vs. And, in addition to being one of the most straightforward OTA rewards programs, it offers substantial value. Plus, you can book many top hotels through Hotels. The Hotels. The value of your reward night is equal to the average rate you paid across the ten nights. Some strategy is helpful when using your reward night. If you use your reward night for a stay that costs more than the value of the reward night, you must pay the difference. Related: 7 of the most interesting Hotels.
Specifically, the base level status is called Rewards. And, Rewards status provides the following perks:. You can earn Silver status by staying ten or more nights within a membership year, which is based on the date you created your account. Silver perks include the following:. Gold elites enjoy all the same perks as Silver elites, along with complimentary room upgrade, early check-in and late checkout subject to availability at VIP Access properties.
As you can see, Hotels. So, the main reason to use this program is earning and redeeming. After all, getting a reward night after every ten nights is pretty sweet. Related: Can you earn elite status and benefits when booking through Hotels.
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