How to Use Expedia.com to Book Hotels

Although booking sites like Expedia.com are becoming increasingly user-friendly every week, some first-time visitors may still feel intimidated by the booking process. Finding the best hotel for your needs and budget can be tricky, but Expedia.com makes it easy. With just a few clicks, you can search for hotels by city, airport, or landmark and compare prices, reviews, and amenities side-by-side. If you're new to using Expedia or need a refresher, here's a quick guide on how to book hotels through the site. You'll be an Expedia pro in no time!

1. Go to Expedia.com

The first thing you'll need to do is visit Expedia.com in your web browser. You can use any browser, and Expedia.com should work on any device, whether you're booking from a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Expedia also has a mobile app, which can be downloaded for free from the App Store (for iOS devices) or Google Play (for Android devices).

Once you're on the homepage, you can familiarize yourself with the site's layout. The search bar is at the top, where you can enter your travel dates and destination. Below, you'll see some of Expedia's featured deals and popular destinations. There's a blog section where you can read about travel tips, news, and more. Now that you know your way around the site, it's time to start searching for hotels!

2. Enter Your Search Criteria

To begin your search, scroll back up to the search bar and enter your destination, check-in and check-out dates, and the number of travelers. For example, if you're planning a trip to London, you would enter "London" in the destination field. Then, use the calendar to select your travel dates. The check-in date is the day you'll arrive at your hotel, and the check-out date is the day you'll be checking out of your hotel and leaving for home. Under "Guests," use the drop-down menu to select how many travelers will stay in the hotel room. When you're finished, click "Search."

3. Filter Your Results

After you click "Search," Expedia will show you a list of all the hotels that match your criteria. To help narrow down your options, filter your results by price, star rating, amenities, and more. For example, if you only want to see 4-star hotels that cost less than $200 per night, you would select those criteria in the filters. You can also use the map to see where each hotel is located around landmarks and other points of interest. When you've found a hotel you're interested in, click "Details" to learn more.

4. Compare Hotels

Once you click on a hotel you like, you'll be taken to a page with more information about the property. Here, you can see hotel photos, read reviews from other travelers, and compare prices for different room types. For example, a standard room might be less expensive than a suite. If you scroll down, you'll also see a list of amenities included with your stay. When you're ready to book, select your room type and click "Reserve."

5. Create An Account (or Sign In)

Once you're ready to reserve a room, you will be prompted to sign in if you have an existing Expedia account. You can create one for free if you don't have an account. You can also book without creating an account, but we recommend creating one, so you can manage your booking and view your itinerary online. You can even redeem some points with each booking you make using your account. Expedia allows you to sign up using your existing Gmail, Facebook, or Apple account to make it even easier. If you use one of those accounts to sign up, you won't need to remember another username and password.

6. Enter Your Contact Information

After you sign in or create an account, you'll need to enter your contact information. This includes your name, email address, and phone number. Expedia will also ask for your payment details. When booking a hotel in the United States, you'll need to enter your credit or debit card information next. Expedia accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. If you're booking a hotel outside of the United States, you may be able to pay with PayPal. Sometimes (depending on the property you choose), there's even an option to pay at the hotel when you check in. You can also purchase insurance at this point, but it's not mandatory. Generally, we recommend purchasing travel insurance if your trip is more than a week-long or international trip.

7. Complete Payment

After you enter your contact and payment information, review your booking details. This is your last chance to make changes before you finalize your purchase. When you're ready, click "Complete Booking" That's it! You've now booked your hotel using Expedia. You'll receive an email confirmation with all of your booking details. We recommend printing this out or saving it to your phone so you have it handy when you travel. All that's left to do is pack your bags and enjoy your trip!

Tips For Booking Online:

1. Try to book your hotel room at least a few weeks in advance. This will give you the best selection of hotels and the best chance of getting your preferred room type.

2. When comparing hotels, look at the total price, not just the nightly rate. Some hotels charge extra for things like parking, Wi-Fi, and breakfast.

3. Read the reviews from other travelers before you book on multiple platforms. This can give you a good idea of what to expect from the hotel.

4. Purchase travel insurance if your trip is more than a week-long or international trip. This can protect you from cancellations, delays, or other emergencies.

5. Download the Expedia app before you travel. This will allow you to easily access your itinerary, bookings, and customer support while you're on the go.

6. Check the hotel's cancellation policy before you book. This way, you'll know what to expect if you need to cancel your reservation for any reason.

With Expedia, booking a hotel room is quick and easy. You just need to follow the steps above, and you'll be all set for your next trip! Happy travels!