TripAdvisor Versus Orbitz

The company has grown considerably since it started beta testing in 2001. Today, travelers can search for deals on flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises and activities. The site also lets users combine services into low-cost packages. Packages typically include a flight and hotel, but they can also include a flight and car rental, a hotel and car rental or a flight, hotel room and car rental.

How Does Orbitz Work?

Orbitz has made its online system very easy to use. When you visit the website, you choose what type of travel service you want to browse. You also enter your destination, the day you plan to arrive, the day you plan to depart and how many people (adults and children) will go with you. If you’re booking a flight, then you will also include your departure city.

Once you click the search button, Orbitz will give you dozens or hundreds of options, depending on what’s available. Someone taking a flight from New York to L.A. will typically have more options to consider than someone flying between two small towns.

When exploring flights, you can organize your results by airline, number of stops and departure time. Orbitz will also use its “flexible date” feature so you can see if adjusting your trip by a few days will lower the price.

When browsing hotel rooms, you can organize your results by price per night and the number of stars that hotels receive. Most hotel room results come with professional photographs that show you what the property looks like. Most listings also have descriptions that tell you about features like free cancellations, dining options, property features, amenities and other information. You can click on any hotel to learn more about it.

Results on Orbitz look similar when you browse rental cars, cruises and other travel services. You always have a chance to organize listings by price. You can also learn more about each service by clicking on its listing.

What Makes Orbitz Stand Out?

Orbitz takes a comprehensive approach to travel that many websites cannot compete with. When you use Orbitz, you know that you can book all of the travel services and accommodations that you need through one website. This can help you keep your plans organized. In some cases, it can also help you save money.

Orbitz also stands out for its Orbitz Rewards program. The program lets you earn points by booking rooms in eligible hotels and scheduling flights. You can also earn extra points by using an Orbitz Rewards Visa Card. Once you earn enough points, you can turn them in for free hotel rooms and flights. Unlike some companies, Orbitz doesn’t blackout popular dates for people redeeming points.

Common Reviews of Orbitz

For the most part, people like Orbitz because it gives them an easy way to find travel deals without visiting several websites. The website works quickly, so you can plan an entire family vacation in a matter of minutes. Travelers also like the amount of information that Orbitz gives them about hotel rooms and activities that they may want to explore during their travels.

Despite the large numbers of people who love using Orbitz, some people say that they have had negative experiences with the company. Many of the negative reviews focus on poor customer services. Some say that the customer service reps don’t care about meeting the needs of Orbitz users. For instance, one person says that Orbitz wouldn’t help him get an extra night in his hotel even though his flight got canceled. Another person says that Orbitz charged her hundreds of dollars to bring a baby on board.

While it’s easy to see why people might get upset with Orbitz, it’s worth wondering how many of these problems the company could solve. After all, Orbitz can only book a room for you if a hotel has an available space. Regarding the woman with her child, Orbitz doesn’t set prices. Airlines set their prices and fees. Orbitz just makes it easy for you to compare your options. Keep these restrictions in mind when you talk to a customer service rep working for Orbitz and similar travel companies.

Can I Get Deals on the Orbitz Site?

Orbitz encourages travelers to find deals that will make their adventures more affordable. The website has a “Deals” section that features weekly discounts from hotels, airlines and car rental agencies.

Of course, you can also get deals by packaging your travel services. You could save a few hundred dollars by booking your flight and hotel room at the same time through Orbitz. At the very least, you should explore the option to see how much money it may help you save.

You can also get travel deals by joining Orbitz Rewards. With Orbitz Rewards, people who travel a lot can accumulate points quickly. When you cash those points in, you can get free flights and hotel rooms. Orbitz doesn’t prevent you from cashing in your points on busy (blackout) days. You can use them even on busy holidays when paying customers want more flights and hotel rooms.