Frequently Asked Questions about Travel Websites

In 2009, travel websites are usually the first places consumers turn to when booking flights, rental cars, and cruises.  In a world where everything is done online, it’s no wonder that travel websites like Orbitz.com, Hotwire.com, Travelocity.com, Priceline.com, and countless others have become the first destination travelers arrive at before they even get to the airport! ComparedForMe.com scoured the top online travel websites to compile the most frequently asked questions posed by everyday travelers like you.

Q: How do online travel websites get cheaper airline tickets, hotel reservations and car rentals than I can ever find directly?

A:  Through partnerships with leading travel companies, online travel websites can get you low prices that cannot be found anywhere else.  How does it work? Well, these sites’ partners allow them to access their unsold inventory - empty seats on flights, empty hotel rooms, and unrented cars - at big savings. By showing the name of their travel partner after you book, online travel websites can get you travel deals that are significantly below published prices.  Airlines that partner with a travel website, for example, sell their remaining seats at “clearance” prices to the online travel website; as a result, those clearance prices cannot be found anywhere else because these slashed prices are only given to their partners. Click here to review online travel sites.

Q:  What do travel websites mean when they advertise “vacation packages?”

A:  A vacation package combines hotels with flights and/or rental cars into one price.  Most of the popular travel websites, like Expedia.com, offer vacation packages that can save customers up to 30% over the cost of booking their hotels and flights separately.  You don’t have to have a family of 4 to book a vacation package; as an independent traveler, you can customize the vacation package to fit your specific flight, hotel, and rental car needs.

Q:  If I’m renting a car in a foreign country, do I need an international driver’s permit?

A:  It isn't required, but it is a good idea to have one. It costs approximately $20 to purchase an International Driver's Permit (IDP), which is a translation of a valid U.S. driver's license. Having an International Driver’s Permit can prevent a lot of problems if you know you will be driving abroad, especially if you’re driving in a country where you don't speak the language, or in a non-tourist area. The U.S. State Department ruled that only two companies are allowed to issue IDPs: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1179.html#permits.

Q:  What if I book a hotel room via an online travel website and the hotel makes me pay a higher rate?

A:  The hotel must honor the rate given to you when you made the reservation. You may use your reservation printout as evidence and get the hotel to rectify the amount that is being charged.

Q:  How do I use coupons that are emailed to me from travel websites?

A:   If you receive a coupon via e-mail, you can save it to your account by clicking the link to claim your coupon. You may need to sign in before you can save your coupon to your account.