Expedia is an online travel agency (OTA) that might come up in your search when you're looking for travel deals, including flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, vacation packages and activities. In 2023, Expedia launched a loyalty program called One Key, allowing travelers to earn and redeem rewards across its three most popular brands: Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo.
Let's take a look at how Expedia works and whether it'll save you money.
How does Expedia work?
Because Expedia is a travel agency, its website or app's travel search features will return you results from multiple companies. For instance, if you search for a hotel in Miami, Expedia will display options from brands like Marriott, IHG, Hilton and Hyatt, and even boutique hotels.
Comparing prices on Expedia is much faster than going to each company's individual website, since it shows multiple options at once.
How to find and book travel on Expedia
Like other OTAs, you'll book travel using Expedia's website or app. Once you're on the homepage, you can enter your search details — Expedia lets you book hotels, flights, rental cars, cruises, vacation packages and even things to do.
Once you've completed your search, you'll be taken through the booking process. As an OTA, Expedia acts as the intermediary between you and the actual travel operators. This means that if you book a Marriott hotel through Expedia, Expedia takes your booking, confirms availability with Marriott, processes your reservation, then passes the reservation details along to the hotel.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Many hotels and rental car agencies restrict your ability to earn points or elite status credit when you book through an online travel agency. This doesn't generally apply to airlines, so you can usually still earn miles for flights booked through OTAs.
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Is Expedia reliable?
You might be cautious of go-betweens or third-party booking sites, but Expedia is a legitimate, well-known online travel agency that’s been around for years. Microsoft originally launched the Expedia website in 1996. These days, Expedia is part of the larger Expedia Group, which includes brands such as Hotels.com, Orbitz, Hotwire, Travelocity, Vrbo and CarRentals.com.
All this is to say Expedia is a reliable company — this isn't some shady, fly-by-night operation.
That said, you'll always want to be careful when booking with a third party. It may be harder to change or cancel your reservation, and it's worth confirming any reservation directly with the travel operator to make sure your details are correct and the booking actually went through.
Ways to get a good deal on Expedia
Expedia can offer cheap travel deals across the board, but the booking itself isn't the only lever. Here are several ways to push the savings further.
1. Use a travel credit card to get rewards
If you aren’t already using a credit card to book your travel, you ought to be. In addition to earning bonus points on your purchases, some credit cards provide travel insurance free of charge as long as you use the card to purchase the trip.
» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now
2. Sign up for One Key Rewards
If you book any travel with Expedia, it's worth signing up for One Key, the site's free loyalty program. As a member, you'll earn 2% OneKeyCash for every $1 you spend on travel, plus elite status based on the number of travel segments you book. One Key is unified across Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo, so you earn and redeem rewards across all three.
Signing up automatically makes you a Blue member, which — according to Expedia — gets you at least 10% off more than 100,000 hotels globally. Higher tiers unlock bigger discounts and benefits.
You can also stack a shopping portal on top of your credit card rewards and One Key earnings for a triple-dip, or apply for a co-branded Expedia credit card if you book with the platform often enough to make that worthwhile.
You might even opt to get an Expedia credit card if you really want to pledge your loyalty to the brand.
» Learn more: The One Key Rewards guide
3. Time your booking around seasonal price swings
Prices on Expedia aren't flat throughout the year, and the gap between "expensive" and "cheap" travel windows has actually been shifting. Expedia's own seasonal data has shown fall lodging prices in top U.S. destinations running higher than summer in some recent years, even as certain markets — mountain towns and specific beach destinations, in particular — still offer real savings compared to peak season.
A few tools on the platform can help you find where those windows still exist:
- Flight Deals surfaces fares that are running at least 20% below the typical predicted price for a route.
- Price Tracking sends you an alert when fares drop on routes you're watching, so you don't have to keep manually rechecking.
- Price Drop Protection refunds the difference if your booked flight's price drops afterward (available for a fee on select flights).
- Bundling your flight and hotel together can save meaningfully more than booking each separately.
The takeaway: don't assume a given month or season is automatically cheaper. Check actual current pricing and use these tools rather than relying on a rule of thumb about "shoulder season" or "off-peak" travel.
4. Take advantage of Expedia’s best price guarantee
Expedia has its own best price guarantee for hotel bookings, refunding the difference if you find a cheaper identical rate elsewhere. There are restrictions — the comparison has to be for an identical offering, and you'll need to provide proof — but filing a claim can be worth it if you spot a lower price.
Before booking through Expedia at all, though, check the hotel's own direct rate. Major chains like Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott often not only match a lower price you found elsewhere, but also add a 20% to 25% discount or bonus points on top when you book direct.
» Learn more: The pros and cons of Expedia
5. Skip rental car insurance if you already have coverage
Expedia lets you add extras to a rental car booking, including additional drivers and rental car insurance. That insurance usually isn't a good deal — instead, use a travel card that already includes complimentary rental car insurance. This includes options such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the American Express Platinum Card® (see rates and fees), among many other cards. Terms apply.
» Learn more: Best credit cards for online travel booking websites
Expedia is legit
Expedia has grown into one of the largest names under the Expedia Group umbrella. Booking through an OTA can save you money, but you'll always want to double check your reservation with the travel provider directly and only book what you're fairly confident you'll keep — canceling can be a real headache.
Stacked together — a travel credit card, One Key Rewards, smart timing and the best price guarantee — Expedia can be a genuinely good way to save on your next trip.
Insurance Benefit: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.
- Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
- Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
- Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
To view rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, see this page.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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