Hotels.com is an online travel agency, part of the Expedia Group, selling rooms at hotels, apartments and resorts worldwide. You book through Hotels.com, but the stay itself is with the property.
That split is what decides whether a Hotels.com booking goes well. The listing price, the cancellation terms and the fees charged at the property can all differ from what you first see, and each is worth reading before you pay.
Reading the real Hotels.com price
The nightly rate shown in Hotels.com search results is often before taxes and fees. Switch the display to show the total price, if that option is offered in your region, or open the room and look at the full breakdown.
Some hotels charge a resort fee or destination fee payable at the property. Hotels.com lists these in the price details or the fine print, but they are easy to miss. In some US cities they add a meaningful sum per night.
Parking, breakfast and city taxes may also be paid on arrival. Check the Hotels.com listing's policies section so the bill at checkout matches your budget.
Compare the total for the whole stay, not the nightly figure, when weighing two hotels.
Refundable, pay later or pay now
Many Hotels.com rooms are offered at more than one rate for the same room. The difference is mostly about flexibility.
Fully refundable rates can be cancelled free up to a stated deadline. They cost a little more but protect you if plans change.
Non-refundable or pay-now rates are cheaper, sometimes by a useful margin, but you lose the money if you cancel. Book these only when your dates are fixed.
Some Hotels.com rates let you pay at the property rather than upfront. That helps cash flow, but the hotel may still take a card guarantee or a deposit.
The cancellation deadline is often in the hotel's local time. Screenshot the Hotels.com terms at booking in case of a dispute later.
One Key: how Hotels.com rewards work now
Hotels.com used to run a stamp scheme where ten nights earned a free night. That was replaced by One Key, a rewards programme shared across Hotels.com, Expedia and Vrbo.
With One Key you earn OneKeyCash on eligible Hotels.com bookings and can spend it on later stays across the three brands. Membership tiers from Blue upwards unlock extra perks at higher levels. Check the current earn rate and tier rules, as they have been adjusted since launch.
Sign in to Hotels.com before searching. Members often see Member Prices, discounted rates at participating hotels that do not show to guests who are not logged in.
OneKeyCash is not earned on every rate, and some taxes and fees are excluded. The Hotels.com booking summary usually shows what you will earn.
Choosing the right property on Hotels.com
Read the recent guest reviews, not just the score. Filter to the last few months, since a renovation or change of management can move a hotel up or down quickly.
Check the location on the Hotels.com map yourself. "City centre" can mean a long walk, and a cheaper hotel far out may cost more once you add taxis.
For apartments and vacation rentals, check the cleaning fee, check-in method and minimum stay. These vary more than with hotels.
Look at the room type carefully. A "standard room" at one Hotels.com property may be twice the size of another's, and bed types are not always guaranteed.
When Hotels.com rates are lowest
City hotels are often cheaper at weekends and dearer on weekdays when business travel peaks; resort areas are the reverse. Big events and conferences push prices up sharply.
Booking a refundable Hotels.com rate early and checking again closer to the date is a sensible habit. If the price drops, and the terms allow, rebook at the lower rate and cancel the first.
Hotels.com also runs periodic sales, and the app has sometimes shown app-only prices. It is worth checking both before booking.
Where the Hotels.com savings are
Hotels.com codes usually apply only at participating properties, and often exclude Member Prices or already discounted rates. Always check that the discount shows in the booking summary before you pay.
Percentage against dollar maths is simple. The 10% Hotels.com code beats $30 off once the eligible room price is over $300. On a cheap one- or two-night stay below that, the $30 code saves more.
The 8% code is the fallback when the others are rejected. Many Hotels.com codes have a minimum spend or an expiry date, and most are single-use per account.
A code on a non-refundable rate stacks the savings, but compare that with the flexibility you give up.
Common questions
Who do I contact if there is a problem with my Hotels.com booking?
Start with Hotels.com customer service, since you booked through them. For issues on the day, speak to the hotel front desk as well.
Why is the price at the hotel higher than on Hotels.com?
Usually resort fees, city taxes or extras payable locally. They are listed in the Hotels.com price details.
Can I use OneKeyCash and a Hotels.com code together?
Often yes, but not always. Apply the code first, then check how much OneKeyCash the booking accepts.
| Discount | Type | Get the deal |
|---|---|---|
| 8% off | Promo code | View at Hotels.com → |
| 7% off | Promo code | View at Hotels.com → |
| 7% off | Promo code | View at Hotels.com → |
| 8% off | Promo code | View at Hotels.com → |
