Saving 101, Store Secrets, Tips & Tricks, Travel

8 Expedia Hacks Every Savvy Traveler Needs to Know

The Smart Shopper Editors · Published on 2019-04-15

For many, Expedia is the go-to resource for all your travel needs. From renting a car to booking a flight, Expedia allows you to do it all in one spot and for a price that won’t make you want to jump ship. When you shop with Rakuten, the benefits are even better with Cash Back, leaving more money in your wallet to spend at your vacation destination. Check out these additional Expedia hacks to save even more on your next vacation.

1. Bundle & Save

When you bundle your flight and hotel together on Expedia, you’ll encounter travel deals you won’t find elsewhere. Don’t be surprised if you see options like “Save 100% on your flight” as part of a hotel package, or “Book together and get your hotel free” when you tack on a hotel to your flight purchase. Expedia will tell you the cost per person with everything included so you know exactly what you’re getting into.

2. Download the Expedia App

It pays to go mobile with Expedia. App users can get up to 30% off hotels and two times the Expedia Rewards points if you are an Expedia member. Access your itinerary from anywhere, even offline, and book flights, hotels and rental cars easily. The Expedia app is especially helpful if you are traveling abroad and don’t speak the language with hotel address translations.

3. Join Expedia Rewards

When you sign up for Expedia, you have the option to join Expedia Rewards. You’ll start with Blue status and earn and redeem points – two points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals, cruises and vacation packages and five points per dollar spent on airline tickets. You’ll get exclusive member pricing and special offers, plus have the opportunity to extend your price matching guarantee, among other things. As another bonus, you can easily get help with your specific trip by contacting Expedia customer service.

Travel enough with Expedia and you can earn your way into Silver or Gold status. Here, you can earn and redeem points at a higher valuation and get more perks like bonus points with select VIP hotel bookings, free upgrades and amenities and much more.

4. Shop last-minute deals

With Expedia’s Last Minute Deals, you can finally afford to be that spontaneous person you’ve always wanted to be. Search for flights, hotels or travel bundles to a new city or one that you love for one of the most memorable trips you’ll have. You’ll get all the best prices without Expedia coupon codes.

5. Browse the Daily Deals

At 12 AM every day, Expedia changes its pages of hot Daily Deals. That means you only have 24 hours to shop and treat yourself to that getaway you’ve been talking about for months. Shop from Daily Hotel Deals or Daily Package Deals to save as much as 75% off select hotels the most popular destinations worldwide.

6. Check for free extras

Check out this Expedia page to browse for free extras to add to your trip, such as free room upgrades, free breakfast buffets (hello, Las Vegas!), free bottle of wine, free premium WiFi and much more.

7. Book with credit card rewards points

If you have a Citi ThankYou or American Express Membership Rewards credit card, redeem your Rewards points on flights or hotel stays.

With American Express, simply link your eligible American Express card to your Expedia account and start shopping with points, then see your savings on your credit card statement. You can use these Membership Rewards points to fly, drive and stay, with choice of over 230,000 Expedia Rate hotels.

8. Shop with Rakuten

Before you make any purchase on Expedia, join Rakuten so you can activate Cash Back every time you shop plus save with Expedia promo codes. Earn money back on every trip you take without having to do more than clicking a button.

The Smart Shopper Editors

From the latest tech to the hottest fashions and everything in between, the editors at The Smart Shopper are in the know and ready share their expertise. Check out our posts on shopping secrets and product trends for those who live for a little retail therapy.