Latest news with #Expedia
Scottish Sun
12 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Reason why you should never book a hotel or holiday on you laptop revealed
Plus, we reveal more holiday hacks to help you save cash this summer GOOD TRIP TIP Reason why you should never book a hotel or holiday on you laptop revealed Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EXPERTS have revealed the reason why you should never book a hotel or holiday on your laptop. With summer upon us, many will be scouring the likes of and Expedia for a last-minute getaway. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 We share a hack which can help you save on you next holiday booking Credit: Getty But if you are thinking of booking a holiday on your laptop, you might want to think twice. That is because you could end up paying more than customers who book the same deal via their smart phone. Hotel and holiday groups often have special deals for mobile and app users to help drive traffic to their websites. Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, said it is the firms' business to "persuade you to download the app." "They can collect more of your data and target you more effectively to persuade you to book again." Mobile only pricing is also used as a marketing tool to help drive more sales. Tom Church, co-founder of discount code platform found a £16 price difference for the same hotel found on He said: "A hotel in Granada, the Pension Venecia Gomerez, was £163 per night on the computer, but on the mobile app it was £147 per night, £16 cheaper." Research by The Sun also found the booking website was offering mobile customers a £112 discount on a hotel in Benidorm if they booked via the app. The Hotel Flats Friends Mar Blau costs £412 on the website but £300 if you secure the deal on your phone. My dream pool was £40,000 so I DIYd my own 18ft version in February all for this summer heatwave - it's saved me £37,000 The same goes for Expedia, with mobile users getting a £150 discount on a stay at the Hotel Ronda House in Barcelona. It is worth noting that prices may vary depending on what time of year you booking your holiday. Martyn James, consumer expert, said: "It might seem illogical and strange, but booking using a phone app can get you a big discount. "Regardless, always check the app before you book - but make sure you look at the hotel's website or app direct too, in case they have even better rates." MORE HOLIDAY HACKS If you are planning a trip abroad this summer, it is important to be clued up so you don't risk loosing cash. For example, customers should avoid exchanging money at the airport as you face paying higher fees. Money exchange hubs at the airport tend to a captive market, so firms can charge a higher premium for using the service. Kara Gammell, personal finance expert at MoneySuperMarket, previously told The Sun: "Don't wait to buy your travel money at the airport as you will pay a premium. "And never pay for your currency with a credit card as paying on plastic means you'll be charged a 'cash advance fee." This fee is charged on ATM withdrawals but also on transactions such as online gambling and buying foreign currency. You should also be aware that banks tend to charge customers a fee for using their debit or credit card abroad. NatWest charges customers a 2.75% fee for spending your debit card abroad. But plenty of banks, such as Monzo, do not charge for this service.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The Top 5 Analyst Questions From Expedia's Q1 Earnings Call
Expedia's first quarter results were met with a negative market reaction after the company missed Wall Street's revenue expectations, despite outperforming on non-GAAP earnings per share and adjusted EBITDA. Management pointed to a softer U.S. travel market, particularly for inbound and domestic bookings, as a primary factor behind the revenue shortfall. CEO Ariane Gorin explained, 'US demand was soft, driven by declining consumer sentiment and we saw pressure on key inbound US corridors.' While Expedia's B2B and advertising segments delivered strong growth, the high concentration of U.S. business in its direct-to-consumer brands limited overall performance. Is now the time to buy EXPE? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $2.99 billion vs analyst estimates of $3.01 billion (3.4% year-on-year growth, 0.8% miss) Adjusted EBITDA: $296 million vs analyst estimates of $269.7 million (9.9% margin, 9.7% beat) Operating Margin: -2.3%, up from -3.8% in the same quarter last year Room Nights Booked: 107.7 million, up 6.5 million year on year Market Capitalization: $21.71 billion While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention. Justin Post (Bank of America) asked if Expedia could have increased marketing spend to drive bookings and about the turnaround. CEO Ariane Gorin said marketing is calibrated to profitable growth, and while remains challenged, recent rebranding brings optimism for improvement. Deepak Mathivanan (Cantor Fitzgerald) questioned the B2B unit's resilience to macro headwinds and the drivers behind margin guidance. Gorin highlighted B2B's geographic and segment diversification, while CFO Scott Schenkel attributed margin improvement to recent restructuring and ongoing discretionary cost controls. Naved Khan (B. Riley Securities) inquired about consumer demand trends and social media initiatives. Gorin noted continued softness in U.S. bookings, shifting traveler preferences toward discounted rate plans, and described early traction for social booking tools like Expedia Trip Matching on Instagram. Trevor Young (Barclays) asked about investment in experiences and attractions, as well as specifics on the scale of employment reductions. Schenkel confirmed a 4% staff reduction and $75 million in expected savings, while Gorin said growing the experiences segment is a priority, but no major new initiatives were disclosed. Lee Horowitz (Deutsche Bank) pressed for clarity on the B2C outlook and loyalty program changes. Schenkel acknowledged ongoing pressure on the consumer business, while Gorin said loyalty remains important but programs are being tailored by brand and region to improve returns. In upcoming quarters, the StockStory team will be watching (1) continued growth momentum in the B2B and advertising segments, (2) the impact of restructuring and cost control actions on profit margins, and (3) signs of stabilization or recovery in U.S. travel demand, particularly for direct-to-consumer brands. Additionally, we are tracking the adoption and monetization of new AI-powered features and the effectiveness of international expansion strategies. Expedia currently trades at $170.98, up from $169.17 just before the earnings. In the wake of this quarter, is it a buy or sell? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs. While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Bad Bunny in Puerto Rico: Expect higher prices for flights, hotels this summer
Bad Bunny's concert residency is set to bring fans from around the world to Puerto Rico this summer, and travelers can expect to pay up to see the singer perform in his home country. The Grammy Award-winning artist's "No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí" (I Don't Want to Leave Here) residency will take place at the Coliseo de Puerto from July 11 to Sept. 14, ushering in a "peak period for tourism," according to Discover Puerto Rico. During this time, an anticipated 600,000 concert goers will descend on the island to see the popular singer. Shop 2025 Bad Bunny tickets Depending on the specific concert dates, travel costs to Puerto Rico this summer will come with a premium, according to travel platform Hopper, with round-trip airfare costing 42% more than it did at the same time last year. However, there are still some good deals to be discovered if travelers plan strategically. "If you're planning a trip to San Juan, we recommend looking at traveling for the first two weeks or final two weeks of the residency," said Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper. Here's what to know about traveling to Puerto Rico for Bad Bunny's concert residency. How much are flights to San Juan for Bad Bunny's residency? Airfare to San Juan this summer is averaging at $331 per round-trip ticket, about $100 higher than last year, according to Hopper. How much you'll dish out for your trip also depends on when you go, with the cheapest being during the beginning and end of the residency. From July 13 to 26, a round-trip ticket to San Juan is available for under $300, but the price increases to $388 during August. Prices drop again in the first two weeks of September and are lowest during the last week of the residency. Expedia looked at the average daily ticket prices for travel to San Juan between July 14 and Sept. 14, and found the most expensive days to fly as Aug. 22 and 29. The cheapest are Aug. 31 and Sept. 14. Can the island handle it? Everyone's vacationing in Puerto Rico. How much are hotel rates in San Juan for Bad Bunny's residency? For a weekend stay during the residency, hotel rates will cost as much as $391 per night, according to Hopper. Lodging may be a little cheaper during the weeknight – for a Monday, a nightly hotel stay is $247. Visiting near the end of the residency may save travelers some cash, not only with flights but also with hotel stays. Expedia found the cheapest average hotel rates for a night in San Juan to be on Sept. 7 and 8. Conversely, the most expensive average hotel rates are on July 24 and Sept. 1. Is there cheap airfare to San Juan this summer? Here are some flight deals to San Juan from major U.S. cities, according to Expedia.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Mistakes People Make When Booking Travel Through Third-Party Websites
Expedia. Skyscanner. Priceline. These days there are countless third-party platforms for booking flights, hotels, rental cars and other aspects of the travel experience. While these websites can make the planning process feel more seamless and convenient, there are some potential drawbacks that are important to understand before you make any reservations. Below, travel experts share the common mistakes people make when booking trips through a third-party service ― and their advice for avoiding these errors during your travels. Travel booking websites can be great for comparing prices across different providers and potentially finding exclusive deals. But you're often going to see the same costs across platforms ― including the travel vendor's direct website. 'You should not assume online travel agencies have the lowest prices,' said Phil Dengler, co-founder of The Vacationer. 'While coupons and other promotions can make it appear that you are saving a lot of money, you should always check directly with the airline or hotel.' When booking a flight, you should check the prices on the airline websites, as well as results on search engines like Google Flights. As you look for accommodations, compare rates on hotel websites and third-party booking systems. 'In many cases, hotels will guarantee the cheapest rate when booking directly with them. In certain situations, third-party booking sites will hide resort fees until the very last moment or put them in an easy-to-miss spot.' 'You should not book airfare with an online travel agency if there is a chance you may take advantage of the federal 24-hour cancellation rule,' Dengler said. The U.S. Department of Transportation has mandated that air carriers allow customers who purchased tickets at least seven days before a flight's scheduled departure to cancel their reservation and receive a full refund without penalty within 24 hours of booking. 'Unfortunately, the flight must be booked directly with the airline,' Dengler noted. 'That means third-party booking sites do not have to honor the rule, which means you could be out of luck if you are looking to cancel within 24 hours. If there is any chance you may need to cancel your flight, check with the third-party booking site before you book to see if they honor the 24-hour cancellation rule.' 'Always read the fine print so that you know their return or refund policy,' said Ciara Johnson, a travel blogger at Hey Ciara. 'For added protection, book with a travel credit card that has insurance in case something goes wrong. If you're not booking for a deal, it's always best to book direct on the company website. It's likely cheaper to book direct anyhow!' Ravi Roth, a queer travel expert and host of 'The Gaycation Travel Show,' echoed this advice. He emphasized being aware of any extra fees or troublesome policies regarding cancellations, itinerary changes and refunds, so you should make sure to read and save your confirmation email with the details. 'I recommend using trusted sites like Orbitz for hotels and Airbnb to book experiences. As for flights, I would try Skyscanner, but while booking, make sure to stick to the major airlines,' Roth noted. 'Sometimes folks can find a super cheap flight, but in the fine print, there is a charge for overhead and checked luggage. I cannot stress enough to read the fine print.' If hotel or airline loyalty points and status are important to you, using a third-party booking site might not be the best move. 'Many online travel agencies let you insert your frequent flyer number or hotel rewards number, but that does not mean you will earn status credit and points,' Dengler explained. 'Some airlines and hotels will allow you to earn status when booking with online travel agencies, but you should make sure first.' 'Third-party booking sites like Expedia, Priceline and Travelocity are also known as online travel agencies, and they are essentially middlemen between you and the airline or hotel,' Dengler explained. 'In other words, your reservation is with them and not the airline or hotel. That means you contact them for customer service instead of the airline or hotel.' So if access to direct customer service with the travel provider is a big deal to you, avoid these third-party platforms when making your reservations and use them as search engines for comparisons instead. 'While the larger online travel agencies have better customer service than the smaller ones, it is still better to talk to the source directly,' Dengler said. 'That is important for both reservation modifications and cancellations. If there is a possibility that there will be severe weather during your trip, I recommend booking directly since there is a real chance you will have to modify or cancel your itinerary.' Because canceling or making an itinerary change can be a bigger hassle through third-party platforms, make sure to pay close attention when you're making your reservation. 'Travelers should just ensure to double-check all of their information, such as travel dates, name and contact information when booking via third-parties,' said Casey Brogan, a consumer travel expert at Tripadvisor. 'Be aware that several budget carriers, most notably Ryanair in Europe, technically don't allow third-party sales of their tickets,' said Marek Bron, a travel blogger at Indie Traveller. 'If you book their flights through a third-party anyway, then this is done through a work-around way that's not supported by Ryanair.' As a result, making cancellations or changes through the third-party site might be more expensive or challenging than it would have been if you booked directly through the airline. Ensure you can actually get an official confirmation with your chosen air carrier or other travel provider when you book through an external system. Not all third-party booking sites and travel agents are created equal. As such, it's important to read the reviews of these services before making your reservations through them. 'Check reviews of these third-party sites, such as on TrustPilot, before booking as some of them are to be avoided,' Bron said. He advised paying extra close attention to mentions of customer service, as you might need this to handle changes or cancellations down the road. 'If working with a travel agent, ensure they have the right qualifications and double-check your reservations with the airlines and hotels,' echoed Jessica van Dop DeJesus, a travel media specialist and blogger at The Dining Traveler. 'Also, look into travel insurance and check with your credit card to see if they provide any travel insurance services.' The Flight Essential Not Enough People Bring On A Plane How To Salvage Your Vacation If It Rains Most Of The Time 10 Mistakes At The Airport That Are Costing You Money
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Save 30% on airport lounge access and escape the crowds this summer
The airport lounge access deal will let travellers enjoy a quiet space away from the crowds, with complimentary snacks, drinks, WiFi and comfortable seating It is time to set our sights on the upcoming summer holidays. Whether travellers have already secured their booking or are just beginning to plan, the countdown to a sun-soaked getaway has officially started. Priority Pass is currently offering a 30% discount on airport lounge access, allowing holidaymakers to enjoy chic spaces away from the throngs, complete with complimentary nibbles, beverages, WiFi and cosy seating. Securing an airport lounge is the ultimate travel hack for dodging jam-packed airports. There are more than 1,700 Priority Pass airport lounges to choose from. This deal will enable travellers to experience the luxury of first-class without the hefty price tag. Nestled away from the hectic terminal waiting areas, guests can enjoy refreshments, queue-free bathroom facilities and WiFi for work or leisure. For families jetting off with children, they also provide a welcome break from the chaos of large terminals, making it easier to keep an eye on the little ones and keep them entertained. All Priority Pass airport lounges come equipped with flight information screens. Some even offer sleep pods for lengthy layovers, and the option to indulge in dedicated spa areas and treatments at an extra charge. The Priority Pass digital membership is instantly available via the app, allowing travellers to book and unwind as soon as they sign up. Unlike one-off lounge passes, Priority Pass allows usage on both outbound and return flights, whereas a single-day lounge pass only covers one leg of the journey. This typically works out cheaper than purchasing a single-use entry pass for a departure lounge, and the more frequently you use the lounges, the more cost-effective your subscription becomes. If Priority Pass airport lounges don't quite tick all your boxes, single-use airport passes can be booked through Expedia, with Heathrow Airport lounges starting from £34. There are also other options available for airports across the UK and further afield. It's worth mentioning that Holiday Extras offers a variety of airport lounge deals, along with car hire, hotel stays and more. The Priority Pass app comes with additional benefits such as early access to duty-free shopping, premium fitness content, and the ability to pre-book lounges. Members can also enjoy spa treatments, gaming zones, pre-order takeout, private transfers, and discounted car rentals worldwide. Travellers who've used Priority Pass airport lounges in the past have been voicing their opinions on Trustpilot. One jet-setter recounted: "Six family members visited the lounge in Florence, Italy, while waiting for our flight back to the USA. It was very relaxing, good food and drinks, nice bathrooms, no wait to get in. Very good experience." Another traveller said: "Been using Priority Pass in Europe for over a year. I made 22 visits last year and all of the experiences were smooth. Zero complaints and I would highly recommend Priority Pass to anyone interested." A third passenger wrote: "Our experience was very good! The staff at Heathrow Airport was courteous and efficient. The food was good and the lounge was nice although rather crowded! Would definitely use the lounge again!". However, it hasn't been all rosy, with a less satisfied customer commenting: "I like the clubs, but they aren't at all the airports I fly out of. Lately, they have been crowded and have to wait. Often they are located in different terminals than the one I fly out of." Despite a few hiccups, the consensus is that securing a spot in a Priority Pass airport lounge has generally been a hit with flyers. Another user concluded: "Literally a life saver when travelling. I love having a place to relax and grab a bite to eat or a drink before a flight. It's truly a game changer."
