2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP TRAVEL SITES
Ranking the Best Travel Websites | Introduction
When booking your next travel adventure, knowing the best travel sites to use can help you find the top deals on hotels, airfare, attraction tickets, and more.
As of April 2016, the number of travel bookings made on the best travel websites each year was 148.3 million, with 57% of all travel reservations being performed on the Internet.
Furthermore, according to TripBarometer, twice as many people planned to spend more on travel (32%) during 2015 than they did the year before, indicating that the number of travelers will only continue to rise.
Award Emblem: Top 6 Best Travel Sites
The Internet and advent of mobile technology has made it easier than ever to use online travel booking sites, where people can plan last-minute trips using their computers or mobile devices. In addition, top travel sites have mobile apps available, making it even more convenient to book that next family vacation.
In this article, we are going to take a look at the top 6 best travel sites, their rankings and reviews, and the type of customer support each provides. Our goal is to provide you with a thorough evaluation of the best travel deal sites around so that you can choose the best travel site to book your next trip.
See Also: Easy Ways to Find Best Last-Minute Hotel Rooms & Deals
List of the Top 6 Best Online Travel Sites
List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the travel site names below to go directly to the detailed review section for that travel site):
Best Travel Sites
Travel Websites | Homepage |
Cheapoair.com | https://www.cheapoair.com/ |
Momondo | http://www.momondo.com/ |
Orbitz | https://www.orbitz.com/ |
Priceline | https://www.priceline.com/ |
Travelocity | https://www.travelocity.com/ |
TripAdvisor | https://www.tripadvisor.com/ |
Table: Top 6 Best Travel Sites | Ranking | Above list is sorted alphabetically
Why Use Online Travel Booking Sites?
There are a number of reasons that online travel comparison sites have become popular over the last 20+ years. Ultimately, these sits offer the opportunity of affordable travel as well as allow people to shop around for the best travel website with the greatest deals.
Image Source: Pixabay
Reasons people use travel booking sites include the following:
- To find the lowest prices
- Convenience of booking several travel items at once
- Easy-to-use interface
- Loyalty rewards program to earn free things
- Allows for easy booking of local attraction tickets
- Trust in the travel booking site
The Difference Between an Aggregator Site and a Best Travel Booking Site
Many people may think that all of the best discount travel sites are the same, but there are two main types of travel comparison sites: those that are actual travel booking sites, such as Priceline, and those that aggregate search results from others but don’t actually book the reservations, such as Momondo.
Both types of top travel sites are included in our review. and both options can be helpful to finding the best deal.
Travel Booking Sites: The best travel booking sites work with major hotels, airlines, and rental car agencies to offer their prices in one convenient place. They are also known as a best online travel agency (OTA). You book your travel through the site and pay for everything through them. You can often get discounts by booking combinations of flights, hotels, and rental cars at once. These best travel booking sites will also typically have a toll-free number to assist you if you need help with anything following your booking.
Aggregator Travel Comparison Sites: The top travel sites that are aggregators pull in data from numerous other websites, including the online travel sites, airline sites, and hotel sites. They then provide you with the search results and links to some of the best travel sites in the search results from whom you can book your tickets with. So, while the best travel websites that are aggregators aren’t actual sites where you book your travel, they can often show you deals on several of the best discount travel sites.
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AdvisoryHQ’s Selection Methodology
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Detailed Review – Top Ranking Best Travel Websites
Below, please find the detailed review of each firm on our list of top travel sites. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these best travel deal sites to score so high in our selection ranking.
Cheapoair.com Review
Cheapoair.com was started in 2005 to assist budget-savvy travelers with one of the best travel deal sites that sought out the lowest fares. Its parent company is Fareportal, which allows CheapOair access to innovative technology to find the best online travel agency deals around the world.
Image source: CheapOair
Its headquarters are located in New York City, NY, and the company’s CEO and founder is Sam Jain. CheapOair came in #8 on the Wistero ranking of the most popular top travel sites, with an estimated 12,000,000 monthly website visits and 5,400,000 estimated unique visitors.
Cheapoair.com states that its mission is to be committed to more than just low airfare guarantees – while millions search for flights, CheapOair searches for ways to give back to the community as well as its customers.
Key Factors That Enabled This Firm to Rank as a Best Travel Site
Below we’ve compiled a list of some of our most compelling reasons cheapoair.com has made our list of the year’s top rated best travel websites.
Best Price Guarantee
One thing that stood out about cheapoair.com was its Best Price Guarantee. It offers a full refund of your itinerary purchase or to credit you the difference in price if you find the same itinerary for a lower price on another best travel website.
It’s important to note that the offer is only good for a 24-hour period, due to the constant updating of fares according to travel dates and availability by most travel comparison sites.
Award Winning
The firm has an impressive list of awards that also played a factor in its inclusion on our list as one of the best travel sites for booking a vacation or business trip. Its awards cover the website, mobile app, customer service, and awards given by airlines that honor CheapOair as a best travel website.
Here is an overview of the award totals in each category that made it stand out as one of the top travel sites:
- Website Awards – 5
- Mobile App Awards – 13
- Customer Service Awards – 16
- Airline Best Travel Site Awards – 18
Social Responsibility
Cheapoair.com has an impressive commitment to being socially responsible and giving back to the community. At cheapoair.org, you can review the firm’s charitable activities which include activities going back to 2009. It also invites employee volunteerism as well.
This factor was one that we considered when choosing CheapOair as a best online travel agency – when a company makes a commitment to give back to the community it serves, this lets people know the type of business they’re working with. Many times, that same sense of helping and giving back will be reflected in the way a company works with customers every day.
Charitable partners and contributors that this best travel booking site works with include:
- AFCA
- World Food Programme
- UNICEF
- America’s Children
- Covenant House
- Punta Cana Foundation
Convenient Navigation
This is one of the best online travel sites for convenient and flexible navigation. You can find travel options any number of ways, depending upon your preference. Besides having the usual option to search for flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages, you can also seek out special deals on domestic, international or group travel.
You can search the best discount travel sites deals the following ways:
- Standard search by your location and destination
- Travel by interest
- Travel by region
- Travel by price
Additionally, the navigation menu on this best travel website has an excellent travel blog where you can find articles on adventure travel, travel tips, travel stories, inspirational stories, and more.
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Momondo Review
Momondo was started in 2006 by a small group of dedicated Danish developers united in their goal to open the world to those wishing to travel and find the best discount travel sites around the world. Its parent company is Momondo Group.
Image source: Momondo
The headquarters are located in Copenhagen, Denmark, and the CEO is Hugo Burge. Momondo is one of the travel comparison sites that is an aggregator and thus does not book the tickets directly. It averages about 3,300,000 monthly website visits.
Momondo states its mission is to open up the world, challenging the dogmas of the flight industry. It wanted to create one of the best travel sites that would offer full price transparency across the market.
Key Factors That Enabled This Firm to Rank as a Best Travel Site
Below we’ve compiled a list of some of our most compelling reasons Momondo has made our list of the year’s top rated best travel websites.
Independent Service
Momondo states it is a “free and independent” best travel website, offering an unbiased aggregation of the best flight tickets from multiple airlines and travel booking sites to direct you, for free, to the best fares out there.
It is also one of the global best travel sites for finding a flight anywhere around the world. Since Momondo is based in Denmark, the company has a unique perspective on international travel and the ability to connect to airlines that other companies may not have thought of regarding international vacations.
Easy Search Results
There are some search aggregator sites that pop up several different browser windows when you search for the best travel booking sites deals, but Momondo delivers all the search results in a single page, which makes looking through the different fare offers much easier. It also offers three views – Cheapest, Quickest or Best – so you can filter the results by the factors that are most important to you.
One note is that you do not necessarily know which travel booking sites you are being directed to when you click the “go to site” button included in the search results. However, you do receive an indicator once you’ve clicked the button listed in the search results and before you are transferred over to the travel booking sites.
International Sites
Another unique feature of Momondo and one that contributed to its inclusion as one of the top travel comparison sites was that it offers several international site links in different languages because of the depth of Momondo Group. This way, travelers in multiple countries can find the best online travel sites in their own language.
Momondo’s international sites include:
- Billigeflybilletter
- Billigflüge
- Cheap Flights Canada
- Flights UK
- Vuelosbaratos
- HalvatLennot
- Vol pas cher
- Voli low cost
- Goedkopevliegtickets
- Passagensaéreas
- Voosbaratos
- Aвиабилеты
- Flygresor
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Orbitz Review
Orbitz was started in 2001 as a place to help make travel one of life’s greatest treasures. This best travel booking site is a subsidiary of Expedia, one of the world’s leading travel companies.
Image source: Orbitz
Its headquarters is located in Chicago, Illinois, and its CEO is Dara Khosrowshahi. Orbitz came in at #9 on the Wistero ranking of most popular top travel sites, with an estimated 11,500,000 monthly website visits and 5,800,000 estimated unique visitors.
Orbitz states that its mission is transforming the way consumers around the world plan and book travel.
Key Factors That Enabled This Firm to Rank as a Best Travel Site
Below are the primary reasons we selected Orbitz to be rated as one of the best travel websites.
Rewards Program
Orbitz is very proud of its Rewards Program, a groundbreaking loyalty program where customers can earn rewards immediately from using this best travel booking site on flights, hotels, and vacation packages. Furthermore, customers can redeem those points instantly on tens of thousands of hotels worldwide, with no waiting.
You can even receive TSA PreCheck through the program as a Platinum Member, meaning you can breeze through expedited airport security checks at no extra cost.
Size and Reach
Since Orbitz was acquired by Expedia in 2015, the company is part of a large global travel network that gives this best travel site a size and reach that not many other competitors have. This allows it the benefit of volume deals with airlines, hotels, and other travel firms but may mean less competition due to the consolidation of multiple top travel sites under the Expedia umbrella.
Sites owned by Expedia include:
- Expedia (including its Affiliate Network and Local Expert)
- Hotels.com
- Trivago
- HomeAway
- Egencia
- Travelocity
- Hotwire
- Wotif Group
- Classic Vacations
- CarRentals.com
- Venere.com
- Expedia CruiseShipCenters
Visa Card Program
Orbitz has its own Rewards Visa Card which further enhances the extras you get from using this best travel booking site. By combining the Orbitz Visa card with its Rewards loyalty program, you can save up points for free perks even faster.
The Orbitz Rewards Visa Card has several great traveler benefits:
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- 6% back on every flight
- 5% extra on Orbitz bookings
- 7% back on qualifying restaurants
- 2% back on all other purchases
- $100 in statement credit after spending $1500 in the first 90 days
So, if finding the best online travel sites and deals and getting as much as possible free through rewards programs is important to you, the offers from Orbitz through its Rewards Visa is one of the best you can find.
Weekly Deals
Another standout feature that contributed to Orbitz being included on our list of best travel websites was its Weekly Deals page. This page offers coupon codes that give you extra money off hotels, flights, and vacation packages. It also highlights short-term hotel sales and other best travel deal site specials to help you save big on your next vacation.
Oftentimes, luxury hotels or flights to certain destinations will still have empty space available, and these rooms or seats may be sold at the last minute at lower prices. Being able to access those best discount travel sites deals on Orbitz could help you get a great vacation at a fraction of the price.
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Priceline Review
Priceline was started in 1997 as Priceline.com LLC, which was later incorporated as The Priceline Group in 1998. It is one the world’s leading providers in online travel and related services and owns other primary brands, such as Kayak, agoda.com, rentalcars.com and OpenTable.
Image source: Priceline
Its headquarters are located in Norwalk, Connecticut, and its CEO is Jeffery Boyd. Priceline came in at #5 on the Wistero ranking of the most popular top travel sites, with an estimated 20,800,000 monthly website visits and 10,100,000 estimated unique visitors.
Priceline states its mission is to help people experience the world.
Key Factors That Enabled This Firm to Rank as a Best Travel Site
Below we’ve compiled a list of some of our most compelling reasons Priceline has made our list of the year’s top rated best travel websites.
Best Price Guarantee
The best price guarantee on Priceline not only guarantees to refund 100% of the difference if you find a lower fare on another best travel site but 200% of the difference if you had booked an Express Deal. If you are using either its Express Deals or Name Your Own Price (now discontinued on airfare), you have up until midnight the day before you travel to claim the refund. For all other bookings, you have within 24 hours of the booking to initiate the claim.
This is a significant offer, as not many best travel sites will give you 200% of the difference if you can find a better fare on another site.
Express Deals
Priceline offers some excellent deals on the Express Deals section of its website. You can save up to 60% off hotel bookings in cities around the U. S., allowing for the option of a room upgrade or for a hotel booking cheaper than you initially planned for.
Some of the hotel perks you can find when searching for Priceline’s express deals are:
- Indoor/outdoor pool
- Free airport shuttle
- Pets allowed
- Free Internet
- Business center
- Onsite restaurant
- Free breakfast
Hotel Freebees
Who doesn’t love free perks? Another great aspect of Priceline’s best travel website is its Misson: Hotel Freebies page. The page states that Priceline has the best deals in any town, and its Hotel Freebie page is meant to help you find the best deal for your next vacation.
Its deals include:
- Instant discounts
- Free nights
- Resort credits
- Room upgrades
- Free breakfast
- Free parking
- Hotel extras
- Spa credit
- Casino credit
- Kids stay free
Travelocity Review
Travelocity was started in 1996 as one of the first best online travel agencies and as a subsidiary of Sabre Holdings, which was a subsidiary of American Airlines. Expedia acquired Travelocity in 2015 and is now its parent company.
Image source: Travelocity
Its headquarters is located in Southlake, Texas, and its president is Roshan Mendis. Travelocity came in at #14 on the Wistero ranking of the most popular top travel sites, with an estimated 6,500,000 monthly website visits and 4,200,000 estimated unique visitors.
Travelocity states its mission is to fulfill travel experiences and to begin not only with the right destination but with the right state of mind – it promotes wandering wisely.
Key Factors That Enabled This Firm to Rank as a Best Travel Site
Below are some of the elements we found compelling enough about Travelocity to name it as one of the best travel websites.
Customer Support
One unique feature that stood out about Travelocity and made it one of our best travel sites was its Customer 1st Guarantee. The company makes it a priority to ensure your trip is as worry-free as possible, and it guarantees 24/7 personal assistance before, during, and after your trip.
Despite how great some so-called best travel booking sites may appear, the ones that provide customer service at all times can be the difference between a great vacation and a nightmare. Travelocity’s around-the-clock assistance is a standout. However, be aware that its assistance comes partially via social media – although, nowadays, that option can be just as helpful as by phone.
Things to Do Search
If you’re not quite sure what you’d like to do, then Travelocity’s Things to Do search may be just what you’re looking for. It’s a unique aspect that supports this firm as one of the best travel websites for finding destinations and activities to do.
The categories of options provided by this best travel website include:
- Local expert picks
- Family-friendly
- Tour & sightseeing
- Private transfers
- Walking & bike tours
- Attractions
- Day trips & excursions
- Hop-on hop-off
- Cruises & water tours
- Food & drink
- Shared transfers
- Private tours and adventures
- Multi-day & extended tours
- Sightseeing passes
Travel for Good
Another standout feature of Travelocity that gives some insight into the type of company it is, beyond generally being one of the best travel websites, is its Travel for Good program. Travelocity has awarded over 100 Travel for Good grants to people who wanted to make a positive impact on the world and has sent three grand prize winners on their dream voluntourism trips.
Anyone can enter for a chance to win a dream voluntourism trip, as well as $5,000, to help make a difference somewhere in the world. This is a program that helps Travelocity shine as one of the top travel sites that cares about its community as well as making a positive difference in the world.
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TripAdvisor Review
TripAdvisor was started in 2000 as one of the best online travel sites to help travelers around the world plan and book their perfect trip. TripAdvisor, Inc. is a public company (NASDAQ: TRIP). The company claims it is the “world’s largest travel site.”
Image source: Tripadvisor
Its headquarters are located in Needham, Massachusetts, with its president and CEO being Stephen Kaufer. TripAdvisor came in #2 on the Wistero ranking of the most popular top travel sites, with an estimated 53,800,000 monthly website visits and 20,400,000 estimated unique visitors.
TripAdvisor states its mission is to enable travelers to unleash the full potential of every trip. This is one of the best travel sites that offers advice from millions of travelers and has links to check hundreds of the best travel booking sites to find top trip prices.
Key Factors That Enabled This Firm to Rank as a Best Travel Site
Below we’ve compiled a list of some of our most compelling reasons Travelocity has made our list of the year’s top rated best travel websites.
Traveler Reviews
TripAdvisor was an early adopter of user-generated content, allowing travelers to tell others about their experiences with airlines, hotels, restaurants, and other travel-related companies. That legacy continues, as it offers “millions of traveler reviews and photos to help you get it right” when you choose the best discount travel sites for your next trip.
The multitude of user reviews on every facet of travel, from food to lodging to flights and attractions, are a truly helpful resource for hearing the experiences of others and determining pros, cons, and tips of where to stay and what to do. This best travel site has star ratings on every type of vacation thinkable, and it even breaks down the reviews by keyword mentions, such as “seafood buffet” or “gorgeous grounds.”
One note is that may need to try different keywords to get the exact location or hotel that you are seeking reviews for.
Savings Alert Search
A standout feature that contributed to TripAdvisor being included on our list of best travel websites was its comparison savings alert that comes up when you search for a hotel. It shows you the prices on a variety of the best travel deal sites so you can easily determine which option you can save the most money with.
Best of Awards
Another customer-centric feature that makes TripAdvisor one of the best travel sites to use for planning a vacation is its annual “The Very Best of Travel” rankings which are chosen by “millions of travelers.” These user-voted awards let you know which attractions and hotels people chose for the best travel experiences.
The awards categories include the best:
- Hotels
- Destinations
- beaches
- Islands
- Landmarks
- Attractions
- Museums
- Restaurants
- All-inclusive resorts
- Destinations on the rise
Vacation Rentals
TripAdvisor has a feature unique from other best travel websites: its vacation rentals area. You can both book a vacation rental and also list your own home as a vacation rental.
Its vacation rentals offer you the opportunity of a more home-like experience, rather than a hotel, in a variety of places around the world. You can read more about people’s experiences on their vacation rentals blog.
Conclusion—Top 6 Best Travel Deal Sites
Planning your next dream vacation doesn’t have to be a long and time-consuming experience – there are several top travel sites available to help make the job a bit easier for you. You can use the power of the Internet to search literally thousands of best online travel agency offers to find exactly what you’re looking for at the best price.
With these top 6 best rated travel booking sites, you can use both aggregator travel comparison sites to bring up results from multiple booking sites as well as find the most convenient travel booking sites where you can purchase flights, hotels, rentals cars, and more while knowing you have customer support available when needed.
We hope that our review has helped to make clearer some of the differences between the top travel sites out there, providing you with some great choices for when you book your next trip. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, international travel, user reviews to guide you or a company that makes giving back to the community a priority, there is a best travel site to meet your needs and help you get a great deal too.
Traveling should be about the fun, relaxation, and adventure, and if you plan ahead using the tools provided by one of these best travel sites, you should hopefully have a carefree and enjoyable trip.
AdvisoryHQ (AHQ) Disclaimer:
Reasonable efforts have been made by AdvisoryHQ to present accurate information, however all info is presented without warranty. Review AdvisoryHQ’s Terms for details. Also review each firm’s site for the most updated data, rates and info.
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