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Hotels.com Review
Book hotels, vacation rentals, and more — with rewards on every stay
Last reviewed: 2026-04-24 · By GBBR Editorial Team
Our Top Pick · Gold Tier
Hotels.com
Free plan available
The Bottom Line
Hotels.com is one of the largest global hotel booking platforms with 500,000+ properties in 200+ countries. It earns a Gold tier rating for its massive inventory, competitive pricing, the Hotels.com Rewards program (earn 1 stamp per night, get 1 free after 10), and strong mobile experience. Free to use — you pay the nightly rate. Best for travelers who book hotels regularly and want to earn free nights.
What is Hotels.com?
Hotels.com launched in 2001 (as Hotel Reservations Network since 1991) and is a subsidiary of Expedia Group headquartered in Dallas, TX. It operates in 90+ languages across 200+ countries and territories, connecting travelers to 500,000+ properties ranging from budget motels to luxury resorts, vacation rentals, and apartments. It targets travelers who prioritize selection, price comparison, and loyalty rewards.
What does Hotels.com offer?
Hotels.com offers free booking with no platform fee — you pay the property's nightly rate. Its standout feature is the Hotels.com Rewards program: collect 1 stamp per night stayed, earn 1 free night after 10 stamps. Prices match or beat direct rates on most listings. Filtering by price, star rating, guest score, amenities, and neighborhood. Flexible cancellation options widely available. Mobile app with app-exclusive deals.
Pay-per-stay (no platform fee)
$0
/one-time
Is Hotels.com worth the price?
Free to use — you pay only the hotel rate, which is often competitive with direct booking
Comparable inventory to Booking.com and Expedia; Hotels.com Rewards gives a loyalty edge over Kayak (meta-search only)
Strong valueHow we scored it
Overall score: 85/100
500,000+ properties across 200+ countries — budget to luxury, hotels to apartments
Price Match Guarantee on most listings; app-exclusive rates often beat direct booking
Hotels.com Rewards: 10 nights = 1 free night. One of the clearest hotel loyalty programs in travel
Clean search + filter UI, streamlined checkout, saved payment methods
Wide availability of free cancellation listings; policy clearly shown before checkout
4.8/5 App Store rating; exclusive app deals frequently available
Why Hotels.com is Gold Tier
Hotels.com earns Gold for its combination of massive global inventory (500,000+ properties), a genuine loyalty program that delivers real free nights, consistently competitive pricing, and a polished mobile app rated 4.8/5 on the App Store. The Rewards program is the clearest loyalty differentiator in the travel booking space — 10 nights = 1 free night is tangible value most competitors don't match.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓500,000+ properties in 200+ countries — one of the widest selections available
- ✓Hotels.com Rewards: 10 nights earns 1 free night — simple and actually valuable
- ✓Price Match Guarantee on most listings
- ✓App-exclusive deals often beat direct booking rates
- ✓Flexible cancellation options clearly shown before checkout
Cons
- ✗Customer service can be slow to respond for complex issues
- ✗Dynamic pricing means the same room can vary significantly by booking time
- ✗Some properties charge resort fees not shown until checkout
- ✗Rewards program merging into One Key with Expedia/Vrbo — transition period
Ready to try Hotels.com? Free plan available — no credit card required.
Get Hotels.com →Hotels.com earns Gold for its combination of massive global inventory (500,000+ properties), a genuine loyalty program that delivers real free nights, consistently competitive pricing, and a polished mobile app rated 4.8/5 on the App Store. The Rewards program is the clearest loyalty differentiator in the travel booking space — 10 nights = 1 free night is tangible value most competitors don't match.
Get Hotels.com →Free tier available — no credit card required
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