Travelocity review: Is it reliable for small hotels?

What is Travelocity?

Travelocity is an online travel agency (OTA) that has been serving travellers since 1996. It’s a platform where you can book flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages. It also offers tickets for popular attractions and experiences, making it a one-stop-shop for all your travel needs.

Who owns Travelocity?

Travelocity is owned and managed by the Expedia Group, a leading global travel service provider. This means that when you use Travelocity, you’re backed by one of the most reputable names in the travel industry.

Features of Travelocity for small hotels

Flights

Travelocity provides a comprehensive flight booking service. It offers a range of prices for each airline and shows the best deal at the top. Guests can sort their search by departure or arrival times, price, airline, the number of transfer stops, and flight duration.

Hotels

Travelocity partners with hotels worldwide, offering a wide range of accommodation types. This includes everything from luxury resorts to budget-friendly hotels and vacation rentals. For small hotels, this means a chance to reach a global audience and increase bookings.

Packages

Travelocity offers all-inclusive vacation packages that cover hotels, rentals, and/or flights. This can be a great way for small hotels to attract guests who are looking for a hassle-free travel experience.

Rewards Program

Travelocity has a rewards program, but it’s important to note that to enrol, guests must first book flights through American Express. However, the rewards program does have a 48-month expiration period for points, which means that points expire if they haven’t been used after 4 years.

Price Match Guarantee

Travelocity offers a price match guarantee. If you find a lower-priced deal for the same listing on car rental, cruises, or flights on another US-based website within 24 hours of booking with Travelocity, guests will be credited the price difference. The price match guarantee is more extended for hotels. Guests can claim compensation until the day before the scheduled stay.

How does Travelocity compare to other booking sites?

Travelocity is similar to other OTAs like Expedia, Kayak, and TripAdvisor. However, it’s worth noting that while Travelocity is a reputable company with a significant customer base, it has received some negative reviews regarding customer support and refund issues.

One unique feature of Travelocity is its service called Top Secret Hotels. This is an opaque-hotel offering that allows you to book a hotel at a discounted price without knowing the hotel’s identity until after you’ve booked. This is similar to the model used by Hotwire and Priceline’s Express Deals, but unlike Priceline’s Name Your Own Price service, there’s no bidding involved.

When comparing Top Secret Hotels Travelocity reviews with Priceline, it’s clear that both have their pros and cons. On the one hand, Travelocity’s Top Secret Hotels can be a great way for guests to get a good deal on a hotel. They know the price up-front, and they also get a user rating based on 10 of the property’s aspects, such as service and room quality. However, some users have reported that Travelocity’s Top Secret Hotels is less popular and considered an inferior product compared to Priceline’s offerings.

If you’re considering using Travelocity’s Top Secret Hotels, it’s recommended to compare it with Hotwire. Both offer essentially the same service, so it’s worth trying both, comparing prices, and going with the cheapest. Also, using hotel lists from Hotwire can help identify your hotel on Travelocity.

Travelocity hotel review: Is it worth it?

For small hotels looking to increase their visibility and bookings, Travelocity can be a useful platform. It offers a wide range of services and has a large customer base. However, it’s important to be aware of some of the potential drawbacks. Some customers have reported issues with customer service and cancellations. Therefore, it’s crucial to read and understand the terms and conditions before listing your hotel on the platform.

While Travelocity can be a valuable part of a small hotel’s revenue management strategy, it’s essential to balance OTA bookings with direct bookings. OTAs, including Travelocity, charge commission fees for every booking made through their platform. Therefore, encouraging direct bookings through a hotel’s website can help maximise revenue.

That’s where a solution like Little Hotelier comes in. Little Hotelier’s powerful booking engine allows small hotels to manage all their distribution channels, including Travelocity, in one place. Plus, it offers a seamless direct booking option to help increase profit margins.

Travelocity can be a valuable tool for small hotels, helping to broaden their reach, implement dynamic pricing, and gain valuable insights. However, it’s crucial to balance this with a robust direct booking strategy to maximise revenue.