Is Hotels.com Still Worth It for Frequent Travelers?

Hotels.com has been a familiar name in online hotel booking for decades. For many travelers, it was once the default platform for finding accommodation—simple to use, widely available, and backed by a loyalty program that felt genuinely rewarding. But the travel booking landscape has changed. Loyalty programs have evolved, competitors have become more sophisticated, and frequent travelers now expect more than just a place to sleep. So the question is fair: is Hotels.com still worth it for frequent travelers today? This guide takes a deep look at how Hotels.com works now, what has changed, where it still excels, and when frequent travelers may want to look elsewhere.

What Hotels.com Is and How It Fits Into the Expedia Group

Hotels.com is an online accommodation booking platform that focuses primarily on hotels, resorts, apartments, and other short-term stays. It operates as part of the Expedia Group, one of the largest travel companies in the world, alongside brands like Expedia, Orbitz, and Vrbo.

Being part of a large ecosystem gives Hotels.com access to:

• A massive global inventory of properties
• Competitive pricing through negotiated rates
• Shared technology and customer support infrastructure

At its core, Hotels.com is designed to be simple: search, compare, book, and earn rewards. But simplicity can be both a strength and a limitation—especially for frequent travelers with more complex needs.

Why Hotels.com Became So Popular in the First Place

Hotels.com rose to prominence because it solved a very real problem: booking hotels across different countries without navigating dozens of individual hotel websites.

Its popularity was driven by a few key factors:

• Wide availability of hotels worldwide
• Clear pricing and relatively transparent fees
• A famously simple rewards system
• Strong brand recognition and trust

For years, Hotels.com Rewards was one of the easiest loyalty programs to understand—stay 10 nights, get 1 night free. That clarity made it especially attractive to frequent travelers who didn’t want to manage complex points systems.

How Hotels.com Works Today

The basic booking flow on Hotels.com remains straightforward.

Travelers:

• Search by destination, dates, and number of guests
• Filter by price, rating, amenities, and property type
• Compare options side by side
• Book with either pay-now or pay-later options (where available)

Prices shown usually include taxes and fees upfront, which helps avoid surprises at checkout. This transparency remains one of Hotels.com’s strengths.

However, frequent travelers often care less about simplicity and more about value, flexibility, and long-term benefits.

The Hotels.com Rewards Program: What Changed

The biggest shift for frequent travelers came with changes to the Hotels.com rewards system.

Historically, Hotels.com Rewards worked like this:

• Book 10 nights
• Earn 1 free night
• The free night value was the average price of your 10 stays

This model was easy to understand and genuinely rewarding for frequent travelers who booked mid-range hotels.

In recent years, Hotels.com has moved toward a different rewards structure, aligning more closely with Expedia Group’s broader loyalty ecosystem. While rewards still exist, they are now:

• Less straightforward
• More variable in value
• Sometimes limited by booking type or property

For frequent travelers, this change has reduced the emotional pull that once made Hotels.com a no-brainer choice.

Is Hotels.com Still Good for Earning Free Nights?

The honest answer: it depends on how you travel.

Hotels.com can still be worthwhile if:

• You book hotels frequently but irregularly
• You stay at many independent or non-chain hotels
• You don’t want to commit to a single hotel brand
• You value simplicity over optimization

However, travelers who stay often at major chains (Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, etc.) may find more value booking directly to earn elite status benefits such as upgrades, late checkout, and free breakfast.

Hotels.com rewards are transactional; hotel brand loyalty programs are experiential.

Hotels.com vs Booking Direct with Hotel Chains

This is one of the most important comparisons for frequent travelers.

Booking through Hotels.com:

• Earn platform-based rewards
• No hotel elite status benefits
• More choice across brands and independents
• Simplified booking experience

Booking direct with hotel chains:

• Earn points and elite nights
• Access to upgrades, perks, and recognition
• Often better support during disruptions
• More consistent experience for frequent stays

Frequent travelers who care about room upgrades, lounge access, or guaranteed late checkout usually benefit more from booking direct. Travelers who prioritize price and variety may still prefer Hotels.com.

Price Competitiveness: Is Hotels.com Still Competitive?

Hotels.com prices are generally competitive, but not always the cheapest.

Because Hotels.com operates within the Expedia Group, pricing is often similar to:

• Expedia
• Orbitz
• Other large OTAs

However, hotels sometimes offer lower rates or added perks (free breakfast, parking, credits) when booking directly.

For frequent travelers, the smartest approach is often to:

• Use Hotels.com to research options
• Compare with the hotel’s direct website
• Decide whether rewards or perks matter more for that stay

Blind loyalty to any one platform rarely produces the best value.

Flexibility, Cancellations, and Changes

Flexibility is increasingly important for frequent travelers.

Hotels.com offers:

• Free cancellation on many properties
• Pay-later options for some bookings
• Clear cancellation policies displayed before booking

That said, when disruptions occur—flight cancellations, overbookings, or special requests—travelers who booked directly with hotels often receive faster and more flexible support.

Hotels.com customer support acts as an intermediary, which can add friction during urgent situations.

Customer Support: What Frequent Travelers Should Expect

Hotels.com provides centralized customer support, which works well for standard issues but can feel slow or rigid in complex scenarios.

Common support experiences include:

• Efficient handling of cancellations within policy
• Slower resolution for property-level disputes
• Limited ability to override hotel policies

Frequent travelers who value personalized service and quick problem-solving may prefer direct hotel relationships.

Independent Hotels and Boutique Stays: A Strong Point

One area where Hotels.com still shines is independent and boutique hotels.

Many small or unique properties:

• Don’t have loyalty programs
• Don’t offer meaningful direct-booking perks
• Rely heavily on OTAs for visibility

For frequent travelers who enjoy variety and local character, Hotels.com provides access to properties where booking direct doesn’t offer much advantage anyway.

Hotels.com for International Travel

Hotels.com remains particularly useful for international trips.

Advantages include:

• Consistent booking experience across countries
• Multiple currency options
• Clear pricing in your home currency
• Access to properties that don’t cater to foreign guests directly

For frequent international travelers who visit many countries rather than returning to the same city repeatedly, platform-based rewards can still make sense.

Hidden Trade-Offs Frequent Travelers Should Know

There are trade-offs that matter more when you travel often.

These include:

• No elite recognition at hotels
• Limited ability to negotiate room changes
• Potential delays during irregular operations
• Less flexibility with special requests

Occasional travelers may never notice these downsides. Frequent travelers almost always do.

Who Hotels.com Is Still Worth It For

Hotels.com still makes sense for frequent travelers who:

• Stay at many different brands and independents
• Don’t chase hotel elite status
• Value simplicity and broad choice
• Travel internationally across many destinations
• Prefer predictable, platform-based rewards

It is less ideal for travelers who:

• Stay frequently with one hotel chain
• Value elite perks and upgrades
• Need maximum flexibility during disruptions
• Expect personalized treatment

Smart Strategies for Using Hotels.com as a Frequent Traveler

• Use Hotels.com for independent hotels and short stays
• Book direct with chains when elite benefits matter
• Compare final prices, not just nightly rates
• Watch cancellation policies closely
• Don’t assume Hotels.com is always cheapest

Frequent travelers benefit most by treating Hotels.com as one tool in a broader booking strategy.

Hotels.com vs Other Booking Platforms

Compared to other OTAs, Hotels.com is:

• More straightforward than some competitors
• Less aggressive with discounts than flash-sale platforms
• Less complex than airline-style points systems

Its biggest weakness is no longer price—it’s differentiation. Many platforms now offer similar inventory and pricing, making rewards and service the deciding factors.

Final Verdict: Is Hotels.com Still Worth It for Frequent Travelers?

Hotels.com is no longer the automatic choice it once was—but it hasn’t become irrelevant. For frequent travelers who value flexibility, variety, and simplicity over elite perks and brand loyalty, it remains a solid option.

The key is intentional use. Hotels.com works best when used selectively: for independent hotels, international trips, and stays where hotel loyalty benefits don’t apply. For travelers chasing elite status, upgrades, and personalized service, booking direct will usually win.

In today’s travel landscape, the smartest frequent travelers don’t ask “Which platform should I always use?” They ask, “Which platform makes the most sense for this trip?”

The best booking strategy isn’t loyalty to a platform—it’s loyalty to your own travel priorities.