Being a freelancer has great advantages, including flexibility, which gives you the opportunity to organize a few days off for a vacation. 

However, you should also make sure to find economical and reliable options from the moment you decide to book hotels. This is where Booking vs. Expedia emerge as two major rivals.

Both companies are dedicated to simplifying your travel by offering the best lodging options, including the most affordable rates in the industry. Additionally, you can take advantage of their various features to further optimize your trip.

But, Booking or Expedia, which is better? You'll find out below.

Booking or Expedia? Discover Which is the Cheaper Option for Your Trip

What is Booking and How Does It Work?

It is a leading website in the tourism sector that facilitates accommodation reservations, among other beneficial services for your trip.

Booking.com is today one of the largest platforms globally in the travel sector. Therefore, it is one of the favorite options for entrepreneurs or established brands, as it can connect them with a global audience, thus boosting their business.

Operation

It all starts when you enter the website and fill in the required fields, such as destination, dates, and the number of people. The platform then displays a list of results for booking hotels, hostels, apartments, among other accommodation options.

At the same time, you can refine your search by services, location, or prices through its filtering and comparison tools.

Once you decide, you process the reservation by choosing one of its payment methods and that's it. Then, you will receive instant confirmation by email.

Its interface is very clear, so the process is not complex. And if you want to modify something or cancel, you can do so without problems, since the reservation is made on its official page.

At Booking, you can also book flights and transport.

What is Expedia and How Does It Work?

Expedia is one of Booking's main competitors, as it is another giant in online travel bookings. The site offers a comprehensive service, covering not only accommodation but also flights, car rentals, and even travel packages.

The company has managed to expand globally, with an accessible and robust platform that helps plan the trips of millions of users.

Operation

You can start organizing your complete trip as you see fit. That is, take advantage of all the necessary services on the same platform. From choosing your flight and booking cheap hotels to what cars and activities to do during your journey.

Expedia gives you the facility to choose combined packages between flight and lodging, thus they offer better prices.

You can also use its interactive tools, such as maps, personalized recommendations, or a list of the popular attractions of the place to visit.

Likewise, you will have a 24/7 assistance service available in case you need it. Whether to change something in the reservations or require support in another matter.

NOTE: On both websites, Booking or Expedia, you can leave your reviews about your experience with the services offered.

Booking or Expedia: Which is More Reliable?

When you have your own business that depends on your decisions or work as a freelancer, you cannot afford to risk your money. Even less so if you are looking for platforms to find work from home.

However, to determine the reliability of Booking or Expedia and find out which is better, it is necessary to analyze several aspects. From user experience to customer service and ratings.

In general, both are equally reliable booking platforms like Skyscanner or Google Flights.

Booking stands out for offering more than 28 million lodging options. Whether you want apartments, houses, cheap or luxury hotels, or other types of accommodation. It also offers detailed comments from other travelers.

Expedia, on the other hand, has a wide variety of additional services, including flight bookings and car rentals. Like Booking, it lets you see reviews from other users.

Both offer intuitive interfaces and customer service, but Booking.com may be better in terms of comments and ease of use.

The most important thing is to read the conditions carefully, what the package includes, and the amount to pay before completing the process.

Better Alternatives to Booking and Expedia

Booking or Expedia are some of the best-known pages for booking cheap hotels or accommodations in general. But you can compare their features with other equally good alternatives, such as:

Airbnb

It is a company where you can find unique lodging offers for any part of the world.

Airbnb focuses on the shared economy, so you can book accommodations with individual rooms or, if you prefer, entire houses for several people. Ideal for travelers looking for affordable options and personalized experiences.

Hostelworld

This page specializes in connecting hostels and low-cost accommodations with travelers around the world.

Hostelworld is perfect if you have a limited budget, besides that you can always see the reviews and it has an easy-to-use interface. Thousands of travelers choose it for its attention and security.

Agoda

With Agoda, it is possible to find competitive offers and flexible payment options when booking hotels online.

The platform has grown in the sector globally in a short time. It provides a wide range of accommodations, as well as travel services at good prices.

Booking vs. Expedia: Where are the Best Prices?

Booking tends to offer slightly lower prices for some destinations, but Expedia can be more competitive in others.

Here is an example of Booking vs. Expedia prices:

For this comparison, the most popular destinations during peak booking periods through Booking.com were selected. 

For each one, the cheapest 4-star hotel and direct flight available at the time on both platforms were used, then compared with Expedia, the same hotel, room, and dates.

Note: Prices in the table are in USD.

How to Find the Cheapest Lodging

It's not just about pitting Booking vs. Expedia to find cheap houses, hostels, apartments, or hotels. You should also consider factors such as:

• The destination. Prices vary significantly depending on the region you are visiting.

• The location of the accommodation. Staying in more central areas will surely be more expensive.

• The level. The higher the number of stars, the higher the cost of the hotel.

• The duration. Staying several days may offer you discounts.

• The season. Traveling in the low season will reduce your lodging costs.

It is also advisable to compare the offers and promotions available on some platforms when you book in advance.

Another recommendation is to opt for cheap hotels, those with good reviews, but fewer stars or away from the center.

And speaking of low prices, we suggest booking with DolarApp, a secure payment method with competitive exchange rates.

The application is an excellent option for anyone wanting to travel abroad, as it allows you to pay in dollars with an international card. Plus, you can associate your account in pesos and then switch them to USD without commissions.

Great, isn't it?

This also means that you can use it to charge for your freelance services in either of the two currencies.

And if you're starting out as a freelancer, make sure to choose the best pages for freelance work.