Is Kayak a Good Website for Booking Hotels?

With so many options for booking hotels online, it can be overwhelming to decide which website to use.

If you’re considering using Kayak, you may be wondering if it’s a good choice.

In this article, we’ll explore the features of Kayak and what makes it stand out as a hotel booking website.

We’ll also discuss the pros and cons of using Kayak and provide some tips for getting the most out of your booking experience.

Whether you’re a frequent traveler or a first-time user, this article will help you decide if Kayak is the right website for you.

What is Kayak?

Kayak is a travel search engine that allows users to compare prices for flights, hotels, and rental cars. It was founded in 2004 by Steve Hafner and Paul English, and has since become one of the most popular travel booking websites in the world. Kayak is known for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive search options, which allow travelers to find the best deals on travel-related services quickly and easily.

History of Kayak

Kayak was founded in 2004 by Steve Hafner and Paul English, who had previously worked together at Orbitz, another popular travel booking website. The two founders wanted to create a travel search engine that would allow users to compare prices from multiple websites and find the best deals on travel-related services.

Since its launch, Kayak has grown rapidly, expanding its services to include flights, hotels, rental cars, and vacation packages. In 2012, the company was acquired by Priceline Group, which helped to further expand its reach and influence in the travel industry.

What Kayak offers for hotel bookings

Kayak offers a wide range of options for hotel bookings, including a comprehensive search engine that allows users to compare prices from multiple websites. Additionally, Kayak offers a number of other features that can make hotel booking easier and more convenient, including:

• Price alerts: Users can set up price alerts for specific hotels or destinations, which will notify them when prices drop or rise.
• User reviews: Kayak features user reviews and ratings for hotels, which can help users make informed decisions about where to stay.
• Mobile app: Kayak has a mobile app that allows users to book hotels on-the-go, as well as access their booking information and receive notifications about price changes.

Pros of Using Kayak for Hotel Bookings

Wide Selection of Hotels

If you’re looking for a hotel, Kayak is a great website to use. With over 2 million properties listed, you’re sure to find the perfect place to stay. Kayak pulls information from many popular sites, such as Priceline and Booking.com, to offer a wide variety of hotels at competitive prices. Whether you’re looking for a luxury resort or a budget-friendly option, Kayak has something for everyone.

User-Friendly Interface

Kayak’s website is designed with the user in mind. The interface is easy to navigate, and the booking process is straightforward. You can easily filter your search results by price, location, amenities, and more. Once you’ve found the perfect hotel, booking is just a few clicks away. Kayak also allows you to save your favorite hotels and search results for easy access in the future.

Price Comparison

One of the best features of Kayak is its price comparison tool. When you search for a hotel, Kayak will show you prices from multiple sites, so you can compare and choose the best deal. This can save you time and money, as you won’t have to search multiple sites yourself. Kayak also offers a price alert feature, which will notify you if the price of a hotel you’re interested in drops.

Flexible Dates and Destinations

Kayak’s flexible dates and destinations feature makes it easy to find the best deals. If you have flexible travel dates, you can use Kayak’s “Explore” feature to see prices for different destinations on different dates. This can help you find the best deal for your budget. Kayak also offers a “Price Forecast” feature, which predicts whether hotel prices will rise or fall in the future.

Cons of Using Kayak for Hotel Bookings

If you are looking to book a hotel room for your next vacation, you have probably come across a number of travel websites that promise to help you find the best deals. One of the most popular of these sites is Kayak. While there are certainly some benefits to using Kayak for hotel bookings, there are also some significant drawbacks to be aware of. Here are some of the cons of using Kayak for hotel bookings:

Additional Fees

One of the biggest downsides of using Kayak for hotel bookings is that the site often adds additional fees to the prices it displays. For example, Kayak may show you a low nightly rate for a hotel room, but once you go to book the room, you may find that there are additional fees for things like taxes, resort fees, or parking. These fees can add up quickly and make the overall cost of your hotel stay much higher than you anticipated.

Limited Customer Support

Another drawback of using Kayak for hotel bookings is that the site offers limited customer support. If you run into any issues while booking your hotel room, you may find it difficult to get in touch with a customer service representative who can help you resolve the problem. This can be especially frustrating if you are booking a hotel in a foreign country and you are not familiar with the local customs and practices.

Lack of Loyalty Rewards

Finally, Kayak does not offer any loyalty rewards to its users. This means that if you book your hotel room through Kayak, you will not earn any points or rewards that you can use to save money on future bookings. If you are a frequent traveler, this can be a major drawback, as loyalty rewards can add up quickly and help you save money on your travel expenses over time.

Tips for Using Kayak for Hotel Bookings

Kayak is a popular website for booking hotels that offers a wide variety of options for travelers. If you want to make the most out of your booking experience, here are some tips to help you navigate the platform:

Sign Up for Price Alerts

If you want to find the best deals for hotels on Kayak, sign up for price alerts. This feature allows you to set a price range for the hotel you want to book and receive notifications when the prices drop. It can save you a lot of money, especially if you are flexible with your travel dates.

Use the Mobile App

Kayak has a mobile app that is convenient to use, especially if you are on the go. The app offers exclusive deals for hotels and allows you to access your bookings and itinerary from your phone. It also has a feature that helps you compare prices for different hotels in one place.

Check for Promo Codes

Before you book a hotel on Kayak, make sure to check for promo codes. Many hotels offer discounts and promotions that you can apply to your booking to get a better deal. You can find promo codes on Kayak’s website or through a quick Google search.

Read Reviews from Other Travelers

When booking a hotel on Kayak, it’s important to read reviews from other travelers. This will give you an idea of the quality of the hotel, its amenities, and its location. You can also filter the reviews by traveler type, such as solo, family, or business, to find reviews that are most relevant to your needs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Kayak is a great option for booking hotels online, offering a wide selection of hotels and a user-friendly interface.

However, there are some drawbacks to using Kayak, such as additional fees and limited customer support.

By following our tips for using Kayak, you can get the most out of your booking experience and make the most informed decision for your travel needs.

Overall, Kayak is a reliable and convenient tool for booking hotels, and we recommend giving it a try for your next trip.