We just had to take on Orbitz in our online travel reviews, and we're so glad we did! Arranging your travel plans on the Internet gives you the opportunity to look at all of your options from the comfort of your home. Many websites now exist that allow you to search for flights and hotels while offering you information about special discounts and your destination. When the StarReviews team decided to tackle this popular market and compare travel planning websites, Orbitz was one of the first sites we visited and one of our favorites.
What’s New?
- Orbitz Capital One Visa with Travel Rewards
- Summer Sale: Save up to 50% on Hotel Stays
- Southwest Airlines has been added to Orbitz for Business
Our Favorite Feature:
We really like the fact that the Orbitz homepage is very easy to navigate and use. So many travel websites bombard you with so much information that it can be difficult to sort through it to find what you are looking for. Orbitz has clearly defined sections with easy access for everything you’re looking for.
Pricing:
For our pricing comparison we searched each travel site for NON-STOP airfare for a 7-day stay from LAX in California to JFK in New York. At the time of our reviews these are the quotes we received:
|
Expedia
|
Hotwire
|
Kayak
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Orbitz
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Priceline
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Travelocity
|
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$448
|
$454
|
$399
|
$405
|
$448
|
$336
|
The Orbitz Experience:
We really enjoyed our time at Orbitz.com. Their easy-to-use search interface is front and center the minute you arrive. For a quick check of available flights, rooms, etc., all you have to do is check the box for the type of travel you're looking for, plunk in the dates and you’re off. Within moments you get comprehensive results and multiple deals to choose from.
Signing up for Orbitz is also easy. All that is required is your name, email address and a box to check if you’d like to receive the latest Orbitz specials, travel news, and Fare Sale Alerts from your home airport. None of us like junk email, but it really is a great way to get info on last-minute deals. You might want to consider it. Just make sure you properly pass through the panel of advertisers asking you to let them share content with you via your email address.
Getting flight information couldn't be simpler. Just enter your destination and your date of travel. An easy to read grid will provide you with the available flights and prices. Beneath the grid you will find the listings with a choice to view them either by lowest price, departure time or shortest flight.
The hotel finder also offers a grid layout with all of your options listed side-by-side for quick reference. We found the mapping feature to be very useful, letting us know exactly where the hotels were located and which ones were nearest the attractions we wanted to see. It was nice to see that hotel is clearly rated and reviewed by customers with all the important information right in front of you. Orbitz is definitely the best when it comes to presenting destination and travel details in an easy-to-navigate manner.
Orbitz Features:
- Easy Quick Search Panel
- Easy Access to “My Stuff”
- Traveler Update
- Vacation Packages & Deals
- Interactive Maps
- Customer Ratings
- Includes Hotel, Air, Car, Train, Cruises, & Activities
Orbitz Pricing:
Orbitz is free to use and guarantees the lowest price or your money back. While nominal fees are charged if you book travel, they vary depending on type of travel and which company you book with.
Orbitz Customer Service:
Orbitz offers a searchable FAQ with a broad range of information with topics ranging from how to cancel your airline reservations to what documents you need in order to pass through airline security. A drop list of information areas as well as a search feature is also provided. Customers can also email Orbitz or call their 24/7 customer service line. We called during business hours and experienced a bit of a hold time (6 minutes) but the rep we spoke with was very friendly and helpful. Email support was much prompter with a response being received the same business day.
Upside:
Easy to navigate and search, guaranteed lowest prices, real-time travel updates.
Downside:
Long hold times for phone support.