10 Expedia Hacks Every Traveler Should Know to Save Big

Expedia has long been a go-to for booking flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and vacation packages all in one place. But if you’re only using it for basic bookings, you’re leaving serious savings on the table. Whether you're a weekend adventurer or a world traveler, mastering a few Expedia hacks can lead to major discounts, perks, and smoother trips.

Here are 10 smart Expedia hacks every traveler should know to stretch your budget and upgrade your experience—without lifting a finger more than you have to.

1. Sign Up for Expedia One Key Rewards Expedia’s One Key rewards program is your gateway to stacking savings. It's free to join and applies to Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo—all under the same umbrella.

Benefits include:

2% back in OneKeyCash on eligible bookings.

Member-only discounts (often 10% off or more).

Access to free room upgrades, early check-in, and late checkout for elite members.

The more you book, the higher your membership tier and the better your perks.

Pro Tip: Always log in before searching—prices and perks change once Expedia knows you're a member.

1. Bundle Flights + Hotels for Deep Discounts Expedia is well-known for bundle deals—and they work. Booking a flight and hotel together can save you up to 20% or more compared to booking them separately.

These deals are especially valuable for:

International trips

Popular destinations during peak seasons

Last-minute weekend getaways

Bonus: Bundling simplifies your itinerary—everything is in one place, including support.

1. Use the Expedia App for Exclusive Mobile-Only Discounts Many of Expedia’s steepest deals are reserved for app users only. Download the Expedia mobile app and look for listings tagged “Mobile Deal”—they often include 5–20% extra off hotel bookings.

Plus, the app lets you:

Track flights in real-time

Manage itineraries offline

Access customer service chat

Hack: Book on desktop, then check the app to see if your hotel is cheaper. Cancel and rebook if you find a better rate.

1. Book Last-Minute Hotels with Big Discounts Last-minute bookings can be stressful—but Expedia can make them rewarding. Hotels often slash rates to fill empty rooms, especially for same-day bookings.

Use Expedia’s “Tonight Deals” to find heavily discounted rooms in major cities.

Ideal for:

Road trips without rigid stops

Flight delays or cancellations

Spontaneous weekend escapes

1. Watch for Flash Sales and Promo Codes Expedia regularly runs flash sales and limited-time promo codes around holidays, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and major travel seasons.

To catch them:

Sign up for the Expedia newsletter

Follow Expedia on social media

Bookmark their “Deals” page

Pro Tip: Stack promo codes with existing bundle savings and member discounts for maximum value.

1. Book Activities and Tours Ahead for Less Expedia isn’t just for hotels and flights—it’s also packed with things to do like:

City tours

Museum passes

Adventure excursions

Theme park tickets

Booking experiences in advance often gets you cheaper rates than buying on-site. Plus, you’ll skip lines and secure spots for in-demand attractions.

Insider trick: Check the “Activities” tab while booking your hotel to see bundled deals.

1. Price Match Guarantee: Don’t Overpay Expedia offers a Price Match Guarantee on many bookings. If you find a cheaper price on the same itinerary elsewhere, you can submit a claim for the difference.

You’ll need:

Same dates, times, room category, and cancellation terms

A screenshot or link showing the lower price

Best part: If you buy Expedia’s “Price Match Promise” add-on at checkout (usually a few bucks), you can keep monitoring the price and claim a refund if it drops—even after booking.

1. Use Flexible Filters to Find Refundable Options Plans change—make sure your bookings can too.

Use Expedia’s filters to show:

“Free cancellation” hotels

“No change fee” flights

Even if these are a bit pricier upfront, they can save you a lot if something goes sideways.

Pro Tip: Expedia One Key Silver members and above often get automatic flexibility benefits like waived change fees.

1. Stack Cashback with Shopping Portals Before checking out on Expedia, visit a cashback site like:

Rakuten

TopCashback

Swagbucks

These platforms offer 2–10% cashback on Expedia bookings just for clicking through their site.

How it works:

Sign in to your cashback site.

Click through to Expedia.

Complete your booking like normal.

Your cashback will be tracked and paid out in a few weeks.

1. Split Bookings for Better Rates Here’s a little-known trick: Sometimes booking separate legs of your trip saves more.

Example:

Roundtrip from LA to Paris might be $1,200

But booking one-way flights separately could total $950

The same goes for hotel stays:

A five-night stay might cost $250/night for all five nights

But splitting into two separate bookings (3 nights + 2 nights) might open up cheaper rates or promos

It’s a bit more effort, but it can unlock significant savings when the system doesn’t show all price possibilities in a single booking.

Final Thoughts
Expedia is more than a basic travel booking site—it’s a savings tool, loyalty hub, and trip planner all in one. Whether you're a budget traveler or simply want the best value, these 10 Expedia hacks can help you maximize every dollar spent.

To recap:

Join One Key rewards

Bundle flights + hotels

Use the app for mobile deals

Snag last-minute hotel steals

Watch for flash sales and promo codes

Book tours and experiences early

Use the Price Match Guarantee

Filter for flexible booking options

Stack cashback from shopping portals

Split bookings to reveal hidden savings

Put just a few of these into practice, and your travel budget will stretch further than ever—without compromising the quality of your trip.