The Search

Whether you already know the name of the hotel you want to stay in or not, the best way to find a resort on Expedia is by filling in the search form on the Hotels page (which is accessible via the menu that runs across the top of the site). There are six main pages to complete, and following steps will guide you through each one:

• On the Hotels page [screenshot #1], select your hotel destination. You can also specify whether you want to stay near an airport, near attractions or in a city. If you want, once you’ve chosen your destination you can search for hotels straightaway. If not, there is an option to fill in travel dates and room preferences.

• Expedia displays your Hotel search results either in a text list or a map format (you can choose to view the map in terms of region or hotel locations). You can also display results from certain areas only if you wish. A number of amenity options towards the top of the page allow you to narrow down your search even further [show screenshot#2 with some amenities ticked]. The actual hotels are listed towards the bottom of this page, and as always feature in-depth reviews, pictures and general information. Simply click ‘Book it’ on the hotel you want and you will be taken to the next page.

• This page displays your chosen hotel’s rate details and the property policies. At this point, if you want you can save your search and complete the booking later. If you are ready to book now, tick the box to say you have read and understood the rules and restrictions and then click on the Continue with booking link.

• Expedia can offer you a number of extras to go with your holiday. These range from cancellation waivers to car hire and sightseeing tours. This page features all available offers, and you can chose which ones (if any) you want to add on to your deal.

• The Trip Preferences page allows customers to enter any preferences they may have regarding hotels, including room type. There is also a comment box where you can enter any special requests. Expedia will pass these on directly to the hotel.

• The final page is a simple form where customers can fill in their payment and contact details ahead of completing the reservation. Once you’ve done this, all that’s left to do is get packing!

Themes

Although the main search function on the Hotels page is simple to use, Expedia also operates a number of themed holidays. These include City Breaks, Beach Holidays and Family Holidays, and the website handily collects all available resorts into their relevant theme for you, so you can perform a worldwide search for similar types of hotels. Located above the main search form on the Create Your Own Package page [screenshot#3 outlining where the themes are], simply click on the theme you want and take a look at the search results, before choosing your destination and following the booking process as outlined above.

Top tip

On the hotel search results page you can compare up to four hotels in terms of price, location and amenities. Simply select your resorts and click on Compare hotels.