Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
The verdict on

Hotels.com

45
User verdict / 100 High confidence Divided

Hotels.com users are currently experiencing significant frustration with app performance, booking accuracy, and customer service, despite some positive experiences with specific hotel stays.

4.8★ lifetime (2,261,520) Free to download since 2019 by Hotels.com, L.P. updated 0.2 mo ago recent negative 45% 120 reviews across 4 regions
Customer Service Booking Accuracy & Reliability App Performance Hotel Quality & Experience Rewards & Pricing
5★374
4★95
3★54
2★64
1★363
recent reviews across 4 regions, vs the 4.8★ lifetime average

Hotels.com is a free app for booking hotel stays, but recent user reviews highlight numerous issues with app speed, booking discrepancies, and difficulty reaching human customer support. While some users praise specific hotel experiences and the app's ability to save time and money, a significant portion of recent feedback points to a decline in service and reliability.

What users like

  • App can save time and money for vacation or business travel.R50R66
  • Many users have positive experiences with specific hotels booked through the app, citing cleanliness, friendly staff, and good amenities.R2R5R7R9
  • Some users find the app easy to use for booking.R3R75

What users complain about

  • The app is frequently reported as slow and frustrating to use.R1R8
  • Users report issues with booking accuracy, including incorrect dates, room types, or reservations not being found by hotels.R19R20R24R27
  • Customer service is widely criticized for being unhelpful, difficult to reach a human, and refusing cancellations or changes even with advance notice.R11R13R14R15
  • Rewards programs are seen as problematic, with rewards expiring or not being honored, and some users feeling prices are higher through the app.R1R4R61R67
  • Some hotels booked through the app are described as having poor conditions, including bedbugs, mold, noise, and general disrepair.R14R22R29R31
  • Hidden fees, such as parking or resort fees, are a common complaint.R35R45R512
  • The app is reported to take up a large amount of storage space.R55
  • Some users with older iPhone models report the app is nonfunctional.R626

Latest update · v2026.27

What the developer says changed (the verdict above weighs this against what reviewers report):

This update includes performance improvements and bug fixes to keep things running smoothly — so booking stays and earning rewards remains quick, easy, and totally hassle‑free. Because travel should be simple. Hotels.com — It’s all in the name.

Recurring themes

App Performance negative
Many users report the app is slow, frustrating, and has bugs, contradicting the developer's claims of performance improvements and bug fixes in the latest update. Some also note it consumes excessive storage.R1R8R55R258
Customer Service negative
A prevalent issue is the inability to reach a human customer service representative, with users getting stuck in automated phone trees or virtual agents. When contact is made, agents are often described as unhelpful, refusing cancellations or changes even for legitimate reasons or advance notice.R11R13R14R15
Booking Accuracy & Reliability negative
Users frequently encounter problems with bookings, including incorrect dates being selected, room types not matching what was paid for, or hotels not having records of reservations made through the app. This leads to double charges or being denied the room.R19R20R24R27
Rewards & Pricing negative
The rewards program is a source of frustration, with users reporting expired rewards, difficulty using promotional codes, or feeling that prices are higher through Hotels.com compared to direct booking or other sites. Some feel the rewards are 'fake'.R1R4R61R67
Hotel Quality & Experience mixed
While many reviews praise specific hotels for cleanliness, good staff, and amenities, a significant number report issues with hotel conditions, including bedbugs, mold, broken amenities, noise, and general disrepair. There are also complaints about hidden fees like parking.R2R5R7R9

Who it's for

This app is for travelers who prioritize potentially finding deals and are comfortable with a higher risk of encountering app bugs or needing to resolve booking issues. It is not for users who expect seamless customer service, guaranteed booking accuracy, or consistent app performance. It is also not recommended for those who prefer to book directly with hotels to avoid third-party complications .

Evidence note: The recent reviews skew heavily negative, which contrasts sharply with the high lifetime rating. This suggests a recent downturn in user experience, particularly concerning app functionality and customer support. The developer's release notes claim 'performance improvements and bug fixes,' but recent reviews directly contradict this, with users reporting continued slowness and issues.

Frequently asked

Is the Hotels.com app currently fast and reliable?
No, recent user reviews indicate the Hotels.com app is frequently slow, frustrating to use, and prone to bugs, directly contradicting the developer's claims of recent performance improvements R1R8R258.
Can I easily contact human customer service if I have a problem?
Many users report significant difficulty contacting a human customer service representative, often getting stuck in automated systems or virtual agents that do not resolve issues R14R15R52R296.
Are Hotels.com bookings always accurate?
No, numerous users report issues with booking accuracy, including incorrect dates, wrong room types, or reservations not being recognized by the hotel upon arrival R19R20R24R42.
Are there hidden fees when booking through Hotels.com?
Yes, some users report encountering unexpected charges such as parking fees or resort fees that were not clearly disclosed during the booking process R35R45R512.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R50] 5/5 · US Time and money: Hotels. Com saves me time and money, two really important items when you’re vacationing or traveling on business trips!
  2. [R66] 5/5 · US Review: An amazing app that helps you save money with quality spaces
  3. [R2] 5/5 · US Location: Hotel nice a very friendly check in, great great location. Music in the park is less than 10 minutes and very nice area.
  4. [R5] 4/5 · US Clean comfortable awesome pool: We only stayed one night but I enjoyed it. Room was clean, pool looked awesome, nice little store on first floor for basic food and items.
  5. [R7] 5/5 · US Great hotel: Check in was super easy
  6. [R9] 5/5 · US So great!: I love this brand. Always clean and comfortable but the front desk staff really made things special. Full of joy, smiles and hospitality. People really make the difference and after an 8 hour drive it’s just what we needed.
  7. [R3] 5/5 · US Hotel.com: I always use this app and it never disappoints
  8. [R75] 5/5 · US easy to handle: Go online and do everything with ease and confidence
  9. [R1] 1/5 · US Slowest App Ever!: Don’t download the app it’s frustrating and a joke. It offers rewards that are fake and only rewards themselves by offering higher prices. Use this site on your browser to book anything. The app is the slowest app of all apps. My Motel 6 booking on 7/7/26 was denied due to the kiosk being down. Motel 6 no longer has real reps on site. I would avoid Motel 6 altogether. I got refu
  10. [R8] 3/5 · US Slow App: I have been using this app for several years now with no issues up until recently, I have an iPhone 17 Pro Max and have all iOS updates and the app’s updates. It has been running slow for a month or so and I have already deleted the app and installed it again.
  11. [R19] 1/5 · US Problematic: I have one problem after another, first I didn’t get the room selected nor could I change it or get a refund after. Then I was charged after it was confirmed it was to be paid when I was to check in they wouldn’t do anything about that either!
  12. [R20] 1/5 · US I hate this app!: I cannot stand this app. I am going to find a different one! I wanted one night I keyed in the dates and location and went to check on one thing it changed the dates and made it 2 nights. I wish to speak to a real person and there is no phone number!!! The problem is this is not the first time. I use this app a lot for my business also but no more.
  13. [R24] 2/5 · US Date misconception: When booking my husband did not realize the date was preset to a date in the future so he continued on and saved the hotel (which he wanted that night since I am In the hospital 1 1/2 hours away). When he realized his mistake hotels.com refused to issue a refund. We have now been charged double For one night. I will NEVER USE THIS SITE AGAIN AND I RECOMMEND YOU ALL DONT EITHER!
  14. [R27] 1/5 · US Disappointed: I tried to book a room this past week but didn't receive a text with my confirmation. I called the hotel and was told there was no reservation in my name. My bank had a pending payment listed. on my account. When I was finally able to locate a phone number for Hotels. com, I was told the reservation had not gone through because the bank didn't accept it. So they canceled it but never
  15. [R11] 1/5 · US Cancel: No place did it say it was booking was no available to may changes so I will Never use them again
  16. [R13] 4/5 · US Terrible: They have no one to contact for customer service. This is a terrible app.
  17. [R14] 1/5 · US A.I. BLOCKS ACTUAL ASSISTANCE.: HOTEL FULL OF ROACHES AND NO HUMAN TO ASSIST,
  18. [R15] 1/5 · US Can’t get to a human.: App is ridiculous. I need a live person not an endless phone tree.
  19. [R4] 1/5 · US All rewards expired: Never using the app again
  20. [R61] 1/5 · US Misunderstood: Trivago was at $89. But if you was a member of hotel.com you get a percentage off that night and it would’ve made less expensive to stay there then go through Trafalga I’ve always gone through hotel.com because I’ve always been really good but the last two times I stayed the same thing happened but this time it was over $100 I paid more for the room so I won’t be using hotel.com any
  21. [R67] 1/5 · US 3 Different prices: I received 2 different receipts from Hotels.com ($156 and $126) and then a completely different amount from the hotel ($106). Of course I was told the $156 was the correct amount and the $106 was just the base price. Awful!!! Would give it 0 stars if I could!
  22. [R22] 2/5 · US Not as good as they used to be: I was disappointed. The bathroom wasn’t cleaned. The smooth detector kept chirping even after they changed the battery. Lights in bathroom didn’t work. The layout of the room was weird. There was nothing remotely similar to how I remember the Linq being. Even the layout was terrible. Location is good. But I doubt I book here again.
  23. [R29] 1/5 · US $15 coupon for finding bedbugs: Contacted hotels.com because I had proof that I found bedbugs in a room I booked and the hotel clerk said I couldn’t switch rooms because he didn’t believe me and wouldn’t look at the photos or videos. Hotels.com said they couldn’t refund the room despite me providing the evidence because the hotel said not too. Edit: you are literally asking me to use the link to t
  24. [R31] 2/5 · US Aging: Our air conditioner made a crazy noise all night and stains in the cloth chair
  25. [R35] 5/5 · US Great place to stay: The only thing I didn’t like is that I had to pay 8.00 a day for parking that was not disclosed to me. Everything else was fantastic including fireworks for 4th of July!
  26. [R45] 4/5 · US Parking Charges: I did not like the fact that on top of paying resort fees that I also had to pay $10 per night for parking. Each time I came back to my room I was looking for a space close enough that my family and I weren’t walking from the other end of the parking lot to get to our room. Either designate at least one space per room or do not charge for parking!
  27. [R512] 3/5 · CA Our stay in March 2026: The hotel was ok. Clean, inviting, great staff and lovely pool. The price on hotel.com was misleading. BW adds to many extras. The initial advertised price was 120$ per night. Then when you add breakfast, 35$ per day, they then added 6.99 for sausages to go with pancakes; really? and then 14$ per night for parking, taxes. It was 200$ a night. Do better Best Western. Si
  28. [R55] 1/5 · US Bloats takes up many GB of space: After a year it now takes up 3 GB of space in the app folder. Ridiculous
  29. [R626] 3/5 · CA Older version not supported: I have an iPhone 6 and the app is nonfunctional for the iOS.
  30. [R258] 3/5 · GB What’s happened.?: Was working great till a recent update. Now I can’t log back in to my account despite resetting password . Keeps saying a problem your end . When will this be fixed? Have to keep logging in via web which is a pain retrieving bookings
  31. [R52] 2/5 · US Fine if there aren’t problems: I’m having trouble contacting the hotel where we are staying. I have been in a loop with the “virtual agent,” who asks if I want to directly contact the hotel, but then simply connects me back to the same message “conversation” that is going unanswered.
  32. [R296] 3/5 · GB Help doesn’t help: I’ve been really struggling to get a sensible answer from the chatbot. Please can you have the option of asking for a human when it’s not working. Not impressed.
  33. [R42] 1/5 · US Scam: So frustrated. Booked a hotel through Hotels.com app. When I arrived the hotel didn’t have my reservation. They wouldn’t refund me for the charge. Such a scam

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store