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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals vs Expedia

Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals 4.9★ · Free to download 60
Winner Expedia
Expedia 4.8★ · Free to download 75

Expedia is the better choice for most travelers due to its broader utility for booking various travel components and generally more reliable app performance, despite some customer service and pricing issues, while Travelzoo excels for finding deep discounts on specific deals but suffers from significant app instability and limitations.

Full reviews: Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals · Expedia

Travelzoo offers excellent, often exclusive, deals for hotels, tours, and cruises, but its app is frequently reported as buggy, slow, and difficult to use. Expedia provides a comprehensive platform for booking flights, hotels, and car rentals, with a generally more functional app, though users sometimes encounter customer service and deceptive pricing issues.

Head to head

Features and Deal Quality edge: Travelzoo Hotel & Travel DealsR1R3R5R8
Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals Travelzoo users consistently praise the app for its 'amazing discounts' and 'phenomenal deals' on resorts, tours, and cruises, often highlighting unique offers not found elsewhere R5R8R17. However, some users note that deals are limited for solo travelers, often requiring a 100% single supplement R3, and that the selection has shifted more towards local UK hotels rather than international beach holidays . There are also complaints about advertised prices not matching final costs or deals being unavailable for desired travel dates R1.
Expedia Expedia is valued for its comprehensive booking options, allowing users to find hotels, flights, and car rentals . Users appreciate the frequent notifications of 'great deals' . However, some users report 'misleading pricing' where prices jump significantly at checkout without explanation R76R81R85. There are also instances where specific booking options, like half-board for hotels, are missing from the app .
Ease of Use and App Reliability edge: ExpediaR4R6R9R10
Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals Travelzoo's app is widely criticized for being 'clunky', 'too crowded', and 'glitchy' R9R11R56. Users report issues like blank white screens R4, getting stuck on loading screens R6, slow loading times , and difficulties navigating between pages R11. Some users also experience problems with app updates and pop-ups that hinder usage . The app is also noted to often redirect to webpages, making the app itself less useful R10.
Expedia Expedia's app is generally considered 'intuitive and easy to use' R81, but many users report significant 'lag' and freezing issues, especially on iPhones and iPads . Some users experience the app 'just spinning while searching' or not working at all . There are also complaints about the map view not functioning and notifications resetting to unread .
Customer Support and Problem Resolution tieR7R9R52R58
Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals Travelzoo users report a lack of clear in-app help or ways to ask questions R9. Some users mention 'zero tech support' when trying to delete accounts R52 and difficulty getting issues resolved, such as problems with Cyber Monday deals R58. There are also complaints about 'deceptive refundable surcharge fees' that are not as advertised R7.
Expedia Expedia receives numerous complaints about 'terrible service' and 'poor customer service' R61R94. Users struggle to get help with reimbursements R61, flight cancellations , or issues with rental cars R76. Many find it 'impossible to get a live person' R75 and feel that Expedia avoids responsibility by directing them to third parties R76. There are also serious accusations of Expedia not caring about customers during emergencies R70 and even 'robbing' a child due to a name misspelling .
Price and Value edge: Travelzoo Hotel & Travel DealsR1R2R5R17
Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals Travelzoo is praised for offering 'great value for money' and 'reasonably priced' trips, with users often finding deals significantly cheaper than booking directly R2R5R17. However, some users feel that prices are 'no more discounted than purchasing on own' R1 and that membership fees are a drawback R1R34. There are also concerns about 'exaggerated claims' regarding low deposits .
Expedia Expedia users appreciate finding 'best deals' and being 'happy with the prices' . However, a significant number of reviews highlight 'deceptive pricing' and 'price gouging', where advertised prices jump at checkout R76R81R85. Some users also report unexpected 'random charges' on their credit cards .
Privacy and Data Handling tieR34R48R56R82
Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals Travelzoo users express concerns about the app requiring more personal information and the possibility of data being sold R34. Some also dislike persistent requests for Facebook access R48 or for permission to send texts and follow searches R56.
Expedia Expedia faces criticism for 'changing of Privacy Policies' once the app is installed and users state they 'do not appreciate my data being collected' R82.
Pick Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals if

You are primarily looking for deeply discounted, curated travel deals, especially for resorts, tours, and cruises, and are willing to navigate a potentially clunky app experience to find unique offers R5R11R38. You don't mind paying a membership fee if it unlocks exclusive savings R2.

Pick Expedia if

You need a comprehensive platform to book various travel components like flights, hotels, and car rentals, and value a generally more functional, albeit sometimes laggy, app experience . You are prepared to be diligent about checking final prices and potentially dealing with customer service issues if they arise R76R81R94.

Evidence note: Travelzoo's reviews are heavily skewed towards app functionality issues, while Expedia's reviews, despite its higher rating, frequently highlight significant customer service and pricing transparency problems. The free-to-download nature of both apps means that negative reviews are not necessarily from non-paying users, but rather reflect general user experience.

Frequently asked

Does Travelzoo offer genuinely discounted prices?
Yes, many Travelzoo users report finding 'amazing discounts' and 'phenomenal deals' that save them a lot on resorts, tours, and cruises, often stating these deals cannot be found elsewhere R5R17R38. However, some users find prices are not more discounted than booking directly, and there can be membership fees R1.
Are there common app problems with Travelzoo?
Yes, Travelzoo users frequently report issues such as the app being 'clunky', 'too crowded', and 'glitchy', with problems like blank screens, getting stuck on loading pages, slow performance, and difficulty navigating R4R6R9R11.
How reliable is Expedia's customer service?
Expedia's customer service is frequently criticized by users, with many reporting 'terrible service' and 'poor customer service', difficulty reaching a live person, and a lack of accountability when issues arise with bookings, refunds, or cancellations R61R70R75R94.
Does Expedia have issues with pricing transparency?
Yes, several Expedia users report 'misleading pricing' and 'deceptive pricing' where the initial price shown for flights or packages significantly increases at the final checkout step without clear explanation of additional fees R76R81R85.

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. [R1] Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals 2/5 · US Not all what it says: Prices here are no more discounted than purchasing on own. Plus there is a membership fee
  2. [R3] Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals 3/5 · US Not for solo travelers!: The app has decent deals, but if you’re a solo traveler like myself, there are hardly any deals ever. The single supplement on most of these vacations is essentially 100%, you can book these vacations for the same prices without the “help” of anybody working at any agency that travelzoo works with.
  3. [R5] Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals 5/5 · US Just Love it: Amazing discounts in many destinations, you will save a lot in resorts, tours, cruises. If you are a travel addicted this is for you.
  4. [R8] Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals 5/5 · US Love to travel: I love travelzoo and the best deals ever, looking forward to travel more.
  5. [R4] Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals 1/5 · US App not working: When I open the app and on the homepage all I get is a blank white screen.
  6. [R6] Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals 3/5 · US Selection does not Finish Opening: When I select a special destination link the app gets stuck processing and remains on the “on your way” screen. I cannot see the recommend deal due to the glitch. Would appreciate app support to investigate the issue and provide an updated bug fix. I am a paid member and this is disappointing.
  7. [R9] Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals 3/5 · US Full deal not we’ll displayed: Prefer the website. The App is too crowded and stuff not accurate. Kimpton deal in LA continues to cram back in the amenities fees that supposed to be waived. Tapping another path took me to Google and other suggested logins. Then it cannot because Google doesn’t it considered secure. App and paths would benefit from much better testing. No clean way get in app help
  8. [R10] Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals 1/5 · US App leads you to webpages: App leads you to webpages , so just use your web browser
  9. [R7] Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals 1/5 · US Deceptive refundable surcharge fees: So these so called deals makes it seem that the surcharge fees apply to hotel surcharges, if booked get back $25. Nope the surcharges fees apply to Travelzoo passing credit card fees to their members. However when first purchase a voucher, it states boldly that surcharge fees are refundable up to a few days prior the trip if cancelled. When the voucher is purch
  10. [R52] Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals 1/5 · US Ripoff: I've been trying to delete my account on the app and I keep getting the run around. Zero tech support.
  11. [R58] Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals 1/5 · US Cyber Monday deals did not work!!: Deals were still blocked even though I was a member. Tried reaching out and they told me to click on the lock to verify my account as though I hadn’t tried that and logging in and out several times. Tried calling with no answer. I think this was a scam to get me to pay $40 for a membership I no longer even want. Also, these cyber deals were supposed to be availab
  12. [R2] Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals 5/5 · US Explore More!: I’ve enjoyed a few Travel Zoo 20 deals & always look forward to the next one.
  13. [R17] Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals 5/5 · US Chicago Hotel Deal: We had an awesome experience booking through Travelzoo on a fantastic deal at the Swissôtel in Chicago. We had amazing views of the river and lake! We also received free beverages and $15 off daily on the hotel restaurant. The staff were accommodating and friendly! We even walked back to the hotel from Navy Pier with a 4 and 8 year old because of the close distance!
  14. [R34] Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals 1/5 · US Slid into the sewer: Used to be of value. The changes now include paying for access and divulging more personal info. My guess is, to sell your information. Many of the top 20 vacations are cheap because they’re in dangerous areas of the world. Of course they’re going to be cheap!
  15. [R48] Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals 1/5 · US No FB access!: This app keeps asking for Facebook access! The answer is no!!
  16. [R56] Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals 1/5 · US Glitchy: App will not open. Repeatedly asks to hit you with a lot of texts and wants to follow all of your searches, etc.
  17. [R82] Expedia 1/5 · US Nope: I do not appreciate my data being collected…. I know I can’t be the only one to feel this way either😡
  18. [R38] Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals 5/5 · US Marvelous Deals: This site is legit and the deals here are crazy. You cant find it anywhere else. It’s amazing app
  19. [R11] Travelzoo Hotel & Travel Deals 4/5 · US Amazing Travel Deals! Clunky app: The deals are phenomenal and I love it all. My only complaint is the clunkiness of the app. Its difficult to navigate back and forth between pages. I usually end up closing the entire app and go back in to switch from deal to deal. It’s a pain. The website is excellent! The app is…meh.
  20. [R61] Expedia 1/5 · US App is terrible: Had a major issue with not being reimbursed and couldn’t get any help. Deleting app from my phone
  21. [R70] Expedia 1/5 · US Expedia does not care about their customers.: Booked Coco Unlimited Tulum through Expedia for May 20, 28. Had to leave on May 22nd because the beach was covered in seaweed so bad my pregnant wife got sick and I had to rush her to the hospital. This was a real emergency, not some minor complaint. I contacted Expedia before checkout and again after, asking for a refund on the nights we couldn't use.
  22. [R75] Expedia 3/5 · US Hotel invoice: Why is it so hard to get the hotel invoice from Expedia after the stay? Why not get an email with the invoice right after the stay? Impossible to get a live person to talk to you or even get a contact number and the virtual assistant keeps asking about a new booking on the app. Not intuitive imo.
  23. [R94] Expedia 1/5 · US Poor customer service: I am extremely disappointed with the support I received from Expedia. What turned out to be a simple issue could likely have been resolved with a single phone call to Saudia, yet I spent an entire day trying to get assistance from your support team. Unfortunately, this is not the first time I’ve experienced this. I had a very similar situation a couple of years ago, and I u
  24. [R76] Expedia 1/5 · US Misleading Pricing and Disrespectful Service: My experience with Expedia was extremely disappointing. I booked my rental car through Expedia expecting them to stand behind the reservations they sell, but when I needed help, they refused to take responsibility and instead kept directing me to a third party. As the company I booked through, I expected them to assist in resolving the issue rather tha
  25. [R81] Expedia 3/5 · US Stop price gouging please :): The site itself is intuitive and easy to use but the prices and price jumps are ridiculous all companies use our data and raise prices accordingly. Your website will tell me one price and I will go to checkout and the price is vastly different
  26. [R85] Expedia 1/5 · US deceptive pricing: The flight hotel package option is showing a lower price and jumped up significantly higher without any explanation of additional fees at the last step. I took screenshots and shared to the help chat and ironically they only received the one showing the price jump. I repeated the request for over an hour even changing the flight times and it continues to show the price of $441 t

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