Happy Sunday,

Are you considering booking your next trip through a travel portal like Expedia, Hopper, Kayak, or through a bank portal like Chase, AmEx, or Capitol One? These platforms can be a great tool, but they’re not always the best choice. Let’s dive deeper into the pros and cons to help you make a smarter travel decision.

Real quick - what is a travel portal?

A travel portal is an online platform that allows you to search for and book flights, hotels, car rentals, and more. Popular examples include Expedia, Hopper, and Kayak. These websites act as intermediaries between you and travel providers, offering a convenient way to plan and book your trips in one place.

The Pros:

✅ One-Stop Convenience: These portals let you book flights, hotels, and car rentals all in one place. For those juggling a busy schedule, this can be a lifesaver.

✅ User-Friendly Interface: Designed with simplicity in mind, they’re perfect for beginner travel planners or anyone looking to save time.

✅ Price Comparison Made Easy: Easily view and compare prices across multiple airlines, hotels, and rental companies, helping you snag a great deal.

✅ Bundle Savings: Many portals offer discounts for bundling flights and hotels together, which can add up to significant savings.

The Cons:

❌ Limited Customer Support: Resolving issues like flight cancellations or changes can be more complicated because you’re not working directly with the airline or hotel.

❌ No Loyalty Perks: Most third-party portals don’t allow you to earn or redeem loyalty points, meaning you’re missing out on potential upgrades or future discounts.

❌ Restricted Flexibility: Changes or cancellations often come with strict policies or hefty fees, leaving you with fewer options if your plans shift.

❌ Hidden Fees: Watch out for extra fees or markups that aren’t immediately obvious during booking or that show up at the checkout page.

When Do Travel Portals Make Sense? There are a few scenarios where they can work in your favor:

• If you have a travel credit to use through a bank’s travel portal, it’s a smart way to offset your credit card’s annual fee.
• When booking through a portal offers valuable perks, like earning 10x miles or cashback rewards.
• For last-minute trips where convenience is a higher priority than maximizing loyalty perks.
• Rentals cars are typically very low risk to book through these portals and most of the time come with free cancellation, meaning you can easily cancel and rebook if you see a lower price before your trip!

Pro Tip: Before booking, always compare the portal’s deal with the airline or hotel’s direct website. Often, booking directly gives you better flexibility and customer service, plus access to loyalty program perks.

What’s My Go-To Strategy? As a travel planner, I recommend prioritizing direct bookings whenever possible. You’ll enjoy:

• Easier issue resolution.
• Opportunities to stack rewards points.
• Peace of mind with clearer cancellation policies.

If you do use a portal, double-check the fine print for cancellation policies and fees. ALSO, (if you take nothing else away from this email) ALWAYS call the hotel to confirm your booking if you book through a third party. Take it from me, someone who learned the hard way and almost got stranded in New Jersey without a place to stay…

A little extra research can go a long way in saving time, money, and frustration.

Need help navigating your next booking or crafting an epic itinerary? Be sure to follow along on Instagram (or Facebook, same content as Instagram on there) and Threads for more bite-sized travel tips several times per week.

OR reply to this email if you need customized support and I would love to help you plan the perfect trip!

This Week's Top Travel Resources & News

• Blog - In a recent blog post, I share where it made sense for me to book in the Capitol One portal.
• Portals Deep Dive - A comprehensive guide to booking travel through portals vs. booking direct.
• Price Matching Through Portals - In this Instagram post, I spill the tea on price matching through Capitol One Travel.
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Safe travels,

Michelle

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