EXPE Expedia Group Inc

Featuring nearly 100 travel experiences from major travel brands Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo

TORONTO, Nov. 9, 2021 /CNW/ -- Today travel giants Expedia®, Hotels.com® and Vrbo® join forces to unveil a first-ever holiday gift guide featuring travel experiences to rival even the most popular Black Friday and Cyber Monday purchases. Plus, exciting offers are launching ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday including 30% off hotels for members beginning Nov. 16 and up to 4X the rewards points on the Expedia mobile app and Double Rewards Stamps on Hotels.com beginning Nov. 23¹.

"Research shows that investing in experiences makes us happier than amassing things, and making memories after so many missed moments matters now more than ever before," said Melanie Fish, travel expert and head of PR for Expedia Brands. "This Black Friday, we wanted to make it easier to skip the stuff and instead give the gift of travel to friends, family or even yourself with a travel gift guide featuring experiences that are worthy of any wish list – and offered at a great value."

Prices are not guaranteed and can vary based on discounts, dates and availability.*

A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

The travel experts at Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo scoured their many offerings to curate a holiday gift guide filled with unique travel experiences around the world that cost just about what travellers can expect to pay for popular Black Friday and Cyber Monday gifts. Plus, members can find even better rates on some of these hotels starting Nov. 16.

Two-night stays for less than a smart watch ($400 CAD)

• Expedia Stay in Ubud, Indonesia: Find zen among tropical gardens at the Bebek Tepi Sawah Villas is in Ubud, Bali
• Expedia Stay in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: Retreat to paradise in Puerto Vallarta where Mexican architecture, majestic ocean views and tropical jungle all meet at the Hotel Boutique Luxury Patio Azul
• Hotels.com Stay in New York City: Soak in the city life at the Marcel at Gramercy Hotel, set within walking distance to the city's most exciting neighborhoods
• Hotels.com Stay in Vancouver, Canada: Indulge in the finer things at The Sutton Place Hotel Vancouver where luxury accommodations and first-class amenities await
• Vrbo Stay in Greifswald, Germany: Make once-in-a-lifetime memories in a contemporary and modern vacation home on the Bay of Greifswald
• Vrbo Stay in Naples, Italy: Immerse in all things Italy with a centrally located vacation home in the heart of Naples

Two-night stays for less than a TV ($650 CAD)

• Expedia Stay in Chicago: Get the best of both worlds at luxurious boutique hotel Gale Chicago, where city life and Lake Michigan's stunning shores meet
• Expedia Stay in Montreal: Experience a warm and modern welcome at Hotel Monville, located in downtown Montreal
• Hotels.com Stay in Honolulu: Gear up for adventure at the Waikiki Resort Hotel near Honolulu's striking beaches
• Hotels.com Stay in Charleston, S.C.: Escape to Harborside, Charleston's premiere resort and marina waterfront hotel with picturesque views
• Vrbo Stay in Santorini, Greece: Take in jaw-dropping views of the sea from a white Santorini terrace vacation rental
• Vrbo Stay in New Forest National Park, England: Curl up in an enchanting country cottage near New Forest National Park

Two-night stays for less than fine jewelry ($1,300 CAD)

• Expedia Stay in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: Seek beachside bliss at the B Ocean Resort, just steps from Fort Lauderdale Beach
• Expedia Stay in Las Vegas: Dazzle in the neon brilliance of the Las Vegas Strip at the LSI Resorts at The Signature Hotel
• Hotels.com Stay in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico: Lose your breath to the ocean views at the Cabo Azul Resort, outfitted with private terraces and sophisticated décor
• Hotels.com Stay in Toronto: Check out one of the latest luxury hotels, located in the heart of the city. 1 Hotel Toronto is home to the restaurant 1 Kitchen and is walkable to many attractions
• Vrbo Stay in Bastrop, Texas: Get intertwined with nature in a whimsical treehouse vacation rental just right outside of Austin, Texas
• Vrbo Stay in Northeastern Region, Iceland: Overlook Icelandic waters in an awestriking modern vacation home

BLACK FRIDAY AND CYBER MONDAY DEALS

• Expedia and Hotels.com Black Friday sales kick off Nov. 16 and run through Nov. 29 and feature 30 percent off thousands of select hotel properties and special discounts on cruises. During the sale, customers can simply sign in or create an account to shop the biggest member-only event of the year.
• Expedia Rewards and Hotels.com Rewards members get additional benefits the last week of the sale with 4X rewards points in the Expedia mobile app and Double Rewards Stamps on Hotels.com Nov. 23-29.
• Join the free Expedia Rewards and Hotels.com Rewards programs for access to member-exclusive discounts year-round.

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR GETTING THE MOST OUT OF BLACK FRIDAY AND CYBER MONDAY

 Follow these tips to get the most out of booking a trip:

• BOOK ON THE APP Find better rates every day with member pricing on the Expedia and Hotels.com apps, plus the convenience of having itinerary details, support and inspiration at your fingertips. Travellers who book private vacation homes through Vrbo are also protected under the Book with Confidence Guarantee.
• BOOK FLEXIBLE RATES Flexibility is key for holiday and winter travel.
• • On Expedia and Hotels.com, book refundable stays by filtering for "free cancellation."
  • Try to avoid restrictive or non-refundable airfare. Expedia makes it easy to compare fares during the booking process by highlighting what is or isn't included with the ticket, such as seat selection, checked baggage or whether changes are permitted. Paying a bit more for flexibility can bring peace of mind, which is especially valuable during the holidays.  
  • On Vrbo, take advantage of the number of vacation rental owners who have relaxed their cancellation policies. The most flexible policy on Vrbo allows travellers to cancel their reservation up to 14 days before check-in and receive a full refund.
• UNLOCK DEEPER SAVINGS BY BUNDLING Just by booking multiple items at the same time on Expedia, such as adding a car rental, activity or hotel to a flight purchase, travellers can save on their trip.
• KEEP TABS ON THE LATEST TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS With restrictions changing by the day or week, it can be tricky to stay up to date on the latest COVID-related guidelines. Use the Expedia Travel Advisor which lets travellers select their origin and destination to see what travel advisories or COVID-19 restrictions are in place.

Notes to Editors:

Traveller wellbeing is our priority. Expedia understands how the global impact of the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect travellers everywhere, as well as the importance of abiding by government restrictions and practicing social distancing. Travellers can visit the Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo COVID-19 travel resource pages for information to make informed travel decisions.

*As of Nov. 9, 2021. The cost of the hotels and vacation rentals featured in the gift guides are two-night stays for the travel dates of Feb. 11-13, 2022.

About Us

Expedia®.com is one of the world's largest full-service travel sites, helping millions of travellers per month easily plan and book travel with the widest selection of affordable airfare, lodging deals, car rentals, and activities.

Hotels.com® is the most rewarding way to book a place to stay – a one-stop shopping source for hotel pricing, amenities and availability around the world. Members of the Hotels.com® Rewards Loyalty Program earn free nights and get access to instant savings and exclusive prices.

Vrbo® helps families find and book the perfect place to stay and be together on vacation by making it easy and fun to book cabins, condos, beach houses and every kind of space in between.

Expedia.com, Hotels.com and Vrbo are just three of the many Expedia Group brands powering travel around the world.

¹ Terms apply. See Expedia and Hotels.com site for details.

SOURCE Expedia.com, Hotels.com and Vrbo