Hotwire  is an online travel agency specializing in last-minute online discount travel deals.  Unfortunately we have to say that Hotwire was not our favorite travel planning website. While it did contain the essential ingredients for making travel plans, it didn’t offer enough "sticky" information to make it a site worth returning to.

• Daily Flight and Hotel Deals
• Trip Watcher That Notifies You When Prices Drop

While we might not be overly-impressed with the site as a whole, we do have to say that Hotwire's pricing was pretty competitive and we really did like the last-minute deals and flexible search options. The price drop notifications are also a huge plus to those on a budget. It was just navigating those deals and getting the site to work properly that proved to be a problem.

As far as customer service, don't expect the experience of a full-service travel agency. Our hold times were astronomical when we tried contacting phone support. Email service, however, was very prompt getting us an answer to our questions the very next business day. Overall we'd say Hotwire is a good place to go to for last-minute deals on travel or keeping an eye on travel bargains, but it's not really suitable for itinerary planning or in-depth travel information. Star Reviews awards Hotwire 5.0 Stars!

Priceline services are convenient, cheap, and easy to use. It actually is a good place to get the lowest rates around on your travel tickets and reservations. And the prices aren't the only thing about Priceline that impressed us. We were also happy to see that, in addition to arranging transportation through the site, you can also schedule events and sightseeing trips at your chosen destination.

• Receive Discounted Rates for Booking Hotel Rooms for Groups
• City Guides Offer Information on Dining, Attractions, and Entertainment

All that being said, it's important to note that the customer service process at Priceline seems a bit disconcerting. We would like to see the "help" link posted a bit more visibly on the home page for easier access, and would also like to see live phone support made available to everyone – meaning those booking arrangements in addition to those who have already paid.

All of the problems we noticed with Priceline can be traced back to the fact that the company is focused on low prices as its main selling point. The Name Your Own Price and Pricebreaker features are both great, but no customer wants to see customer service suffer in order to provide lower prices. Priceline is a great place to get the best deals on travel bookings, but if you want live phone support that's hassle-free, you might want to look elsewhere. They receive 5.0 Stars!

Overall, we were very impressed with Travelocity and their online travel booking services. The unique features that allow customers to compare similar travel plans and companies, as well as leave feedback about their travel experiences, really help users make an informed decision about their travel plans. The website design is pleasing to the eye, and makes browsing quick and simple.

• One-Stop Shop For All Your Travel Booking Needs
• Save Money on Last-Minute Deals and Packages

The only problem we found with Travelocity is that the website is so popular, all the good deals get booked pretty quickly. If you are making travel reservations at a busy time of the year, be sure to book early to take advantage of Travelocity’s special rates, or you may not get a good deal.
            
We're also pleased to say the Customer Service team at Travelocity can’t be beat. They really seem concerned with making sure customers are satisfied with their services and clear about their travel plans. We think that this is of the utmost importance for a website offering important purchases such as plane tickets and hotel reservations. As far as we’re concerned, choosing Travelocity for your travel and booking needs is definitely a safe bet. They deserve 5.0 Stars!

Kayak has received a number of honors and awards in the business world for its innovative search engine optimization. We believe that Kayak definitely lives up to the hype and delivers on most of its promises. Kayak succeeds in making travel booking more efficient by presenting search results from a number of leading travel websites, and the lack of ads and links makes browsing the website easy and enjoyable.

• Search Several Booking Websites at Once
• No Facilitation Fees

Customers will also appreciate the honest, grassroots feel of the site. The goals of the website are simple – to bring you the booking information you’re looking for as quickly and easily as possible. The information provided is laid out clearly and the site as a whole is very easy to navigate. The emphasis on personalized customer service is also something not offered by larger travel websites.

The only major problem with Kayak is that it is currently a bit too organic to meet the needs of its growing client base. Problems such as slow loading times and lack of telephone support need to be resolved before Kayak can truly grow into an efficient website. But for simple searches and travel requests, Kayak is able meet your booking needs. We award them 4.5 Stars!