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Does Expedia Have 24-Hour Customer Service? Everything You Need to Know

Traveling can be an incredibly exciting experience, but it can also be stressful when things don’t go according to plan. That’s where customer service comes in, and when it comes to booking travel, you want to make sure the company you choose has reliable and efficient customer service. Expedia is one of the largest online travel agencies in the world, but does it have 24-hour customer service? In this blog post, we’ll explore the ins and outs of Expedia’s customer service, including whether or not they offer 24-hour support, how to contact them, and the pros and cons of using their customer service. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or just planning your next vacation, this post will provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about using Expedia.

What is Expedia?

Expedia is an online travel agency that was founded in 1996 as a division of Microsoft. In 2001, it became a standalone company and has since grown to become one of the largest online travel companies in the world. Expedia operates in over 70 countries, offering travelers the ability to book flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and vacation packages. The company has a vast network of travel partners, including airlines, hotels, and car rental companies, which allows them to offer customers a wide range of travel options at competitive prices.

Expedia’s website is user-friendly and easy to navigate, with a variety of search filters that make it easy to find the perfect travel options for your needs. The website also offers travel guides and reviews, so you can get a better idea of what to expect from your trip. Expedia has also developed mobile apps for iOS and Android, making it easy for travelers to book their trips on the go.

One of the unique features of Expedia is the Expedia Rewards program. This program allows customers to earn points on their bookings, which can then be redeemed for discounts on future travel. Expedia Rewards members also have access to exclusive deals and promotions.

Expedia’s Customer Service

Expedia has a reputation for providing excellent customer service, and they offer a variety of ways for customers to get in touch with them. Customers can contact Expedia’s customer service team via phone, email, or live chat. The company also has a dedicated customer service Twitter account (@ExpediaHelp) where customers can ask for help or get support.

Expedia’s customer service team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to assist customers with any questions or issues they may have. The company has customer service teams located around the world, which allows them to provide support in multiple languages.

In addition to traditional customer service, Expedia has developed a self-service platform called Expedia Partner Central. This platform allows hotel partners to manage their inventory, rates, and availability, as well as access analytics and reports. This system streamlines the booking process, making it easier for customers to find the right hotel at the right price.

Expedia’s customer service team is known for being responsive and helpful, with a focus on resolving customer issues quickly and efficiently. The company also offers a satisfaction guarantee, promising to work with customers to resolve any issues and make things right.

24-Hour Customer Service

One of the most significant benefits of using Expedia is its 24-hour customer service. This means that no matter what time of day or night it is, customers can get in touch with Expedia’s customer service team for assistance.

24-hour customer service is particularly important for travelers, as issues can arise at any time. Whether it’s a flight delay or a problem with a hotel reservation, having access to 24-hour customer service can help alleviate stress and ensure that issues are resolved quickly.

Expedia’s 24-hour customer service is available via phone, email, or live chat. The company’s phone support is available around the clock, with separate phone numbers for customers located in the United States and Canada, as well as international numbers for customers located in other countries.

Email support is also available 24 hours a day, and customers can expect a response within 24 hours of sending their message. Live chat support is another option for customers who prefer to communicate via chat rather than phone or email. The live chat feature is available on Expedia’s website and mobile app, making it easy for customers to get help on the go.

In addition to traditional customer service channels, Expedia also has a robust help center on its website. This help center includes a variety of articles and guides on topics like booking, cancellations, refunds, and more. Customers can also use the search function to find answers to specific questions or issues they may be experiencing.

One of the potential downsides of Expedia’s 24-hour customer service is that wait times can vary depending on the time of day and the volume of customers seeking assistance. During peak travel times, such as holidays or the summer vacation season, wait times may be longer than usual. However, the company is known for prioritizing urgent issues and working quickly to resolve them.

How to Contact Expedia’s Customer Service

There are several ways to get in touch with Expedia’s customer service team. The easiest and most convenient way is to use the live chat feature on the company’s website or mobile app. This allows customers to get help quickly and easily without having to wait on hold or navigate through a complex phone tree.

Another option is to call Expedia’s customer service hotline. The phone number is available on the company’s website and varies depending on the customer’s location. Customers in the United States and Canada can call 1-800-319-4834, while international customers can find their specific country’s phone number on Expedia’s website.

Email support is also available 24 hours a day, and customers can expect a response within 24 hours of sending their message. To send an email, customers can fill out the contact form on Expedia’s website or send an email directly to [email protected].

Finally, customers can also reach out to Expedia’s customer service team via social media. The company has accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and customers can send direct messages to the accounts to get help or ask questions.

Pros and Cons of Expedia’s Customer Service

Expedia’s customer service has several benefits, including its 24-hour availability, multiple channels of communication, and knowledgeable representatives. The company’s customer service team is known for being responsive and helpful, with a focus on resolving issues quickly and efficiently. Additionally, the help center on Expedia’s website provides a wealth of information and resources for customers to use.

However, there are also some potential downsides to Expedia’s customer service. Wait times can be long during peak travel times, and some customers have reported difficulty in getting their issues resolved. Additionally, while the company’s representatives are knowledgeable, there have been some complaints about their level of empathy and willingness to go above and beyond for customers.

Alternatives to Expedia’s Customer Service

While Expedia’s customer service is generally reliable and efficient, there are some alternatives for customers who prefer a different approach. One option is to book travel directly through the airline or hotel’s website, which often has its own customer service team available for assistance.

Another option is to use a travel agency or booking service that specializes in personalized service and support. These agencies often have dedicated travel advisors who can assist with everything from booking flights to planning itineraries and recommending activities.

Finally, some credit card companies offer travel concierge services as a perk of their premium cards. These services provide personalized assistance with travel booking and planning, including access to dedicated customer service representatives who are available 24/7 to help with any issues or questions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about Expedia’s 24-hour customer service:

• Does Expedia have 24-hour customer service? Yes, Expedia offers 24-hour customer service through various channels including live chat, phone, email, and social media.
• What kind of issues can Expedia’s customer service help with? Expedia’s customer service team can assist with a range of issues including booking changes, cancellations, refunds, and general travel questions.
• Is Expedia’s customer service available in all languages? Expedia’s customer service is available in several languages, although the availability may vary depending on the customer’s location.
• How long does it typically take to get a response from Expedia’s customer service team? Expedia aims to respond to all customer inquiries within 24 hours of receipt. However, wait times may vary depending on the volume of requests.
• Can I cancel my reservation through Expedia’s customer service? Yes, customers can cancel their reservations through Expedia’s customer service team. However, cancellation policies may vary depending on the specific booking and provider.

Tips for Getting the Best Customer Service Experience

To get the best customer service experience with Expedia, there are several tips and tricks that customers can follow:

• Be clear and specific about your issue: When contacting Expedia’s customer service team, be as specific as possible about your issue or question. This will help the representative understand your needs and provide a more targeted solution.
• Use the most convenient channel: Expedia offers multiple channels of communication for customer service, including live chat, phone, email, and social media. Choose the channel that is most convenient for you and provides the quickest response time.
• Keep all relevant information handy: When contacting Expedia’s customer service team, make sure to have all relevant information about your booking or issue on hand. This includes your reservation number, travel dates, and any other relevant details.
• Stay polite and patient: While customer service representatives are there to help, they can only do so much within their given parameters. Staying polite and patient can go a long way in getting your issue resolved in a timely and satisfactory manner.
• Follow up if necessary: If your issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, don’t hesitate to follow up with Expedia’s customer service team. Escalating the issue may result in a more favorable outcome.

Overall, Expedia’s customer service is reliable, efficient, and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The company offers a variety of channels for customers to get in touch, including phone, email, live chat, and social media. Expedia’s customer service team is known for being responsive and helpful, with a focus on resolving issues quickly and efficiently. 24-hour customer service is particularly beneficial for travelers, as it allows them to get help at any time of day or night. While wait times may vary depending on the volume of customers seeking assistance, Expedia’s commitment to providing excellent customer service makes it a reliable choice for booking travel.

Home » Online Shopping » Flights / Hotels » Expedia Course » Expedia Customer Service Info and Tips

Expedia Customer Service Info and Tips

Hopefully, nothing goes wrong with your trip when you book through Expedia, and everything’s smooth sailing. However, since Expedia is only a middleman between you and the travel service companies, there is a greater chance that a mix-up will occur than if you book things directly with a hotel, airline, car rental company, or cruise line. This is the unfortunate trade-off for getting better deals on your trips.

Just a heads-up that some of the services we’re reviewing here have affiliate partnerships with us, so we may earn a commission if you visit one of them and buy something. You can read more about how this works at https://techboomers.com/how-to-support-techboomers .

In the event that you need to correct something, you can call Expedia’s customer service hotline at:

• 1-866-310-5768 (inside the U.S.)
• 1-404-728-8787 (international)

Tips for Dealing with Expedia Customer Service

Unfortunately, there are many stories on the Internet about people who feel that Expedia’s customer service department hasn’t treated them very fairly. Regardless of how many of those stories are true or not, the fact of the matter is that we don’t work for Expedia, so we can’t change how their customer service department or their policies work.

The best that we can do for you is give you a set of general pointers so that you’re prepared to deal with Expedia’s customer service department, or one of their partnered travel company’s customer service departments, in case the worst should happen.

Read the fine print . Though we realize this is something that a lot of people don’t like or bother to do, it can save you some frustration when it comes to understanding why Expedia or a travel company isn’t doing much to help you. On the flip side, it can also be a source of evidence for you if you don’t think either of these groups is following their own policies.

Be patient, but persistent . Like most customer service departments of large companies, Expedia’s is very busy, and you should be prepared to be put on hold at points from times ranging from 10 minutes to 30 minutes, or even an hour. Do your best to keep calm and stay on the line for as long as you can. It’s the only way that you’ll make progress in solving the problem on Expedia’s end.

Ask for a supervisor or manager . Generally, the higher up the customer service ladder you go, the better the chance you’ll find someone who has the authority to act on your problem. Again, it may take some patience to get in touch with them, so be prepared for that.

Make physical/written copies of important information . This includes things like booking confirmations or any other special requests that you make through Expedia, such as specific seats on an airplane or a certain number of beds in a hotel room. This way, you have evidence on your side if there’s a problem.

Double-check your bookings with the actual travel companies . These companies are ultimately the ones you’re doing business with and providing the accommodations for your trip. Therefore, they have the final say when it comes to what you get. Plus, they’ll probably be more worried about having their public reputations damaged than Expedia will be.  After you book, call each travel company involved in your trip and ask for a written confirmation of anything specific that you’ve asked for through Expedia, such as a certain hotel room type or seat on an airplane. Or, better yet, record your phone call (and tell them you’re doing so for verification purposes) and ask for verbal confirmation that you’ll be getting exactly what you asked for. This puts the burden on them to back up their word.

Act early and often . The sooner you act and the more you work to resolve a problem, the greater the chance that you’ll be able to get a full refund, or at least some form of compensation. Plus, the problem will be off your mind and you’ll save yourself a nasty surprise.

Ask for physical records… or make your own! A good idea is to always ask for the name and employee ID number of any customer service representative whom you deal with. Also try asking the customer service representative to send you an email saying that they will fix the problem, and stay on the line until you receive it.  Or better yet, record the phone call, and tell the representative on the other end that you’re doing so for verification purposes. Again, this is so that you’ll have evidence to back up your claims if you’re having trouble solving the problem.

If all else fails, consider bringing in a third party . If neither Expedia nor the travel service at the heart of the problem is proving to be much help, consider going to a third party. Call your bank or credit card company and let them know what’s going on, and they may help you recover your money or stop Expedia or one of their partnered travel companies from charging you for anything that you shouldn’t have to pay for.  You may also want to file a complaint with a consumer advocacy group, such as the Better Business Bureau, and see if they will step in to help resolve the problem.

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How to cancel an Expedia hotel reservation on a computer or mobile device

• You can cancel an Expedia hotel reservation without fees in just a few seconds on the Expedia site, as long as you're still inside the particular grace period for a reservation.
• You can also cancel hotel reservations using the Expedia app or by calling Expedia at 1-800-397-3342 — just make sure you have your reservation number handy, as you will need to enter it into an automated system.
• On rare occasions, hotels listed on Expedia have non-refundable bookings, so make sure to double-check a hotel's policy before committing.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .

So you're not going to Hawaii next month after all? Well, that's a bummer, but if you booked your hotel via Expedia , at least you can cancel the reservation quickly, and in most cases, without any fees. 

That is, as long as you're inside the property's allotted cancellation window, which in most cases is just a few days before the stay start date.

If you are, here's how to cancel an Expedia reservation.

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1. To cancel your hotel on the Expedia site, go to Expedia.com and log into your account on your Mac or PC .

2. Next, click "My Trips" at the top of the screen, then select "Upcoming" on the next page.

3. Click on the hotel booking you're looking to cancel, then click the "Cancel Reservation" button and confirm your action.

How to cancel an Expedia hotel reservation using a mobile device

1. To cancel a hotel booking via the Expedia app, open the app on your iPhone or Android and tap "Trips" at the bottom center. 

2. Tap the hotel booking you're looking to cancel, tap "Cancel," and confirm it.

Related coverage from  How To Do Everything: Tech :

How to find your itinerary on the expedia website or app, how to add a boarding pass to your google pay app, how to add a boarding pass to your iphone wallet and simplify your air travel, how to add holidays to your google calendar on desktop or mobile, how to add flight details to your google calendar manually or automatically.

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Members can earn and redeem points on vacation packages, flights, hotels, car rentals and more. Who doesn't like to save?

Sign-in using your existing TD online banking credentials.

The expedia for td program.

It's easier than ever for TD Travel or Rewards credit card holders to find and book their dream vacation on Expedia For TD.

The best part? Not only do you have the flexibility to use your TD Rewards Points to pay for all or part of your trip, but eligible TD credit cards can also earn up to 9 points for every $1 spent on travel purchases 1.

TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite * 

• 8 TD Rewards Points per $1 Spent on Travel Purchases at Expedia For TD (Online/ Phone) 1
• Annual $100 TD Travel Credit on your first Eligible Travel Credit purchase of $500 that is made with Expedia For TD 2
• Birthday Bonus - earn up to 10K bonus TD Rewards Points a year (up to $50 value on Expedia For TD) 3,4
• Comprehensive Travel insurance coverage 4

TD Platinum Travel Visa *

• 6 TD Rewards Points per $1 spent on Travel Purchases at Expedia For TD (Online/Phone) 1
• Car Rental Discounts 5,6,7

TD Rewards Visa *  

• 4 TD Rewards Points per $1 Spent on Travel Purchases at Expedia For TD (Online/Phone) 1
• Car rental discounts 5,6,7

TD Business Travel Visa *  

• 9 TD Rewards Points per $1 when you book travel online, or 6 Points per $1 Spent on travel made by phone through Expedia For TD 1

Not only does Expedia For TD provide you with exclusive deals on travel , but y ou r TD points are worth more when redeeming them and you can earn TD points faster when purchasing travel with your TD credit card. 1,9  

Explore with Options

A flight to Las Vegas? How about an all-inclusive stay at a Cancun resort? A house in Banff for a ski trip? All of these are available on Expedia For TD.

No restrictions on adventure

We don't have black-out dates or seat restrictions on flights, 8  which means you're free to book anytime you want.

Redeem and earn points on:

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And you’ll have access to Expedia benefits

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Paying with TD points                        .

It’s easy to shop for travel: Find your ideal trip and pay with your TD Travel or Rewards Credit Card at checkout. On the billing page, select the amount of TD points you wish to redeem.                                                                          

200 TD Rewards Points = $1                            .            .

Every 200 points are worth $1 off travel purchases on Expedia For TD. Redemptions are made in 200-point increments, and travelers need a minimum of 200 points to make a redemption.

Use points for all or part of your trip

For example, if your trip costs $1000, use 120,000 Rewards Points (worth $600). Pay the remainder with your TD credit card and earn up to additional 8 points for every $1 spent 1,9 . That is up to 32k additional points!

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When you purchase travel using TD Rewards Points your TD credit card will be charged the full amount. The dollar value of points redeemed will be credited to your account in 3-5 business days.

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Earn TD Rewards Points on bookings made with your TD Travel Rewards Credit Card and pay with points by redeeming TD Rewards Points towards all or part of your trip. Sign In

Pay for travel and everyday items with your TD Travel Credit Card to earn TD Reward Points. When you're ready, you can redeem TD points to pay for all or part of your trip.

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Learn more about TD’s travel credit cards and choose the one that best matches your spending habits and travel style.

1 TD First Class Travel Cardholders earn eight TD Rewards Points for every dollar spent on travel Purchases made online or by phone through Expedia For TD. TD Platinum Cardholders earn six TD Rewards Points for every dollar spent on travel purchases made online or by phone through Expedia For TD. TD Rewards Cardholders earn four TD Rewards Points for every dollar spent on travel purchases made online or by phone through Expedia For TD. TD Business Travel Cardholders earn 9 TD Rewards Points for every dollar spent on travel purchases made online through Expedia For TD and 6 TD Rewards Points for every dollar spent on travel purchases made by phone through Expedia For TD. Any returned items, refunds, rebates or other similar credits will reduce or cancel the TD Rewards Points earned on the original Travel Purchase. Fees, Cash Advances (including Balance Transfers, Cash-Like Transactions and TD Visa Cheques), interest charges, optional service, refunds, rebates or other similar credits do not earn TD Rewards Points. Other Conditions: Offer may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer.

  2 In order to receive the TD Travel Credit, the Account must be open, active and in Good Standing. An Eligible Travel Credit Purchase means:    • A Hotel, Motel, Lodging, or Vacation Rental Purchase of $500.00 CAD or more made with Expedia For TD;    • A Vacation Package Purchase of $500.00 CAD or more made with Expedia For TD, that includes a Hotel, Motel, Lodging or Vacation Rental booking packaged with a transportation booking.   See your TD Rewards Program Terms and Conditions for more details.  

3 Each year, receive a TD Rewards Birthday Bonus (“Birthday Bonus”) equal to 10% of the TD Rewards Points earned while using the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* over the 12 months preceding the Primary Cardholder’s birthday, to a maximum Birthday Bonus of 10,000 TD Rewards Points. For the first year, we will only award the TD Rewards Birthday Bonus based on the TD Rewards Points earned from October 30, 2022, to your next birthday. Previously earned points on other Rewards Cards, Acquisition Bonus Points, or other Promotional Rewards Points earned do not count towards the Birthday Bonus. 

4 Insurance coverages are subject to conditions, limitations and exclusions. For more information, (including information on the insurer and/or administrator) please refer to the Certificate of Insurance included with your TD Credit Cardholder Agreement.

5 Rate displayed by Expedia For TD reflects the discounted offer.  No discount code needs to be applied. 

6 Provided by Avis Rent A Car System ULC. Minimum discount offer subject to discount code  and to terms and conditions which may change without notice. Blackout dates may apply. Base rate refers to time and kilometer/mile charges only. Taxes, fees and surcharges are extra. The Toronto-Dominion Bank is not responsible for any vehicles, services, discounts or other offers made available by Avis Rent A Car System ULC.

7 Provided by Budget Rent A Car System, Inc. Minimum discount offer subject to discount code and to terms and conditions which may change without notice. Blackout dates may apply. Base rate refers to time and kilometer/mile charges only. Taxes, fees and surcharges are extra. The Toronto-Dominion Bank is not responsible for any vehicles, services, discounts or other offers made available by Budget Rent A Car System, Inc.

8 Subject to carrier/space availability.  9 Every 200 TD Points redeemed are worth $1 in travel savings off the cost of Travel Purchases made through Expedia For TD. Redemptions can only be made in 200 TD Points increments. * Trademark of Visa International Service Association; Used under license.

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Travel | ‘a very bad individual’: man shot, wounded two san jose police officers shot in hotel confrontation, travel | travel troubleshooter: expedia said it would refund my tickets four years ago. help.

I waited a few months, but the refund never showed up on my credit card. I contacted Expedia in early 2022, and they told me to contact Air Transat for my refund. I did, and an Air Transat representative said the airline had already sent my refund to Expedia.

I’ve contacted both Expedia and Air Transat on numerous occasions since then, and I’ve also asked my credit card company for help. It says that there’s no record of a refund from Expedia or Air Transat. I would love to get my refund. Can you help me?

— Keith Dawe, Toronto

ANSWER: Expedia should have refunded your money four years ago. I believe this is a new record for the longest airline refund case. (Congratulations, Expedia!)

Air Transat is a relatively small charter airline, so that might explain the initial delay. But at some point, Expedia should have taken ownership of this problem and helped you get a refund. Instead, it looks as if you bounced between Expedia, Air Transat and your credit card company for years. Literally, years. You must be exhausted.

What happened? It looks as if Air Transat refunded part of your purchase with a check, which appears to only cover taxes and fees. This left an outstanding balance of about $1,002. Air Transat claims it sent the money to Expedia, but Expedia said it never received the money.

You were way too patient with your airline and online agency. You should have received the promised refund promptly, and if you didn’t, you should have filed a credit card dispute to recover your funds.

I list the names, numbers and email addresses of the Expedia executives on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org . A brief but firm email to one of them might have motivated Expedia to find your missing money.

I contacted Expedia on your behalf. In response, the company apologized and admitted that there was “an error with the refund.” “The refund has been processed,” a representative said. Expedia also added $200 worth of points to your loyalty account as an apology for the delay.

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy , a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at [email protected] or get help by contacting him at elliottadvocacy.org/help/ . (c) 2024 Christopher Elliott Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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Expedia stock hits 5-month low as bookings fall

Expedia shares hit their lowest level since November after the company posted disappointing first-quarter bookings and lowered its full-year guidance. The online travel giant blamed a slower-than-expected recovery in its vacation rental business.

The shares fell as much as 14% to $116.50 on Friday. Piper Sandler analysts cut their rating for the stock to neutral from overweight as they wrote that “bookings growth is deteriorating” while increases in margins from tech improvements “remain elusive.”

Seattle-based Expedia on Thursday posted first-quarter gross bookings of $30.2 billion, missing analysts’ average estimate of $30.5 billion. The company cited a “slower than anticipated” recovery in its vacation rental business Vrbo. That, combined with slower-than-expected growth in the rest of its consumer business, led the company to lower its full-year sales guidance to “a range of mid to high single digit top line growth with margins relatively in line versus last year.” Room night growth and revenue were otherwise in-line with estimates. 

Vrbo’s recovery has been slower than expected and has put pressure on gross bookings, Expedia CEO Peter Kern said Thursday, adding in an earnings call with analysts that Vrbo has lost share to Airbnb and Booking Holdings, the parent company to brands like Kayak and Priceline. Kern also pointed to a yearslong and resource-intensive back-end update that was completed around late last year, which served to unify Expedia’s two other main brands, Expedia.com and Hotels.com, onto a single technical platform.

The company has vowed to spend a record amount on marketing this year to narrow the gap in vacation rentals with Airbnb as it emerges from its costly technical update. But the broader environment has seen headwinds as the lifting of pandemic-induced travel restrictions has led to more travelers seeking out urban adventures, as opposed to the sort of rural destinations and resorts where most Vrbos are located. Vrbo also doesn’t offer the sort of home-sharing that rival Airbnb is known for. In contrast, Expedia saw share gains in its hotel lodging business, since most of its hotels are concentrated in urban areas.

“We’ve got to spend on brand and build it, and that’s taking some time to lean back into,” Kern said on the call. “But we feel very good about the progress. It’s just a question of how far, how fast, and what’s the timing, and the seasonality differences, etc. That’s what we’re spending into this year to get it back on a growth trajectory.”

The travel industry is expected to make record contributions to the global economy this year of $11.1 trillion, surpassing even pre-pandemic spending, but online travel companies have cautioned that it will be difficult to top the strong performance during the comparable early 2023 travel season. 

The recovery of the global travel market has also been uneven. Growth in the U.S. has stagnated while demand in Europe and Asia Pacific markets has been more enduring, according to analysts at Jefferies. That has hurt Expedia more than peers like Booking as most of its business is in the U.S., while Booking is more exposed to Europe.

Booking, which owns nearly a dozen travel brands, reported on Thursday first-quarter room night reservations and gross bookings that beat analysts’ expectations. The shares jumped as much as 7.9% Friday, the biggest intraday gain since August, as analysts saw past its weaker-than-expected second-quarter guidance, which it blamed on geopolitical conflict in the Middle East.

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How to use AI to plan your next vacation and what you should know first

Where should I go on vacation this summer ?

The question is simple enough, but the possibilities are endless.

“Feeling adventurous or more like chilling by the beach with a drink in hand?” Layla replies to narrow the list.

Chilling by the beach sounds nice.

“Alright, for that laid-back beach vibe, how about Santorini with its iconic sunsets or Ao Nang for some Thai beach bliss ? Pick your paradise!” she suggested. 

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Only she is not really a “she.” Layla is an AI travel planner whose website launched this year, among a growing number of artificial intelligence-driven tools for travel. 

Just over 50% of 1,400 people recently surveyed by Matador Network , a travel publisher and creator of AI travel assistant GuideGeek , said they’re open to using AI for their summer travel. A previous Matador Network survey found 64% of 1,200 travelers surveyed had already used or planned to use AI for trip planning .

Here’s what travelers should know about planning trips with AI.

How common is AI today?

Many people associate AI with large language models like ChatGPT, which can both recognize and generate text, but that’s just one type of AI.

“AI is generally everywhere,” said Yoon Kim, an assistant professor in MIT’s Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department and Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory . “For example, when you search for something – let's say you search for something on TripAdvisor, Hotels.com – there is likely an AI-based system that gives you a list of matches based on your query.”

“Because a lot of the (online travel agencies) have now integrated different types of Gen AI into their platforms … people may be using them without their knowledge,” echoed Matt Soderberg, principal, U.S. airlines leader for Deloitte Consulting, which named AI as a major theme in changing travel in its Facing travel's future report released in early April.

Kayak and Expedia offer AI travel tools. Google has used AI for years for search. Those familiar “People Also Ask” questions are powered by AI. Google Flights uses machine learning , a type of AI. AI also powers Google Maps’ Immersive View , which gives users a navigable fly-over view of 13 cities and more than 500 global landmarks that users can zoom in on like in a video game, with weather and crowd forecasts for different times of day. 

Early this year, Google introduced generative AI to multisearch queries made with Google Lens. That allows users to take a photo of something and couple it with text questions like “What kind of flower is this?” or “Who painted this and why?” to get AI-generated answers based on data from across the web and links to additional sources.

How do I plan a trip with AI?

Planning travel with AI is typically free, but travelers may need to create platform-specific accounts to access enhanced features or ask more than a few initial queries.

Google account holders can get generative AI results in text-only search bar searches if they opt in to Search Generative Experience , which is part of Google’s experimental Search Labs . Opting in to SGE allows them to ask things like “Plan me a 2-day solo trip to Grand Teton National Park ” and not only get a suggested itinerary but related photos, reviews and links to other resources. 

For Day 1 at Grand Teton, Google suggested a morning hike at Schwabacher Landing “to see the Grand Tetons reflected in the river,” an afternoon visit to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Elk Refuge , and dinner at a local Italian restaurant with photos of each destination, links to their websites, pins showing locations on Google Maps, suggestions for where to stay, space for follow up questions, and links to related questions like “Is 2 days enough for Grand Teton National Park?” 

Just above the sample itinerary, read a disclaimer: “Generative AI is experimental” and below it: “Trip ideas generated with AI may include inaccurate or misleading information. Confirm info with sources you trust.” 

For the same prompt, both ChatGPT and GuideGeek – which can be messaged on social media like a person – offered more suggestions of things to do, as well as reminders to check on trail closures, but no specific recommendations on where to eat or stay, nor photos nor links to find more information on any of the destinations. Layla and Mindtrip, an AI travel planner that launched publicly this week, also included links to various points of interest, hotel suggestions, and the ability to adjust and book different parts of the itinerary through partnerships with third parties. Mindtrip allows multiple people within the same travel party to collaborate on itineraries.

Make travel easy: We tested ChatGPT itineraries in 5 US tourist spots

Can AI be trustworthy?

Asking one AI travel planner for the top 10 snacks at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, among classics like Dole Whip and Corn Dog Nuggets, it suggested Mickey-shaped beignets. Those would certainly be a top snack if they were sold in the park, like at Disneyland. However Disney World guests have to go to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter for sweet Mickey-shaped pillows of fried dough.

“This phenomena goes under the moniker hallucinations. These generative AI systems are prone to hallucinating plausible-sounding text that’s actually factually incorrect,” MIT’s Kim explained. “This is, I think, going to be sort of an inherent problem with systems that probabilistically generate output over large spaces.”

"If the LLM recommends a restaurant closed down two years ago, you lose all trust immediately," said Mindtrip Founder and CEO Andy Moss. That's why they, and Layla, also rely on human intelligence for recommendations.

Kim noted there are ongoing efforts to mitigate against hallucinations but suggested double-checking AI-generated answers.

“We want to make sure that that information is usable, that it's actionable. It's clear, it's repeatable,” said Will Healy, senior vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton , the largest provider of AI to the federal government. He heads up the company’s recreation work, including Recreaton.gov , the government’s central travel planning site for public lands like national parks. 

What can AI be used for?

Currently, most Recreation.gov visitors use progressive search to discover and book things like campsites, checking off boxes and reading information provided by the land manager. However, 25% of randomly selected users are being offered more personalized AI-powered options as part of a beta test with AI.

“What we're beta testing at the moment are things where you can say, ‘Hey, I've got three kids. This is our first time camping. We want to go some place that's fun. My kids love the water. We want to try hiking, and my youngest son likes fishing, but he's not very good at it,’ ” Healy said.

“If you were talking to somebody who knew everything about every campsite, then what answer would they give you? That's what we think artificial intelligence can do,” he added. “And it's not just the data that's in the system, but it's all of the reviews and blogs and everything's out there in the public domain that you can pull different pieces together, put together into a contextual answer.”

If AI is able to understand a traveler’s intent, Healy said it could also suggest alternative destinations or experiences if something a traveler wants is booked up or otherwise not available. He said it could also help make public lands more accessible to more people.

“If you have some sort of impairment – maybe it's sight, hearing, mobility, cognitive, whatever it is – that confidence level (outdoors) might go down, “Healy said. “We want to provide you the right information, so that you can get outside with as much confidence as possible and have an experience that matches your needs .”

Wall Street rallies after hiring shows welcome signs of cooling

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Wall Street capped a choppy week of trading Friday with the best day for the stock market in more than two months, as traders welcomed cooler-than-expected U.S. employment data as a sign that inflationary pressures on the economy are easing.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 rose 1.3%, its best day since late February. The benchmark index also erased its losses for the week.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 1.2%. The Nasdaq composite ended 2% higher, reflecting strong gains by technology sector stocks, which accounted for much of the rally.

The nation’s employers added 175,000 jobs last month, down sharply from the blockbuster increase of 315,000 in March, according to the Labor Department. The latest hiring tally came in well below the 233,000 gain that economists had predicted. Meanwhile, average hourly earnings, a key driver of inflation, rose less than expected.

The modest increase in hiring last month suggests the Federal Reserve’s aggressive streak of rate increases may be finally starting to take a bigger toll on the world’s largest economy. That may help reassure the Fed that inflation will ease further, which could move the central bank closer to lowering interest rates.

“The demand for labor is slowing, which will eventually ease inflation pressures, giving the Fed some leeway to cut rates later this year,” said Jeffrey Roach, chief economist at LPL Financial. “Slower payroll growth and fewer hours worked imply the economy is slowing at a measured pace. This jobs report is consistent with the soft landing narrative.”

Treasury yields in the bond market mostly fell after the jobs report. The yield on the 10-year Treasury, which lenders use as a guide for pricing home loans, eased to 4.5% from 4.59% late Thursday. The two-year yield, which moves more closely with expectations for the Fed, fell to 4.81% from 4.88%.

The U.S. economy is in a tight spot, where the hope is that it remains strong enough to stay out of a recession but not so strong that it worsens the already stalled progress on inflation. That is essentially the “soft landing” the Fed is hoping to achieve as it tries to cool the rate of inflation to its target of 2%. Inflation at the consumer level stood at 3.5% in March, far below the peak of 9.1% nearly two years ago.

Stubbornly high readings on inflation this year pushed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell to say on Wednesday that it will probably take “longer than previously expected” to get enough confidence about inflation cooling enough to warrant interest rate cuts.

“Some of this data coming out of the employment report dampens that narrative a little bit,” said Charlie Ripley, senior investment strategist at Allianz Investment Management. “They want to cut interest rates, but they need more confidence in the inflation data, and today’s wage data is a little bit more confidence for them.”

The Fed’s main interest rate has been sitting at its highest level since 2001, and cuts would release some pressure on the economy and financial markets.

The benchmark S&P 500 fell 4.2% in April, its first monthly loss since October, as signs of stubbornly high inflation forced traders to ratchet back expectations for when the Fed could begin easing interest rates.

After coming into the year forecasting six or more rate cuts in 2024, traders are now largely betting on just one or two, if any, according to data from CME Group.

Friday’s market rally was widespread, though technology stocks powered much of the gains. Apple jumped 6% after announcing a mammoth $110-billion stock buyback. The tech giant reported late Thursday its steepest quarterly decline in iPhone sales since the outset of the pandemic.

Microsoft rose 2.2% and Nvidia added 3.5%.

Several companies notched gains after reporting strong quarterly results.

Amgen climbed 11.8% after the biotechnology company gave investors an encouraging update on a potential obesity drug. Live Nation Entertainment added 7.2% after the ticket seller and concert promoter beat analysts’ first-quarter revenue forecasts.

Motorola Solutions closed 5.2% higher after the communications equipment maker raised its profit forecast for the year.

Booking Holdings rose 3% after reporting better-than-expected first-quarter bookings and revenue. Another online travel company, Expedia Group, didn’t fare as well, despite its latest quarterly results beating Wall Street targets. Its shares slumped 15.3% for the biggest decline among S&P 500 stocks after it lowered its full-year bookings guidance because its Vrbo rental unit has been slow to recover from its migration to Expedia’s platform.

All told, the S&P 500 rose 63.59 points to 5,127.79, while the Dow gained 450.02 points to 38,675.68. The Nasdaq gained 315.37 points to close at 16,156.33.

In Europe, Germany’s DAX gained 0.6%, the CAC 40 in Paris rose 0.5% and London’s FTSE 100 added 0.5%.

Markets in Tokyo and mainland China were closed for holidays. The Japanese yen strengthened slightly against the dollar.

Veiga and Troise write for the Associated Press.

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Apple, Amgen rise; Expedia, Fortinet fall, Friday, 5/3/2024

Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes Friday: Apple, Amgen rise; Expedia, Fortinet fall

NEW YORK -- Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes on Friday:

Apple Inc., up $10.35 to $183.38.

The iPhone maker increased its dividend and boosted its stock buyback program by $110 billion.

Amgen Inc., up $32.90 to $311.29.

The biotechnology company gave investors an encouraging update on a potential obesity drug.

Booking Holdings Inc., up $104.47 to $3,577.38.

The online booking service beat analysts' first-quarter earnings and revenue forecasts.

Expedia Group Inc., down $20.76 to $115.33.

The online travel company lowered its financial forecast for the year.

Block Inc., down 83 cents to $69.47.

The mobile payments services provider plans to use more of its bitcoin profits to invest in bitcoin purchases.

Fortinet Inc., down $6.32 to $58.88.

The network security company's first-quarter billings fell short of analysts' expectations.

Live Nation Entertainment Inc., up $6.39 to $94.66.

The ticket seller and concert promoter beat analysts’ first-quarter revenue forecasts.

Motorola Solutions Inc., up $17.46 to $353.70.

The communications equipment maker raised its profit forecast for the year.

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Apple, Amgen rise; Expedia, Fortinet fall, Friday, 5/3/2024

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NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes on Friday:

Apple Inc., up $10.35 to $183.38.

The iPhone maker increased its dividend and boosted its stock buyback program by $110 billion.

Amgen Inc., up $32.90 to $311.29.

The biotechnology company gave investors an encouraging update on a potential obesity drug.

Booking Holdings Inc., up $104.47 to $3,577.38.

The online booking service beat analysts’ first-quarter earnings and revenue forecasts.

Expedia Group Inc., down $20.76 to $115.33.

The online travel company lowered its financial forecast for the year.

Block Inc., down 83 cents to $69.47.

The mobile payments services provider plans to use more of its bitcoin profits to invest in bitcoin purchases.

Fortinet Inc., down $6.32 to $58.88.

The network security company’s first-quarter billings fell short of analysts’ expectations.

Live Nation Entertainment Inc., up $6.39 to $94.66.

The ticket seller and concert promoter beat analysts’ first-quarter revenue forecasts.

Motorola Solutions Inc., up $17.46 to $353.70.

The communications equipment maker raised its profit forecast for the year.