Quick Facts
Properties
4,000,000+
Countries
190+
Free Cancellation
Varies
Loyalty Program
No
Type
Aggregator
Our Ratings
Search
9.1
Pricing
8.5
Value
8.4
Support
7.3
Overall
8.5
Pros and Cons
Advantages
- Searches hundreds of booking sites for the best hotel rates
- Price forecast feature predicts whether rates will rise or fall
- Clean and fast interface with excellent filter options
- Hacker fares combine one-way flights from different airlines for savings
Drawbacks
- Does not handle bookings directly, requiring a redirect to another site
- No loyalty program or rewards for using the platform
Summary
Kayak is a meta-search engine owned by Booking Holdings that compares hotel, flight, and car rental prices across hundreds of booking sites. The platform does not process bookings directly but helps you find the best deal before redirecting to the provider. Its price forecast feature and clean design set it apart.
Search Experience
Kayak search is fast, clean, and well-designed. The hotel search pulls rates from hundreds of booking sites and displays them in a clear comparison format. Filters are comprehensive and include price, star rating, guest rating, amenities, and free cancellation. The price forecast tool uses historical data to predict whether rates will go up or down.
Pricing
As a meta-search engine, Kayak excels at surfacing the lowest available rate. The price comparison layout makes it easy to see which booking site offers the best deal. However, the listed price sometimes excludes taxes and fees that are added on the booking site, so the final cost can be higher than expected.
Features
Beyond hotels, Kayak searches flights, car rentals, and vacation packages. The "Explore" feature shows the cheapest destinations from your airport on a map. Hacker fares combine one-way flights from different airlines for lower total costs. The mobile app mirrors the desktop experience with push alerts for price changes.
Loyalty Program
Kayak does not have a loyalty program. The platform is a comparison tool, so all transactions happen on third-party sites. You can still earn loyalty points with whatever booking site or airline Kayak redirects you to.
Support
Kayak support is limited since it does not handle bookings. Issues with reservations must be resolved through the booking site that processed the transaction. Kayak provides a help center for platform-related questions like account issues and search problems.
Final Verdict
Kayak is an essential travel research tool that should be part of any hotel search workflow. The meta-search approach consistently finds rates you might miss by checking only one or two booking sites. The price forecast feature adds strategic value for flexible travelers. The main limitation is the extra step of completing your booking on another platform.