{"id":40496,"date":"2026-01-23T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/priceline-vs-expedia-comparison\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T19:29:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T18:29:06","slug":"priceline-vs-expedia-comparison","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/priceline-vs-expedia-comparison\/","title":{"rendered":"Priceline vs Expedia: Which Booking Site Actually Saves You More?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Priceline vs Expedia comes down to what you're booking. Priceline wins on hotels (especially with Express Deals), while Expedia edges ahead on flight prices and vacation bundles. Neither site is cheaper across the board, so the smartest move is checking both before you pay.<\/p><div id=\"relatedsearches1\" class=\"every-content-2\" style=\"height: 450px;\"><script>console.log(\"RSOC loading..\");<\/script>\r\n<!-- Initialize Google CSA object - Required for ad functionality -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" charset=\"utf-8\">\r\n\t(function(g,o){g[o]=g[o]||function(){(g[o]['q']=g[o]['q']||[]).push(\r\n\t\targuments)},g[o]['t']=1*new Date})(window,'_googCsa');\r\n<\/script><\/div><style>\r\n  #relatedsearches1,\r\n  #relatedsearches2 {\r\n    \/* Base container styles - final appearance *\/\r\n    margin-bottom: 20px;\r\n    padding: 15px;\r\n    background-color: #111827; \/* Final background color (gray-900) *\/\r\n    border-radius: 8px;\r\n    min-height: 250px; \/* Restore a reasonable min-height *\/\r\n    box-sizing: border-box;\r\n    overflow: hidden;\r\n    position: relative; \/* Needed to contain the absolute overlay *\/\r\n  }\r\n\r\n  \/* REMOVED .skeleton-active styles *\/\r\n\r\n  .skeleton-overlay {\r\n    position: absolute;\r\n    inset: 0; \/* Cover parent *\/\r\n    z-index: 10; \/* Ensure it's on top *\/\r\n    pointer-events: none; \/* Prevent interaction *\/\r\n    border-radius: 8px; \/* Match parent *\/\r\n\r\n    \/* --- Skeleton visuals applied directly to the overlay --- *\/\r\n    --skeleton-bar-height: 35px;\r\n    --skeleton-gap-height: 15px;\r\n    --skeleton-unit-height: calc(var(--skeleton-bar-height) + var(--skeleton-gap-height));\r\n    --skeleton-padding: 15px;\r\n    --skeleton-bar-color: #374151; \/* gray-700 *\/\r\n    --skeleton-bg-color: #1f2937;  \/* gray-800 *\/\r\n    --skeleton-shimmer-color: rgba(52, 211, 153, 0.1); \/* emerald-400 10% *\/\r\n\r\n    background-color: var(--skeleton-bg-color);\r\n    background-image:\r\n      linear-gradient(to right, transparent, var(--skeleton-shimmer-color), transparent),\r\n      linear-gradient(var(--skeleton-bar-color) var(--skeleton-bar-height), transparent 0);\r\n    background-size:\r\n      200% var(--skeleton-bar-height),\r\n      calc(100% - (2 * var(--skeleton-padding))) var(--skeleton-unit-height);\r\n    background-repeat: repeat-y;\r\n    background-position:\r\n      calc(-200% + var(--skeleton-padding)) var(--skeleton-padding),\r\n      var(--skeleton-padding) var(--skeleton-padding);\r\n    animation: shimmer 1.5s infinite linear;\r\n    \/* --- End Skeleton Visuals --- *\/\r\n\r\n    \/* --- Visibility Control --- *\/\r\n    opacity: 0;\r\n    transition: opacity 0.3s ease-out;\r\n  }\r\n\r\n  .skeleton-overlay.skeleton-visible {\r\n    opacity: 1;\r\n  }\r\n\r\n  @keyframes shimmer {\r\n    to {\r\n       background-position:\r\n        calc(200% + var(--skeleton-padding)) var(--skeleton-padding),\r\n        var(--skeleton-padding) var(--skeleton-padding);\r\n    }\r\n  }\r\n\r\n  \/* No longer need rules for .skeleton-loading class or :empty *\/\r\n\r\n<\/style>\n\n\n\n<p>We ran side-by-side searches on both sites for flights, hotels, rental cars, and bundles across 20+ routes and dates. Here's where each one actually saved <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wy8j\" title=\"Quicken\" class=\"pretty-link-keyword\"rel=\"nofollow sponsored \" target=\"_blank\">money<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Quick Verdict<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\n<table class=\"has-fixed-layout\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Category<\/th>\n<th>Winner<\/th>\n<th>Typical Savings<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Hotels (standard booking)<\/td>\n<td>Priceline<\/td>\n<td>5-15% cheaper<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Hotels (opaque\/Express Deals)<\/td>\n<td>Priceline<\/td>\n<td>20-40% cheaper<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Domestic flights<\/td>\n<td>Expedia (slight edge)<\/td>\n<td>$5-20 cheaper<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>International flights<\/td>\n<td>Tie<\/td>\n<td>Within $10 usually<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Rental cars<\/td>\n<td>Priceline<\/td>\n<td>5-10% cheaper<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Vacation bundles<\/td>\n<td>Expedia<\/td>\n<td>$50-200 cheaper<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Loyalty rewards<\/td>\n<td>Expedia<\/td>\n<td>Better earn rate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Customer support<\/td>\n<td>Expedia<\/td>\n<td>More responsive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Results based on 20+ comparison searches across both platforms in January 2026.<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>That table tells the short story. But the real differences show up in the details, and knowing a few tricks on each site can save you a lot more than just picking one over the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hotel Prices: Priceline Has the Edge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1376\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/priceline-vs-expedia-comparison-inline-1.webp\" alt=\"Overhead view of a desk with a laptop showing a travel booking website, notebook, pen, and tea\" class=\"wp-image-40661\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/priceline-vs-expedia-comparison-inline-1.webp 1376w, https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/priceline-vs-expedia-comparison-inline-1-300x167.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/priceline-vs-expedia-comparison-inline-1-1024x572.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/priceline-vs-expedia-comparison-inline-1-768x429.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1376px) 100vw, 1376px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For standard hotel bookings (where you see the hotel name and pick your room), Priceline consistently showed lower prices. Across our tests, Priceline was 5-15% cheaper on the same room at the same hotel for the same dates. Not every time, but more often than not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The bigger gap comes from Priceline's Express Deals. You pick a neighborhood, star rating, and guest rating. Priceline shows you the price but hides the hotel name until after you book. It's non-refundable, but the discounts are real. We saw 4-star hotels in Chicago for $89\/night that were listed at $149 on Expedia for the same dates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Expedia fights back with member-only prices. Sign up for a free account and many hotels show a &#8220;member price&#8221; that's 10-15% off the listed rate. This closes the gap with Priceline's standard prices, but it still doesn't match Express Deals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want a specific hotel and you need free cancellation, check both and go with whoever's cheaper that day. If you're flexible on which hotel and just want a good deal, Priceline's Express Deals are hard to beat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Flights: Expedia Wins by a Hair<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Flight prices were close. Really close. On most routes we tested, the difference was under $10 each way. Both sites pull from the same airline inventory, so the base fares are usually identical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Where Expedia pulled ahead: domestic round-trips. Expedia's bundled pricing sometimes beat Priceline by $15-20 on popular routes like New York to Miami or LA to Denver. It wasn't consistent enough to call it a rule, but Expedia had the lower price more often than Priceline did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>International flights were basically a tie. Both sites showed the same fares from the same airlines within a few dollars. On a $900 round-trip to London, a $5 difference doesn't matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One thing to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/w0di\" title=\"Invicta Stores\" class=\"pretty-link-keyword\"rel=\"nofollow sponsored \" target=\"_blank\">watch<\/a>: service fees. Both sites sometimes tack on a booking fee for certain airlines or fare classes. Priceline was more transparent about showing these upfront. Expedia sometimes revealed the fee later in checkout, which is annoying. Always check the final price before you enter your credit card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vacation Bundles: Expedia Pulls Away<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1376\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/priceline-vs-expedia-comparison-inline-2.webp\" alt=\"Couple walking through a bright modern airport terminal with carry-on luggage, large windows showing planes\" class=\"wp-image-40669\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/priceline-vs-expedia-comparison-inline-2.webp 1376w, https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/priceline-vs-expedia-comparison-inline-2-300x167.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/priceline-vs-expedia-comparison-inline-2-1024x572.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/priceline-vs-expedia-comparison-inline-2-768x429.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1376px) 100vw, 1376px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you're booking a flight and hotel together, Expedia is the clear winner. Expedia's bundle pricing was consistently $50-200 cheaper than booking the same flight and hotel separately on either site. Priceline offers bundles too, but the discounts were smaller in every test we ran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Expedia also gives you more control over your bundle. You can mix and match different hotels with different flights and see the total price update in real time. Priceline's bundle tool felt clunkier and showed fewer hotel options for the same destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For a week-long trip where you need both flights and a hotel, start with Expedia's bundle tool. Then check if Priceline's Express Deals on just the hotel portion could beat Expedia's combined price. Sometimes booking the flight on Expedia and the hotel on Priceline separately still comes out cheaper than any bundle.<\/p><div id=\"every-1857571774\" class=\"every-content-4\"><div class='content_4' style='min-width: 300px; min-height: 250px;'>\r\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rental Cars: Priceline Wins Again<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Priceline showed lower rental <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/2qgg\" title=\"Car Covers\" class=\"pretty-link-keyword\"rel=\"nofollow sponsored \" target=\"_blank\">car<\/a> prices in most of our searches. The difference was typically 5-10%, which adds up on a week-long rental. On a compact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/2qgg\" title=\"Car Covers\" class=\"pretty-link-keyword\"rel=\"nofollow sponsored \" target=\"_blank\">car<\/a> in Orlando for seven days, Priceline quoted $287 vs. Expedia's $312 for the same <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/2qgg\" title=\"Car Covers\" class=\"pretty-link-keyword\"rel=\"nofollow sponsored \" target=\"_blank\">car<\/a> class from the same rental company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Priceline also has opaque rental <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/2qgg\" title=\"Car Covers\" class=\"pretty-link-keyword\"rel=\"nofollow sponsored \" target=\"_blank\">car<\/a> deals (similar to Express Deals for hotels). You pick the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/2qgg\" title=\"Car Covers\" class=\"pretty-link-keyword\"rel=\"nofollow sponsored \" target=\"_blank\">car<\/a> class and airport, but don't see the rental company until after booking. These prices were 15-25% below Expedia's standard rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One catch: Priceline's cheapest rental <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/2qgg\" title=\"Car Covers\" class=\"pretty-link-keyword\"rel=\"nofollow sponsored \" target=\"_blank\">car<\/a> deals are prepaid and non-refundable. If your plans might change, the flexibility of Expedia's free-cancellation rates could be worth the extra cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Loyalty Programs Compared<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Both sites have loyalty programs, but they work differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\n<table class=\"has-fixed-layout\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Feature<\/th>\n<th>Priceline VIP<\/th>\n<th>Expedia One Key<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Cost<\/td>\n<td>Free<\/td>\n<td>Free<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Earn rate<\/td>\n<td>Discounts up to 50% off (no points)<\/td>\n<td>2% back on hotels, 0.2% on flights<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Perks<\/td>\n<td>VIP prices on select hotels<\/td>\n<td>OneKeyCash for future bookings<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Tier levels<\/td>\n<td>Member, Blue, Gold, Platinum<\/td>\n<td>Blue, Silver, Gold, Platinum<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Hotel upgrades<\/td>\n<td>No<\/td>\n<td>Yes (Gold\/Platinum at VIP Access hotels)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Works across brands<\/td>\n<td>Priceline only<\/td>\n<td>Expedia, Hotels.com, Vrbo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Expedia's One Key program is stronger for frequent travelers. You earn OneKeyCash on every booking, and it works across Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo. If you book travel a few times a year, those rewards add up to a free night or a discounted flight over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Priceline's VIP program focuses on discounts instead of points. You climb four tiers (Member, Blue, Gold, Platinum) by completing trips, and higher tiers unlock bigger hotel discounts and Express Deal coupons. It's straightforward, but it doesn't give you redeemable currency the way One Key does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cancellation Policies and Customer Support<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where Expedia has a clear advantage. Expedia offers free cancellation on most hotel bookings up to 24-48 hours before check-in. Their customer support is available 24\/7 by phone, chat, and email. Response times in our experience were under 10 minutes on chat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Priceline's standard bookings also offer free cancellation on many hotels, but their best prices (Express Deals, opaque bookings) are non-refundable. If something goes wrong, you're stuck. Priceline's customer support exists, but reviews are mixed. Wait times tend to be longer, and getting a refund on a non-refundable booking takes persistence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If flexibility matters to you (and it should, because travel plans change), factor this into your price comparison. A hotel that's $20 cheaper on Priceline but non-refundable isn't actually a better deal if there's any chance you might cancel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Get the Best Price on Either Site<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>No matter which site you pick, a few habits save <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wy8j\" title=\"Quicken\" class=\"pretty-link-keyword\"rel=\"nofollow sponsored \" target=\"_blank\">money<\/a> every time:<\/p><div id=\"relatedsearches2\" class=\"every-content-5\"><script>console.log(\"RSOC bottom loading..\");<\/script>\r\n<\/div><script type=\"text\/javascript\" charset=\"utf-8\">\r\n    console.log('[DEBUG] Ad script block started');\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Debug function to log important events and states\r\n    function debugLog(type, message, data = null) {\r\n        const timestamp = new Date().toISOString();\r\n        console.log(`[${timestamp}] [${type}]`, message);\r\n        if (data) {\r\n            console.log('Debug data:', data);\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Validate required parameters before initialization\r\n    function validateConfig(config) {\r\n        const required = ['pubId', 'styleId', 'relatedSearchTargeting', 'resultsPageBaseUrl'];\r\n        const missing = required.filter(param => !config[param]);\r\n        \r\n        if (missing.length > 0) {\r\n            throw new Error(`Missing required parameters: ${missing.join(', ')}`);\r\n        }\r\n        \r\n        if (config.relatedSearchTargeting !== 'content' && config.relatedSearchTargeting !== 'query') {\r\n            throw new Error('relatedSearchTargeting must be either \"content\" or \"query\"');\r\n        }\r\n        \r\n        return true;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Enhanced URL parameter parsing function with title fallback for referrerAdCreative\r\n    function getUrlParameter(name, defaultValue = '') {\r\n        try {\r\n            const urlParams = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search);\r\n            const value = urlParams.get(name);\r\n            \r\n            \/\/ Special handling for referrerAdCreative\r\n            if (name === 'referrerAdCreative' && !value) {\r\n                let siteTitle = document.title || defaultValue;\r\n                \r\n                \/\/ Clean up the site title if needed\r\n                if (siteTitle !== defaultValue) {\r\n                    siteTitle = siteTitle.replace(' \u2013 Everyday Guide \u2013 Your Source of Information for Daily Topics!', '').trim();\r\n                    debugLog('WARNING', 'Using modified page title as fallback for referrerAdCreative', {\r\n                        originalTitle: document.title,\r\n                        cleanedTitle: siteTitle,\r\n                        source: 'document.title'\r\n                    });\r\n                    return siteTitle;\r\n                }\r\n            }\r\n            \r\n            return value ? decodeURIComponent(value) : defaultValue;\r\n        } catch (error) {\r\n            debugLog('ERROR', `Failed to parse URL parameter: ${name}`, error);\r\n            return defaultValue;\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Add tracking domain and CID handling with validation\r\n    function getTrackingParams() {\r\n        const trackingDomain = getUrlParameter('td', '');\r\n        const cid = getUrlParameter('cid', '');\r\n        \r\n        \/\/ Only validate if tracking domain is provided\r\n        if (trackingDomain && !trackingDomain.match(\/^[a-zA-Z0-9.-]+\\.[a-zA-Z]{2,}$\/)) {\r\n            debugLog('WARNING', 'Invalid tracking domain format', {\r\n                provided: trackingDomain\r\n            });\r\n            return {\r\n                trackingDomain: '',\r\n                cid: cid\r\n            };\r\n        }\r\n        \r\n        return {\r\n            trackingDomain: trackingDomain,\r\n            cid: cid\r\n        };\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    const { trackingDomain, cid } = getTrackingParams();\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Get parameters from URL with defaults\r\n    const urlStyleId = getUrlParameter('styleid', '9024836547');\r\n    const urlTerms = getUrlParameter('terms', '');\r\n    const urlChannel = getUrlParameter('channel', '2273637055'); \/\/ edg 1871989443\r\n    const urlAdTitle = getUrlParameter('adtitle', '');\r\n    const urlCpid = getUrlParameter('cpid', '');\r\n    const urlOid = getUrlParameter('oid', '');\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Set tracking IDs immediately at script start, before any async operations\r\n    \/\/ Only call set_tracking_ids if it exists (tracker.js has initialized)\r\n    try {\r\n        \/\/ Debug tracker state\r\n        const trackerState = window._trackerInternalState || {};\r\n        const hasTrackerFunction = typeof window.set_tracking_ids === 'function';\r\n        const sessionData = sessionStorage.getItem('ctrkr_click_data');\r\n        let parsedSessionData = null;\r\n        try { parsedSessionData = sessionData ? JSON.parse(sessionData) : null; } catch(e) {}\r\n        \r\n        debugLog('TRACKING_DEBUG', 'Tracker state before setting IDs', {\r\n            trackerInitialized: trackerState.ready === true,\r\n            hasSetTrackingFunction: hasTrackerFunction,\r\n            hasSessionStorage: !!sessionStorage,\r\n            hasSessionData: !!sessionData,\r\n            clickId: parsedSessionData?.clickId,\r\n            existingParams: parsedSessionData?.adParams\r\n        });\r\n        \r\n        if (hasTrackerFunction) {\r\n            window.set_tracking_ids({\r\n                ad_client_id: \"partner-pub-9681717277196944\", \/\/ Your AdSense publisher ID\r\n                style_id: urlStyleId,\r\n                channel_id: urlChannel\r\n            });\r\n            \r\n            \/\/ Check if the params were actually set\r\n            setTimeout(() => {\r\n                try {\r\n                    const afterSessionData = sessionStorage.getItem('ctrkr_click_data');\r\n                    let afterParsedData = null;\r\n                    try { afterParsedData = afterSessionData ? 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JSON.parse(eventSessionData) : null; } catch(e) {}\r\n                        \r\n                        debugLog('TRACKING_EVENT', 'State before ad_view event', {\r\n                            hasSessionData: !!eventSessionData,\r\n                            clickId: eventParsedData?.clickId,\r\n                            params: eventParsedData?.adParams\r\n                        });\r\n                    } catch (e) {\r\n                        debugLog('TRACKING_ERROR', 'Error checking session before event', e);\r\n                    }\r\n                    \r\n                    \/\/ Send tracking event using new API with parameters as fallback\r\n                    window.track_event('ad_view', {});\r\n                    \/\/ Track Facebook Pixel ViewContent event\r\n                    fbq('track', 'ViewContent');\r\n                    \r\n                    \/\/ Log terms and their positions if available\r\n                    if (callbackOptions && callbackOptions.termPositions) {\r\n                        console.log('Related Search Terms:', Object.keys(callbackOptions.termPositions));\r\n                        console.log('Term Positions:', callbackOptions.termPositions);\r\n                    }\r\n                    \r\n                    \/\/ Log container dimensions for debugging layout issues\r\n                    const rect = container.getBoundingClientRect();\r\n                    debugLog('LAYOUT', 'Container dimensions', {\r\n                        width: rect.width,\r\n                        height: rect.height,\r\n                        visible: rect.height > 0\r\n                    });\r\n                } else {\r\n                    debugLog('WARNING', 'No related searches available');\r\n                    container.style.display = 'none';\r\n                    \/\/ Remove legacy tracking call\r\n                    \/\/ window.trackEvent('noresult');\r\n                    \/\/ Debug tracking state before sending event\r\n                    try {\r\n                        const eventSessionData = sessionStorage.getItem('ctrkr_click_data');\r\n                        let eventParsedData = null;\r\n                        try { eventParsedData = eventSessionData ? JSON.parse(eventSessionData) : null; } catch(e) {}\r\n                        \r\n                        debugLog('TRACKING_EVENT', 'State before no_result event', {\r\n                            hasSessionData: !!eventSessionData,\r\n                            clickId: eventParsedData?.clickId,\r\n                            params: eventParsedData?.adParams\r\n                        });\r\n                    } catch (e) {\r\n                        debugLog('TRACKING_ERROR', 'Error checking session before event', e);\r\n                    }\r\n                    \r\n                    \/\/ Send tracking event using new API with parameters as fallback\r\n                    window.track_event('rsoc_not_monetized', {});\r\n                    \r\n                    \/\/ Log possible reasons for no results\r\n                    debugLog('DEBUG', 'Checking possible issues', {\r\n                        url: window.location.href,\r\n                        containerExists: !!container,\r\n                        containerVisible: container.offsetParent !== null,\r\n                        pageContent: document.body.textContent.length\r\n                    });\r\n                }\r\n            } catch (error) {\r\n                debugLog('ERROR', 'Error in callback', {\r\n                    message: error.message,\r\n                    stack: error.stack\r\n                });\r\n            }\r\n        }\r\n    };\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Configuration for the related searches containers\r\n    const rsblock1 = {\r\n        \/\/ Required Parameters\r\n        \"container\": \"relatedsearches1\",\r\n        \"width\": 700,\r\n        \r\n        \/\/ Optional Parameters\r\n        \"relatedSearches\": 6,\r\n        \r\n        \/\/ Reference to the callback in pageOptions\r\n        \"adLoadedCallback\": pageOptions.adLoadedCallback\r\n    };\r\n\r\n    const rsblock2 = {\r\n        \/\/ Required Parameters\r\n        \"container\": \"relatedsearches2\",\r\n        \"width\": 700,\r\n        \r\n        \/\/ Optional Parameters\r\n        \"relatedSearches\": 6,\r\n        \r\n        \/\/ Reference to the callback in pageOptions\r\n        \"adLoadedCallback\": pageOptions.adLoadedCallback\r\n    };\r\n\r\n    \/\/ --- Ad Initialization Logic ---\r\n\r\n    let adsInitialized = false;\r\n    const AD_INIT_TIMEOUT = 2500; \/\/ Timeout in milliseconds (e.g., 2.5 seconds)\r\n    let initTimeoutId = null;\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Function to inject skeleton overlay SYNCHRONOUSLY\r\n    function injectSkeletonOverlay(containerId) {\r\n        const container = document.getElementById(containerId);\r\n        if (container) {\r\n            if (!container.querySelector('.skeleton-overlay')) {\r\n                const overlay = document.createElement('div');\r\n                overlay.className = 'skeleton-overlay skeleton-visible';\r\n                container.appendChild(overlay);\r\n                debugLog('SKELETON', `Injected overlay into ${containerId}`);\r\n            } else {\r\n                debugLog('SKELETON', `Overlay already exists in ${containerId}`);\r\n            }\r\n        } else {\r\n            debugLog('WARNING', `Container ${containerId} not found for overlay injection.`);\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Function to hide skeletons if initialization fails\r\n    function hideSkeletonsOnError() {\r\n        ['relatedsearches1', 'relatedsearches2'].forEach(containerId => {\r\n            const container = document.getElementById(containerId);\r\n            const overlay = container?.querySelector('.skeleton-overlay.skeleton-visible');\r\n            if (overlay) {\r\n                overlay.classList.remove('skeleton-visible');\r\n                \/\/ Optionally remove after fade, but maybe just hide on error\r\n                debugLog('SKELETON', `Hiding overlay in ${containerId} due to init error.`);\r\n            }\r\n            \/\/ Also hide the main container if ads fail to load\r\n            if(container) container.style.display = 'none';\r\n        });\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Main function to initialize Google CSA ads\r\n    function initializeGoogleAds() {\r\n        if (adsInitialized) return; \/\/ Prevent double initialization\r\n        adsInitialized = true;\r\n        clearTimeout(initTimeoutId); \/\/ Clear the timeout if event fired\r\n        debugLog('ADS_INIT', 'Proceeding with _googCsa initialization.');\r\n\r\n        injectSkeletonOverlay('relatedsearches1');\r\n        injectSkeletonOverlay('relatedsearches2');\r\n\r\n        \/\/ Re-evaluate tracking params based on the final state from event-tracker.js\r\n        const trackerState = window._trackerInternalState || {};\r\n        const finalCid = trackerState.clickId || getUrlParameter('cid', ''); \/\/ Use state's CID or fallback to original URL param\r\n        \/\/ Note: Tracking domain (td) is primarily used by event-tracker, but include if needed for URL construction\r\n        const finalTd = (trackerState.trackingMethod === 'redirect' ? trackerState.domain : null) || getUrlParameter('td', ''); \/\/ Get TD if redirect, else fallback\r\n        \r\n        \/\/ Tracking IDs already set at the beginning of script\r\n\r\n        \/\/ Re-construct the results URL using the potentially updated CID\/TD\r\n        pageOptions.resultsPageBaseUrl = BASE_RESULTS_URL;\r\n        debugLog('ADS_INIT', 'Final resultsPageBaseUrl:', { url: pageOptions.resultsPageBaseUrl });\r\n\r\n        \/\/ Add referrerAdCreative only if urlAdTitle has a value (moved here to be part of final options)\r\n        if (urlAdTitle) {\r\n            pageOptions.referrerAdCreative = urlAdTitle;\r\n            debugLog('INFO', 'referrerAdCreative parameter included in configuration', { referrerAdCreative: urlAdTitle });\r\n        } else {\r\n            delete pageOptions.referrerAdCreative;\r\n            debugLog('INFO', 'No referrerAdCreative parameter provided, removed from configuration');\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        \/\/ Add terms if provided (moved here)\r\n        if (urlTerms) {\r\n            pageOptions.terms = urlTerms;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        \/\/ Update ignoredPageParams (moved here)\r\n        pageOptions.ignoredPageParams = Array.from(new URLSearchParams(location.search).keys()).join(', ');\r\n\r\n        \/\/ Debug log all parameters before initialization\r\n        debugLog('PARAMS', 'Page Options Configuration:', {\r\n            \/\/ Required Parameters\r\n            pubId: pageOptions.pubId,\r\n            styleId: pageOptions.styleId,\r\n            relatedSearchTargeting: pageOptions.relatedSearchTargeting,\r\n            resultsPageBaseUrl: pageOptions.resultsPageBaseUrl,\r\n            resultsPageQueryParam: pageOptions.resultsPageQueryParam,\r\n            referrerAdCreative: pageOptions.referrerAdCreative,\r\n            \r\n            \/\/ Optional Parameters\r\n            terms: pageOptions.terms || '(not set)',\r\n            maxTermLength: pageOptions.maxTermLength,\r\n            linkTarget: pageOptions.linkTarget,\r\n            \r\n            \/\/ Safety and Filtering\r\n            adsafe: pageOptions.adsafe,\r\n            adtest: pageOptions.adtest,\r\n            ivt: pageOptions.ivt,\r\n            \r\n            \/\/ Language and Encoding\r\n            hl: pageOptions.hl,\r\n            \r\n            \/\/ Tracking and Analytics\r\n            channel: pageOptions.channel,\r\n            \r\n            \/\/ Container Configurations\r\n            containerSettings: {\r\n                block1: {\r\n                    container: rsblock1.container,\r\n                    width: rsblock1.width,\r\n                    relatedSearches: rsblock1.relatedSearches\r\n                },\r\n                block2: {\r\n                    container: rsblock2.container,\r\n                    width: rsblock2.width,\r\n                    relatedSearches: rsblock2.relatedSearches\r\n                }\r\n            }\r\n        });\r\n\r\n        \/\/ --- Call Google CSA ---\r\n        try {\r\n            verifyScriptLoading(); \/\/ Verify dependent scripts\r\n            validateConfig(pageOptions); \/\/ Validate final config\r\n\r\n            \/\/ Log the final pageOptions before initialization\r\n            console.log('[DEBUG] Final pageOptions just before _googCsa:', JSON.stringify(pageOptions, null, 2));\r\n\r\n            _googCsa('relatedsearch', pageOptions, rsblock1, rsblock2);\r\n            debugLog('ADS_INIT', '_googCsa called successfully.');\r\n\r\n        } catch (error) {\r\n            console.error('[ERROR] Google CSA Initialization Failed!', error);\r\n            debugLog('ERROR', 'Google CSA Initialization failed', {\r\n                message: error.message,\r\n                stack: error.stack\r\n            });\r\n            \/\/ Hide skeletons and containers on error\r\n            hideSkeletonsOnError();\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    \/\/ --- Event Listener and Timeout --- \r\n\r\n    \/\/ Check if tracker is already ready *before* setting up listener\/timeout\r\n    if (window._trackerInternalState?.ready) {\r\n        debugLog('ADS_INIT', 'Tracker was already ready. Initializing ads immediately.');\r\n        initializeGoogleAds();\r\n    } else {\r\n        debugLog('ADS_INIT', 'Tracker not ready yet. Setting up listener and timeout.');\r\n\r\n        \/\/ Listener for the tracker signal\r\n        const trackerListener = (event) => {\r\n            debugLog('ADS_INIT', 'Received trackerInitialized event', event.detail);\r\n            window.removeEventListener('trackerInitialized', trackerListener); \/\/ Clean up listener\r\n            initializeGoogleAds();\r\n        };\r\n        window.addEventListener('trackerInitialized', trackerListener);\r\n\r\n        \/\/ Timeout fallback: Initialize ads if the tracker event doesn't arrive promptly\r\n        initTimeoutId = setTimeout(() => {\r\n            debugLog('ADS_INIT', `Timeout waiting for trackerInitialized event after ${AD_INIT_TIMEOUT}ms. Proceeding.`);\r\n            window.removeEventListener('trackerInitialized', trackerListener); \/\/ Clean up listener if timeout fires first\r\n            initializeGoogleAds();\r\n        }, AD_INIT_TIMEOUT);\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Add script loading verification\r\n    function verifyScriptLoading() {\r\n        debugLog('SCRIPT', 'Entering verifyScriptLoading');\r\n        debugLog('SCRIPT', 'Checking script loading status', {\r\n            adsScriptLoaded: !!document.querySelector('script[src*=\"ads.js\"]'),\r\n            googCsaAvailable: typeof _googCsa === 'function'\r\n        });\r\n        debugLog('SCRIPT', 'Exiting verifyScriptLoading');\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    \/\/ --- Modify constructUrlWithTracking to accept parameters --- \r\n    \/\/ (Keep the original getTrackingParams for initial values if needed elsewhere, or remove if redundant)\r\n    function constructUrlWithTracking(baseUrl, cid, td, styleid, channel) {\r\n        try {\r\n            const url = new URL(baseUrl);\r\n            \/\/ Add parameters if they exist\r\n            if (td) url.searchParams.set('td', td);\r\n            if (cid) url.searchParams.set('cid', cid);\r\n            if (styleid) url.searchParams.set('styleid', styleid);\r\n            if (channel) url.searchParams.set('channel', channel);\r\n            return url.toString();\r\n        } catch (error) {\r\n            debugLog('ERROR', 'Failed to construct results page URL with tracking parameters', {\r\n                baseUrl,\r\n                error: error.message\r\n            });\r\n            return baseUrl;\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li>Search in a private\/incognito browser window. Both sites have been known to nudge prices up for repeat searchers.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Book 2-3 weeks before your trip for domestic hotels and flights. Last-minute deals exist, but the average traveler gets better prices with some lead time.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Check both sites on Tuesday or Wednesday. Airline sales often drop midweek, and hotel inventory updates after the weekend rush.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Sign up for free accounts on both. Member pricing is real on Expedia, and Priceline shows VIP rates to logged-in users.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Compare the total price, not the nightly rate. Taxes, resort fees, and service charges vary between sites for the same hotel.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Bottom Line: Use Both<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There's no single winner here. Priceline is your best bet for hotels (especially Express Deals) and rental cars. Expedia wins on bundles, loyalty rewards, and customer support. Flights are too close to call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The best strategy takes about five extra minutes: search Expedia first for your full trip. Then check Priceline for just the hotel and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/2qgg\" title=\"Car Covers\" class=\"pretty-link-keyword\"rel=\"nofollow sponsored \" target=\"_blank\">car<\/a> portions. Mix and match to build the cheapest combination. That's how you actually save the most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wy8j\" title=\"Quicken\" class=\"pretty-link-keyword\"rel=\"nofollow sponsored \" target=\"_blank\">money<\/a>, instead of being loyal to one site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Start your next trip search by pulling up both sites side by side. Check the total price on each (not just the nightly rate), and book the pieces where each site wins.<\/p>\n      <div class=\"prli-link-to-disclosures\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/disclaimer\/\">(*)This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thanks.<\/a>\n      <\/div>\n      ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We compared prices across flights, hotels, and bundles. Priceline wins on hotels. Expedia wins on bundles. Here&#8217;s the full breakdown.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":40485,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40496","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40496","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40496"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40496\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40670,"href":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40496\/revisions\/40670"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40485"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40496"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40496"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40496"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}