Groupon merges with Expedia for Getaways, cuts hotel fares in half

Groupon is the best thing to happen to socialites looking to enjoy the city without paying baller bills as it now merges with Expedia to offer daily travel deals.

Expedia has long been the go to site for travelers to compare airline fares and book the best hotel rooms for less. Travelers on a budget typically book their vacations in packages or according to plane ticket prices. The merge between Groupon and Expedia for discounted hotel fares takes the bit out of peak travel airfare rates particularly for those who want to escape with their passports in the summer on a bargain.

Together, Groupon and Expedia are slashing hotel fares in half with its hotel fare coupons. Suddenly, vacation and travel getaways will get a little cheaper. This is great news for travelers and just as good news for travel retailers and the travel industry.

Groupon and Expedia’s “Groupon Getaways” works the same way Groupon does. Interested vacation travelers sign up to the email list and receive deals in their email.

Currently, Groupon Getaways only offer discounted hotel fares at various destinations and tourist locales around the globe. The discounts begin in later this month, but Groupon Getaways has already enabled its mailing list. Only US and Canadian residents are eligible for the Groupon Getaway discounts. There are plans to expand Groupon Getaways to other countries outside of the US. For now, the 135,000 hotels in Expedia’s database are potential sites available for as much as 50 percent off in during the sale purchase period.

Groupon has 50 million subscribers and the collaboration with Expedia gives travelers the freedom to choose when they want to travel as long as coupons are redeemed before the expiration date.

Peak season air travel is often double the cost as traveling during the off season. Groupon Getaways could entice travelers to travel more during peak seasons where they’ll get discounts for room and board rather than airfare.

In the future, a blog in the New York Times reports, Groupon Getaways will indeed add air flight discounts to subscribers. The Groupon and Expedia discount merger will also add travel deals on cruises, car rentals, airline tickets and package deals.

Groupon was hailed as the fasting growing company ever and the Expedia merger makes Groupon a little bigger. The discounts offered between the two are described as “steep.”

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