Uber is now helping you book a hotel. Here’s how it works


What began as a rideshare service has expanded into food delivery and even package returns – and now Uber is adding hotel bookings to its growing list of offerings.

The company launched the new feature Wednesday in partnership with Expedia Group during its annual GO–GET product event, allowing users to book hotel rooms directly in the app. With plans to grow to more than 700,000 properties worldwide, the platform will feel familiar to anyone who’s used a travel site, with filters organizing locations by price, ratings and amenities. Users can also browse options on a map, all without leaving the app.

Later this year, Uber plans to add VRBO vacation rentals to the app, giving users the option to book entire homes and apartments, too.

There are some built-in perks for Uber One members. Subscribers who pay $9.99 per month can earn 10 percent back in Uber credits on hotel bookings and get at least 20 percent off select stays at a rotating list of more than 10,000 hotels worldwide.

After booking, the hotel reservation appears right alongside Uber ride history. Travelers will also get push notifications ahead of check-in, offering discounted rides throughout their trip as the company evolves into what executives call an “everything app.”

Hotel bookings can now be made on the Uber app after the rideshare company added a new feature Wednesday in partnership with Expedia Group
Hotel bookings can now be made on the Uber app after the rideshare company added a new feature Wednesday in partnership with Expedia Group (Getty Images)
Uber expects to add Vrbo rentals to the platform later this year
Uber expects to add Vrbo rentals to the platform later this year (Uber)

“Uber is becoming an app for everything—helping people go, get, and now travel all in one place,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement. “We’re all living through a moment of real cognitive overload: too many apps, too many decisions, too much noise. At the end of the day, our job is to help people reclaim their time, spending less of it managing the logistics of life and more of it actually living.”

Early testing suggests it might actually save you some money. A Washington Post travel reporter found at least one case where a room booked through Uber came in slightly cheaper than the same listing on sites like Booking.com, Hotels.com and even the hotel’s own website.

However, there is one catch. Booking through Uber typically means users will not earn loyalty points with hotel chains, which could be a major downside for frequent travelers who rely on those rewards.



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