Despegar

Despegar: Latin America’s #1 Travel Marketplace

Despegar (formerly Despegar.com) is the region’s top-tier online travel technology company, offering travelers a seamless, one-stop platform to search, compare, plan, and book travel from flights and hotels to vacation rentals, rental cars, cruises, and complete packages.

A History of Development and Innovation

Despegar was the first online booking company in Latin America when it was founded in Buenos Aires in 1999 and swiftly spread throughout the continent.
The World Economic Forum on Wikipedia

Sales of airline tickets were among its initial offers; by 2012, hotel reservations, rental car reservations, cruise reservations, vacation packages, and mobile app options had followed.
Wikipedia

Strategic acquisitions, including the 2020 purchase of Best Day, a Mexican company, helped the business expand and fortify its position in Mexico under regional trademarks like HotelDo and Best Day.

Extensive Network and Regional Reach

Despegar operates across 20+ countries, providing access to:

• Over 256 airlines,

• 734,500 hotels,

• 766,500 vacation rentals,

• More than 190 car rental agencies globally. investor.despegar.com+1
  Its main brand, Decolar, dominates Brazil—accounting for nearly 60% of total sales. Wikipedia

User-Friendly Platform and Tech Focus

• The award-winning mobile app has recorded over 60 million cumulative downloads (as of Dec 2021) and handles roughly 80% of visits and more than half of transactions. investor.despegar.com

• Despegar offers flexible payment solutions tailored to Latin American consumers, addressing regional needs where traditional payment methods may be limited. investor.despegar.comGlobalData

Backed by Strong Investment and Strategic Ownership

• In December 2024, Prosus NV—a Dutch tech investment giant—announced a $1.7 billion acquisition of Despegar, reflecting a 33% premium on its stock and is expected to be finalized in Q2 2025. Reuters

• Despegar is also controlled by major global investors, including Tiger Global, and has benefited from capital and strategic support over the years. WikipediaGlobalData

Customer Experience: Pros and Cons

Advantages

• Travelers appreciate Despegar’s convenience and bundled deals. As one Reddit user noted:

  “When you buy a flight and a hotel together, you get discounts on both… similar to buying a McDonald’s combo.” Reddit

• Flexible payments and promotional offers are often highlighted positively:

  “The advantage is having more months without interest… plus it lets you compare prices.” Reddit

Common Drawbacks

• Some users report that Despegar functions as an intermediary, which can complicate the resolution of issues:

  “If there’s a problem, you have to call the agency—not the airline or hotel.” Reddit

• A few users mention occasional hidden costs or booking mishaps:

  “They charged more than the ‘final’ price… I had to go to a consumer tribunal.” Reddit

Why Despegar Stands Out