With flights and hotels pricier than usual this year, savvy travelers need to work a little harder to find amazing deals. Fortunately, there are plenty of apps and sites that can help you get the most bang for your buck.
For example, Sell Off Vacations specializes in all-inclusive trips that will cover almost everything from food to airfare. Other sites such as Holiday Pirates and Airfarewatchdog scour the internet for flight prices and send you email alerts when they pop up.
Expedia
The online travel agency Expedia can help you find a variety of great deals on hotels, flights, activities and car rentals. It also offers an easy booking service and rewards programs for loyal customers. It is a good choice for both leisure and business travelers.
In addition to offering competitive prices, Expedia lets you personalize your search by hotel star rating and budget, as well as by location. It also allows you to filter by amenities, such as fully-refundable options and those that have pledged to make the LGBTQ community feel welcome.
However, while Expedia has some definite perks, it also has some drawbacks. For example, if you encounter problems with your flight or itinerary, it can be difficult to get the help you need.
Hotwire
Hotwire is an online travel booking site that helps travelers find deeply discounted rates on hotels, flights and car rentals. It is owned by Expedia and partners with major airlines, hotel chains and car rental companies.
The site also offers a Low Price Guarantee. If you find a lower rate on a Hot Rate hotel within 24 hours of your reservation, the company will pay you the difference. The service is available for both mobile and desktop devices.
The website allows you to search for flight and hotel deals based on your desired dates of travel. It also provides detailed information on each flight, including the airline, departure and arrival times. Flight prices fluctuate often, so you should book as early as possible. The website also offers a variety of travel packages.
Kayak
With budget-friendly product features like Price Forecast and Price Alerts, Kayak can help travelers find the best deals on airfare, hotel stays, rental cars and more. The site also offers travel packages that bundle flights, hotels and rental cars for a discounted rate.
Kayak’s search engine uses software called ITA Matrix to find the best flight options and prices. This makes it a great alternative to Google Flights, which can sometimes take longer to load.
In addition to a quick-search feature, Kayak offers an email list that tracks prices and sends updates when they change. It also allows users to select whether they want basic economy seats or main cabin seats. This way, the website can give them the best options based on their preferences.
Holiday Pirates
In the case of flights, booking last-minute deals can save travelers a lot. This is because airlines and hotels will slash prices to fill their empty seats and rooms. However, this option requires you to be flexible with your travel dates and destination.
Holiday Pirates employs a team of employees with an eye for detail and a passion for travel. They support work flexibility, and have previously offered telecommuting opportunities for some of their staff members.
The company also offers its customers a low deposit and gradual payment option, which allows them to secure their holidays without having to pay in full upfront. This is particularly helpful for those who need to budget their travel expenses. In addition to this, the company also has a number of partnerships with airlines and tour operators.
Airfarewatchdog
Depending on your travel flexibility and destination preferences, signing up for a few deal alerts can help you find and secure the best airfare deals. You can also get a jump on deals by following flight-deal Twitter handles like @TheFlightDeal and monitoring popular airfare search sites such as Skyscanner and Thrifty Traveler.
Airfarewatchdog is another well-known deal site that features a daily listing of the top flight deals. It also offers a curated hotel offer list and can notify you when prices are low.
The site has actual people lurking on airline websites in anticipation of fare sales, and it can also snag deals that might not appear on larger search engines. However, be warned that the site’s pop up ads can bog down computers and slow browsing.