How can I get the best travel deals?
March 27, 2017 8:30 AM Subscribe
Overwhelmed by this industry online and what deal sites are legit and what aren't. I've rooted around some blogs by people who do this for a living, but again -- they are being sponsored or run ads for these sites. Not sure if those are legit. Help!
I know this question has been beaten to death over the years, but I'm overwhelmed, or at least in my head it's overwhelming, with all of the sites and what is legitimate and what isn't. I've read things like I should never use TripAdvisor for various reasons and other things that say I should.
What's your experience? What are the best travel deal sites?
I'm looking for both family-friendly and also just for my wife and myself. All-inclusive or not. Doesn't matter. I want to find the best price I can for a variety of vacations. In the sooner rather than later category, we are looking at Mexico without the kids. Later, we'd be looking at Disney/Florida vacation on a beach.
I know this question has been beaten to death over the years, but I'm overwhelmed, or at least in my head it's overwhelming, with all of the sites and what is legitimate and what isn't. I've read things like I should never use TripAdvisor for various reasons and other things that say I should.
What's your experience? What are the best travel deal sites?
I'm looking for both family-friendly and also just for my wife and myself. All-inclusive or not. Doesn't matter. I want to find the best price I can for a variety of vacations. In the sooner rather than later category, we are looking at Mexico without the kids. Later, we'd be looking at Disney/Florida vacation on a beach.
BookIt and Travelocity are absolutely legit, I use them all the time.
posted by Melismata at 9:12 AM on March 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Melismata at 9:12 AM on March 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
For just flight deals (not having to deal with points, miles, credit cards, etc) I recommend The Flight Deal as it's very straightforward. Most of these deals may be time sensitive but typically accurate because you don't book through the site but you look up the routings in ITA Matrix (or Google Flights). Has both domestic and international flights.
posted by xtine at 11:16 AM on March 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by xtine at 11:16 AM on March 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
Fare Deal Alert is really bad for the bank account. In addition to finding budget airfare, it shows you how to use Google's ITA Software to scare up your own deals. Even though I don't live in a city where these flights tend to originate, we've found on multiple occasions that adding on an extra leg can be no- to low- additional money.
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 1:29 PM on March 27, 2017
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 1:29 PM on March 27, 2017
I highly recommend TravelZoo. Legit and fantastic.
posted by bologna on wry at 2:26 PM on March 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by bologna on wry at 2:26 PM on March 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
Let's simplify your vacation planning:
You need to only figure out a few things:
1) Where you're going
2) When you're going
3) A flight
4) Accommodations
Skyscanner is really good for finding the best times and places to fly to (you can pick 'everywhere at anytime' and it just shows you the cheapest places you can fly to all over the world) -- you can use that to figure out where and when you want to fly.
Once you find your flights there, they'll provide several places to book from. I'd recommend buying direct from the airline if the price is anywhere close to the travel agency, and if it's not -- be super suspicious about whether the travel agency is legit, and read reviews. IMO, unless it's the difference between being able to afford to go and not being able to afford the trip -- just spend the extra money to book from the airline, and get your savings from flying during the week or overnight, or off-season.
Speaking of off-season, if you don't mind rain in the afternoons -- book during rainy season in the tropics. The prices for everything are going to be significantly cheaper. The downside of course is that plans might fall through because of rain -- I've done it a bunch and it's rarely been more than 1 wasted day, and you can always just go drinking instead or whatever.
As far as accommodations-- if you don't want an-all inclusive-- just book an airbnb or something from VRBO. It's usually cheaper than a hotel, and has more space, and you can make your own food to save more money, and eat at local restaurants instead of eating terrible resort food.
If you don't have a travel rewards card already, apply for something like the Chase Sapphire Preferred that gives you bonus points if you spend x dollars within x months, and buy all your flights and hotels through that-- you can get a pretty sizeable bonus that way (we used our points for a free night at the Park Hyatt in Tokyo on our honeymoon, for example).
Don't assume that if you go to mexico without a tour or everything planned out for you that you'll be totally hopeless. If you go to any tourist friendly place, it's very easy to find people that speak english. The bus system works totally fine, and so do the taxis. Yelp and tripadvisor work there just like they do here. It's only marginally more stressful to get your away around than it is in an unfamiliar city in the US. Every hotel will have a list of tours and excursions that you can take when you get there.
When comparing prices, don't discount the value of peace of mind. If you don't trust a place, just write it off. It's not worth stressing about whether your hotel is going to be there when you show up.
posted by empath at 2:43 PM on March 27, 2017
You need to only figure out a few things:
1) Where you're going
2) When you're going
3) A flight
4) Accommodations
Skyscanner is really good for finding the best times and places to fly to (you can pick 'everywhere at anytime' and it just shows you the cheapest places you can fly to all over the world) -- you can use that to figure out where and when you want to fly.
Once you find your flights there, they'll provide several places to book from. I'd recommend buying direct from the airline if the price is anywhere close to the travel agency, and if it's not -- be super suspicious about whether the travel agency is legit, and read reviews. IMO, unless it's the difference between being able to afford to go and not being able to afford the trip -- just spend the extra money to book from the airline, and get your savings from flying during the week or overnight, or off-season.
Speaking of off-season, if you don't mind rain in the afternoons -- book during rainy season in the tropics. The prices for everything are going to be significantly cheaper. The downside of course is that plans might fall through because of rain -- I've done it a bunch and it's rarely been more than 1 wasted day, and you can always just go drinking instead or whatever.
As far as accommodations-- if you don't want an-all inclusive-- just book an airbnb or something from VRBO. It's usually cheaper than a hotel, and has more space, and you can make your own food to save more money, and eat at local restaurants instead of eating terrible resort food.
If you don't have a travel rewards card already, apply for something like the Chase Sapphire Preferred that gives you bonus points if you spend x dollars within x months, and buy all your flights and hotels through that-- you can get a pretty sizeable bonus that way (we used our points for a free night at the Park Hyatt in Tokyo on our honeymoon, for example).
Don't assume that if you go to mexico without a tour or everything planned out for you that you'll be totally hopeless. If you go to any tourist friendly place, it's very easy to find people that speak english. The bus system works totally fine, and so do the taxis. Yelp and tripadvisor work there just like they do here. It's only marginally more stressful to get your away around than it is in an unfamiliar city in the US. Every hotel will have a list of tours and excursions that you can take when you get there.
When comparing prices, don't discount the value of peace of mind. If you don't trust a place, just write it off. It's not worth stressing about whether your hotel is going to be there when you show up.
posted by empath at 2:43 PM on March 27, 2017
Adding a late bit of helpful info about tripadvisor for others looking for travel advice sources: Reports of Trip Advisor deleting user warnings, including removing reports of violent assaults on tourists (content warning).
posted by taz at 2:06 AM on November 6, 2017
posted by taz at 2:06 AM on November 6, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
His deals are only for international travel, and you may want to see if your city is a common one, or even email him to ask, before you sign up for the premium membership.
I am likely not canceling the free trial, even though we don't have international travel plans just yet - with some of the deals he finds, I can see the possibility of going to Paris or somewhere over a break!
posted by needlegrrl at 8:44 AM on March 27, 2017 [5 favorites]