best ways to book travel

Get Daily Travel Tips & Deals!

By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use .

The 8 Best Travel Package Sites for Booking a Cheap Vacation

Sarah Schlichter

Deputy Executive Editor Sarah Schlichter's idea of a perfect trip includes spotting exotic animals, hiking through pristine landscapes, exploring new neighborhoods on foot, and soaking up as much art as she can. She often attempts to recreate recipes from her international travels after she gets home (which has twice resulted in accidental kitchen fires—no humans or animals were harmed).

Sarah joined the SmarterTravel team in 2017 after more than a decade at the helm of IndependentTraveler.com. Sarah's practical travel advice has been featured in dozens of news outlets including the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Budget Travel, and Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio. Follow her on Twitter @TravelEditor .

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A journal. Even years later, reading my notes from a trip can bring back incredibly vivid memories."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Road tripping and hiking through the rugged mountains of Patagonia."

Travel Motto: "'To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.'—Freya Stark"

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle. I get restless on long flights and like to be able to move around without disturbing anyone else."

Email Sarah at [email protected] .

Travel Smarter! Sign up for our free newsletter.

Booking a flight, hotel, and rental car together doesn’t just save you time—it can often save you money, too. But before you make such a significant purchase, it’s important to find the best travel package sites for booking your vacation.

I tested more than a dozen vacation package sites to see which ones had the lowest prices and best user experience. I discovered that many of the best vacation package websites allow you to book any combination of flight, hotel, and rental car, while others are more limited (flight + hotel is often the default). Fortunately, some sites will let you add a car onto a hotel+flight package, even if a car isn’t listed on the initial booking page.

It’s also important to compare the price of a vacation booked as a bundle to that same trip booked a la carte as separate components. Booking a package isn’t always cheaper, and sometimes you’ll get  better flight options to choose from if you search for your airfare separately. In some searches, I discovered that the flight options included by default with my vacation package had ridiculously long layovers or undesirable departure times (4:30 a.m., anyone?).

The Best Car Rental Booking Sites

Keep a sharp eye out for resort fees; many of the best vacation booking sites don’t count them in their initial per-person price estimate because they’re collected separately by the hotel, but they can drive up the final cost of your trip. Similarly, optional airline baggage fees can also increase your total bill, especially if you book a flight in basic economy, and some vacation package sites don’t disclose these fees as clearly as others.

Finally, it’s important to know that many of the best sites for vacation packages are owned by the same parent company, so you’ll often find similar inventory and prices from one to the next. Knowing which sites are mostly interchangeable can save you some research time.

The Best Travel Package Sites

We put them to the test to compare prices, inclusions, and more. The following are the best websites to book vacations, listed in no particular order. Scroll down for more in-depth analysis of each one.

• Expedia’s sister sites: Travelocity , Orbitz , and CheapTickets

CheapCaribbean.com

Funjet vacations.

This well-known site is one of the best travel package sites for a reason. Expedia offers a full complement of bundle options (flight/hotel, flight/car, hotel/car, and flight/hotel/car) as well as trips to just about every corner of the globe. It’s reliable when it comes to pricing, too: Expedia offered the lowest price in two of my five tests, and was cheaper than average in all but one test booking.

That said, the amount the site said I was saving on a given package didn’t always match up to the actual price difference when I added up the cost of the trip’s individual elements. In one of my test cases, it was actually cheaper to book my flight, hotel, and car separately. So take those supposed savings with a grain of salt (or even better, price out the components separately on your own to be sure you’re getting the best deal).

Expedia has plenty of useful filters to help you find what you need. You can sort hotels by price, distance from a city’s downtown, guest rating, package discount, and property class, while flight options can be filtered by general departure and arrival times (for example, morning vs. evening), airline, whether carry-on bags are included, and more. You can also sort flight options by duration (longest or shortest), price (highest or lowest), departure time (earliest or latest), and arrival time (earliest or latest). There’s also a map view so you can check out the location of each hotel.

Best Feature: The breadth of choice and consistency of pricing make Expedia perhaps the best site for vacation packages. You may not always get the absolute lowest price here, but chances are you’ll pay a fair rate and have plenty of options to choose from.

Check out Expedia

How Far in Advance Should You Book a Vacation Home?

Expedia’s Sister Sites: Travelocity, Orbitz, and CheapTickets

Many travelers don’t realize that Travelocity , Orbitz , and CheapTickets are all owned by Expedia Group, and typically have very similar inventory and pricing to Expedia. Each of these sites has similar layouts and filter options, too. Like Expedia, these three sites offer every possible vacation package combination involving a flight, hotel, and/or rental car.

It was rare for any of these sites to beat out Expedia’s prices in my tests; in general, the rates were identical (especially on Travelocity, where I didn’t find any deviations from Expedia) or a little bit higher. However, Orbitz and CheapTickets did offer slightly cheaper packages on one flight/car itinerary.

Because the pricing is so similar, it’s probably not worth searching all three of these sites in addition to Expedia unless a difference of a few dollars will make or break your travel budget.

Best Feature: Travelocity, Orbitz, and CheapTickets offer a checkbox on their main booking page to specify “I only need accommodations for part of my trip”—a feature that allows user to select a subset of their trip dates and search for travel packages only within that period. This feature is also reflected on Expedia’s search page.

Note: Expedia Group also owns Hotwire , which I didn’t find quite as reliable as the other three in my tests. For one itinerary, a nonstop flight that the other sites offered was not available when booking a Hotwire package (though it was available when booking a separate flight on Hotwire), and the pricing on some searches was a little higher than on the other sites.

Check out Expedia’s sister sites below:

Like Expedia and its partners, Priceline also offers every possible combination of flight, hotel, and rental car. Its search results pages are easy to navigate, with plenty of filter and sort options, plus a map view for hotels. Priceline offers numerous hotel options in popular vacation destinations at every price point.

One quirk to prepare for: Priceline’s flight result page lists departure and return flights together as a pair rather than letting you choose each one separately. This cuts down on the number of screens you have to click through but could mean extra scrolling while you try to find the exact two flights you want. Not all flights that are available when booking airfare separately on Priceline seem to be accessible to those booking a package—so it’s worth checking both.

Priceline was in the middle of the pack as far as pricing was concerned. It won one of my tests but was the most expensive option in two others; overall, it offered cheaper-than-average prices 60 percent of the time. To help you save money, the site offers “Express Deals” for rental cars, an opaque option in which you don’t know which rental car brand you’ll get until after you’ve booked. If you’d rather choose which company you’re renting from, standard car rentals are also available.

Best feature: Once you’ve selected your flight and rental car preferences, the site will keep them the same as you click through alternate hotel possibilities—saving you the hassle of having to select them over and over again.

Check out Priceline

What Happens If You Don’t Turn Your Phone to Airplane Mode?

As its name suggests, CheapCaribbean.com has a more limited scope than other sites on this list, but it’s worth checking if you’re planning a trip to the Caribbean, where package trips such as honeymoons are particularly popular. The site turned up cheaper-than-average prices for both of my Caribbean tests.

CheapCaribbean.com is one of the best vacation websites for all-inclusive packages. Once you’ve entered your trip information, you can also filter your results by “adults only,” “children’s amenities,” and “luxury.” Each hotel-specific page includes a list of active promotions, on-site activities, and the property’s Tripadvisor Traveler Rating.

In some ways CheapCaribbean.com isn’t quite as sophisticated as other travel package sites. There’s no map available to compare locations of the listed hotel options. Also annoying: not being able to group Houston’s two airports into a single search, though you can select “all airports” for New York City and Washington, D.C. But the affordable deals are worth a few snags, as long as you’re only looking for a flight/hotel package—there’s no option to add a car or create any other package combinations, though you can add travel insurance and transfers, at least for the destinations I checked.

Best Feature: The “ Deals of Fortune ,” or bookings where you know the destination but not the exact resort until about a week before the trip. This is a fun feature for value-conscious travelers who aren’t set on a particular island or property.

Check out Cheapcaribbean.com

A popular meta-search site, Kayak saves travelers time by searching many of the best travel package sites with a single click. Unfortunately, you can’t specify which elements of your trip you’d like to bundle; it searches flight + hotel by default. You can add a car later on some of its partner sites, but if you’re looking for a flight/car package, you’ll have to go elsewhere.

Results list the cheapest available packages from sites such as Priceline (Kayak’s sister company), Expedia, and CheapCaribbean.com. There’s a map view available, and the results page shows both air- and hotel-related filters to make it easy to find nonstop flights, free breakfast, or a specific hotel.

I found that the prices listed on Kayak didn’t always match the price on the source site when I clicked over to find the deal—a fairly common problem with meta-search sites. But I also occasionally discovered that I got a different price after clicking from Kayak than I did when searching the same itinerary from the booking site’s home page. For example, a Las Vegas package was $819 per person on Priceline when I clicked over from Kayak, but just $783 when I booked the same package from the Priceline home page. Another test offered the opposite result, with the price being cheaper after clicking from Kayak than it was when booking directly on Priceline. The lesson: Test both options when using a meta-search site.

Best Feature: Being able to search some of the best vacation booking sites in a single place is a major time saver. Though Kayak doesn’t always find you the lowest possible price, it’s a good place to start your search and get an idea of what’s out there.

Check out Kayak

The Essential Caribbean Packing List

The Funjet home page gives you a single package option: flight/hotel. However, you can work around this by adding a rental car on at the end of a flight/hotel or individual flight booking. There are plenty of sort options for your results, including price, hotel name, rating, points of interest, and location.

One annoyance: Similarly to CheapCarribbean.com, there is no option to select “all airports” for certain cities like Houston or Chicago. And Funjet’s prices aren’t the most consistent, ranking as the cheapest in one test and the most expensive in another. Still, the site is worth comparing to others when booking your vacation.

Best Feature: Rather than making you scour the web for coupons, Funjet automatically applies any relevant promo codes to your search.

Note: If you’re headed to the Caribbean, Central or South America, Hawaii, or Mexico, try your search on Funjet’s sister site, Apple Vacations . The destinations it covers are more limited than Funjet’s, but I found that the prices were often a little better. CheapCaribbean.com is also owned by the same parent company, Apple Leisure Group.

Check out Funjet

Book Your Stay With SmarterTravel Hotels

If you’re ready to book your next adventure but don’t want to commit to a prepackaged bundle, you can still save big by booking your hotel stay with SmarterTravel Hotels.

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Follow Sarah Schlichter on Twitter @TravelEditor for more travel tips and inspiration.

You Might Also Like:

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Top Fares From

Don't see a fare you like? View all flight deals from your city.

Today's top travel deals.

Brought to you by ShermansTravel

Porto to Lisbon: 7-Nt, Small-Group Portugal...

Indus Travels

Greenland: Luxe, All-Incl. 11-Nt Exploration Small-Ship...

Swan Hellenic

Ohio: Daily Car Rentals from Cincinnati

Trending on SmarterTravel

Expedia Rewards is now One Key™

Search vacation packages & trips.

As a  One Key member , earn up to 10x more OneKeyCash on your flight when you book a package.

Enjoy flexibility with our Book now Pay later option & fully refundable rates on most hotels

Customize your vacation with ease all in one place

Las Vegas Vacation Packages

Book your trip to Las Vegas and save by bundling a flight + hotel!

Time to get away?

Grab a deal on last-minute travel

Top Destinations by Month

Choose from incredible vacation destinations.

Top domestic vacation destinations

Tick one more destination off of your bucket list with one of our most popular vacations in 2024

Los Angeles

Top international vacation destinations

Explore the world with international vacation packages and visit one of our most popular destinations in 2024

Cabo San Lucas

Playa Del Carmen

Find your perfect vacation

Take a break from work and soak up the sun at one of our hottest vacation destinations

• Beach Vacations

Build a beach vacation package to suit your every need. Life is better on the beach!

• All Inclusive Vacations

All your needs are catered for with an all-inclusive vacation package. All the extras that make a lifetime of memories.

Family Vacations

Great offers for the entire family. Find peace of mind when you book a family vacation package with Expedia.

• Northern Lights Vacations

Get a front-row seat for one of nature's greatest spectacles with a Northern Lights vacation package with Expedia.

Last Minute Vacations

Planning a romantic break for 2 or an impromptu trip with the whole family? Expedia helps you find last-minute vacation deals.

Romantic Getaways

From honeymoon packages in far-flung destinations to a weekend luxury spa break, find your perfect couples vacation.

Find your next vacation package 

Are vacation packages worth it.

Vacation packages can save a lot on your 2024 vacation, as discounts may be available when booking multiple aspects of your vacation at once, such as the hotel and the flight. Flights and hotel packages can include a car rental at your destination. Check our package deal today on Expedia!

How much do vacation packages cost?

The exact cost of a vacation package varies based on various factors such as destination, accommodation quality, flight class, and even the time of year you visit. The type of vacation you embark on can also affect cost with options like family packages and all-inclusive packages . You can search for your specific price range, too, with plenty of vacations under $1,000 , for example. 

How to choose your vacation package?

To find the best vacation package, you'll need to consider the type of vacation you're looking to enjoy and the destination. Using the site's search function, you can find a wide variety of packages available for your chosen vacation location, while search filters can narrow down options based on vacation type. Browse our deals now.

How to find cheap vacation packages?

If you're looking to save, be sure to set filters for any budget limitations you may have in your search. Additionally, you can sort by price to automatically put the cheapest options first in your search results. Weekend getaway packages can be relatively inexpensive as well if you are looking for cheap getaways. 

How to vacation on a budget?

Budget-friendly travel is easy when you book with Expedia, as we can help you keep prices low via search filters, but that's not all. There are general trends to keep in mind regarding prices, such as travel packages generally being cheaper during the off-season of your vacation destination. Additionally, the higher the quality amenities you opt for, the higher the price typically is.

How to get great vacation deals?

Vacation deals are common with Expedia, as we offer plenty of discounts on great packages, with packages already being a deal compared to booking hotels and flights separately.

How to find last-minute vacation deals?

To book last-minute vacation trips, simply input your travel dates into the search and see what's available at that time for your destination. You can still filter based on virtually anything you can imagine, including amenities, price, star rating, and more.

Where should I go on vacation?

Booking a Hawaii vacation package is especially popular with all sorts of travelers, whether it's families or couples, and Disney World packages have much to offer for families. Consider the kind of vacation you're looking for to determine the perfect destination. 

What are some of the best vacation spots?

Top vacation spots include cheap Caribbean vacations and European vacation packages . With rich culture, history, and stunning natural beauty, a vacation package to these destinations can provide an unforgettable adventure. 

Where to go on a vacation in the US?

Staying in the US still offers easy access to great vacation places with Vegas packages and a Grand Canyon vacation being popular choices among other options. Whether you’re seeking the thrills of the Vegas Strip or the majestic views of the Grand Canyon, browse your options today.  

Where to go on vacation on a budget?

Cheap vacation ideas can still take you to a variety of great cheap vacation destinations, including Yellowstone vacations and Glacier National Park vacations . Parks and outdoor experiences tend to be free, so national park vacations are excellent for a budget-friendly trip. 

What are some great all-inclusive vacation packages?

All-inclusive vacations to the Bahamas and all-inclusive vacations to Cancun are some of the best options available, putting you in a Caribbean paradise. However, all-inclusive vacations are more varied than you might think, with worldwide options. 

What are the best destinations for a family vacation?

Traveling with kids means you'll need to find fun for the whole family, and Orlando vacation packages can put you and your little ones in the world's theme park capital. Of course, a vacation package to Anaheim offers a similar experience on the West coast. 

Where should I go on vacation this summer?

If you're looking to embrace the season, head to the beach with a summer vacation package to Destin . Of course, you may be more interested in escaping the heat with something like a vacation package to Vancouver . 

How to find cheap beach vacations?

In your search, you can apply search filters for beach trip packages and sort your results by price to see the cheap vacation options first. With those standards, you can find amazing cheap trips with beach vacation packages like vacation packages to Panama City and vacation packages to Myrtle Beach . 

What are some great couples' vacations?

Traveling with your partner means a more romantic adventure, which is easy when you book vacation packages to Honolulu . However, you can always opt for the classics and get a vacation package to Paris . Even a simple 3-day cheap getaway can be suitable. 

What are the best destinations for a luxury vacation?

One of the best destinations for luxury is a Las Vegas vacation package , as the city was essentially designed to make visitors feel luxurious. Of course, a Lake Tahoe vacation package can be just as fulfilling as a more outdoor-oriented experience. Golf vacations also tend to be quite elegant. 

How to find great Christmas vacation packages?

To find an excellent package for a Christmas vacation, simply put your travel dates into the search and discover what's available. Vacation packages to New York and vacation packages to Chicago are trendy around Christmas. 

Where to get ski vacation packages?

Ski vacation packages are readily available on Expedia, including vacation packages to Aspen , vacation packages to Vail , and packages to other notable ski resorts. Check out the deals now and book your next ski vacation today.  

Can I cancel my vacation package with Expedia?

Yes, you can cancel your vacation package via your itinerary page on Expedia or by contacting customer service. Remember that some packages are fully refundable, but the details vary based on each unique booking. A fully refundable package may depend on how far out from the travel dates you're canceling and what airline you are travelling with.

Why should I book my vacation package with Expedia?

Booking with Expedia makes it easy to plan your entire vacation in advance. Vacation packages with airfare included can also feature a rental car and even activities in some cases, with discounts typically coming with booking more than one aspect of your trip at a time. One Key members will earn  OneKeyCash  with every eligible booking that you can use to save on future eligible bookings. Membership is free, sign up today!

*OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia,  Hotels.com  and Vrbo.

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

Domestic vacation packages & getaways.

• New Orleans Vacations
• Fort Lauderdale Vacations
• Chicago Vacations
• Phoenix Vacations
• Williamsburg Vacations
• Laughlin Vacations
• Atlantic City Vacations
• Portland Vacations
• Austin Vacations
• U.S. Virgin Islands Vacations

Popular Vacation Destinations in Mexico

• Mexico Vacations
• Tulum Vacations
• Quintana Roo Vacations
• San José del Cabo Vacations
• Puerto Vallarta Vacations
• Cozumel Vacations
• Acapulco Vacations
• Tijuana Vacations

International Vacation Packages & Trips

• Paris Vacations
• Greece Vacations
• Bahamas Vacations
• Aruba Vacations
• London Vacations
• France Vacations
• Bali Vacations
• Colombia Vacations
• Belize Vacations
• Toronto Vacations
• Honolulu Vacations
• Nassau Vacations
• St. Thomas Vacations
• Bora Bora Vacations
• Montego Bay Vacations
• Dominican Republic Vacations
• Negril Vacations
• Tampa Vacations
• Puerto Rico Vacations

Vacations from

• Vacations from Atlanta
• Vacations from Austin
• Vacations from Boston
• Vacations from Chicago
• Vacations from Dallas
• Vacations from Houston
• Vacations from Las Vegas
• Vacations from Los Angeles
• Vacations from Miami
• Vacations from New York
• Vacations from Orlando
• Vacations from Philadelphia
• Vacations from Phoenix
• Vacations from Pittsburgh
• Vacations from Seattle
• Vacations from Washington

Best Vacation Destinations by Month

• January Vacations and Deals
• February Vacations and Deals
• March Vacations and Deals
• April Vacations and Deals
• May Vacations and Deals
• June Vacations and Deals
• July Vacations and Deals
• August Vacations and Deals
• September Vacations and Deals
• October Vacations and Deals
• November Vacations and Deals
• December Vacations and Deals

Other Vacation ideas

• Vacation Payment Plans
• Weekend Getaways
• Last Minute Vacation Deals
• 3 Day Getaways
• Plan a Trip
• Thanksgiving Getaways Deals
• Vacations Under $500
• Christmas Vacation Deals
• Vacations Under $1000
• New Year's Vacation Deals

More Types of Vacations

• Adventure Vacations
• Golf Vacations
• Kid Friendly Vacations
• Luxury Vacations
• Romantic Vacations
• Ski Vacations

Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

Travel Better, Cheaper, Longer

14 Easy Tips to Always Find Cheap Flights

Last Updated: March 15, 2024

For most trips, airfare is the most expensive part of the trip. While prices for transatlantic flights have gone down in recent years, they can still put a sizeable dent in any travel budget. Whether you’re a budget solo traveler or a family looking to vacation abroad, finding a cheap flight deal can be what makes or breaks your trip.

After all, if your flight is too expensive, you’re likely going to keep putting the trip off. I’ve seen it happen time and time again.

And yet every day, airlines have thousands of amazing deals — from mistakenly published fares to special promotions to slashing prices to compete with another airline. Cheap fares are out there and they can make your dream trip a reality — if you know where to look (I start all my flight searches with Skyscanner ).

Today, I am going to help you master the art of finding a cheap flight. These are the exact steps I’ve been following for a decade to get the cheapest airfare possible every time I fly. If you follow them too, you’ll never be the person on a flight who paid the most for their ticket!

Here’s how to find a cheap flight no matter where you want to go in the world:

Table of Contents

1. Ignore the Myths

2. be flexible with your travel dates and times, 3. be flexible with your destinations, 4. keep an eye for special deals, 5. fly budget carriers, 6. don’t always fly direct, 7. remember not all search engines are equal, 8. take advantage of student discounts, 9. mix and match airlines, 10. use points and miles, 11. search ticket prices for individual travelers, 12. look for tickets in other currencies, 13. book early (but not too early), 14. book hidden city fares, find your cheap flights today.

The first thing to know about finding a cheap flight is that there is no magic bullet or one secret ninja trick to doing so. There are a lot of myths online about how to find cheap flights. In fact, you’ve probably come across a ton of them on your search to find the best flight deal!

They are all lies. They will lead you astray.

Most websites hire terrible reporters who recycle common and outdated myths. Here are the most common that are 100% not true:

• It is NOT cheaper to buy airfare on a Tuesday (or any other specific day for that matter).
• There is NO evidence that searching incognito leads to cheaper deals.
• There is NO exact date or specific time period in which to book your airfare.
• You can’t predict airline prices and websites that do are basically taking an educated (but probably wrong) guess.

Airlines use advanced computer and pricing algorithms to determine prices and run sales based on the time of the year, passenger demand, weather, major events/festivals, time of day, competitor prices, fuel prices, and much more. Those so-called “tricks” don’t work anymore. The system is too smart. Throw them out. Let them die.

Don’t listen to anyone who tells you otherwise. Anyone who is telling you doesn’t know what they are talking about.  

Airline ticket prices vary greatly depending on the day of the week, time of year, and upcoming holidays, such as Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Thanksgiving, or the Fourth of July. August is a big month for traveling around Europe , and everyone wants to go somewhere warm in the winter or travel when the kids are out of school.

In a nutshell, if you are going to fly when everyone is flying, then your ticket is going to cost more.

The solution is to fly off-season. Search alternative dates so that you can capitalize on the best day. The more rigid your plans, the less likely it will be that you find a deal.

Try to be flexible with your dates. If you are dead-set on visiting Paris , go in the spring or fall when fewer people visit and airfares are cheaper.

But if you want to go in the middle of August? You’re out of luck. Hawaii over Christmas? Good luck! Prices will be at their highest.

Moreover, it’s almost always cheaper to fly during the middle of the week than on a weekend because most people travel on the weekends and airlines hike their prices then. Prices are cheaper if you fly after or on a major holiday. Early-morning or late-night flights are also cheaper because fewer people want to travel then (who wants to wake up early?!). Fridays and Mondays are expensive because that’s when most business travelers fly.

When searching on Skyscanner , simply click on the date field to expand the calendar view and you’ll immediately see the cheapest months to fly. On this search from NYC to Paris, you can see that traveling during September, November, or December would be half as much as traveling during June or July:

Airlines are not dumb. They know when a festival, holiday, major sports event, or school break is coming up — and they raise prices accordingly.

Be flexible with your dates and times and you’ll save yourself some major money.  

If you can’t be flexible with when you fly, at least be flexible with where you fly. It’s best to be flexible with both, but if you really want to save the most money and get a cheap flight for your trip, you at least need to be flexible with one or the other.

Airline search engines have made it really easy to search the entire world to find the cheapest ticket. You no longer have to search manually, city by city, day by day. Websites like Skyscanner and Google Flights offer explore tools that allow you to put in your home airport and see a map of the world with all the flights on it. This allows you to easily compare multiple destinations without having to brainstorm every possible option. You’ll likely even find some interesting destinations you hadn’t even thought of either!

If you are flexible with where you want to go (i.e., anywhere but home), all you need to do is type “Everywhere” into the search box on Skyscanner or “Anywhere” if you’re using Google Flights.

The truth about airfare is that there’s always a deal to some destination — it might just not be your first choice. However, if you’re flexible about where you want to go, you’ll always get a deal and save a ton of money in the process.

When you are locked into one place at one time, you are stuck with whatever price shows up. Nothing can change that. But when you become flexible, suddenly the entire world opens up to you and you’ll find amazing cheap airfares!  

Before you start looking for specific lights, make sure you’ve signed up for some newsletters. Joining the mailing list for airlines and last-minute deal websites will give you access to the absolute best deals out there. Sure, 99% of them might not fit your itinerary but keeping your eye on the deals will ensure you don’t miss an amazing opportunity.

More often than not, cheap flights are only available for a limited window (usually 24 hours). If you aren’t always scouring the web for sales, you’ll likely miss out on the best deals.

I would have missed out on a round-trip ticket to Japan for $700 USD (normally $1,500) as well as a $500 flight to South Africa if I wasn’t signed up to flight deal websites.

Additionally, airline newsletters often offer frequent flier bonuses. Those points and miles can add up to free flights and awesome upgrades.

Aside from joining airline newsletters, the best website for finding travel deals is Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) . It’s the BEST for upcoming US flight deals and new users can get 20% off a Premium membership with the code NOMADICMATT20.

Other sites worth checking out are:

• The Flight Deal – Great for global flight deals.
• Holiday Pirates – The best for European flight deals.
• Secret Flying – A great site for flight deals from around the world.

Years ago, if you wanted to fly between continents, you were mostly stuck with traditional expensive airlines. That’s no longer true. These days, you can fly most of the way around the world on a budget airline. Sure, they might not be as comfortable and you may need to pay for premium upgrades like checked bags and meals, but they bring the world to your doorstep without breaking the bank.

Budget airlines mainly service short and medium-haul routes. While many budget carriers (notably Norwegian Air) scrapped their long-haul routes during COVID, new ones (like PLAY, Norse Atlantic Airways, and French Bee) have now arisen to take their place.

For now, budget airlines mainly operate regionally so it’s really easy to find a cheap flight, even during this age of higher prices.

• Flair Airlines
• Air Canada Rouge
• Air Transat

United States

• Allegiant Air
• Spirit Airlines
• Sun Country Airlines
• Hong Kong Express
• Spring Airlines
• T’Way Airlines
• Cebu Pacific
• VietJet Air
• Norwegian Air

Australia/New Zealand

Middle East

Flying budget airlines is a good alternative to flying “the majors” whenever possible. You get fewer perks, but you can save a bundle in price.

Just be sure to watch out for fees. That’s how they make money! Budget airlines often charge fees for checked bags, carry-ons, printing your boarding pass, using a credit card, and anything else they can get away with. Be sure to add up the cost of the ticket AND the fees to make sure that the price is lower than a larger carrier.

You’ll also want to double-check the location of the budget airline’s airport at your intended destination. These airlines often fly in and out of airports that are quite far from the actual city, with limited and expensive transportation options.

For example, the shuttle to Beauvais, the budget airport for Paris , costs 17 EUR one-way. If you’re flying roundtrip, this means that you should add about 34 EUR to the price of your plane ticket to see if you’re even saving much by flying a budget airline.  

Not only does it help to be flexible with dates and destinations but being flexible with the route you take is another way to get a cheap flight. For example, sometimes it’s cheaper to fly to London and take a budget airline to Amsterdam than to fly direct to Amsterdam from your departure city.

I did precisely this when I was going to Paris. The flight from the US was $900 USD, but I could fly to Dublin for $600 and get a $60 flight to Paris. It meant more flying time, but the $240 USD I saved was worth it to me.

To use this method, find out how much it is to go directly to your destination. Then, open Google Flights and type in that destination’s continent to look at prices to nearby airports. If the difference is more than $150 USD, I look to see how much it is to get from the second airport to my primary destination (either by budget flight or train, if it’s not too far). You can use Rome2Rio to help search for the best ways to get between a nearby airport and your primary destination.

You can also do this for leaving too. It might be cheaper to fly out from a nearby airport. I often search other airports to see if it’s cheaper to fly/drive/train there and then fly to my final destination. For long international flights, it can be worth the added time!

If you do book separate segments, be sure to have at least three hours between connections. This will give you space in case there is a delay as your second flight won’t wait for you (you booked with a separate airline, so they won’t care if you’re late or not).

Leaving a three-hour buffer will also cover you for an insurance claim since most insurance companies require you to have at least a 3-hour delay before you can make a claim.

This method is more work since you have to figure out lots of different routes and check different airlines. But it can lower the price of your flight, which is worth the extra effort if you end up saving a few hundred bucks.

Note : If you ever have a delayed flight to or from Europe, you might be owed additional compensation (upwards of 600 EUR). Here’s how to find out if you’re entitled to compensation!  

In order to find the best deal, you need to search multiple websites. Many major search sites don’t list budget carriers or obscure foreign carriers because those airlines don’t want to pay a booking commission. Others don’t list booking sites that aren’t in English. And others still only display prices retrieved directly from airlines.

In short, not all flight search websites are created equal and all have their pros and cons.

Since there is no perfect airline search engine, you’ll want to search a few to compare. Even the best have their faults. That said, I have a few favorites I always start with as they tend to consistently show the best results. To me, the best websites to find a cheap flight are the following:

• Skyscanner – The best booking site out there. They have a great user interface (and a great app for mobile )
• Google Flights – Great search engine that lets you see prices for multiple destinations.

Typically, I start all my searches with Skyscanner because it searches all major AND budget airlines, non-English websites, English websites, and everything in between. They vet all the sites they link to as they have strict criteria on who they operate with. It’s one of the most comprehensive booking sites out there and they have the lowest price 99% of the time. I’ve been using them since 2008, and it’s the search engine all the other travel experts I know use too.  

If you are a student (or under 26), there are many discounts available to you. You can usually find prices 10-20% off the standard fare. Travel agencies like Flight Centre and Student Universe can help find you a cheap ticket. Don’t overlook them!

Additionally, keep in mind that most student discounts transfer over to airline partners. For example, Lufthansa offers a student discount, which means you can use that discount on partner airlines such as Swiss Airlines and Austrian Airlines. This will allow you to go much further afield while still saving a ton of money.

If you’re not sure which airlines offer discounts (they don’t make this information easy to find), visit their website or call them. Doing a little digging to save 20% (or more) will be worth it!  

When you book directly with an airline, you’ll only be able to fly that airline and any partner airlines it has. That means your options will be limited when it comes to finding the perfect itinerary or saving the most money.

Usually, that will suffice. However, if you’re chasing greater savings, try booking your tickets on separate airlines. For example, if you’re flying from New York to Paris, you might have a stop in London. Booking both legs as one ticket will be simple, but it likely won’t save you money.

Instead, book your New York to London flight as one ticket and then your London to Paris ticket with another airline. That will allow you to shop around for the best bargain. It’s more work, but the savings (and flexibility) can be worth it.

This is what most third-party booking websites like Kiwi.com do. They piece together trips using whatever flights they can find to ensure you get the cheapest price.

If you’re hunting for the lowest possible price and aren’t happy with what you’re finding on the airline’s website, try booking separate segments. You might just stumble onto a great deal!  

As soon as you know you want to travel somewhere you should sign up for a travel credit card. Using points and miles is the #1 way avid travelers like me earn free flights, travel perks, and free hotel stays. Travel credit cards offer huge welcome bonuses, credit toward rideshares like Uber or Lyft, access to airport lounges, travel insurance, and much more.

You don’t need to do any extra spending either. I earn over a million miles a year — without flying or spending extra money. That translates into dozens of free flights (often in business class) for myself and my family.

If you are smart with your money and collect points and miles, you can travel around the world for very little (and often free). Here are some articles that can help you get started:

• Points and Miles 101: A Beginner’s Guide
• How I Earn 1 Million Frequent Flier Miles Every Year
• Is Collecting Points and Miles Really a Scam?
• The Ultimate Guide to Points and Miles
• The Ultimate Guide to Picking the Best Travel Credit Card
• The Best Travel Credit Cards for Travelers

If you already have some points and miles collected, consider joining a platform like point.me . It’s a search and booking engine that helps you find the best ways to use your points and miles. It searches 30+ loyalty and 100+ airline programs to find the best value possible so you never waste your miles! Get your first month for just $1 with the code NOMADICMATT .  

If you’re traveling with friends or family, don’t search for or buy multiple tickets in a single purchase. Airlines always show the highest ticket price in a group of tickets which means you’ll end up paying more money.

Airlines have tons of different price points for tickets (these are based on a variety of factors). They want to sell tickets in the highest fare bucket possible and, when they group tickets together, always list prices in the highest fare bucket.

For example, if you are a family of four and you’re searching for four seats, the airline will find four seats together and show your fare based on the highest ticket price. So if seat A is $200, seats B and C are $300, and seat D is $400, it will price those tickets as $400 each instead of adding up the individual ticket prices. If the price difference is large, that translates into a sizeable extra expense.

For that reason, always search for tickets as a single person. Afterward, in the checkout process, you can pick your seats so you and your family are sitting together. And even if you end up not beside one another, that’s a fair trade for saving a few hundred dollars.  

If your country’s currency is currently strong compared to others around the world, search for airfare in a country where the currency is weaker.

For example, when the US dollar was strong and the New Zealand currency weak, I found a one-way flight from Australia to NYC for $1,000 USD. However, when I searched on the New Zealand version of the airline, I found the same ticket for $600 USD.

It was the same airline, same flight, and same booking class — it was just booked in a different currency. This tip does not always work, but it works often enough that it’s something worth trying if your currency is currently doing well.

( Tip : Always use a no-foreign-transaction-fee card to avoid paying a surcharge .)  

Airline fares keep rising the closer you get to departure, but there is a sweet spot when the airlines begin to either lower or increase fares based on demand. Don’t wait until the last second but don’t book far, far in advance either. The best time to book your flight is around 2-3months before your departure, or around five months before if you are going to your destination during their peak season.

This isn’t a hard and fast rule, though, so use it as a guide. I could go on forever about airline pricing models but airlines raise prices closer to departure because the people who book last minute tend to be price insensitive business travelers so they will pay whatever. So don’t book last minute!  

This is a more advanced (and riskier) way of finding cheap flights, but if you’re adamant about spending as little money as possible, it’s worth looking for hidden city fares. This is when you book a flight that has a layover in your desired destination. You then get off the plane and exit the airport at the layover city instead of continuing onto the final destination that you booked the ticket for.

For example, say you want to fly from Austin to Atlanta. A flight from Austin to New Orleans with a stop in Atlanta might be cheaper than booking Austin to Atlanta directly.

As you can imagine, this practice can get complicated and tricky. There are a few crucial elements to keep in mind, namely that once you skip a leg, the airline cancels the rest of your trip. That means that you cannot buy round-trip flights and do this practice on your departure flight, because your return flight will be cancelled. Also, you cannot check bags, as they will end up in the final destination on your ticket, not where you get off.

Additionally, airlines strongly frown upon this practice, so you don’t want to advertise that this is what you’re doing, and you don’t want to do it often, otherwise you might get flagged.

All that being said, you can save hundreds of dollars with hidden city flights, and it’s perfectly legal. It’s easy to search for hidden city flights on the website Skiplagged . Just do so at your own risk!

Finding a cheap flight is all about being flexible and getting creative. It may take some effort, but the deals are out there if you’re willing to look. Follow the tips above to get started, but don’t waste hours and hours hunting for a cheap flight. If you’re spending more than an hour booking a flight, you’re spending too much time.

Once you find a flight deal that you’re happy with, book right away, as airfares change by the minute. Remember that you have a 24-hour window to cancel in case you need to.

Use the tips above on how to get a cheap flight to get the ball rolling. Do that, and you’ll always get a great deal!  

I start all my searches with Skyscanner because they search all major AND budget airlines, non-English websites, English websites, and everything in between. Even if you aren’t sure of your plans, it’s best to start searching for flights today. People who wait to book are people who end up spending the most.

Use this widget to plan your next trip:

READ NEXT —-> How to Put This Into Practice: 5 Step-by-Step Instructions for Booking a Flight

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. If you have any questions about the companies or my status as an affiliate, please don’t hesitate to email me.

Get my best stuff sent straight to you!

Pin it on pinterest.

Compare package deals to find the right one.

Search vacation deals by destination, find vacation packages, las vegas vacations, honolulu vacations, toronto vacations, paris vacations, new york vacations, cancún vacations, rome vacations, san juan vacations, miami beach vacations, montego bay vacations, punta cana vacations, key west vacations, orlando vacations, barcelona vacations, hawaii vacations.

Search vacation packages on KAYAK. Search for the cheapest package for all major destinations around the world . KAYAK is a travel tool that searches hundreds of travel sites to help you find the vacation package that suits you best.

Not what you’re looking for? Find thousands of other hotels , flights , car rentals and trains and buses with KAYAK.

How to Plan Your Own Trip (& Save Big Travel Bucks)

E ven for the biggest of wanderlusters, trip planning can be a keyboard-head-banging task. Where to go? When to book? How much to schedule ahead?

The “oh crap” moment of having 8,000 tabs open in your browser and virtually nothing booked is an all-too-familiar  blah . For far too many, this makes tours and all-inclusive vacations a tantalizing lure. It's easy to see why; they just seem EASY .

But what if you could save yourself major cash and take that dream trip? What if you could see the same sites as a tour, at a fraction of the cost? Spoiler alert: YOU CAN! In this post, we'll show you step-by-step exactly how to plan and book your own trip, and save HUGELY.

Step 1. Choose a destination

The slightest of research can help you understand which countries will serve your travel budget best. $50USD/day in Paris will hardly stretch beyond activities and food, while the same budget in Bangkok will more luxurious travel for days. Here's some factors to consider when deciding where to head.

Pick countries where your dollar will go far

Aim for places where your home currency is high against the native dollar. Need inspiration? Check our top budget destinations for 2020 , plus our other list of budget countries here .

Another point to consider is current events and currency deflation (e.g. Britain's “Brexit” made England much more affordable for some travellers). Curious about how expensive a place is? Numbeo provides a quick snapshot of average prices for every country. Need destination ideas? Here's some suggestions to start.

• South Africa
• China (check our guide here )
• Philippines

Eastern Europe

South america, consider shoulder season travel.

Off-season travel is a simple but effective money-saver – just make sure that your destination is still safe and won't be entirely ruined by weather. Google your desired destination and find its slower months. Tripadvisor forums can be a good place to get local opinions.

Keep open eyes and ears for deals

Flights are often the biggest ticket item of any trip (we've got plenty of hacks on flight booking  here ). Keep an eye out for error fares,  which aren't always last minute and regularly pop up on international (and even business class) routes.

Travel deals on hotels and package vacations can be found on sites like  Travelzoo  and  Groupon (always check reviews & read the fine print). Don't forget to follow airlines & travel sites on social media and newsletters to hear about sales.

Step 2. Find out travel visa requirements

Once you've chosen a destination and before booking anything , check if you require a visa for your visit and how long it's valid for. Check your country's government travel advisories online, such as here below:

• Australia (click on country of choice for info)
• Canada (click on the country of choice, then “Entry/Exit Requirements”)
• Europe (info for Europe-based travel here , worldwide visa requirements viewable on the map here )
• United Kingdom (select country and click “Entry Requirements”)
• United States (type your country of choice in the search box, click it, then select “Entry/Exit Requirements”)

Step 3. Plan a (rough) itinerary

Once you've chosen a place, you'll want to familiarize yourself with it. Where do you want to go? What do you want to see? How long is your visit? The amount of pre-planning here is up to you. There are benefits to having loose travel plans (or none at all), you just have to decide what suits you best.

If you want to plan a route, here's some ways to do it!

Check tour company itineraries

Tour companies like G Adventures and Intrepid Travel have itineraries freely listed on their website. These are handy for getting a snapshot of destination highlights, duration, and modes of transport. If you've decided on a country, Lonely Planet writes great guidebooks with detailed information. Travel blogs *ahem* are also a handy source of information.

Note: when viewing group tour itineraries, keep in mind these are often  fast paced.  You may wish to add more buffer room and lazy days for your own trip. You don't need to copy sample routes & durations to a tee.

Read trip summaries online

Many travellers share extensive itineraries and trip summaries on forums like  TripAdvisor . This is a great way to hear ups and downs, get itinerary critiques, and genuine local advice.

TripHobo is another service where people share detailed day-by-day itineraries, and you can actually earn money by posting your own.

Pinterest is a great place to find sample itineraries and tips on destinations. Many regions of the world have expert bloggers with extensive destination-specific knowledge and experience. Simply use the search bar with terms such as your country of interest and “itinerary”, and pin away!

Step 4. Book ahead (or wing it!)

For those with limited flexibility in dates or destinations, waiting last minute is an absolute gamble. If you're travelling openly or long-term, then booking as you go based on deals can certainly work (and is what we did during our 2+ years of nomadic travels). Regardless of your trip style, here's how to get booking.

Use broad search engines with flexible cancellation

As a general rule of thumb, your best bet when possible is to book ahead and “hold” a good price on sites with fee-free cancellation policies. Here's our recommendations.

If you do a broad search (ideally searching for “entire month” as opposed to specific dates), you can identify the cheapest dates to fly. In addition to our flight-booking hacks , keep watch for error fares , and try to book flights 4-6 weeks ahead.

Our recommended broad search engines to use for booking flights:

• Airfare Watchdog (good for error fares)
• Secret Flying (good for error fares)

Car rentals

Nearly all major car rental search engines offer free cancellation. For this reason, a car rental should be one of the first things you book for a trip , as prices tend to increase as supply goes down. For hacks on getting the best car rental price, check our guide here . These are the search engines we use for car rental bookings:

• Booking Buddy (lets you search many car booking sites at once)

Accommodation

As with car rentals, most hotel-booking booking websites offer free cancellation ( always  double check!). This means you're best to snag a bargain in advance, even if your plans change . For tips on booking the cheapest accommodation, check our article here . Broad search sites to use for hotel bookings include:

• Booking.com
• HotelsCombined
• AirBNB (always check hosts' cancellation policies as these can sometimes incur a cost)
• Hotwire  and Priceline (good for Mystery Deals on major cities for bargain rates on swanky hotels. Note: You CANNOT cancel mystery bookings!)

Step 5. Find cheap & free activities

Once you've chosen a place, route, and places to stay, you'll want to scope out activities for your trip. You needn't plan every minute, but it can be wise to get some ideas in advance.

WikiVoyage and Lonely Planet are good resources for quickly finding a list of ways to keep busy in a new place, including free things. Walking is one of the best ways to do this, and is definitely the local approach to experiencing a place. Here's some more tips & tricks to explore for less!

Check walking routes and/or free walking tours

Nearly every major city on earth offers free walking tours, and this can be a great way to explore a place on foot while getting a bit of history. Note: “free” walking tours are not  actually free (you are meant to tip at the end), but they usually provide great value and interesting information about a place.

Don't have the time or patience for a group tour? You can still scope out walking routes from Free Walking Tour websites, or simply search Google or Pinterest for ideas and inspiration. Lonely Planet books will often include self-guided walking tours as well.

Seek out free or discounted museum days

Read ahead to see if a city has free or discounted entry dates to attractions. Sometimes museums and art galleries offer free admission in the last hour, or a discounted day of the week. Having an ISIC card can pay off big time if you're a student, especially in Europe where students (with ISIC ID) gain free entry to many sites.

Explore sharing economy options

The sharing economy or peer-to-peer lending has created infinite activities and events for travellers offered by locals themselves. We've compiled a comprehensive list  of sharing economy services around the world and there are MANY on offer! After all, what's more alluring than dinner with a local, or a city tour from someone who's lived there their whole life?!

Visit local markets & events

Tripadvisor  and Lonely Planet are good places to read up beforehand on markets, events and happenings that locals know of. TimeOut Magazine and Metro News (often available for free in public transit stations worldwide) are also great at listing free/current events and activities.

Stalk group buy sites for activity deals

Sites like  Travelzoo  and  Groupon  frequently offer attractive discounts on activities and tours. Always double check expiry dates and the fine print (especially for use on weekends)!

Step 6. Keep your plans organized

If you aspire to be as tidy as a travel agent with your plans,  TripIt is a great and free service we recommend and use. We've been active users it since 2012 during our initial jam-packed once a year trips. As a bonus, this service also tracks travel points by linking with accounts like Aeroplan or AirMiles (note: this is a paid add-on).

You can of course use your own alternatives like Google Docs, but TripIt is great for the “lazy” (or disorganized!) planner. Once you make an account, it will coordinate any relevant info for your trip, no uploading required . Either give TripIt access to your e-mail, or forward each of your booking confirmations to [email protected] , and it will automatically build your itinerary. That means flight tickets, hotel and car bookings, etc. are all kept track in one place . Another plus is being able to share access to trip itineraries (simply add a friend's e-mail address). Definite bliss for planning group trips!

TripIt does have an upgraded membership that offers attractive features like texting you real-time updates of flights, gate changes, etc. We paid for this account in 2016 when I was doing some extensive travels with a friend. All of our planning was done while we were on opposite sides of the globe, so it was quite helpful. I also received realtime updates on her (repeated) flight delays and cancellations, long before she could notify me herself.

All that said, the basic (free) account definite suffices for regular planning. But the paid upgrade does have its perks and is handy for group trip planning.

The Thrifty Gist

• Consider travelling to budget destinations and/or in the off-season to reduce costs
• Use existing itineraries ( Tripadvisor , tour websites) to get a quick snapshot of highlights and routes
• Book refundable trip items (e.g. hotels, car rentals) ahead of time on broad search engines
• Search broadly for flights and keep eyes peeled for error fares
• Check out the sharing economy , walking tours, and online resources like Pinterest for activity ideas
• Keep your plans organized in one place with free services like TripIt

Whew, you did it ! You've now got the basics on how to plan your own trip. With even a slightly organized approach, sorting your own travels can be a breeze. Happy planning!

What tips do you use for planning your own trip?

• Credit Cards
• All Credit Cards
• Find the Credit Card for You
• Best Credit Cards
• Best Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Travel Credit Cards
• Best 0% APR Credit Cards
• Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards
• Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
• Best Credit Cards to Build Credit
• Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping
• Find the Best Personal Loan for You
• Best Personal Loans
• Best Debt Consolidation Loans
• Best Loans to Refinance Credit Card Debt
• Best Loans with Fast Funding
• Best Small Personal Loans
• Best Large Personal Loans
• Best Personal Loans to Apply Online
• Best Student Loan Refinance
• Best Car Loans
• All Banking
• Find the Savings Account for You
• Best High Yield Savings Accounts
• Best Big Bank Savings Accounts
• Best Big Bank Checking Accounts
• Best No Fee Checking Accounts
• No Overdraft Fee Checking Accounts
• Best Checking Account Bonuses
• Best Money Market Accounts
• Best Credit Unions
• All Mortgages
• Best Mortgages
• Best Mortgages for Small Down Payment
• Best Mortgages for No Down Payment
• Best Mortgages for Average Credit Score
• Best Mortgages No Origination Fee
• Adjustable Rate Mortgages
• Affording a Mortgage
• All Insurance
• Best Life Insurance
• Best Life Insurance for Seniors
• Best Homeowners Insurance
• Best Renters Insurance
• Best Car Insurance
• Best Pet Insurance
• Best Boat Insurance
• Best Motorcycle Insurance
• Travel Insurance
• Event Ticket Insurance
• Small Business
• All Small Business
• Best Small Business Savings Accounts
• Best Small Business Checking Accounts
• Best Credit Cards for Small Business
• Best Small Business Loans
• Best Tax Software for Small Business
• Personal Finance
• All Personal Finance
• Best Budgeting Apps
• Best Expense Tracker Apps
• Best Money Transfer Apps
• Best Resale Apps and Sites
• Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) Apps
• Best Debt Relief
• Credit Monitoring
• All Credit Monitoring
• Best Credit Monitoring Services
• Best Identity Theft Protection
• How to Boost Your Credit Score
• Best Credit Repair Companies
• Filing For Free
• Best Tax Software
• Best Tax Software for Small Businesses
• Tax Refunds
• Tax Brackets
• Taxes By State
• Tax Payment Plans
• Help for Low Credit Scores
• All Help for Low Credit Scores
• Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit
• Best Personal Loans for Bad Credit
• Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit
• Personal Loans if You Don't Have Credit
• Best Credit Cards for Building Credit
• Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score Lower
• Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower
• Best Mortgages for Bad Credit
• Best Hardship Loans
• All Investing
• Best IRA Accounts
• Best Roth IRA Accounts
• Best Investing Apps
• Best Free Stock Trading Platforms
• Best Robo-Advisors
• Index Funds
• Mutual Funds
• Home & Kitchen
• Gift Guides
• Deals & Sales
• Sign up for the CNBC Select Newsletter
• Subscribe to CNBC PRO
• Privacy Policy
• Your Privacy Choices
• Terms Of Service
• CNBC Sitemap

Follow Select

Our top picks of timely offers from our partners

Find the best credit card for you

Use these insider travel tips to save hundreds on your next vacation, here are five ways to save big next time you book a trip..

Information about the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

With the holidays fast approaching and children ages 5 and up finally getting vaccinated, more and more Americans are planning vacations. But it's harder and harder to find a deal.

Planning a trip can be costly with flights, accommodations, tours, excursions, dining and more. 

Still, there are deals to be had if you know where to look. Start by subscribing to emails from travel partners and follow them on social media, so you're among the first to learn about flash sales and special saving opportunities. Being flexible with travel dates and traveling off-peak are also easy ways to save.

Looking for a few more ways to trim that travel budget ? Here are five tips you don't want to miss.

Our best selections in your inbox. Shopping recommendations that help upgrade your life, delivered weekly.  Sign-up here .

1. Be flexible with airport choices

If you always fly out from a big-city airport that's closest to your home, you might want to explore other options. That airport may have the most flights, the most carriers and the widest range of departure times, but the fares might not be the best out there. 

Although it's always easy to do what you're familiar with, pushing yourself to fly from a different airport can save you hundreds.

For example, if you are flying from Philadelphia to Fort Lauderdale, use Google Flights to search for other airport options like nearby Trenton for Philadelphia. Sure, you may not have as many carriers or flight choices, but the fares can be considerably lower. The savings can be very steep, especially during peak-travel times, or if you're traveling with others.

Additionally, consider an airport that's within a few hours' driving distance to your destination. In the example above, you might want to swap Palm Beach International Airport for Fort Lauderdale. This may add a bit of commuting time but it could yield substantial savings.

2. Understand airline search algorithms

If you're traveling with multiple people, you might find that the enticing flight deal you want disappears when you add any additional passengers to your itinerary.

"This happens because airline tickets are sold in different classes called 'fare buckets,' which are essentially groups of fares that are priced similarly based on certain rules and restrictions," says Willis Orlando, senior product operations specialist with Scott's Cheap Flights .

Instead of having one steady price, airlines offer various prices for the exact same product, in an attempt to sell as many tickets to as many people at as high a price as possible, says Orlando. 

"Airlines do this to maximize the amount of revenue they can get for each flight," he continues.  

"When the price jumps, decrease the number of passengers and purchase one ticket at the lowest price, with any additional tickets purchased at the higher price of the next fare bucket," Orlando says.

If you discover that you can snag better fares by purchasing your tickets separately, buy one at a time and then call the airline afterward to 'link' your itineraries, he says.

3. Consider bundling hotels and flights

It's easy to use sites like Expedia or Kayak to book trips on one platform, bundling both flights and rooms. But take the time to do your research to make sure the rates are truly better than if you booked the trip on your own.

"Vacation packages can save you $500 or more," confirms Steve Oliverez, CEO of InsanelyCheapFlights.com . "If you plan on staying at a hotel during your trip, always check to see if a package deal is cheaper. Brands are usually more willing to offer discounts when it's less transparent, such as in a bundle."

And if you can be a bit spontaneous, you can grab an even better deal. "Unlike flights, package deals are often discounted when booked at the last minute," Oliverez says.

In addition to the booking sites you may know, many airlines like American, Delta and JetBlue offer vacation packages as well. For example, you can save money on a getaway through JetBlue Vacations by using promo codes to save up to $500 on packages to Aruba, Cancun, Montego Bay and Punta Cana. JetBlue Vacations is offering this deal to promote its Insider Experience, which features local concierge services included at no additional charge.

There are four different offers available, each with an associated promo code:

• Get $50 off with promo code INSIDER50
• Get $100 off when you spend $2,000 with promo code INSIDER100
• Get $250 off when you spend $4,000 with promo code INSIDER250
• Get $500 off when you spend $7,000 with promo code INSIDER500

This JetBlue Vacations promo code offer is good through December 31, 2021, for travel through March 2022.

4. Consider different lodging options

You can get access to booking top resorts through timeshare marketplaces and garner direct-from-owner pricing from platforms like RedWeek . 

According to RedWeek, here are some current price comparisons that would save a traveler $500 or more off a trip:

• Marriott's Aruba Surf Club, 7 night stays for only $1,650 compared to $2,152 elsewhere (savings of $502)
• Marriott's Maui Ocean Club, 7 night stays in January for only $3,500 compared to $4,183 elsewhere (savings of $683)
• Marriott's Newport Coast Villas, 5 night stays in November for only $995 compared to $1,632 elsewhere (savings of $637)

RedWeek is a timeshare rental platform that allows any traveler to book a trip from a timeshare owner that isn't using it. Don't worry, you're not joining a timeshare — you just book your vacation, similar to how a homeowner might rent out a pad on Airbnb, but in the case of RedWeek you're actually staying at a hotel or resort. Timeshares typically boast more space, kitchen and laundry amenities, and other perks like free parking and on-property shopping.

5. Sign up for a travel credit card with a big welcome bonus

More and more card issuers are offering generous welcome bonuses that can be cashed in for travel purchases.

Chase is offering a new limited time offer on select Chase co-branded  airline credit cards : new cardholders signing up for the  British Airways Visa Signature® Card ,  Iberia Visa Signature® Card  or  Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card  can earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. 5x Avios on up to $10k in gas, grocery stores, and dining purchases for first 12 months!

If you're a frequent Southwest flier, all three of the consumer Southwest credit cards ( Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card , Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card ) offer a welcome bonus of 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

If you're more interested in a general travel card , the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card  is currently offering a welcome bonus of 60,000 points if you spend $4,000 on purchases within three months of account opening, which is worth $750 if you spend it on travel booked through Chase Travel℠.

It can be a little bit of work to maximize your points to cash in on free travel, but it's worth the effort. Check out our guides on using the Amex Travel Portal , the Chase Ultimate Rewards® travel portal and how to make the most of your Avios points for a few ideas on how to get started.

Catch up on Select's in-depth coverage of  personal finance ,  tech and tools ,  wellness  and more, and follow us on  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

• 3 best Chase balance transfer credit cards of 2024 Jason Stauffer
• AIG Travel Guard insurance review: What you need to know Ana Staples
• Here are the 8 best password managers Ryley Amond

Protect Your Trip »

12 Unconventional Ways to Save on Travel

Points and miles are major, but there are other cheap ways to travel too.

Getty Images

Consider setting up airfare alerts, housesitting and traveling midweek to help stay in budget.

Traveling can be expensive, and even when you rely on widely known savings tactics – such as traveling in off-peak seasons or staying at a hostel or a rental with a kitchen – the costs inevitably add up. If you're looking for ways to save on your next trip, add these unconventional tips provided by travel industry experts to your hat of travel tricks.

Get a set of packing cubes

Traveling with just a carry-on bag is a cost-effective option since it's typically free on most major airlines, but it's often easier said than done. That's why packing cubes are a good investment. They don't cost much – you can get a quality set like this one by Bagail for less than $25 – and they inevitably allow you to save space and fit more in your carry-on (or checked luggage ).

[Read: Guide: Carry-on Luggage Sizes by Airline .]

Choose the flight, then the destination

Scott Keyes, flight expert and founder of Scott's Cheap Flights , recommends changing the way you search for flights to save on airfare . Instead of looking for flights to a specific destination, use a flight comparison tool like Google Flights , Momondo or Skyscanner to browse a variety of airfares from your preferred airport(s). Maybe a trip to Barcelona wasn't what you originally had in mind, but if the price is right, why not head there instead?

Consider alternate airports

While flying from the airport closest to home is always the most convenient option, Keyes also suggests comparing fares from other airports, even those that are a few hours away. You may find prices are hundreds of dollars less to get to the same location, making the combined cost of gas, parking and driving time an excellent investment.

If you can drive a few hours to a larger airport with more flight options in general, that may be even better. Not only do you have the potential to save money, but you're more likely to find a direct flight or a route with fewer layovers.

[Read: What to Do If Your Flight Is Canceled or Delayed .]

Set up airfare alerts

If you're eager to travel far and want to save big on airfare, keep an eye out for short-term airfare offers on websites like Hopper and Trip.com . These sites offer deals that usually last a short time, meaning you have to strike while the iron is hot. "I do this every time I book a flight and I usually save at least 10%, but sometimes up to 75%," says Josh Band of A Backpacker's World . "I once got a flight that should have been $200-plus for just over $50 by setting up an alert."

Go to Europe for Thanksgiving

Many Americans opt to head to Grandma's house or another domestic destination for turkey dinner. However, not as many escape to the Caribbean and Mexico, and even less go to Europe – which means you're more likely to find flight deals to Paris , London and other European vacations you've been wanting to cross off your bucket list.

Travel midweek

There's no set day of the week to book the cheapest airfare, but there are less expensive days to travel, says Keyes. He recommends flying on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays since most business travelers fly on Sundays and Mondays (and consequently drive up the cost of airfare on those days).

Consider a 'bleisure' trip

If you have an upcoming business trip in a unique or new-to-you destination, consider tacking on a few personal days to the journey. This way, you can enjoy a mini-vacation sans airfare (assuming your company will cover that portion).

[Read: The Best Garment Bags for Travel, According to Reviews .]

Buy travel insurance

It may sound counterintuitive, but purchasing travel insurance can save your bank account (and your sanity) in the event that you or a family member falls ill or has another emergency that forces you to change your vacation plans before or during the trip. A basic and cheap travel insurance policy will suffice, though there are coverage options for a wide variety of needs – including cancel for any reason travel insurance (which is exactly what it sounds like).

Housesit for free accommodations

Did you know you can enjoy free accommodations in exchange for housesitting? Sites like House Sitters America and Mind My House offer housesitting opportunities for a small annual fee (less than $50). Many of the homeowners have pets who need TLC while they're gone, too, making this a fun and budget-friendly alternative to traditional rentals like Airbnb. No matter where you travel, it doesn't get much better than living like a local and playing with pups.

Similarly, you can try couch surfing, which allows you to stay with a local for free. Services like the site Couchsurfing charge a negligible monthly or annual fee to sign up and get verified for safety purposes, while others such as BeWelcome are free. These services also provide exclusive meetups with other travelers.

Read: The Best Vacation Rental Travel Insurance Plans

Sign up for a family loyalty program

Did you know there are loyalty programs that allow family members or groups to pool rewards or freely transfer rewards to others?

"This can be a great option for infrequent travelers who may not rack up enough points or miles for a free flight or hotel room individually – but can reach those rewards when combined," says Nick Ewen, director of content for The Points Guy . "In some cases, it's a single, pooled account that automatically combines points (like JetBlue). In other cases, you can simply transfer points from one account to another (like Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt, or Marriott Bonvoy)." He recommends reading the full terms and conditions of these programs, as some impose time limits, maximum transfer amounts and other restrictions.

Use travel rewards on experiences

Don't forget that both airline credit cards and airline rewards programs can be used to cover more than flights and hotels. Programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards make it easy to redeem points for sporting events, dining (including reservations, exclusive culinary experiences and takeout orders) and more.

You can also use points earned on hotel credit cards as well as hotel rewards programs to pay for fun experiences in hundreds of destinations around the world. Options range from cooking classes and concerts to outdoor activities and spa experiences .

Book a refundable car rental

While some companies offer discounts for prepaid car rentals, many travelers say they've had better luck with booking refundable car rentals , allowing them to secure a reasonable rate while keeping a watchful eye for price drops. If a better price pops up, simply cancel your original reservation and book at the lower rate. Frequent traveler Pamela Howard, who writes about her experiences on Our Adventure Is Everywhere , says she's consistently able to save anywhere from $25 to $100 using this tactic on Costco Travel car rentals. "It's simple and that little bit of time rechecking rates pays substantially in savings."

Ewen says you can do the same when you book a flight or hotel using points since many loyalty programs have flexible cancellation policies. "If you lock in a flight at 35,000 miles and see that your same ticket is 30,000 miles just a week later, you should be able to rebook and get those 5,000 miles back into your account," he explains.

You might also be interested in:

• The Best Cruise Lines for the Money
• The Top Cheap All-Inclusive Resorts
• The Top Cheap Weekend Getaways in the U.S.
• The Top All-Inclusive Resorts Where Kids Stay Free
• Cruise Lines That Let Kids Sail Free

Tags: Travel , Budget Travel , Travel Tips

World's Best Places To Visit

• # 1 South Island, New Zealand
• # 4 Bora Bora

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

You May Also Like

The best east coast beaches.

April 19, 2024

The Best Luggage Brands

Rachael Hood April 17, 2024

The Best Carry-on Luggage

Erin Evans , Rachael Hood , Catriona Kendall , Amanda Norcross and Leilani Osmundson April 17, 2024

The Best Hard-sided Luggage Picks

The Best Yellowstone National Park Tours

John Rodwan April 17, 2024

The Best Rome Colosseum Tours

Laura Itzkowitz April 17, 2024

Best Alaska Tours

Lyn Mettler April 16, 2024

The Best Fredericksburg Wine Tours

The Best Personal Item Bags

Rachael Hood April 16, 2024

The 17 Best Costa Rica Tours

Lyn Mettler April 12, 2024

clock This article was published more than  5 years ago

This writer tried booking the same vacation four ways. The results might surprise you

There are many ways to book a vacation: You can do it directly with hotels and airlines, through a travel agent, through third-party sites or separately through aggregators such as Google Flights. The choices can be overwhelming, and might lead travelers to wonder: Which way is best?

First, they must decide what they mean by best. Does best mean the lowest price? The most efficient process? Bookings that result in the most luxurious experience? And even then, there’s no easy answer. “There are definitely more ways to book a trip today than there ever have been before, but that doesn’t mean that there is a single way that’s going to get you the lowest price,” says Bjorn Hanson, an adjunct professor at the Tisch Center for Hospitality at New York University. Because each getaway is different, travelers will need to do their research for every trip, Hanson says, to see where they’re going to get the maximum value for their money.

The concept of value, like the concept of the best booking process, varies depending on the traveler, according to Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst and the founder of Atmosphere Research Group . “Some people want the lowest price and don’t care about anything else, while others like amenities and inclusions at their hotel and would rather pay more money for a nonstop flight versus a connection,” he says.

The frugal traveler’s essential list of budget travel hacks

Harteveldt prefers the latter approach for his own trips and often turns to a travel agent for help. “I’m a fan of traditional agents because they can sometimes get me room upgrades and deals that aren’t available elsewhere,” he says. “They can also get me extras at a hotel for no charge, like a nice welcome amenity.”

To illustrate how different ways of booking a vacation can lead to different results, I researched a sample trip using several methods. I looked at a five-night vacation for a family of four — two adults and two children — from April 13 to 18, traveling from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. My hotel of choice was the Atlantic Hotel & Spa, an upscale beachfront property with 124 suites, all with balconies and kitchenettes. It also has an Italian-inspired restaurant called Coastal, a spa and a pool. I searched for nonstop flights that would allow us to choose our seat assignments (it’s important that my family can sit together) and carry-on luggage.

Method: Directly through hotel, airline

Hotel price: A reservation agent for the Atlantic Hotel & Spa quoted me $376 a night for an ocean view studio king room, the property’s entry-level category. (All hotel pricing is without taxes.)

Airfare: I found a number of affordable nonstop flights from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport by searching on different airline sites. Given that I’m a frequent flier on American Airlines and have racked up lots of miles with the carrier, the most appealing was an AA flight for $278 a person round-trip, and it was the cheapest.

Total: $2,992

Inclusions: None

Good to know: The reservation agent I spoke with was very friendly and also knowledgeable about the hotel. He was able to answer my questions about the room’s size and help me determine if it would be large enough for my husband, me and our two kids, both under 12 years old. (It probably would be.) He also knew about the property in general and even told me about his favorite treatment at the spa — that would be the Swedish massage.

Method: Travel agent

I called Jack Ezon, the founder of Embark, a New York City travel agency that specializes in luxury trips. All travel agents can try to snag clients extras such as an upgraded room or free breakfast, but agents that specialize in luxury trips tend to have more success. While some travel agents charge planning fees, Ezon said he would not charge a planning fee for a simple trip like mine because he would get a commission from the hotel.

Hotel price: Ezon got me the ocean view studio king for $315 a night.

Airfare: Ezon found the same American Airlines flight I did and quoted me the same $278 a person, round trip, per ticket.

Total: $2,687

Inclusions: Daily breakfast, a space-available room upgrade, early check-in and late check-out, a welcome gift of either chocolate-covered oranges or key lime tarts and a boat tour for four of Fort Lauderdale.

Good to know: Ezon’s insider knowledge about the Atlantic Hotel & Spa was impressive. (Coincidentally, several of his agents had stayed there before.) “Not all studio king rooms are created equal,” he told me. “I’m going to book you in one ending in 12 because they are the biggest and give you 75 more square feet for the same price.” He also assured me that he would be on hand to help if I had any problems with flight delays or cancellations or with my room when I checked in.

Method: Expedia.com

Package price: Here’s where the booking process got tricky. When I searched for an air and hotel package for two adults and two children, Expedia.com showed the Atlantic Hotel & Spa as sold out. However, when I changed my search to two adults only, I got a package price of $1,014 a person for five nights with accommodations in the studio king room. I had a choice of flights with the package, including the same American flight I had been looking at. The site wouldn’t let me book one room plus flights for four travelers. I found the American Airlines flight I wanted for $268 a person. That left me two options. I could book the package and then add two flights, for a total of $2,564; I could also book flights and accommodations separately for four travelers. I found the room for $348 a night. With the four flights at $268, the total would have been more: $2,812, so the package plus two flights was the clear winner.

Total: $2,564

Good to know: Given that I had already called the hotel directly and had also been in touch with Ezon, I knew it wasn’t sold out for the dates I wanted. By tinkering with my search, I was able to book the hotel, but this isn’t something that all travelers would think to do. Those who are keen to book through Expedia.com are likely to choose another hotel and buy a package that allows them to bundle flights and accommodations for the number of travelers in their group.

Method: Booking.com and Google Flights

Hotel price: Booking.com, one of the world’s largest accommodation booking sites, found the same studio king room for $350 a night.

Airfare: Google Flights, which is a search engine for flights, turned up several nonstop flights with seat assignments and carry-on luggage privileges, including the $278 a person round trip on American Airlines and $331 a person round trip on United Airlines.

Total: $2,862

Good to know: Searching was straightforward and fast.

The verdict

It wasn’t the cheapest, but booking my trip through Ezon of Embark would have been the way to go for this particular trip. He got me the lowest price at the Atlantic Hotel & Spa and was able to comp me valuable extras, such as breakfast and the boat tour. And then there was the superstar service he provided. I may not have needed his hand-holding for an uncomplicated trip like this, but it was nice to have. A travel agent might not always be the best choice for a vacation, but after this experience, I will definitely consult one before booking future trips.

Vora is a writer based in New York. Follow her on Instagram:  @shivanivora78 .

More from Travel :

Answers to your top questions about traveling to Europe

Nine budget strategies for your next vacation

Six U.S. budget vacation destinations

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

You’re our first priority. Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

The Best Days to Book a Flight and When to Fly

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Believing there’s just one optimal day a week to save on flights — and that day is Tuesday — is the stuff of legends. And like all good legends, there is some truth to it … but it’s not the whole story.

The reality is that flight prices change constantly and at all hours of the day, adjusting to real-time demand. Airlines don’t restock on the same day every week like a grocery store, so you won’t find deals by waiting until Tuesdays to book. However, you might find some modest savings if you’re willing to fly on Saturdays or midweek, when there’s less demand than usual.

Here’s what the data shows on the best days to book a flight and when to fly.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Best day to book a flight

No single day of the week is best to book a flight. You can find deals any day of the week since flight prices fluctuate with demand.

Airlines might offer sales, increase the number of seats on a route or even lower prices to match a competitor, so there’s no actual pattern in what day of the week has the best deals.

Best day to fly

Hopper — a travel booking app — collected flight booking data from October 2023 through April 1, 2024 for May 2024 departures. Here are the findings about the best day to fly.

Tuesday and Friday flights can help you avoid the rush earlier in the week

Sundays and Mondays are the most expensive days to depart for domestic trips. If you can’t fly on the cheapest days, flying on Tuesdays or Fridays might also be a good option. The average airfare is about 12% lower than peak Sunday prices on these days.

Mondays can still be a relatively expensive day to fly domestically. By departing on Monday instead of Sunday, you can expect to save only about $9, or about 3%.

Wednesdays and Saturdays are the cheapest day to fly internationally

Meanwhile, international flyers would also be wise to leave on Wednesdays or Saturdays, usually the cheapest days to depart for an international trip. That said, there isn’t a huge difference in price across the days of the week for most international routes.

Hopper estimates that leaving on a Wednesday for Europe will only save you about 10% compared to the most expensive day (Friday).

Fly on the holidays (or as far from it as possible)

Holidays are an entirely different beast, no matter whether it’s the Fourth of July or Labor Day. There are generally more people flying in the days around a holiday, so there are fewer airplane seats available and higher prices.

To get the best deal, book as early as possible. Because many airlines have flexible cancellation policies, it doesn’t hurt to lock in a decent rate ahead of time and rebook if the flight price drops in the months after. According to Google Flights’ 2023 insights, the best time to book a mid-December holiday flight is 71 days before departure.

In many cases, the best day to fly will be further out from the holiday. If the holiday falls on a Monday, flying the Tuesday before will likely be cheaper than flying the Friday before. You can also look at flying on the holiday itself. For example, flying on Christmas Day or Thanksgiving Day is usually much more affordable than flying on the days before or after.

Here are our recommendations for when to fly around some of the major holidays based on recent checkpoint data from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA):

The best days to fly around Memorial Day .

The best days to fly around Fourth of July .

The best days to fly around Labor Day .

The best days to fly around Thanksgiving .

The best days to fly around Christmas .

The best days to fly around the winter holidays .

on Chase's website

on American Express' website

on Citibank's application

• 5 points per dollar spent on travel (including flights) booked through Chase.

• 2 points per dollar on other travel (including flights).

Annual fee: $95 .

• 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel (on up to $500K per calendar year). Terms apply.

Annual fee: $695 .

• 3 points per dollar spent on air travel.

• 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. Terms apply.

Annual fee: $250 .

To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express , see this page . To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card , see this page .

Tips to find cheap flights any day of the week

Book one to three months in advance.

Even though no day of the week consistently has cheaper flights, there is a time period during which you should book before prices go up.

Going, a flight deals aggregator, recommends booking domestic flights one to three months in advance to avoid any price surges in the weeks leading up to the departure date. Last-minute flight deals aren’t super common and you risk not getting a seat at all because your desired flight might ultimately sell out. If you’re flying internationally, you’ll want to look two to eight months out.

It doesn’t hurt to look at flight prices before the ideal booking window. Google Flights, for example, sometimes shows in the search results when it expects prices to be the lowest based on historical data for your route.

Set a price alert

Let a computer program do the work for you. Instead of checking flight prices every day, set a price alert on the travel search engine of your choice — whether it’s Google Flights , Hopper, Skyscanner or Kayak . They’ll send you an email when they see the price drop.

Rebook if you find a cheaper price

Most airlines have adopted more flexible change and cancellation policies , which make it easier to rebook your flight and save money.

First, you’ll have to make sure that the original flight you booked will not have change or cancellation fees. For most airlines, that applies to most main cabin and premium class tickets on domestic flights and some short-haul international flights. You usually cannot change or cancel basic economy tickets for free.

If you can cancel or change without fees, set a price alert. When the price drops, you can cancel your flight and rebook (on the same airline or a different one) to get the cheaper price. Be aware that you might only get a travel voucher or credit if you cancel, so you should only use the option if you are fairly confident you will fly with the original airline again within one year.

Be flexible with destination, airport and dates

The golden rule of cheap travel remains: Be flexible . Use Google Flights to see if there are cheaper places to go by leaving the destination field blank when you search. Check nearby airports if you’re set on a destination and use the calendar views to find lower prices on different dates. Maybe embrace a long layover as a chance to see another city on your trip.

After all, the best day to book a flight and the best day to fly is when it’s cheapest, and that could vary depending on when and where you are going.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

• Book Travel
• Credit Cards

The Best Ways to Book Travel for Others

Planning travel isn’t for everyone – in fact, it can sometimes represent the biggest challenge for some. They might not know where to start, or they might not necessarily have the time to figure it out.

That’s why, traditionally, they might go to a travel agency for someone to plan everything for them.

However, for many of us who love travelling, planning trips is part of the fun. The more we plan, the better at it we become.

Inevitably, word spreads amongst family and friends, and before we know it, we’ve become “unofficial” travel agents offering pro bono services for everything from giving out travel information to planning and booking.

In This Post

Why book travel for others, hotel bookings on points, hotel bookings with cash, flight bookings on points, flight bookings with cash, activities and tours, possible caveats.

Most of us who book travel for others do so mainly to help friends and family. Other times, we may be travelling with a group, and it simply makes sense to have one person organize and book the trip for everyone, for the sake of efficiency.

If you happen to be a duly-licensed travel agent, then there’s also a monetary motivation, as you can earn commissions on travel bookings. Your travel agent credentials may also entitle you to incentives, discounts, and benefits for yourself and your clients alike.

However, even if you’re an “unofficial” travel agent, then you can still benefit from strategically booking travel for friends and family.

Some examples of this include cash back and rewards portals, earning elite nights towards status at hotels, and points earned through spending on your credit cards.

Frankly, it’s quite tricky to book hotels on points for others. However, there are a few strategies you may employ, such as:

• Gifting a rewards reservation directly
• Transfering points between members on a one-to-one basis
• Pooling points, which allows several members to contribute

With any of these strategies, you’ll have to abide by each hotel loyalty program’s own rules and restrictions. Below, you’ll find a quick summary of which programs participate in each method.

Gifting Reservations

IHG One Rewards , Hilton Honors , and Marriott Bonvoy allow you to add a second guest to a reservation made with points. Marriott Bonvoy officially allows you to book a reward stay in another member’s name up to five times a year.

Best Western Rewards and Choice Privileges also allow gifting of award stays, but only to immediate family members.

World of Hyatt allows the top-tier Globalists to gift award reservations, which are known as “Guest of Honor” bookings.

On the other hand, Free Night Awards , certain Suite Upgrade Awards, and Points + Cash Awards may be gifted by any World of Hyatt member.

Accor Live Limitless and Wyndham Rewards are two programs that explicitly don’t allow gifting of any award bookings.

Officially, most award bookings made for others won’t earn the gifting member or the receiving member any elite nights or points. Recipients should also not expect to receive the elite status benefits of the donor or their own on gifted stays.

However, your mileage may vary – my most recent gifted reservation through Marriott Bonvoy happened to earn elite nights.

World of Hyatt’s “Guest of Honor” booking is the only official exception, whereby the recipient of a gifted award booking will be granted all the status benefits of the Globalist member during their stay. The donor member also receives elite night credits.

Barring this exception, gifting reservations works well if the beneficiary doesn’t have any elite status, so they won’t lose out on any status perks they’d normally be entitled to.

If your guest has elite status with a program, then the best option is through points transfers or points pooling, as detailed below. This way, the booking can be made under their name and elite member profile, and consequently, their elite benefits will be honoured during their stay.

Points Transfers and Points Pooling

Marriott Bonvoy , Hilton Honors , World of Hyatt, and Best Western Rewards all allow complimentary points transfers to another member. IHG One Rewards charges a fee based on the number of points transferred, while Accor Live Limitless doesn’t allow points transfers at all.

Hilton Honors is the only hotel program that allows points pooling amongst a group of up to 11 members.

Keep in mind that each program may impose limits on the number of points that may be transferred each year, and be aware of the time it takes for the transfer to be completed.

For example, Marriott Bonvoy allows you to transfer up to 100,000 points to another member each calendar year, and you can only receive up to 500,000 points total each year.

If you’d rather save your points for yourself, there’s the much simpler option of booking hotels with cash. Here are some options for you to choose from.

Up until recently, the only site I used to make cash hotel bookings for others was Hotels.com. The site is easy to navigate and perform searches with, prices are usually comparable to other big travel sites, and refundable options are often available.

Outside of the big hotel chains, it has one of the best loyalty programs, Hotels.com Rewards, which lets you earn a free night with every 10 nights booked. The value of the free night is the average of the 10 nights booked, so essentially, you’re earning a 10% cash back.

One big advantage of the program is that you don’t have to be the one staying to earn rewards. The program allows you to make bookings under other people’s names, which ensures there won’t be any issues at check-in.

You can even secure or pay for the booking with the traveller’s own credit card for trip cancellation and interruption insurance purposes. Once they complete their stay, you’ll get credited for the stay, as long as the booking was made under your loyalty profile.

Aside from the free nights, the rooms you book also count towards your Hotels.com elite status, which has three levels: Member, Silver, and Gold.

Gold status entitles you to free room upgrades, early check-in, and late check-out at select VIP properties that participate in the program. Unlike other loyalty programs, the guest you booked for can enjoy these benefits too.

Last year, news came out that Hotels.com Rewards would be merging with other Expedia Group programs to form One Key. Unfortunately, the new loyalty program means a significant devaluation to Hotels.com Rewards.

On the US site, the merger took place in July 2023. Surprisingly, it’s yet to be rolled out on the Canadian site. Until then, you can continue to capitalize on the current Hotels.com Rewards program.

Other third-party booking sites have loyalty programs as well, but they pale in comparison to Hotels.com when you look at the earning rate. For example, Expedia’s rewards program yields a measly 1.4% cash back.

If you happen to reach the highest Gold status and book at one of Expedia’s VIP properties, then the cash back increases to 3.7%.

Rocketmiles

If you’d rather earn airline rewards than cash back, Rocketmiles is another online travel agency that could be used to book hotel stays for others.

The number of miles earned mainly depends on the cost of the stay. However, certain hotel brands and properties earn a better return than others.

Some airline loyalty programs have higher earning rates than others. In particular, Aeroplan , Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan , and Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles can yield up to 10 points or miles per dollar spent.

The best part is that you can make the booking for anyone, and the points or miles earned may be credited to anyone’s loyalty account.

Prince Collection

Prince of Travel recently launched Prince Collection , our in-house luxury travel agency. Prince Collection has access to the world’s best hotel preferred partner programs, including Four Seasons Preferred Partner , Rosewood Elite , Mandarin Oriental Fan Club , Marriott STARS , Hilton Impresario , and Hyatt Privé , as well as a wide range of independent boutique luxury properties.

Booking through preferred partner programs gives you and your guests access to exclusive benefits, such as:

• Daily breakfast for two people
• $100 (USD) hotel credit (varies by property)
• Welcome amenity
• One-category room upgrade, subject to availability
• Early check-in and/or late check-out, subject to availability
• Additional property-specific promotions (3rd/4th/5th night free, double points, and more)

In most cases, you’ll also benefit from your hotel loyalty program’s elite status, and earn elite night credits accordingly.

Plus, as a Prince of Travel Platinum member , you stand to benefit from the Hotel Crowns Program, which lets you earn one free night for every 10 stayed. The value of the free night is the average value of the previous 10 nights.

If you’re booking multiple rooms for your group, it’s possible to earn crowns for all rooms, but one of the rooms must be booked under your name. Therefore, when you book five rooms for two nights, you’ll earn 10 crowns, which is enough for a free night for yourself.

For more information on the Hotel Crowns Program, refer to its terms and conditions .

If you’re travelling with a group of family or friends and plan on splurging on fancier accommodation, booking through Prince Collection is a great opportunity to earn a free night for yourself, while giving your travel companions an elevated travel experience at the same time.

Bank-Affiliated Travel Portals

If you’d rather earn points through your credit card program, booking through a bank-affiliated travel portal can be a good option. You may earn 5–10 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases through these portals.

Often, these portals will allow you to book for another person, but the payment typically has to be on your credit card issued by the bank.

On the US side, booking through American Express Travel using your US-issued Platinum Card will earn you 5 Membership Rewards (MR) points per dollar spent on eligible flights and prepaid hotels.

With Capital One Travel or Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel, you may earn as many as 10 points points per dollar spent on eligible prepaid travel bookings.

Meanwhile, on the Canada side, you may use your TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card  on the Expedia for TD portal and earn 8 TD Rewards points per dollar spent on eligible travel bookings.

• Earn 20,000 TD Rewards Points upon making your first purchase †
• Earn  80 ,000 TD Rewards Points upon spending $5,000 within 180 days of account opening †
• Plus, earn up to 10,000 TD Rewards Points back on your birthday †
• Plus, earn 8x TD Rewards Points † on eligible travel purchases when you book through Expedia ® for TD †
• Get an annual TD Travel Credit † of $100 when you book through Expedia ® for TD †
• Use your rewards for any travel bookings available on Expedia ® for TD †
• Minimum income: $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
• Annual fee: $139, rebated for the first year †
• Application must be approved by June 3, 2024 to receive this offer

Most airline loyalty programs allow members to use their own points to book flights for others, and some will even allow their members to pool their points for redemptions. Keep in mind, however, that every airline loyalty program has its own rules when it comes to redeeming and pooling points for others.

Air Canada Aeroplan program allows you to book flights for virtually anyone. British Airways Executive Club requires you to add individuals to a “Family and Friends” list before a ticket can be redeemed for them. Other airlines, like EVA Air, have additional hurdles, such as forms that need to be submitted for any additional passengers you’re booking for.

Some airline programs allow pooling points, like Aeroplan’s Family Sharing , Air France KLM Flying Blue ’s Family Account, and British Airways Executive Club’s Household Account. These programs allow miles or points to be redeemed proportionally against the group’s balance.

Aeroplan takes the benefits one step further, allowing members of a family group to score preferred pricing on redemptions based on another member’s elite status or possession of a co-branded credit card .

When it comes to booking cash flights, the strategy isn’t much different than booking a flight for yourself. Generally, I recommend booking directly with the airline you’re flying with, rather than going through a third-party vendor.

Booking through a third-party vendor usually means you’ll have to deal through them when there’s a flight cancellation or delay, which can be a nightmare. Refunds and changes must be made through them as well.

Moreover, since third-party vendors receive slim commissions on flight bookings, they usually don’t offer much in the way of incentives.

Thus, it’s more important to strategize which credit card you’re going to use to book flights.

In Canada, the HSBC World Elite Mastercard, which is no longer open for new applications , earns 3% back in travel rewards on eligible travel purchases with no foreign exchange fees, while the American Express Gold Rewards Card and Cobalt Card earn 2 MR points per dollar spent on eligible travel purchases.

If you’re into the US credit card game , the American Express Platinum Card yields 5 MR points per dollar spent on eligible flights booked through its in-house Amex Travel agency.

Meanwhile, the Capital One Venture X card earns 5 miles per dollar spent on eligible flights booked through the Capital One Travel portal, which is the only agency I recommend booking flights with.

Its pricing often reflects what you’d see on Google Flights , but you also get additional benefits, including price-drop and price-match guarantees.

Viator is my go-to site for booking tours, activities, and services, whether for my own travels or for others.

When booking through Viator, you may earn cash back or points through a portal like Rakuten or the Aeroplan eStore .

Alternatively, you may choose to earn your cash back through Viator’s in-house rewards program, which offers a 5% value to use on future bookings.

Note that Viator codes as a travel purchase, so you’ll want to use a credit card with a good travel multiplier. You’ll also want to make sure that you’re booking in the currency of your card, so you won’t incur applicable foreign exchange fees.

Based on my experience, Viator has great online support. Through its platform, you can directly message customer service and the tour company offering the activity.

For example, we had a transfer booked, and our driver was also supposed to be the guide. However, at the last minute, the company subbed in another driver, who didn’t give any commentary during the tour. When I filed a complaint with Viator, it promptly refunded the whole transfer cost, no questions asked.

Another activity provider is GetYourGuide, but it doesn’t offer a rewards program. If you book with them, be sure to book through a cash-back portal like TopCashback, which can give you up to 10% of your booking cost back.

A downside to booking with the online agencies mentioned is that they may be charging you more versus going to the provider directly. Hence, do your research, and always double-check the pricing.

The biggest drawback when booking travel for others is when changes or cancellations need to be made.

Generally, if the bookings were made from your membership or loyalty account, you’ll have to make the changes on the traveller’s behalf. These changes could potentially cause more work than you initially bargained for.

Another consideration is trip cancellation or interruption insurance for the people whom you’re assisting with travel arrangements.

Whenever possible, I use the traveller’s credit card when making bookings, so in the unlikely circumstance that they need to make an insurance claim, they can. To me, this peace of mind outweighs any points or perks that I may acquire from using my own credit card.

While booking for others can be rewarding, it still takes time and effort on your part. Hopefully, through this guide, you found some new ways for you to enjoy a small kickback for your efforts.

Whether it be extra cash back, points, or even a free hotel stay, it’s always nice to be compensated in some way for your time and effort, especially when it doesn’t come at any cost to your friends and family.

• Earn 80,000 MR points upon spending $15,000 in the first three months
• Plus, earn  40,000 MR points  upon making a purchase in months 14–17 as a cardholder
• And, earn 1.25x MR points on all purchases
• Also, receive a $200 annual travel credit
• Transfer MR points to Aeroplan and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights
• Unlimited airport lounge access for you and one guest at Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, Centurion, and other lounges
• Credits and rebates for business expenses throughout the year with Amex Offers
• Bonus MR points for referring family and friends
• Qualify for the card as a sole proprietor
• Annual fee: $799

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Prince of Travel is Canada’s leading resource for using frequent flyer miles, credit card points, and loyalty programs to travel the world at a fraction of the price.

Join our Sunday newsletter below to get weekly updates delivered straight to your inbox.

Have a question? Just ask.

Business Platinum Card from American Express

120,000 MR points

American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card

85,000 Aeroplan points

American Express Platinum Card

100,000 MR points

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card

Up to 85,000 Aeroplan points†

Latest News

Korean Air and WestJet Strengthen Codeshare Agreement

News Apr 23, 2024

RBC Avion Credit Cards: Record-High Offers for 55,000 Avion Points! (Ending Soon)

Deals Apr 22, 2024

Head-to-Head: Brim Air France KLM World Elite® Mastercard® vs. Cathay World Elite® Mastercard® – powered by Neo

Guides Apr 22, 2024

Recent Discussion

The essential guide to rbc avion rewards, rbc changes earning rates on the rbc® british airways visa infinite†, what is the uk air passenger duty (apd), review: rbc® avion visa infinite†, canada’s 32 best credit card offers for april 2024, prince of travel elites.

Points Consulting

7 of the best all-inclusive experiences to book this year, from a travel planner

• As a travel planner, my clients seem to be increasingly interested in all-inclusive trips .
• Some of my favorite luxury resorts are in Costa Rica, the Maldives, and Isla Mujeres.
• Cruises, group tours, and adults-only lodgings can also come with all-inclusive options. 

As a travel planner at Marvelous Mouse Travels , I know vacations are expensive — especially if you're looking to go somewhere this summer . But all-inclusive travel is often a great way to get the most value out of a luxury experience.

I've been on several all-inclusive vacations with my family, friends, and work, and I've helped other people book them in destinations around the world .

Here are some of the best all-inclusive experiences I'm recommending to my clients this year.

Try a split-stay vacation to see the best of Costa Rica.

Costa Rica is one of the most sought-after vacations , and for good reason. It's great for both relaxation and adventure.

I recommend booking a split stay, starting at an all-inclusive resort in Guanacaste near the beach for some fun in the sun and moving to a resort near the famous Arenal Volcano for a jungle adventure.

Some of my favorite resorts in Costa Rica are the Westin Reserva Conchal and the Dreams Las Mareas. And if you're looking for an even more unique experience, check out the glorious swim-out suites with private pools at Dreams.

Baglioni Maldives is one of my favorite all-inclusive resorts.

The Maldives, a remote set of islands in the Indian Ocean, offers a plethora of resort options for couples and families, but Baglioni Maldives is my favorite.

For many in the US, getting to the islands can be daunting — there are very few direct commercial flights, and it can take almost an entire day. But it's hard to beat the country's luxury accommodations and gorgeous landscape.

The Maldives also has some of the most beautiful marine life and coveted spots for snorkeling and scuba diving.

No matter where you go, overwater bungalows are the ultimate all-inclusive splurge.

Overwater bungalows — villas standing on poles over open ocean water — are prevalent at all-inclusive resorts in destinations like the Maldives, Fiji, and Bali.

But I've also come across the luxurious accommodations at select adults-only Sandals Resorts throughout the Caribbean.

I think having a private villa on the water is the perfect way to unwind and relax.

Adults-only vacations are on the rise.

Traveling with kids can be a blast, but I also think it's important for adults to take a much-needed break on their own.

Adults-only resorts have been a total respite for me and my husband after hectic months of juggling work with our kids' school and sports schedules.

If you're looking to unwind with a partner, relax on a girls' trip, or even connect with your adult children, there are countless adults-only, all-inclusive resorts to choose from, depending on where you're looking to visit.

Some properties, including Sandals and Beaches Resorts, also offer butler service. Designated staff members can help with anything from room requests and dining reservations to cabana rentals and transportation coordination.

I upgraded to the service at my favorite adults-only spot, Le Blanc Los Cabos, and I felt totally pampered.

Isla Mujeres is pure luxury.

Isla Mujeres, a small island off the coast of Cancún, is known for its crystal-clear, turquoise water and peaceful vibe. It's also home to Playa Norte, one of the best beaches in Mexico .

Impressions Isla Mujeres by Secrets is a gorgeous all-inclusive resort on the island. It offers luxury at its finest, but with only 125 rooms, it has a boutique feel.

One of my favorite features of the resort is the waterslide that leads right into the beautiful ocean.

There are plenty of all-inclusive packages at sea.

Cruising is one of the most popular vacations , whether it's an epic adventure on a Royal Caribbean Cruise, a couples-only journey on Virgin Voyages, or a regal tour of Europe on Viking River Cruises.

Although cruises aren't traditionally considered all-inclusive, with the right booking, they can have the same feel as a luxury resort.

Most cruise bookings include food, nonalcoholic drinks, and live entertainment. If you add beverage packages and excursions in advance, your trip should be fully paid for before you depart.

Book a small-group or private tour if you're looking for adventure.

Group travel is a great way to explore new places while soaking up culture and history.

Popular destinations include Italy, Japan, Costa Rica, and Alaska, and many travel companies take care of everything for you, essentially making it all-inclusive.

I like Adventures by Disney , which offers small-group travel all over the world facilitated by seasoned guides. All the trip details are taken care of, including experiences, food, lodging, and transportation.

Additionally, Kensington Tours offers luxury private travel where every facet of the trip is meticulously planned for you.

• Main content

FinanceBuzz

8 Proven Ways To Find Cheaper Airline Ticket Prices

Posted: November 26, 2023 | Last updated: April 7, 2024

Hopping online to purchase airline tickets can cause quite a shock due to their high prices. 

Earn Points and Miles: Find the best travel credit card for nearly free travel

Thanks to the cost of gas, staffing issues, and pilot shortages, it’s not cheap to travel by plane. That’s why we’re here to help you get the best deals on airline tickets so you can start traveling more . 

Here are the best tips to help you find the most affordable airplane tickets for the times you just need to get away.

Use a travel or airline credit card

One easy way to save on airline tickets is to purchase them with the best travel credit cards, which give you points for each dollar you spend. 

The best airline credit cards offer similar rewards programs, allowing you to acquire miles that you can save up and redeem for discounted or even free flights.

Some credit cards will also offer free companion tickets. Just be sure that you don’t carry a balance on either type of credit card, as interest rates and annual fees can negate any benefits you rack up if you let debt build up without paying it off in a timely manner.

Get expert advice on making more money - sent straight to your inbox.

Plan your trip far in advance

You may have heard that there are magical times when you can book a flight to snag the best possible price on airline tickets. 

However, that might not always be the case, especially considering the fluctuating price of oil and general market uncertainty.

To that end, it’s best to book your flight as soon as you know you will be taking one. Travel experts suggest booking your summer trip in winter, and vice versa. Think of it like buying a bathing suit when it’s chilly or a parka when it’s beach weather.

Book on certain days and fly at unpopular times

You’d be hard-pressed to find a person who delights at getting up at 3 a.m. for an early flight or boarding at 11 p.m. for a red-eye flight. However, the discomfort and exhaustion of traveling at the crack of dawn or the dead of night might translate into some serious savings for you.

Also, purchasing your airline tickets on certain days of the week, like Thursdays, and planning to depart on a Wednesday can chip away at the cost as well. 

Although the savings may not be huge, any savings helps. So yes, the days and times you both book and fly can spare your wallet.

Grow Your $$: 11 brilliant ways to build wealth after 40

Add a connecting flight

Let’s face it, booking a direct flight is certainly the easiest and most hassle-free way to go about air travel. Your bag travels with you in one plane, you don’t have to run through the airport to catch a connection and delays will stress you out far less this way.

However, you’re likely to pay more for a direct route. If you want to save some cash, then book a connecting flight. 

You do run the risk of arriving at your connecting flight a sweaty mess and will have to add extra time to your overall travel schedule, but you’re going to the same place in the end.

Book with a budget airline

We’ve all heard the horror stories of flying on a budget airline, but take those with a grain of salt. The reason? These airlines have grown significantly in recent years, and have quadrupled in size since the last time oil prices were soaring into oblivion.

Additionally, more people are turning to budget airlines to book their flights, from a mere 4% of travelers in 2008 to 15%, and growing today.

You do have to be mindful of hidden fees on budget airlines, including for carry-ons and such, but in the end, you can wind up with serious savings.

Sign up for sites like Travelzoo

If you have flexibility about when and where you want to travel, you can find some of the best airline tickets and travel packages around on sites like Travelzoo.

This company has an entire staff of experts who spend their time scouring the web to find the best deals on a wide variety of trips, from quick beach getaways in Mexico to bucket list trips like African safaris, eco getaways to the Galapagos Islands, and more.

All you need to do to access these deals is sign up with your email address, and each week you will get a list of their top 20 picks, with cheap airfare included in many of them.

Retire Sooner: Take this quiz to see if you can retire early

Book with a site like Expedia

Another way you can save money on plane tickets is by booking your flight on sites like Expedia. For one, you can often (but not always) find cheaper flights on Expedia as opposed to booking them directly with a carrier. 

Additionally, if you’re willing to bundle your flight, hotel, and car rental, you’ll often find that doing so comes out cheaper than the sum of its parts.

Expedia also offers last-minute deals similar to Travelzoo if you’re up for a spontaneous adventure. Just be sure to compare shops, and read the cancellation policies very carefully. Finally, Expedia also offers reward programs, but airline and credit card reward programs tend to be more lucrative.

Use a travel agency

This last bit of advice might sound like a relic from a time gone by, but booking with a travel agency can still save you money, even in the era of oodles of travel websites. 

For one reason, they have expertise that can be exceptionally valuable, especially if you are planning a complicated trip to a place you’ve never been, like South Asia or the Middle East. 

Additionally, you often don’t have to pay extra to utilize an agent, as their compensation comes from the hotels and services they work with. Just inquire about fees up front, and prepare to save.

Bottom line

While flying in general is more expensive lately, especially if you have to book at the last minute, it’s not impossible to score some savings. This is especially true if you do a little recognizance beforehand.

If possible, consider saving money on travel by taking the train if you can reach your destination, as those fares can be far cheaper. You can see more of the country, too. 

More from FinanceBuzz:

• 6 genius hacks Costco shoppers should know.
• Can you retire early? Take this quiz and find out.
• 7 things to do if you're scraping by financially.
• 9 simple ways to make up to an extra $200/day

More for You

29 common human foods you may not realize are poisonous to your dog

Famous Roles That 16 Actors Never Want to Play Again

Why You Should Think Twice Before Pouring Boiling Water Over Ant Hills In Your Yard

It’s not that Trump beat Clinton. It’s all the other stuff.

Jerry Seinfeld Says the ‘Movie Business Is Over' and ‘Film Doesn't Occupy the Pinnacle in the Cultural Hierarchy' Anymore: ‘Disorientation Replaced' It

Should you leave your laptop plugged in all the time?

Barber Coins Are Worth Thousands: Here’s How To Spot Them in Your Spare Change

30 food items that you might not know are banned in America

How much Bill Gates pays in property taxes on his pricey real estate portfolio

If You See Black Residue on Your Cast-Iron Skillet, This Is What It Means

18 Funny Examples of ‘If It’s Stupid and It Works, It’s Not Stupid’

Why You Should Be Putting Aluminum Foil Behind Your Router

Here is the true value of having a fully paid-off home in America — especially when you're heading into retirement

NATO Ally 'Ready' to Station Nuclear Weapons on Its Territory

Trump Blames Biden For Strong Dollar—As US Currency Reaches New High Against Japanese Yen

Anthony Davis says he’s ‘the best defensive player in the league,’ has given up on winning Defensive Player of the Year

10 most ‘overpriced’ tourist attractions in the world – and three are in the US

How Do I Know If My Dog Is Happy? 12 Signs of a Happy Dog

Two Billionaires Just Bought Colorado’s Most Expensive Home (and This Is How Much They Paid)

Experts Say These Are The 5 Worst Foods For Your Cholesterol

Taking the train in Ireland – what you need to know

Apr 19, 2024 • 11 min read

A train travels along the Rosslare, Wexford to Dublin line in Ireland © Irish Rail

Traveling by train is one of Ireland ’s great, if under-appreciated, pleasures.

It’s a small island and the rail network is limited, so no journey is especially long – but riding the rails across the country is one of the loveliest ways to enjoy the rolling countryside.

Compared to its European counterparts, Irish trains aren’t especially spectacular, but this is a country that doesn’t need high-speed or sleeper trains: you roll along at a maximum of 160km/h (99mph) and before you know it you’re on the other side of the island.

The particular nature of Irish demographics has shaped train travel in Ireland: with around a quarter of the population clustered in the greater Dublin region, it makes sense that most train journeys begin or end in the capital. In Northern Ireland the same is true of Belfast .

Irish trains might not be especially quick or super luxurious, but they’re an efficient and eco-friendly way of exploring the island – so long as your explorations are focused on the major cities and towns. Here is our essential guide to train travel in Ireland.

The lowdown on rail travel in Ireland

Irish trains are efficient, relatively frequent and usually on time.  Irish Rail/Iarnród Éireann operates the entire network of trains in the Republic, from intercity trains linking the major urban centers to the busy commuter network that services the greater Dublin region.

There are two main lines into the west and three into the south and southwest; spurs off the main lines connect to a host of smaller towns throughout the country. There’s also a line to Belfast, from where  Translink services connect the city with the Antrim Coast and Derry (Londonderry) .

Within the greater Dublin region, a network of commuter services connects the capital with a host of suburbs and dormitory towns in the surrounding counties. Dublin’s coastline between the northside suburbs of Howth and Malahide, and Greystones in County Wicklow is served by DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transport) trains.

There are some notable gaps in the country’s rail network, with no services in counties Donegal , Monaghan and Cavan , and no trains into West Cork . Some towns – like Buttevant in Cork or Annacotty in Limerick – are on the rail line but they’re bypassed as they have no functioning station.

Ireland’s bigger train stations – including Cork , Limerick , Galway , Sligo, Belfast and the two in Dublin – are all pretty well stocked when it comes to picking up supplies and other assorted sundries for your journey. Most other stations will have a small shop.

Train tickets are relatively good value

The good news about traveling by train in Ireland is that it is relatively inexpensive compared to train travel in some places, such as the UK, for example. If you buy it online, a standard one-way fare between Dublin Heuston and Kent Station in Cork costs €30–35, and around €55 in first class.

Online is the best place to buy your tickets for train travel in the Irish Republic. Not only do you get the best fares (with savings of up to 50% compared to buying the ticket at the station), but you can purchase your ticket up to 90 days in advance and reserve a seat when you do.

You have the option of collecting your bought ticket from a machine at the station as you’re boarding, or downloading a QR code at the point of purchase. If you wait to buy your ticket at the station, you’ll pay significantly more and have to get there early to queue up at the ticket kiosk.

For travel in Northern Ireland, you’re better off buying the ticket at the station as only a limited number of tickets are available online. Show up a short time before your intended departure time and just buy your ticket there.

Only a handful of services offer first class, but upgrading is relatively inexpensive. On average, expect to pay around €20–25 more to sit in first. There are three kinds of first class service on Irish trains. CityGold is on direct Dublin to Cork services, and includes an onboard host and a complimentary newspaper on selected early morning services. The Enterprise service between Dublin and Belfast offers the same, plus a fine breakfast. Premier Class is similar, but is only available on direct services between Dublin and Tralee and some Dublin to Cork trains.

Some discounts and offers apply

There are discounted fares for children and young adults aged between 19 and 25, as long as they have a valid discount card. Under fives and those aged 66 and over travel for free.

The commuter network in the Greater Dublin area has a fare cap of €6 for travel between the capital and a host of towns in the surrounding counties.

There are two rail passes aimed at visitors. The Trekker Four Day (€88) offers unlimited travel for adults on all Irish Rail services on four consecutive days from the date of issue. The Explorer (adult/child €128/64) provides five days of travel on all services in a 15-day window.

However, before investing in either, be sure that you plan on making the most out of it. The limited rail network means that connections are limited and traveling between some destinations involves backtracking: Cork and Waterford are both on the south coast, but to get from one to the other means travelling to Limerick, while Sligo and Westport are only 140km (87 miles) apart along the west coast, but to go between them by train you’ll have to travel through Dublin – which is on the other side of the country.

In Northern Ireland, the Sunday Fun Day Tracker ticket gives passengers unlimited train travel on a Sunday for £9 (£4.50 for children). Tickets are available from all ticket offices, the mLink ticketing app and from the conductor on the train.

These are the busiest times to travel by train

Unsurprisingly, peak times for train travel coincide with busy rush hour periods. Early morning services to Dublin from cities including Cork, Galway and Limerick can be busy, especially if the train is due to arrive in Dublin around the start of the working day. Friday evening trains departing Dublin can also be quite busy. However, as online bookings also include the option of booking a seat, you’ll never have to stand.

The commuter network is busiest on weekdays from 7am to 9am and from 4:30pm to 6:30pm as thousands of people travel in and out of work. You can’t prebook seats on these services, so plenty of people do end up standing. Keep an eye out on changing schedules, especially for weekend and holiday travel, as frequencies diminish.

The train network is limited, but it has some benefits over road travel

There are no rail links to any Irish airport, which means you’re relying on taxis, private cars or buses once you arrive in the country. Irish ferry ports are better connected to rail lines, however, and you can catch trains in Rosslare, Dublin and Larne; there is no rail link to Belfast Port.

If you want to reach the more remote corners of the island, then the Irish rail network is quite limited, and a car will give you the flexibility you need. However, rental fees can be very expensive and fuel is another considerable cost, with the price of unleaded and diesel hovering between €1.75 and €2 a liter. Parking is also pricey in all urban centers, especially Dublin.

Traveling by bus is the cheapest way to get around, but it can be a slow business, as most make lots of stops along the way. There are some direct express services, but they are at the mercy of traffic, which can also add considerable time to a journey compared to traveling by train. Plus, buses don’t have bathrooms, with those traveling longer distances relying entirely on rest stops.

On board facilities vary depending on the type of train

There are two kinds of Irish trains: InterCity and commuter. InterCity trains are all the same – relatively modern with comfortable seats in standard class and fancier recliners in first – and they travel at speeds of up to 160km/h (99mph). There’s no journey in Ireland that is longer than 2½ to 3 hours. Commuter trains are slightly older, with less comfortable seats; older trains are used on some small-distance spur lines in rural areas and are very basic (facilities include seats and a toilet).

While Ireland’s flagship service is the one between Dublin and Cork, the fanciest train is the Enterprise service between Dublin Connolly and Belfast Lanyon Place, which is a joint venture between Irish Rail and Translink. This train is on a par with most services you’ll find in mainland Europe and first class is the most luxurious of any in the country.

All InterCity trains have three-pin sockets at every row where you can plug in a charger or a laptop. Most commuter trains in the greater Dublin area also have sockets. All trains have toilets and there is a cross-network wi-fi service operated by Irish Rail, but it is patchy and inconsistent. Translink has its own wi-fi network, which is accessible on all bus and rail services in the north, but, like in the Republic, you’re at the mercy of signal strength and contention levels.

Food options are pretty limited. There is a trolley service on the Dublin to Cork service, while the Enterprise between Dublin and Belfast operates a full service menu in a dedicated dining car; first class passengers also get a pretty good breakfast as part of their ticket.

Some trains on the Dublin to Cork route have a “quiet carriage” (usually Carriage G, marked in purple when booking) where the use of phones is prohibited and passengers are encouraged to keep noise levels down.

You can bring a bike on any Irish Rail train for free, although there are some restrictions during busy periods (such as sporting fixtures and concerts). The Dublin to Cork line is the only one to have a dedicated bike storage area; all other InterCity trains have (very) limited bicycle spaces within the passenger compartment – it’s not unusual for only two bikes to be allowed into the compartment, so be sure to book in advance. Bikes are not allowed on commuter and DART services during peak hours – before 10am and from 3:30pm to 7pm Monday to Friday.

There are many scenic train routes: here are the best

No matter where you are in Ireland you’re going to find a beautiful landscape or two, but some journeys are worth keeping your eyes wide open for.

Dublin to Sligo

Once you’ve gone past the huge suburban sprawl of the greater Dublin area, the landscapes get quite gentle; beyond Mullingar the train skirts alongside the edge of beautiful Lough Owel. For the best views, sit on the left-hand side of the train.

Dublin to Belfast

The Enterprise service is the best in the country, with the most comfortable seats and the best food options – especially in first class. The train skirts alongside the Irish Sea between Malahide and Balbriggan, so be sure to sit on that side as you travel (on the right-hand side if you’re traveling to Belfast).

Derry (Londonderry) to Coleraine

The Translink service between Northern Ireland’s second city and Coleraine is a stunner, a 40-minute journey along the Causeway Coast that comes with beautiful beaches, huge cliffs and unimpeded views out over the North Sea.

Downpatrick to Inch Abbey

It’s only a 10-minute journey, but the trip from Downpatrick in County Down to the monastic ruins of Inch Abbey takes place in a vintage steam train (or a 1960s diesel train) that chugs its way along the line, over the River Quoile and past the drumlin-specked landscape.

Cork to Cobh

One of Ireland’s most scenic trips is the 25-minute trip from Cork City to the seaside town of Cobh , which takes you along the river (sit on the right for the best views), past marshy Harper’s Island and over the bridges on Lough Mahon and the Slatty Water. You can always stop off at Fota and visit the  wildlife park  there.

Book in advance for wheelchair access to trains

All InterCity services are nominally accessible, but if you do need assistance you will need to book it in advance so that suitable arrangements can be made. This usually means that a conductor will have a ramp ready for wheelchair access, but we have also heard plenty of anecdotal evidence of staff simply lifting a wheelchair onto a train, which depending on the individual can either be a help or an annoying hindrance. Whatever you do, make sure to communicate your requirements before you travel as assistance is not guaranteed otherwise.

For passengers with learning difficulties or any issue where there may be a challenge with communication (such as autism) Irish Rail staff are trained to recognize visual cue cards such as the  JAM card , which inform the interlocutor of the holder’s condition. JAM cards are available online or at mainline train stations in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Sligo.

Explore related stories

Sustainable Travel

Apr 1, 2024 • 11 min read

With its small size, flat terrain and range of public transport options, getting around Dublin is easy. Here are the best ways to travel in Dublin city.

Mar 13, 2024 • 7 min read

May 27, 2023 • 10 min read

Dec 27, 2022 • 8 min read

Aug 3, 2022 • 7 min read

Jun 26, 2020 • 2 min read

Jan 22, 2020 • 11 min read

Apr 15, 2024 • 7 min read

Apr 14, 2024 • 6 min read

Apr 8, 2024 • 7 min read

• Acts of Kindness
• Viral Stories
• New Food Flavors
• Cleaning & Organization
• Kitchen Gadgets
• DIY & Improvement

What is the best day to book flights?

Fares can change as many as 49 times between the first published price and the departure date!

• Jennifer Graham Kizer
• April 16, 2024

Let’s just say it: Buying airline tickets can be maddening. The same seat on the same flight often costs a different price on Tuesday than it does on Wednesday. Both prices will change depending on the month or season. And if you add in a few other factors (like how many stops and what class you’re flying), the prices change yet again.

Most frustrating of all? The cost varies based on when you buy the ticket. It’s not unusual for fares to seesaw up and down from the moment a price is first published until your departure date, changing as many as 49 times . How can you know which day the airline will offer the lowest price?

You can’t know for sure. But you can keep up with the latest airfare studies — in which travel experts crunch the numbers from past flights, looking for trends and patterns. Read on for some tips on when to purchase tickets this year.

Best day to book domestic flights

About 10 years ago, when online flight booking was still new, airlines would post their latest fares and special deals at the end of the day on Tuesday. In many cases, airlines would match one another’s discount fares. Travel experts passed this information on to consumers, and people came to think of late Tuesday and early Wednesday as the best times to buy tickets.

These days, airlines update their fares all the time, and price matching is less prevalent. So the traditional advice to purchase tickets midweek no longer applies .

Research from Expedia shows that nowadays, Sunday is the best day to book a flight, while fares are most expensive on Friday. The data suggests that if you book on Sunday instead of Friday, you can save around 5% on an economy class ticket and 7% on a business class ticket.

Best day to book international flights

Sunday is also the best day to book international flights. If you choose to buy tickets on Sunday instead of Friday, you can save around 5% on an economy class ticket and 24% for a business class ticket. While the amount of savings has varied, Expedia found that Sunday has been the low price winner for the last three years running .

Cheapest days to fly domestically

In a study by CheapAir.com , travel experts found that Wednesday is the least expensive day to fly domestically, and Sunday is the most expensive. Choosing Wednesday to travel will save you an average of $102 versus traveling on Sunday. The next cheapest option is Tuesday, which will save you an average of $99 versus traveling on Sunday.

MORE: Train vs. plane: Which is the better way to travel?

Cheapest days to fly internationally

If you’re flying overseas, aim to travel mid-week. “For international trips, depart on a Thursday to save as much as 6%, or $60, per round trip ticket,” Hayley Berg, lead economist for travel deals app Hopper, told “Reader’s Digest. ”

Meanwhile, CheapAir.com found that the best days to travel internationally were Tuesday or Wednesday , depending on the continent.

Best months to fly

Lots of people take vacations in the summer, which drives the prices up in May, June and July. And the fall and winter holidays lead to higher prices in November and December. So, if you have a bit of flexibility in your travel dates, you can save money by flying in January, February, September or October.

Berg told “Reader’s Digest” that air passengers can get a discount of over $100 off domestic airfare by traveling during less popular months.

Best time of day to fly

Because fewer people want to take early morning flights, they tend to be a bit cheaper. According to Trip.com , if you opt for a flight that leaves before 9 a.m., the price could be as much as 15% less expensive. You’ll also get a cleaner, possibly less-crowded plane.

MORE: This easy iPhone trick lets you track flight info without an app

How far in advance to book flights

Buying your airline tickets as early as possible doesn’t mean you’ll get the best deal. “Booking more than six months ahead can cost you, since airlines set their initial prices conservatively,” Hopper’s Chief Data Scientist Patrick Surry told Travel & Leisure . But if you wait too long, you might end up paying an inflated price.

According to CheapAir.com, the best day to buy a plane ticket this year is 42 days before your departure. The prime booking window to buy a cheap flight is 74 to 21 days in advance. Outside of that window, the rates will probably be higher. But seasonal changes and holidays can alter the pricing, and where you’re flying comes into play, too.

To be better informed about your specific pricing window, you can use CheapAir’s tool to find the best time to buy flights, based on data compiled from over 8,000 markets and over 1.3 billion airfares. You can plug in departure and arrival cities, hit “Get Info,” and this tool will tell you the prime booking window for your flight. For example, if you’re flying from Atlanta to San Diego this year, CheapAir.com suggests you book between 29 and 72 days in advance.

Buying plane tickets would be a lot less stressful if the prices didn’t change so frequently. But the task is easier when you have these basic tips in your back pocket!

MORE: These are the 20 cheapest places to travel in 2024

Related posts

How to prevent lost luggage and avoid all that arrival stress

Pilot chartered a plane to take 112 friends to Hawaii for his retirement

This easy iPhone trick lets you track flight info without an app

You could win a trip to see the solar eclipse from an airplane

About the author.

From our partners

Cashing in Capital One miles? How to get the maximum value when redeeming miles

Editor's Note

With an impressive list of 15-plus transfer partners for select Venture and Spark cardholders, Capital One miles transfer to many of the same valuable travel partners as Chase Ultimate Rewards points , Citi ThankYou Rewards points and American Express Membership Rewards points .

Capital One also allows you to combine fixed-rate miles earned on other credit cards to maximize transferable miles . Here are the best strategies for maximizing your return on Capital One miles.

Earning Capital One miles

Here are the five Capital One cards that earn Capital One miles:

The information for the Capital One Spark Miles Select has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Best Capital One credit cards

How to redeem Capital One miles

You have two broad options for redeeming your Capital One miles: for a fixed value or transferring them to airline and hotel partners .

Transferring will usually get you a better value. Still, the ability to mix and match redemptions to suit your travel needs gives Capital One a unique edge over the competition.

Fixed-value rewards

Capital One provides a few options for getting a fixed-value return when you redeem your miles. However, not all options will provide an equal return.

Redeem for Amazon and PayPal purchases

When you use your points to pay with Amazon and PayPal, you'll get 0.8 cents per mile. You can link your Amazon account here and your PayPal account here .

Redeem for recent travel

You can use your miles to redeem for recent eligible travel purchases made in the last 90 days on your Venture or Spark card at a fixed rate of 1 cent each. There's no minimum redemption amount. You can redeem for purchases made with airlines, hotels, rail lines, car rental agencies, limousine services, bus lines, cruise lines, taxi cabs, travel agents and timeshares.

Book new travel

You can book new travel through Capital One and redeem your miles at the same value of 1 cent each, but this would prevent you from double dipping with any rewards program offered by an online travel agency. Remember that booking hotels through a third-party site (including Capital One) would likely prevent you from earning points and enjoying applicable elite status perks. As a result, you're likely better off booking travel directly and then redeeming miles toward those charges.

Redeem for gift cards

You can use your Capital One miles for gift cards at the same rate of 1 cent per mile, but since gift cards can often be purchased on sale, redeeming miles to cover travel purchases is a better option.

Redeem for cash back

You should do everything possible to avoid this option, as it will only provide a redemption value of 0.5 cents per mile.

The Premier Collection

The Premier Collection , available exclusively to Venture X and Spark Travel Elite cardholders, provides premium perks like room upgrades, free breakfast and a $100 on-property credit at boutique and luxury hotels when booked through this platform. If you redeem your points for a Premier Collection hotel, you'll get just 1 cent per point, though the on-property perks may make for a better redemption. While Capital One doesn't guarantee you'll earn points and status qualification through hotel loyalty programs, you can always try to add your loyalty number ahead of (or at) check-in.

If you don't want to play with transferable points, consider redeeming your Capital One miles at a fixed value. The process is relatively easy and doesn't require jumping through any hoops.

Here's a step-by-step guide showing how to use your Capital One miles at a fixed value .

How to redeem Capital One miles at a fixed value

First, sign in to your Capital One account and click on your mileage balance. There, you'll see several fixed-value redemption options — you can use your miles for travel, gift cards, cash, Amazon, PayPal and experiences, or transfer them to another account.

When redeeming miles for travel, you can either book new travel or use the miles as a statement credit against previous travel purchases. Regardless of your route, the redemption rate when using Venture miles for travel is 1 cent per mile.

Transfer to airline and hotel partners

If you want higher value for your miles, transferring to airline partners may be your best bet. Select "Convert rewards." From here, you can transfer your rewards to more than 15 airline and hotel loyalty programs.

Here's an overview of the program's airline transfer partners, most of which have a 1:1 transfer ratio .

Given the earning rate of 2 miles per dollar on the Spark and Venture cards, you can effectively think of them as earning 1.5 or 2 partner airline miles per dollar spent on every purchase, depending on the partner. Remember that these partners have variable transfer times, so check out our guide to Capital One transfer times so you know how long you'll have to wait for your miles to post.

Meanwhile, here's an overview of the program's hotel transfer partners:

Since Accor is a revenue-based program, there's no way to get outsize value from those rewards. Choice Privileges and Wyndham Rewards do offer some solid redemptions, though other hotel programs tend to be more rewarding .

Redeeming miles for travel vs. transferring to airlines

Capital One's Venture and Spark cards have always allowed cardholders to redeem miles for travel; you can redeem your miles for 1 cent each as statement credits toward any travel purchase you've made within the last 90 days. So, how do you decide when to transfer miles and when to redeem for travel to book a domestic flight, for instance?

• Cost : If you find any domestic fares for $120 round-trip or less, it's probably best to redeem miles for travel as a statement credit instead of transferring them to the airline that will charge 12,000 miles for the same ticket.
• Award availability: Next, look for award availability at the lowest mileage levels using the major domestic carriers' websites ( American Airlines , Delta Air Lines and United Airlines ) or ExpertFlyer (owned by TPG's parent company, Red Ventures). When you find saver-level award space, you can use the chart above to see how many airline miles it will require.
• Factor in mileage earning and upgrade opportunities: When you redeem miles for travel, you can book tickets as you normally do. That means you can earn miles from the flight and credit toward elite status. If you currently hold elite status, you should still enjoy all of your elite status benefits, including being eligible for upgrades. When transferring your Capital One miles to a partner, you may not receive those benefits.
• Consider taxes and fees: All frequent flyer programs will add Transportation Security Administration taxes, a minimum of $5.60 each way on nonstop, domestic flights. However, some programs tack on hefty surcharges on top of that.

Maximizing Capital One's airline transfer partners

TPG values Capital One miles at 1.85 cents apiece, thanks to the value you can get by transferring to a handful of partner programs.

Air Canada Aeroplan

Air Canada's loyalty program, Aeroplan, has long been one of the most popular options for booking Star Alliance awards , especially in premium cabins. After United switched to dynamic award pricing , it's been more important than ever to leverage foreign partners with award charts that set fixed mileage prices, and Aeroplan is a great option.

The program's award chart underwent a major overhaul, and it eliminated fuel surcharges for partner redemptions, bringing mostly positive changes to the program. Sweet spots include short-haul economy flights under 500 miles for just 6,000 Aeroplan points. Or, you can book transcontinental business-class awards from just 25,000 points each way — well below what United would charge if you booked through its MileagePlus program.

Additionally, you can book Emirates award tickets using Aeroplan points .

Avianca LifeMiles

Despite its IT and customer service woes, Avianca LifeMiles offers many bargain-priced award tickets. One of its biggest advantages is that it doesn't pass on fuel surcharges from partner airlines, so you can book Lufthansa first-class awards for 87,000 miles and just $53 in taxes from 15 days before departure (more seats may be released at the very last minute as well).

LifeMiles also has the odd but consumer-friendly policy of discounting mixed-cabin awards, such as the one-way business-class award on All Nippon Airways below from Ontario International Airport (ONT) near Los Angeles to Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND). The LifeMiles award chart says the transpacific flight should cost 90,000 miles, but because of the mixed-cabin award, you effectively get two free positioning flights and save 4,390 miles.

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles offers several sweet spots for Star Alliance-operated flights and has gotten more user-friendly with the addition of an online booking tool.

The program prices award flights according to region-based award charts . Since Hawaii is included in the North America region, you can book United flights to the Aloha State for the same amount as any other domestic flight — just 7,500 miles each way in economy or 12,500 miles each way in business class. Alternatively, you could fly on United's premium transcontinental routes at the same prices. These rates are a fraction of what United normally charges for these flights if you were to book your awards directly. However, award availability on all these flights is extremely limited.

Other gems include flights from the U.S. to Mexico on United for 10,000 Turkish miles one-way in economy and 15,000 in business class. Or, you can head to Europe in business class for just 45,000 miles one-way on Star Alliance airlines. Turkish doesn't charge fuel surcharges on United flights, though they can be high on other partners like Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa.

Related: The complete guide to the Turkish Miles&Smiles program

Transferring Capital One miles to hotels

You can also transfer Capital One miles to the following three hotel loyalty programs:

• Wyndham Rewards : 1:1 (1,000 Capital One miles = 1,000 Wyndham Rewards points)
• Accor Live Limitless : 2:1 (1,000 Capital One miles = 500 ALL points)
• Choice Privileges : 1:1 (1,000 Capital One miles = 1,000 Choice Privileges points)

This could be an appealing option if you plan on staying at an Accor property, including one of its higher-end Fairmont hotels. The program uses a fixed-value redemption scheme where you can redeem 2,000 points for a 40-euro discount on your hotel stay (about $44). Since you'd need to transfer 4,000 Capital One miles to get 2,000 ALL points, transferring points will give you a slightly higher redemption value (1.07 cents apiece).

We peg Wyndham points at 1.1 cents apiece, though you might be able to get a better redemption by following our guide .

Meanwhile, Choice Privileges can provide solid value as well. The program generally charges between 6,000 and 35,000 points for a free night, though some hotels can cost up to 75,000 points per night. You usually won't get great value for your points when redeeming at these high points costs. In addition, you can only reserve a room using points within 100 days of your stay.

Related: Your ultimate guide to Capital One's airline and hotel transfer partners

Bottom line

Capital One miles have become much more valuable over the last few years thanks to new transfer partners, improved transfer ratios and elevated welcome bonuses on its credit cards. Almost all airline partners transfer at a 1:1 ratio, which is phenomenal, considering the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earns 2 miles per dollar on everyday purchases.

With 15-plus transfer partners, Capital One offers one of the most diverse transferable points programs. The beauty of Capital One miles comes from the ability to combine transfer partner redemptions with fixed-value redemptions to suit your travel needs.

• Auto Insurance Best Car Insurance Cheapest Car Insurance Compare Car Insurance Quotes Best Car Insurance For Young Drivers Best Auto & Home Bundles Cheapest Cars To Insure
• Home Insurance Best Home Insurance Best Renters Insurance Cheapest Homeowners Insurance Types Of Homeowners Insurance
• Life Insurance Best Life Insurance Best Term Life Insurance Best Senior Life Insurance Best Whole Life Insurance Best No Exam Life Insurance
• Pet Insurance Best Pet Insurance Cheap Pet Insurance Pet Insurance Costs Compare Pet Insurance Quotes
• Travel Insurance Best Travel Insurance Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance Best Cruise Travel Insurance Best Senior Travel Insurance
• Health Insurance Best Health Insurance Plans Best Affordable Health Insurance Best Dental Insurance Best Vision Insurance Best Disability Insurance
• Credit Cards Best Credit Cards 2024 Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards Best Rewards Credit Cards Best Cash Back Credit Cards Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards Best 0% APR Credit Cards Best Business Credit Cards Best Credit Cards for Startups Best Credit Cards For Bad Credit Best Cards for Students without Credit
• Credit Card Reviews Chase Sapphire Preferred Wells Fargo Active Cash® Chase Sapphire Reserve Citi Double Cash Citi Diamond Preferred Chase Ink Business Unlimited American Express Blue Business Plus
• Credit Card by Issuer Best Chase Credit Cards Best American Express Credit Cards Best Bank of America Credit Cards Best Visa Credit Cards
• Credit Score Best Credit Monitoring Services Best Identity Theft Protection
• CDs Best CD Rates Best No Penalty CDs Best Jumbo CD Rates Best 3 Month CD Rates Best 6 Month CD Rates Best 9 Month CD Rates Best 1 Year CD Rates Best 2 Year CD Rates Best 5 Year CD Rates
• Checking Best High-Yield Checking Accounts Best Checking Accounts Best No Fee Checking Accounts Best Teen Checking Accounts Best Student Checking Accounts Best Joint Checking Accounts Best Business Checking Accounts Best Free Checking Accounts
• Savings Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Best Free No-Fee Savings Accounts Simple Savings Calculator Monthly Budget Calculator: 50/30/20
• Mortgages Best Mortgage Lenders Best Online Mortgage Lenders Current Mortgage Rates Best HELOC Rates Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders Best Home Equity Loan Lenders Best VA Mortgage Lenders Mortgage Refinance Rates Mortgage Interest Rate Forecast
• Personal Loans Best Personal Loans Best Debt Consolidation Loans Best Emergency Loans Best Home Improvement Loans Best Bad Credit Loans Best Installment Loans For Bad Credit Best Personal Loans For Fair Credit Best Low Interest Personal Loans
• Student Loans Best Student Loans Best Student Loan Refinance Best Student Loans for Bad or No Credit Best Low-Interest Student Loans
• Business Loans Best Business Loans Best Business Lines of Credit Apply For A Business Loan Business Loan vs. Business Line Of Credit What Is An SBA Loan?
• Investing Best Online Brokers Top 10 Cryptocurrencies Best Low-Risk Investments Best Cheap Stocks To Buy Now Best S&P 500 Index Funds Best Stocks For Beginners How To Make Money From Investing In Stocks
• Retirement Best Gold IRAs Best Investments for a Roth IRA Best Bitcoin IRAs Protecting Your 401(k) In a Recession Types of IRAs Roth vs Traditional IRA How To Open A Roth IRA
• Business Formation Best LLC Services Best Registered Agent Services How To Start An LLC How To Start A Business
• Web Design & Hosting Best Website Builders Best E-commerce Platforms Best Domain Registrar
• HR & Payroll Best Payroll Software Best HR Software Best HRIS Systems Best Recruiting Software Best Applicant Tracking Systems
• Payment Processing Best Credit Card Processing Companies Best POS Systems Best Merchant Services Best Credit Card Readers How To Accept Credit Cards
• More Business Solutions Best VPNs Best VoIP Services Best Project Management Software Best CRM Software Best Accounting Software
• Manage Topics
• Investigations
• Visual Explainers
• Newsletters
• Abortion news
• Coronavirus
• Climate Change
• Vertical Storytelling
• Corrections Policy
• College Football
• High School Sports
• H.S. Sports Awards
• Sports Betting
• College Basketball (M)
• College Basketball (W)
• For The Win
• Sports Pulse
• Weekly Pulse
• Buy Tickets
• Sports Seriously
• Sports+ States
• Celebrities
• Entertainment This!
• Celebrity Deaths
• American Influencer Awards
• Women of the Century
• Problem Solved
• Personal Finance
• Small Business
• Consumer Recalls
• Video Games
• Product Reviews
• Destinations
• Airline News
• Experience America
• Today's Debate
• Suzette Hackney
• Policing the USA
• Meet the Editorial Board
• How to Submit Content
• Hidden Common Ground
• Race in America

Personal Loans

Best Personal Loans

Auto Insurance

Best Auto Insurance

Best High-Yields Savings Accounts

CREDIT CARDS

Best Credit Cards

Advertiser Disclosure

Blueprint is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service focused on helping readers make smarter decisions. We receive compensation from the companies that advertise on Blueprint which may impact how and where products appear on this site. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Blueprint. Blueprint does not include all companies, products or offers that may be available to you within the market. A list of selected affiliate partners is available here .

Credit Cards

United Airlines credit cards have a secret perk that makes it easier to book awards

Jason Steele

Julie Sherrier

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Robin Saks Frankel

Published 5:12 a.m. UTC April 22, 2024

• path]:fill-[#49619B]" alt="Facebook" width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 18 18" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
• path]:fill-[#202020]" alt="Email" width="19" height="14" viewBox="0 0 19 14" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">

Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy .

joshblake, Getty Images

Sometimes the best reason to have an airline credit card isn’t necessarily for the miles you can earn and redeem, it’s for the perks. 

You can earn far more points using Chase credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Freedom Flex℠ * The information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. than you will from the cobranded United credit cards issued by Chase. And since you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points into United MileagePlus miles, there’s little reason to use a United card just to earn miles. 

Instead, you should have a United MileagePlus card for its benefits, including free checked bags and discounts on in-flight purchases. 

But there’s one other important benefit that you rarely see mentioned by Chase or United. MileagePlus cardmembers are eligible for “special member pricing” that’s otherwise reserved just for those with elite status. Just by having a United MileagePlus credit card, you’ll get the same, lower pricing that United elite status holders have access to, which can mean significant mileage savings on award flights.

our partner

Blueprint receives compensation from our partners for featured offers, which impacts how and where the placement is displayed.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Welcome bonus.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Regular APR

Credit score.

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Editor’s Take

• Flexible points that can be transferred to 14 travel partners or redeemed through Chase Travel℠ at 1.25 cents each.
• $50 annual statement credit toward Chase Travel hotel bookings.
• Valuable travel protections.
• $95 annual fee.
• Category bonuses are limited and not competitive against other travel cards.
• Transfer partner list is limited compared to programs like Amex Membership ® Rewards and Citi ThankYou ® .

Card Details

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

What is “special member pricing”?

Let’s say you wanted to fly from Denver to Paris this summer. When I searched for flights on July 11, 2024, and filtered out options with more than one stop, I found flights starting at 70,000 miles.

But once I added my card to my MileagePlus account and logged in as a cardholder, the same options were available starting at just 40,000 miles.

You’ll notice that the lower priced options have a small notation indicating that it’s granted “special member pricing.” And true travel nerds might notice that the higher priced option shows a fare code of YN, while the lower priced option shows the code of XN, which is reserved for cardmembers and those with elite status.

Which credit cards offer United’s special member pricing?

All United MileagePlus credit cards issued by Chase include this benefit, which includes:

• United Gateway℠ Card * The information for the United Gateway℠ Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
• United℠ Explorer Card * The information for the United℠ Explorer Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
• United Quest℠ Card * The information for the United Quest℠ Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
• United Club℠ Infinite Card * The information for the United Club℠ Infinite Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
• United℠ Business Card * The information for the United℠ Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
• United Club℠ Business Card * The information for the United Club℠ Business Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Except for the no-annual-fee Gateway card, all of these cards have an annual fee — starting at a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 for the Explorer card and topping off at $525 for the United Club Infinite card. 

If you’re just looking for access to lower-priced flight awards, you might be tempted to get the Gateway card, which comes with a welcome offer of 20,000 miles after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Instead, I’d recommend getting either the Explorer card, which currently has a welcome bonus of 50,000 miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening, the Quest card, which offers 60,000 miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening, or the Club Infinite card, which comes with 80,000 miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

After having the card for a year, you might decide that you want to keep the card for its other perks. But you can always request a downgrade to the no-annual-fee Gateway card. This move allows you to keep your miles and account open, eliminate the annual fee and continue to enjoy lower-priced flight awards. 

Looking to get the most out of your United rewards? Read our guide on how to earn and redeem United miles

Final verdict

The hardest part of award travel isn’t always earning the points and miles, it’s finding efficient ways to spend them. United makes this easy for those with elite status and anyone who holds one of their credit cards. By signing up for the best card offer available and longer-term keeping a no-annual-fee United card open at all times, you can be assured of the lowest prices when you book your United award tickets.

*The information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠, United Club℠ Business Card, United Club℠ Infinite Card, United Gateway℠ Card, United Quest℠ Card, United℠ Business Card and United℠ Explorer Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Jason Steele is a freelance writer specializing in credit cards and award travel. Since 2008, Jason's work has appeared in over 100 outlets and he's been widely quoted in the mainstream media. Jason also produces CardCon, which is The Conference for Credit Card Media.

Julie Stephen Sherrier is a personal finance writer and editor based in Austin, TX. She is the former senior managing editor for LendingTree, responsible for all credit card and credit health content. Before joining LendingTree, Julie spent more than a decade as the managing editor and then editorial director at Bankrate and CreditCards.com. She also served as an adjunct journalism instructor at the University of Texas at Austin.

Robin Saks Frankel is a credit cards lead editor at USA TODAY Blueprint. Previously, she was a credit cards and personal finance deputy editor for Forbes Advisor. She has also covered credit cards and related content for other national web publications including NerdWallet, Bankrate and HerMoney. She's been featured as a personal finance expert in outlets including CNBC, Business Insider, CBS Marketplace, NASDAQ's Trade Talks and has appeared on or contributed to The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio, ABC Radio, NPR, International Business Times and NBC, ABC and CBS TV affiliates nationwide. She holds an M.S. in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University. Follow her on Twitter at @robinsaks.

Check it out: This is what the average household spends on grocery costs per month

Credit Cards Stella Shon

Capital One Quicksilver benefits guide 2024

Credit Cards Lee Huffman

Can you pay off one credit card with another?

Credit Cards Louis DeNicola

Amex Gold vs. Platinum

Credit Cards Harrison Pierce

Why I chose the Chase Sapphire Preferred as my first ever rewards card

Credit Cards Sarah Li Cain

How to use Alaska Airlines Companion Fare

Credit Cards Ariana Arghandewal

How I maximize my Chase Ink Business Unlimited Card

How to do a balance transfer with Discover

9 ways to maximize the Citi Custom Cash card’s 5% cash-back categories

American Express Business Platinum benefits guide 2024

Credit Cards Chris Dong

Why I applied for the new Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card

Credit Cards Jason Steele

Which Citi balance transfer card should I get?

Credit Cards Julie Sherrier

5 reasons why the Citi Diamond Preferred is great for paying down debt

Credit Cards Michelle Lambright Black

Welcome offer on Chase’s IHG One Rewards Premier Business card soars to 175K points

Credit Cards Carissa Rawson

You might be a small business owner and not even know it