It’s sometimes tempting to leave travel arrangements until the last minute, and that can even lead to better prices if you’re lucky.
But are there any more strategic, considered, and foolproof hacks to save money in the summer?
Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, travel websites and airlines are businesses looking to make as much money from your trip as possible. If you let them collect cookies and the site recognises that you’ve searched for a similar trip and looked at the same flight before, that price can suddenly jump. They know you’re interested, and they suspect you’re willing to pay more than originally shown.
A simple way to get around this is to use the incognito or private mode on your browser. If the idea of being tracked freaks you out, consider downloading a VPN for added privacy. A VPN may also be helpful when you’re travelling, as public Wi-Fi (in hotels and cafes, for example) is not the most secure. An easy-to-understand VPN install guide shows you how to use a VPN on whichever device:
that you may be travelling with.
If your heart’s not set on precise dates, experiment with different searches. Travelling on Tuesday rather than Wednesday might mean a cheaper departure flight; coming back after the weekend might mean a cheaper return, etc. Hotels, airlines, and agencies sometimes offer last-minute deals for less popular travel days. Some websites will flash up a sale or a limited-time offer. Don’t be fooled by every “unmissable” opportunity though - take some time to compare whether it’s truly a good deal!
Google’s tools help you set price alerts, track price histories, and ultimately find cheaper flights. Google Flights functions like a search engine made specifically for flights, because that’s what it is. You can filter by stops, airlines, bags (number of carry-on and checked), price, times, emissions, and connecting airports.
It lets you know if the flight you’re considering is really a good deal. It’s also useful if you’ve not yet decided where to go - it’ll help you find cheap destinations and you can interact with the map. Google Flights Explore is ideal if you’re particularly flexible - just put in your departure airport and any details (max. spend: $2,500 on a round trip, for example), and it’ll give you all the available destinations and deals.
If you’re a frequent flyer, you might have collected airline points or miles. According to NerdWallet, miles and points are worth about 1 to 1.16 cents each. Miles are specific to each airline, and you might have earned them through flying with that airline, shopping at their portals, or using a co-branded credit card.
In short, saving money when travelling for the summer takes a bit of work and research, but if it could help you enjoy an extra few days in a dream destination, that time might be well spent.
Go incognito
Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, travel websites and airlines are businesses looking to make as much money from your trip as possible. If you let them collect cookies and the site recognises that you’ve searched for a similar trip and looked at the same flight before, that price can suddenly jump. They know you’re interested, and they suspect you’re willing to pay more than originally shown.
A simple way to get around this is to use the incognito or private mode on your browser. If the idea of being tracked freaks you out, consider downloading a VPN for added privacy. A VPN may also be helpful when you’re travelling, as public Wi-Fi (in hotels and cafes, for example) is not the most secure. An easy-to-understand VPN install guide shows you how to use a VPN on whichever device:
- Phone
- Tablet
- Laptop
that you may be travelling with.
Leave some wiggle room
If your heart’s not set on precise dates, experiment with different searches. Travelling on Tuesday rather than Wednesday might mean a cheaper departure flight; coming back after the weekend might mean a cheaper return, etc. Hotels, airlines, and agencies sometimes offer last-minute deals for less popular travel days. Some websites will flash up a sale or a limited-time offer. Don’t be fooled by every “unmissable” opportunity though - take some time to compare whether it’s truly a good deal!
Use Google Flights and Google Flights Explore, or similar tools
Google’s tools help you set price alerts, track price histories, and ultimately find cheaper flights. Google Flights functions like a search engine made specifically for flights, because that’s what it is. You can filter by stops, airlines, bags (number of carry-on and checked), price, times, emissions, and connecting airports.
It lets you know if the flight you’re considering is really a good deal. It’s also useful if you’ve not yet decided where to go - it’ll help you find cheap destinations and you can interact with the map. Google Flights Explore is ideal if you’re particularly flexible - just put in your departure airport and any details (max. spend: $2,500 on a round trip, for example), and it’ll give you all the available destinations and deals.
Use any points and miles you’ve racked up
If you’re a frequent flyer, you might have collected airline points or miles. According to NerdWallet, miles and points are worth about 1 to 1.16 cents each. Miles are specific to each airline, and you might have earned them through flying with that airline, shopping at their portals, or using a co-branded credit card.
Final thoughts
In short, saving money when travelling for the summer takes a bit of work and research, but if it could help you enjoy an extra few days in a dream destination, that time might be well spent.
(Photo credit: Philip Myrtorp)
