Secrets to finding super cheap airline tickets and hotel bookings

VHO - In a time when airfares and hotel room prices fluctuate hourly, “paying” at the right time can help tourists save significantly. With the advice of experts, tourists can completely “hunt for prices” intelligently and proactively.

Bargain hunting: when data becomes a useful weapon

According to experts, instead of booking and buying tickets based on emotions, travelers should "give the decision-making power" to price comparison sites. Lauren, senior researcher and content editor at Which? (a consumer protection organization in the UK), emphasized that platforms such as Google Flights, Google Hotels, Kayak... all rely on huge data stores to suggest whether it is a good time to close the price or not.

Kayak also used its price trend analysis algorithms to inform Which? that airfares to Tokyo could increase by $90 in 45 days. When searching for hotels, the platform also easily shows which accommodations are cheaper than predicted...

Google Flights and Google Hotels operate on a similar principle, giving users a heads-up when to book now or when to wait.

Choose the right week, the right day: small factors but big effects

Amy, senior researcher at Which?, says that finding the cheapest week to travel is as easy as a few taps on Skyscanner. Simply select your month and enter your destination, and the tool will show you average weekly price data, and even suggest cheaper destinations for the same month.

However, all data is based on the previous year and there is no guarantee that the price pattern will repeat exactly this year. Therefore, travelers should only consider it as a smart reference, not an “absolute truth”.

In addition, the “everywhere”, “explore” features or price maps of Skyscanner and Google Flights are also great assistants for those who are open-minded in choosing destinations. Want to go to the beach, see the snow or explore nature…, all can be filtered in real time.

Luggage can cost you a whole trip.

Another researcher at Which? said that airfares can be cheap, but adding checked baggage can make the total cost skyrocket. That’s why “checked bag” filters on Kayak and Skyscanner, or opting out of flights without baggage on Google Flights, help travelers calculate the true cost of what they’ll pay.

After comparing prices, don't forget to check directly with the airline and hotel.

When platforms display results, prioritize sorting by “cheapest” rather than “best,” asserts Naomi, deputy editor of Which?.

However, once you’ve found a suitable option on a comparison site, it’s worth checking directly with the hotel or airline, as they can sometimes offer discounts when booking direct or offer extra breakfast, flexible benefits or small perks that aren’t available on third-party platforms.

In particular, with airline tickets, you should use a comparison site to filter your options, but book directly to reduce the risk of changing your flight schedule.

In addition to the advice from experts, some practical tips are also worth considering: book round-trip tickets or multiple flights at the same time (many airlines have a discount policy when buying combos); wait for late night or early morning hours (not always cheap, but the price adjustment frequency is higher so it is easier to "hit" a good price); always check the refund/exchange conditions (cheap but inflexible prices sometimes become... expensive); follow the airline's flash sales to benefit from golden hour promotions...

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/du-lich/bi-quyet-san-ve-may-bay-va-dat-phong-khach-san-sieu-hoi-185990.html