best travel search sites

Search hundreds of flight sites at once.

Trending cities, the most searched for cities on momondo.

San Francisco

Washington, D.C.

Trending countries

The most searched for countries on momondo.

United Kingdom

Philippines

United Arab Emirates

Netherlands

Flight deals by destination

Find and compare cheap flights.

We search and compare billions of real-time prices on plane tickets so you can easily find the cheapest, quickest, and best flight deals for you.

New York flights

• Flights from Los Angeles to New York
• Flights from Dallas to New York
• Flights from San Francisco to New York
• Flights from Chicago to New York
• Flights from Fort Lauderdale to New York
• Flights from Atlanta to New York
• Flights from Miami to New York
• Flights from Orlando to New York
• Flights from Seattle to New York
• Flights from Houston to New York

Los Angeles flights

• Flights from New York to Los Angeles
• Flights from Dallas to Los Angeles
• Flights from San Francisco to Los Angeles
• Flights from Seattle to Los Angeles
• Flights from Chicago to Los Angeles
• Flights from Boston to Los Angeles
• Flights from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles
• Flights from Oakland, California to Los Angeles
• Flights from Miami to Los Angeles
• Flights from San Jose to Los Angeles

Istanbul flights

• Flights from New York to Istanbul
• Flights from Chicago to Istanbul
• Flights from Los Angeles to Istanbul
• Flights from Washington, D.C. to Istanbul
• Flights from San Francisco to Istanbul
• Flights from Dallas to Istanbul
• Flights from Miami to Istanbul
• Flights from Houston to Istanbul
• Flights from Boston to Istanbul
• Flights from Seattle to Istanbul

Rome flights

• Flights from New York to Rome
• Flights from Washington, D.C. to Rome
• Flights from Chicago to Rome
• Flights from Boston to Rome
• Flights from Dallas to Rome
• Flights from Los Angeles to Rome
• Flights from San Francisco to Rome
• Flights from Miami to Rome
• Flights from Philadelphia to Rome
• Flights from Atlanta to Rome

Manila flights

• Flights from Los Angeles to Manila
• Flights from San Francisco to Manila
• Flights from New York to Manila
• Flights from Seattle to Manila
• Flights from Ontario to Manila
• Flights from Chicago to Manila
• Flights from Washington, D.C. to Manila
• Flights from Honolulu to Manila
• Flights from Dallas to Manila
• Flights from Santa Ana to Manila

London flights

• Flights from New York to London
• Flights from Washington, D.C. to London
• Flights from Los Angeles to London
• Flights from Boston to London
• Flights from Dallas to London
• Flights from San Francisco to London
• Flights from Chicago to London
• Flights from Seattle to London
• Flights from Atlanta to London
• Flights from Denver to London

Paris flights

• Flights from New York to Paris
• Flights from Los Angeles to Paris
• Flights from Washington, D.C. to Paris
• Flights from San Francisco to Paris
• Flights from Chicago to Paris
• Flights from Boston to Paris
• Flights from Dallas to Paris
• Flights from Seattle to Paris
• Flights from Miami to Paris
• Flights from Atlanta to Paris

Copenhagen flights

• Flights from New York to Copenhagen
• Flights from Boston to Copenhagen
• Flights from Washington, D.C. to Copenhagen
• Flights from Los Angeles to Copenhagen
• Flights from Chicago to Copenhagen
• Flights from Atlanta to Copenhagen
• Flights from San Francisco to Copenhagen
• Flights from Seattle to Copenhagen
• Flights from Denver to Copenhagen
• Flights from Miami to Copenhagen

Chicago flights

• Flights from Dallas to Chicago
• Flights from New York to Chicago
• Flights from Los Angeles to Chicago
• Flights from Washington, D.C. to Chicago
• Flights from Atlanta to Chicago
• Flights from San Francisco to Chicago
• Flights from Seattle to Chicago
• Flights from Philadelphia to Chicago
• Flights from Denver to Chicago
• Flights from Boston to Chicago

Las Vegas flights

• Flights from New York to Las Vegas
• Flights from Los Angeles to Las Vegas
• Flights from Dallas to Las Vegas
• Flights from Chicago to Las Vegas
• Flights from Atlanta to Las Vegas
• Flights from Seattle to Las Vegas
• Flights from Houston to Las Vegas
• Flights from San Francisco to Las Vegas
• Flights from Denver to Las Vegas
• Flights from Santa Ana to Las Vegas

Bangkok flights

• Flights from Los Angeles to Bangkok
• Flights from New York to Bangkok
• Flights from San Francisco to Bangkok
• Flights from Seattle to Bangkok
• Flights from Chicago to Bangkok
• Flights from Washington, D.C. to Bangkok
• Flights from Ontario to Bangkok
• Flights from Dallas to Bangkok
• Flights from Boston to Bangkok
• Flights from Houston to Bangkok

Miami flights

• Flights from New York to Miami
• Flights from Atlanta to Miami
• Flights from Los Angeles to Miami
• Flights from Boston to Miami
• Flights from Washington, D.C. to Miami
• Flights from Chicago to Miami
• Flights from Dallas to Miami
• Flights from Philadelphia to Miami
• Flights from Denver to Miami
• Flights from San Francisco to Miami

Tokyo flights

• Flights from Los Angeles to Tokyo
• Flights from New York to Tokyo
• Flights from San Francisco to Tokyo
• Flights from Seattle to Tokyo
• Flights from Dallas to Tokyo
• Flights from Ontario to Tokyo
• Flights from Chicago to Tokyo
• Flights from Washington, D.C. to Tokyo
• Flights from Boston to Tokyo
• Flights from Houston to Tokyo

Barcelona flights

• Flights from New York to Barcelona
• Flights from Miami to Barcelona
• Flights from Los Angeles to Barcelona
• Flights from San Francisco to Barcelona
• Flights from Chicago to Barcelona
• Flights from Washington, D.C. to Barcelona
• Flights from Boston to Barcelona
• Flights from Dallas to Barcelona
• Flights from Atlanta to Barcelona
• Flights from Seattle to Barcelona

Orlando flights

• Flights from New York to Orlando
• Flights from Dallas to Orlando
• Flights from Los Angeles to Orlando
• Flights from Philadelphia to Orlando
• Flights from Detroit to Orlando
• Flights from Chicago to Orlando
• Flights from Boston to Orlando
• Flights from Houston to Orlando
• Flights from Washington, D.C. to Orlando
• Flights from Minneapolis to Orlando

How to find cheap flight deals with momondo

• How does momondo find such cheap airfare? momondo searches across hundreds of airlines and travel sites, from major booking sites to individual company sites, to give you as many cheap airfare options as possible. When you conduct a single search on momondo, you can find and compare cheap airline tickets like you’ve done hundreds of searches at once. momondo is completely free to use - with no hidden charges or fees - and the prices you see are never affected by your searches, no matter how many you make. We believe in an open world, where traveling and getting acquainted across borders and cultures is available to us all, so we’re committed to showing you the cheapest flights in our flight finder.
• How do I find the best price on plane tickets? Choose your destination and preferred travel dates, and we’ll provide you with an overview of the cheapest, quickest, and best flights so you can compare prices and book flights with confidence. Flexible on dates? It’s even easier to find cheap flights by using our Price Calendar (found above your search results), which shows you the cheapest travel dates. This is available on all of our most popular flight routes.
• How can Mix & Match save me money? Sometimes you can save money by combining flight tickets from different suppliers, and we call that Mix & Match. This means you can book your outbound flight with one supplier, and your return flight with another. If you can save money by combining tickets from different suppliers, we’ll automatically include this option in your flight results and label it Mix & Match. You’ll have to complete two separate booking flows after you select this deal on our site, but it’s worth it if you can save money over a traditional round-trip with one supplier. It’s an advanced way of getting the cheapest flights even if they’re offered by different suppliers.
• How do I make sure I don’t miss a flight deal? Sign up for Price Alerts on your favorite flight routes and automatically get live price updates, so you can book flights when the price is right. You can do so next to your flight search results or in the profile menu. If you're on our app, you will find Price Alerts in the navigation menu. You can also subscribe to special offers and limited-time flight deals from our partners. Just sign in, go to Notifications in your profile and subscribe to the topics you’re interested in.

The 10 Best (and Cheapest) Airfare Search Sites for 2024

Last updated: August 8, 2024

Frommer’s regularly pits the best airfare search engines, aggregators, and booking sites against each other in a battle royale to see which can find the lowest price on more than two dozen identical searches for flights. 

This year’s results bring new discoveries. We are excited to announce that none of our new top three—the best of the best—is a household name. We are equally excited to discover that if you’re specifically looking for a last-minute deal on airfare, a fourth website, one that’s not even in our top three, is the best choice. And two former airfare search sites fell out of our Top 10 entirely: This year, both Booking.com and FlightNetwork failed to take off.

As for the rest of our Top 10, each one has its pluses and minuses, which we’re about to reveal in our reviews below.

On this year’s list, two sites that previously languished in the bottom half of the reviews have upped their games and zoomed into the top ranks—and one former low performer improved so much that it nabbed the top slot.

We have winnowed down a wide field to the 10 best airfare sites for 2024. Here they are.

We tested 15 sites on 32 itineraries, trying both last-minute flights (leaving in a week) and APEX fares (booked three months out). We covered major gateways (NYC to LAX, LAX to Hong Kong, NYC to Paris) and secondary ones (Philly to Tampa, Chicago to Rome, Miami to Rio). Finally, we threw in a curve ball (Dallas to Dubai) and included a flight with no North American legs (London to Barcelona) to see how well each handled Europe‘s wilderness of low-cost carriers.

We also required realistic results, so we ignored low fares that would be miserable to fly due to excessively drawn-out layovers, too many stops, or flying long detours just to change planes. Basically, we rejected any itinerary that increased total travel time by more than half. Airlines may think those are viable plans, but we don’t.

Finally, we applied a rigorous, weighted scoring system that rewarded three points to any airfare search site that found the best fares, two points for second-best, and so on. We also penalized sites with negative points if the price proved to be higher than the average result from all the other competitors. Fares within 1% of one another were considered equal.

• An aggregator is only as good as the OTAs it canvasses. There are booking engines that sell tickets directly (Hotwire, Kiwi, CheapOAir, etc.). And then there are aggregators, which are sites that do not book tickets but instead search dozens of other booking engines, airfare sites, and OTAs (online travel agencies) and compile the results in one place; travelers then click through to their selection to make the actual purchase on the third-party site that’s actually selling it.

Some of the booking sites that aggregators show you are safer than others. All quality aggregators will remove unreliable ticket sellers from their searches, but problems can slip through. As you should do when you are referred to any unfamiliar company, always do a quick Better Business Bureau check for an unfamiliar airfare seller and search for complaints and red flags. 

Also, some OTAs are prone to dangling lead prices a few bucks below what they will actually offer once you click through, and some misleadingly categorize “direct” flights—which do actually stop, but don't require you to change planes— as “nonstop.” Because prices can change from moment to moment, even the most honorable aggregator may lead you to a site where you can’t find the airfare you were originally quoted. When that happened to us frequently in our review tests, we let you know.

Aggregator Google may be the Titan of online search, but it fumbles when it comes to airfares. 

Google does have some things going for it. It's fast, refreshing results even as you key in destinations or change filters. It displays average prices on a popup calendar when you’re choosing dates so you can see at a glance the cheapest days to fly. And in the spring of 2024, it was the first to show Southwest Airlines' once-proprietary airfares among its airfare search results.  

So why is the mighty Google at the back of the pack?

Its price results were all over the place. It found the best fare a grand total of one time, flying from Miami to Rio—but four of our top five sites matched it. Then it tanked on rooting out the absolutely lowest fares for two major routes: NYC to Paris and LA to Hong Kong. Its results for pricier direct flights on those itineraries were just average. 

Google frequently found the exact same flight as many other sites did, but at prices just a little bit higher—often just 5% to 15%, but in some cases bafflingly higher, like the last-minute Dallas-Dubai jaunt on Emirates; Google wanted $673 more than our price champion for that flight, and around $250 more than several other sites found. In summary, Google is great for finding available flights, but it's better ignored when it comes time to actually buy them.

After quietly doing away with its Hot Rates (deeply discounted opaque airfares), Hotwire fell out of our ranking after 2017. Now it’s back, but with a huge caveat: Never use Hotwire for last-minute fare. 

Hotwire performed, by far, the worst of any site we tested at last-minute prices, chalking up the highest airfare a whopping six times. The two better-than-average rates it did find were balanced out by a pair of worse-than-average ones on other itineraries. 

Hotwire made up some ground by being flatly average when it came to booking farther in advance. It never found the cheapest overall fare, but it often nabbed lower or even the lowest rates on direct flights.

Beyond that, it failed pretty hard, and we think we know why. Hotwire was the only site that missed big chances to bring no-frills carriers into the mix. On New York–to-Paris, it found a decent $745 fare on Scandinavian, albeit with a stopover—but everyone else found a direct Flybee flight for even less ($666–$687). The best Hotwire could muster for a direct flight: $987 on Norse.

More egregiously, because Hotwire only searches one airport at a time by default, it missed lots of cheaper no-frills flights that were available at nearby alternate airports. Because of that blind spot, Hotwire insisted on a British Airways fare for our London-Barcelona hop that actually cost around four times more than booking a combo of no-frills RyanAir, easyJet, and Vueling from other airports in London—a tactic every other site knew enough to include in results. Hotwire pulled the same face-plant on last-minute fares on the same route; the Air France tickets it offered us cost twice as much as the low-cost carriers in that scenario.

Another mark against Hotwire is its poor set of filters. Along with other problems, it offered no way to indicate a maximum total flight time or layover duration you’d be willing to deal with. That’s pretty much a standard sidebar slider everywhere else. We did like the way its showcases, above the results, how much it would cost to fly on three days to either side of your chosen date.

By the way: If you’re wondering why Expedia (and its corporate siblings, Orbitz and Travelocity) is not on this list, it is because those results are all right here in Hotwire. Expedia now just uses the Hotwire engine for its airfare functions, so if you search Expedia now, you’ve searched Hotwire.

This year,  Hopper , the travel app with an intuitive and colorful interface, tumbled five places from #3. 

When it came to finding cheap airfares, Hopper was a mixed bag. It did well enough on advance-purchase APEX fares, scoring slightly better prices than average about a third of the time. But that decent performance was counterbalanced by a dismal performance in the last-minute category. Hopper got whatever is the opposite of a silver medal, second only to Hotwire in putting up the worst prices the most often. Oddly, the only place where it fared better than average was on our curveball Dallas-to-Dubai itinerary. 

In terms of utility, Hopper still gives its users advice about the best dates to book based on price trends, but that feature used to offer far, far more insight on every flight—it once had bar graphs and historical prices, baggage fees and seat pitches, and the cost of various amenities. Those are all gone, although on the final booking page, Hopper will at least link you to the airline’s own page on baggage regulations and costs (except when that link is broken). 

Some features remain. The calendar for selecting dates is color coded to show the cheapest travel days for two months, so you can easily spot where a bit of flexibility might save you money. In addition to a paltry half-dozen sort-by filters (price, flight duration, number of stops, etc.), Hopper can limit the results to its self-defined categories of Basic (cheapest), Standard (economy fares, but with at least free carry-ons and seat selection), Enhanced (more legroom, priority boarding, free snacks, etc.), plus Premium and Luxury for folks who probably don't need this roundup of the best places to book airfares online. One nice touch: Hopper includes a novel option to limit results to flights with no change fee.

Speaking of fees, Hopper sure does like to pressure you to pay a lot of them for its own add-on services, like freezing a fare for up to 21 days for a sliding scale cost, plus flight protection and cancel-for-any-reason insurances—each of which Hopper, annoyingly, makes you decline on two screens in a row before you can proceed. (On that note, for security’s sake, we always recommend you buy travel insurance from a third party, never from the provider who sells you the trip, in case that provider becomes unreachable.)

We’re not sure what happened to the Czech booking site Kiwi.com to make it tumble from #2 to #7 in less than two years, but the numbers don’t lie. Most of its fares were just a little above or below average, though it did find the cheapest last-minute flights from Miami to Rio and Chicago to Rome. 

What tanked its score was twofold. It performed poorly on advance-purchase direct flights (out of eight itineraries, it scored under average three times and worst of all another three). Kiwi did come up with the cheapest overall fares on NYC to Paris and L.A. to Hong Hong with connecting flights—but then so did most of the sites that outranked it.

Kiwi does have some features to recommend it. It caters to travelers who can be flexible. The default departure date is "anytime," allowing you to see which days are cheapest, and once you do choose a date, pop-up calendars show indicative prices for every day over two months. The results page has a fare grid for three days to either side of your chosen dates, and a trends bar graph showing what prices are likely for a dozen days out (and you can scroll even earlier or later). It’ll even throw in train and bus options, if available, which on our list is unique to Kiwi. It also has the second-best set of filters in the game, rivaled only by our #1. 

But there’s a hitch. We must point out that Kiwi does catch some bad reviews for lackluster customer service when something goes wrong. Frommer’s has received complaints about Kiwi from readers, and few rivals would be jealous of its status with the Better Business Bureau, which fields complaints about its Miami office. Bearing that in mind, some travelers may feel more comfortable using Kiwi to find ideal itineraries but then buy them elsewhere. 

The last time we ran our tests, Priceline lost the precarious grip it had kept on the #10 spot for years and fell off the list entirely. During its time in the wilderness, Priceline evidently cleaned up some of its worst practices. It has vastly improved its filters, provided daily price comparisons on the popup date-picker calendars, and no longer turns up its nose at low-cost carriers. That, plus its solid, if not breathtaking, price performance, has placed Priceline back in good graces and firmly in the middle of the pack.

Overall, last-minute fares were Priceline’s biggest weakness, underperforming even our #7 contender, Kiwi, on that score. It was the advance fares that lifted Priceline to #6. It even pulled off a few nice moves. Priceline alone realized you could shave $40 off a CHI-ROM flight in exchange for a short layover in Istanbul. It was also one of only two tested sites to figure out you could save 35% on a last-minute trip from NYC to L.A. as long as you were willing to endure a brief layover. 

Priceline of course also still offers its original, quirky travel hack: The “Express Deals.” These are opaque fares in which you get to pick your airports and travel dates, but not learn precise flight times, airlines, or stopovers until you pay. Before purchasing, you’ll only know whether it’s a morning, mid-day, or evening takeoff and that there will be “0–1” plane changes. If you are willing to put up with that degree of uncertainty, you can save up to 40%, though the discount is typically more around the 10% mark.

Aggregator Tripadvisor  holds its position in fifth place, proving that while it may no longer be just a platform to vent about travel mishaps, but its airfare results are holding steady. 

Tripadvisor offers the clever cost-saving option to include nearby airports—you never know when Newark-to-Fort Lauderdale will cost half a LaGuardia-to-Miami ticket—and its great set of filters includes one that lets you limit the booking sites it checks to only the names you trust.

What’s holding it back at #5—aside from being annoyingly slow—is that whenever it found the cheapest tickets, or even a better-than-average airfare, so did our top three sites. And those higher-ranked sites pulled off this feat even more often. Tripadvisor also turned in a resoundingly meh performance on last-minute airfares, with overwhelmingly average results nearly across the board. 

The highest ranked OTA on our list, CheapOAir reigns supreme among our sites when it comes to last-minute airfares. How good are the airfares it sells? A few rivals managed to find the best price one or two times, but CheapOAir did it the most.

However, alongside those wins, CheapOAir sometimes posted prices that were worse than average (but not the worst). You could say it’s all or nothing with these folks—even more so when it came to advance-purchase fares, where CheapoAir’s performance was all over the place. Put it this way: If we ignored its stellar performance in the last-minute category and scored things based only on buying tickets a few months out, CheapOAir would rank 7th, not 4th. 

A few other quibbles: CheapOAir won the booby prize for Most Annoying Popups. It was also the slowest of our bunch, and often glitchy. 

On the plus side, the popup date-picker calendars automatically populate with airfare prices for every day, so you can see at a glance which day is cheapest to fly. CheapOAir also had a handy cheat sheet chart at the top of results showing the costs, both non-stop and cheapest, for the best half-dozen airlines. The filters were also pretty good, including options to show alternate dates and nearby airports (both can be great cost-saving techniques).

Always give CheapOAir a look if you are planning to fly in the immediate future—but then also run the numbers at our top three sites, just in case.

Skiplagged , a decade-old upstart, is problematic if you don't know how to use it. It became famous for its "Hidden city" fares, which are tedious to explain but boil down to this: They're itineraries that break the airlines' rules, so they're too risky for us to recommend. They can sometimes cost less, but you don't get to check any luggage. Accepting a hidden city fare can results in  pricey consequences or even lawsuits  if you're caught. But Skiplagged gives you the option to exclude this controversial type of airfare by unchecking the SKIPLAGGING box, which we did for all of our tests. 

Once we omitted hidden city fares, Skiplagged turned out to be strong on direct flights. Our top three sites were pretty much neck-and-neck when it came to pricing, so Skiplagged's ranking came down to other features. Its delightfully simple graphic interface lets you compare, at a glance, the lengths of trips, including layover durations. When you enter a departure airport or city, the arrival is defaulted to "Anywhere;" if you leave it that way, you get a page of photos with prices for a bunch of tempting getaways.

Skiplagged’s popup calendars show how much the flight costs on each day over two months, so you can easily see how tinkering with the departure or return can save you money. (On the two sites that placed higher in our review ranking, this feature only indicates price ranges, not precise fares).

We do have a few criticisms. Sometimes Skiplagged sent us to questionable OTAs to make purchases, and we sometimes found prices were actually higher once we clicked over. Skiplagged also lacks robust filters, doesn't disclose baggage fees, and rounds down all the prices—that last complaint is minor since we're only talking about a few cents, but just feels sneaky.

Skyscanner remains one of the best performers on price and essentially tied with #3, Skiplagged, in the lowest fares on advance purchase tickets. Something else it shares with Skiplagged: mediocre filters. Skyscanner was merely average on last-minute bookings. 

This year, Skyscanner still earned the edge for a few reasons. You can choose "Explore everywhere" as your destination to get a nice grid of destinations at the cheapest cost. Unlike a similar feature at Skiplagged, which is constrained to North America, if you keep scrolling down on Skyscanner, you will get destinations on other continents as well.

One big plus: Skyscanner includes a star rating for all third-party booking sites (and how many users rated it), which helps travelers vet unfamiliar sites.

Skyscanner also offers the option to include nearby airports and to search for destinations in an entire country rather than just a city. While the initial popup calendars for travel dates do not show, as do some others, the precise prices to fly on alternate days, they do indicate each day’s relative cost category via a color code. Then, once you get to the results page, the tiny "Show whole month" link at the top will provide a page with two months’ worth of estimated prices.

Click here for Frommers' Top 10 Ranking of the Best Hotel Booking Sites

• All Regions
• Australia & South Pacific
• Caribbean & Atlantic
• Central & South America
• Middle East & Africa
• North America
• Washington, D.C.
• San Francisco
• New York City
• Los Angeles
• Arts & Culture
• Beach & Water Sports
• Local Experiences
• Food & Drink
• Outdoor & Adventure
• National Parks
• Winter Sports
• Travelers with Disabilities
• Family & Kids
• All Slideshows
• Hotel Deals
• Car Rentals
• Flight Alerts
• Credit Cards & Loyalty Points
• Cruise News
• Entry Requirements & Customs
• Car, Bus, Rail News
• Money & Fees
• Health, Insurance, Security
• Packing & Luggage
• -Arthur Frommer Online
• -Passportable
• Road Trip Guides
• Alaska Made Easy
• Great Vacation Ideas in the U.S.A.
• Best of the Caribbean
• Best of Mexico
• Cruise Inspiration
• Best Places to Go 2024

Expedia Rewards is now One Key™

Expedia travel: search hotels, cheap flights, car rentals & vacations, search for travel.

• Things to do

Add a flight

Save 10% or more on over 100,000 hotels with Member Prices. Also, members save up to 30% when you add a hotel to a flight

Earn up to $600 in OneKeyCash™

Discover your new favorite stay

7 iconic cities for family fun

Activities for the kids, culture for you. these seven adventure-packed cities prove there’s no need to compromise on your next trip., explore stays in trending destinations.

Last-minute weekend deals

Image gallery for argonaut hotel.

Argonaut Hotel

Image gallery for prince waikiki.

Prince Waikiki

Image gallery for wynn las vegas.

Wynn Las Vegas

Image gallery for the wayfarer san diego.

The Wayfarer San Diego

Image gallery for luskin hotel.

Luskin Hotel

Image gallery for hotel chinzanso tokyo.

Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo

Image gallery for hotel beacon.

Hotel Beacon

Image gallery for one hundred shoreditch.

One Hundred Shoreditch

Image gallery for eldorado resort casino at the row.

Eldorado Resort Casino at THE ROW

Image gallery for harveys lake tahoe resort & casino.

Harveys Lake Tahoe Resort & Casino

Image gallery for hotel bassano.

Hotel Bassano

Image gallery for hotel l'orologio.

Hotel L'Orologio

Image gallery for trump international hotel & tower chicago.

Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago

Image gallery for la villa du golf à cancun.

La Villa du Golf à Cancun

Image gallery for grand velas los cabos - all inclusive.

Grand Velas Los Cabos - All Inclusive

Image gallery for mitsui garden hotel kyoto sanjo premier.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Sanjo PREMIER

Image gallery for gallery hotel.

Gallery Hotel

Image gallery for dossier hotel.

Dossier Hotel

Explore these unique stays, image gallery for brasada ranch.

Brasada Ranch

Powell butte, image gallery for white stallion ranch.

White Stallion Ranch

Image gallery for 320 guest ranch.

320 Guest Ranch

Gallatin gateway, image gallery for y.o. ranch headquarters.

Y.O. Ranch Headquarters

Mountain home, image gallery for tanque verde ranch.

Tanque Verde Ranch

Image gallery for walden retreats.

Walden Retreats

Johnson city, image gallery for ocean villas at turtle bay.

Ocean Villas at Turtle Bay

Image gallery for zion mountain ranch.

Zion Mountain Ranch

Mount carmel, image gallery for cougar ridge resort, llc.

Cougar Ridge Resort, LLC

Image gallery for verde valley rv & camping resort, a thousand trails property.

Verde Valley RV & Camping Resort, a Thousand Trails Property

Image gallery for the cottages at pga national resort.

The Cottages at PGA National Resort

Palm beach gardens, image gallery for conestoga ranch.

Conestoga Ranch

Garden city, image gallery for bear's blessing.

Bear's Blessing

Sevierville, image gallery for sweetwater inn and spa.

Sweetwater Inn and Spa

Image gallery for lake breeze resort.

Lake Breeze Resort

Image gallery for bandy canyon ranch.

Bandy Canyon Ranch

Image gallery for natural bridge state resort park.

Natural Bridge State Resort Park

Image gallery for little lake lookout.

Little Lake Lookout

Image gallery for hale akua garden farm & eco-retreat.

Hale Akua Garden Farm & Eco-Retreat

Image gallery for emerald forest cabins.

Emerald Forest Cabins

Image gallery for fireside lodge.

Fireside Lodge

South lake tahoe, image gallery for teton valley resort.

Teton Valley Resort

Image gallery for 2 son's geronimo - birdhouse cabin.

2 Son's Geronimo - Birdhouse Cabin

Image gallery for walnut canyon cabins.

Walnut Canyon Cabins

Fredericksburg, discover flights to popular destinations.

• Los Angeles
• Salt Lake City

Earn OneKeyCash™ on eligible flights, hotels, cars, and more

Members always get our best deals on city breaks

Earn OneKeyCash™ on top of your airline miles

Trips that travel dreams are made of

Find unmissable spots for sailing, scuba, stand-up paddleboarding and more

• Explore a world of travel with Expedia

Top Hotel Deals on Domestic Destinations

• Top Hotels in Boston, MA
• Top Hotels in Houston, TX
• Top Hotels in Chicago, IL
• Top Hotels in Pigeon Forge, TN
• Top Hotels in Myrtle Beach, SC
• Top Hotels in Los Angeles, CA
• Top Hotels in Nashville, TN
• Top Hotels in San Francisco, CA
• Top Hotels in Miami, FL
• Top Hotels in New Orleans, LA
• Top Hotels in Atlantic City, NJ
• Top Hotels in Orlando, FL
• Top Hotels in Las Vegas, NV
• Top Hotels in Anna Maria Island, FL
• Top Hotels in New York, NY
• Top domestic Hotels

Top Hotel Deals on International Destinations

• Top All-inclusive Resorts in Turks and Caicos
• Top All-inclusive Resorts in Puerto Rico
• Top Hotels in Paris
• Top Hotels in Puerto Rico Island
• Top Hotels in Rome from $35
• Top All-inclusive Resorts in Bahamas
• Top Hotels in San Juan
• Top Hotels in Cabo San Lucas
• Top Hotels in Tokyo
• Top All-inclusive Resorts in Mexico
• Top Hotels in Cancun
• Top All-inclusive Resorts in Cancun
• Top Hotels in London
• Top Hotels in Niagara Falls
• Top Hotels in Toronto
• Top international Hotels

Top Domestic Flights

• Flights to Las Vegas
• Flights to Hawaii
• Flights to New York
• Flights to Orlando
• Flights to Miami
• Flights to Los Angeles
• Flights to Maui
• Flights to Houston
• Flights to Dallas
• Flights to Denver

Top International Flights

• Flights to Puerto Rico
• Flights to Tokyo
• Flights to Kannur
• Flights to Mexico City
• Flights to London
• Flights to Cancun
• Flights to Manila
• Flights to Cabo San Lucas
• Flights to Bali
• Flights to Bora Bora

Save today on vacation packages

• Las Vegas Vacation Packages
• New York Vacation Packages
• Miami Vacation Packages
• Orlando Vacation Packages
• New Orleans Vacation Packages
• Williamsburg Vacation Packages
• Portland Vacation Packages
• Laughlin Vacation Packages
• Tampa Vacation Packages
• Atlantic City Vacation Packages
• Austin Vacation Packages
• St. Thomas Vacation Packages

Book international flights & hotels together to save

• Cancun Vacation Packages
• Punta Cana Vacation Packages
• Aruba Vacation Packages
• Bahamas Vacation Packages
• London Vacation Packages
• Paris Vacation Packages
• Cozumel Vacation Packages
• Playa Del Carmen Vacation Packages
• Toronto Vacation Packages
• Quintana Roo Vacation Packages

Top places to visit domestically

• Visit Los Angeles
• Visit Las Vegas
• Visit New York
• Visit Chicago
• Visit Orlando
• Visit Dallas
• Visit Atlanta
• Visit Phoenix
• Visit Miami
• Visit Houston

Visit places internationally

• Visit the Bahamas
• Visit Vancouver
• Visit Mexico
• Visit Cabo San Lucas
• Visit Cancun
• Visit Punta Cana
• Visit Australia
• Visit London
• Visit Aruba
• Visit Paris

Airport & car rental deals

• Car rentals in Los Angeles
• Car rentals in Orlando
• Car rentals in Las Vegas
• Car rentals in Denver
• Car rentals in Phoenix
• Car rentals in Chicago
• Car rentals in Fort Lauderdale
• Car rentals in New York
• Car rentals in Atlanta
• Car rentals in Houston

Find cheap car rentals at international airports

• Car rentals in Dublin
• Car rentals in Vancouver
• Car rentals in Toronto
• Car rentals in Dubai
• Car rentals in Paris
• Car rentals in Cancun
• Car rentals in Puerto Rico
• Car rentals in Rome
• Car rentals in Calgary

Top Deals on Vacation Rental Destinations

• Search all Vacation Rentals
• Top Myrtle Beach Vacation Rentals
• Top Vacation Rentals in Florida
• Top Vacation Rentals in New Jersey
• Top South Lake Tahoe Vacation Rentals
• Top Galveston Vacation Rentals
• Top Miami Vacation Rentals
• Top Tampa Vacation Rentals
• Top Orlando Vacation Rentals
• Top Daytona Beach Vacation Rentals
• Top Gulf Shores Vacation Rentals
• Top Oahu Vacation Rentals
• Top Geneva-on-the-Lake Vacation Rentals
• Top Oregon Coast Vacation Rentals
• Top Jersey Shore Vacation Rentals
• Top South Padre Island Vacation Rentals

Popular cruise destinations

• Cruises to Bahamas
• Cruises to Mexico
• Cruises to Hawaii
• Cruises to Alaska
• Cruises to Caribbean
• Cruises to Europe
• Cruises to Bermuda
• Cruises to Africa
• Cruises to Australia & New Zealand
• Cruises to Canada & New England

Cruise departure ports nearby

• Cruises from Galveston
• Cruises from Miami
• Cruises from New York
• Cruises from Tampa
• Cruises from Long Beach
• Cruises from Boston
• Cruises from Charleston
• Cruises from Port Canaveral
• Cruises from San Francisco
• Cruises from Norfolk

Other Vacation ideas

• Travel Trends 2024
• Christmas Vacation Deals
• Weekend Getaways
• Plan your Vacation
• Vacation Payment Plans
• Expedia Group wildlife guidelines
• All Inclusive Vacations
• Ski Vacations
• Beach Vacations
• Golf Vacations
• Kid Friendly Vacations
• Luxury Vacations
• Romantic Vacations
• Honeymoon Vacations
• Adventure Vacations
• Cheap Vacations
• Last Minute Vacation Deals
• Best Travel Destinations by Month

More destinations

• All Destinations

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Airlines + Airports

5 Best Flight Search Engines for Finding the Cheapest Flights

Use these flight search engines to plan your next trip.

You've picked your next vacation spot , and it's time to look into flights. Where do you begin? There are several methods for researching flights, whether that's through airline websites and apps; online travel agencies (OTAs) like Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz; or through third-party metasearch engines.

If you're searching for the best price rather than for flights on a specific airline, you'll want to head to OTAs or metasearch engines, which will show you flight options from a variety of airlines. But a word of warning here: we don't recommend booking flights through OTAs. If something were to go wrong —  a flight delay or a canceled flight , for instance — the airline won't be able to help you find a solution, and you'll have to work with your OTA instead. It creates an extra step in the process, and an often frustrating one at that. The pro to booking through an OTA, however, is that the prices may be cheaper than booking through an airline directly. Book via an OTA at your own risk.

welcomeinside/Getty Images

For that reason, we're focusing this list on metasearch engines, though you could still use OTAs to search for flights, then book directly with the airline, if you so choose. Plus, most metasearch engines do include pricing from OTAs if you're looking for the absolute lowest price, regardless of the booking site.

And there's one more caveat to consider: Southwest Airlines generally does not allow its flights to show up in third-party search engines or booking platforms. There is one exception, which we've mentioned below.

So, without further ado, check out our picks for the best flight search engines.

Google Flights

In the 1990s, a company called ITA built the first flight search engine called QPX to help travelers find the lowest fares. Today, it has evolved into Google Flights , a robust, user-friendly search engine that is the best across the board for researching flight options. You can use a set of filters to narrow down your options — say, by time of departure or by airline alliance — and you can even track pricing to see if it drops over time. If you're planning a trip based on cheap airfare rather than selecting a destination first, Google Flights can help you there, too. Simply leave your destination open ended when searching for flights, and Google Flights will show you a map of airfare prices across the globe. 

Though Kayak is often lumped into the OTA category, it's actually a metasearch engine. That means you can't buy tickets via Kayak itself, but rather Kayak redirects you to airline sites or OTAs for booking. While Kayak hits all the highlights of major metasearch engines, such as search filters and price alerts, it stands out among competitors because it does include Southwest flights. But it does so in a specific capacity: it's only available for users with a (free) Kayak business account. Other things we like about Kayak include a feature called Fee Assistant, which helps calculate baggage fees, and Hacker Fares, which allows you to price out one-way fares on separate airlines. These fares may be cheaper than booking round-trip tickets with a single airline.

A sister site to Kayak, Momondo offers pretty much all the same services, including Hacker Fares, though it doesn't have Fee Assistant. What we like better about Momondo, however, is the fact that it automatically shows you flight prices for the days before and after your target travel dates, which could help you snag some pretty big flight deals. It also offers flight insights between your origin and destination, which includes stats like the cheapest month, day of the week, and time of day to travel. Plus, overall it's a very user-friendly site in terms of design.

Skyscanner is a classic flight metasearch engine, but it has some particular strengths over its competitors. First, it has a cheapest month feature that can help you pick the best time to visit a destination based on cheap airfare. Second, it includes some smaller OTAs which may help you find even cheaper prices than what's offered by the larger OTAs (again, we don't recommend booking through OTAs, so do so at your own risk). And third, it can be better than competitors at finding the lowest prices for last-minute flights.

Expert Flyer

Expert Flyer is indeed best for expert flyers. This tool requires a paid subscription, for which it has some very advanced features that go far beyond a simple flight search.  But it comes in particularly handy for flight searches by allowing you to search for award fare availability. As we said, this is best for expert flyers, as it requires pretty substantial airline knowledge to maximize its use, and its user interface isn't the most intuitive.

Related Articles

• 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 .

6 Best Websites for Booking Cheap Flights

Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. 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 .

The desire to get a good deal unites practically all travelers. Whether you're looking for a cheap getaway or a luxury vacation, no one wants to spend more than necessary. When it comes to booking flights, travelers may naturally head to an airline's website. However, that's not always the best site to book flights.

Whether it's taking advantage of credit card perks, earning bonus miles or saving money, the best flight booking site can vary depending on your situation and willingness to get creative. Let's take a look at six of the best sites to book flights and when each is the best option.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

The best flight booking sites

1. google flights.

For ease, speed and features, Google Flights is arguably the best website for flight searches. Search results appear almost instantly. Filters let you narrow down to nonstop options, select a subset of airlines, limit by price or factor in the price of a bag. Similarly, you can use Google Flights filters to avoid certain airlines, multi-stop itineraries, long layovers, early flights or pretty much whatever you might want to avoid.

You can easily check flexible dates, and if you're flexible on where you go you can use the Explore map to see prices for a variety of destinations for certain dates, a certain month or anytime in the next six months.

Google Flights partners with hundreds of airlines and online travel agencies (OTAs) to pull current flight prices. That way you don't have to search each of these sites to be able to see the options. Once you select your preferred trip, Google Flights links you to the top booking options for actually booking your flight — including the airline itself and the best OTA booking options.

The downsides of Google Flights are few. One downside is that Google Flights doesn't always show the cheapest prices — particularly for international flights. That means it's worth double-checking prices on another site before booking through Google Flights.

Like Google Flights, Kayak searches hundreds of other websites and flight booking platforms to find the best deal. Kayak generally doesn't let you book flights directly. However, one benefit of Kayak is the streamlined process. Rather than having to click through several pages to confirm your selection, clicking "view deal" on the results page can take you right to the cheapest booking option.

Also, some travelers may find Kayak's flexible date search a bit easier to work with as you can see results from several days in the search results — eliminating the need to check each day's results separately.

But perhaps the most important reason to use Kayak instead of Google Flights is that it can catch better deals. For example, we found a $550 round-trip flight from Los Angeles to Barcelona using Google Flights. Kayak found a way to lower that price to just $472 round-trip — at least once you scroll past an advertisement.

Note that Kayak manages other flight search sites — including Momondo and Cheapflights — so the results may be very similar between these sister sites.

» Learn more: Is Kayak legit?

So far, we've focused on ease in flight searching, and that's going to be enough for many travelers. However, now let's add in some additional elements to consider when choosing the best flight booking site: earning rewards and saving by booking packages. Expedia excels at both of these.

Through the new One Key rewards program , travelers can earn 0.2% in OneKeyCash from flight bookings made through Expedia. That's not much, but it can stack on top of the awards you earn from the airline and those that you earn on your credit card purchase.

Even better, you'll earn credits toward One Key elite status by booking your flight through Expedia. As you climb up the tiers, you'll unlock up to 20% savings on hotels, get hotel upgrades, priority support and even price drop protection.

Plus, Expedia boasts that travelers can "save up to 30%" when bundling a hotel with a flight booking — although actual discounts are likely to vary.

» Learn more: The pros and cons of Expedia

4. Capital One Travel

For many Capital One cardholders, Capital One Travel might just be the best flight booking site. Part of this is to take advantage of cardholder benefits.

For example, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card holders earn 5x Capital One miles when booking flights through the Capital One Travel portal. Plus, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card holders get up to $300 off travel booked through the Capital One Travel portal each cardholder year.

» Learn more: How to maximize the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Also, Capital One Travel can help you truly get the best price for your flight. Capital One partnered with travel data company Hopper to show suggestions about when it's the best time to book.

Capital One backs up these recommendations with money. If you book a flight through Capital One Travel when Hopper recommends doing so, you'll get up to a $50 credit toward future travel if the price drops within the next 10 days.

» Learn more: How the Capital One Travel portal works

Would you be willing to book a trip as two separate tickets in order to save money? That's the idea behind Kiwi. Instead of simply searching flights from your home airport to your destination, Kiwi checks all potential options to get between A and B. That could mean taking a bus or train from your home city to another to catch a flight to your destination. Or, Kiwi might pair a low-cost domestic flight with a cheap international flight from another city to lower your total cost.

Protect your upfront travel expenses by booking with a card that has travel insurance or by purchasing a separate policy .

For example, when we priced out a round-trip flight from Phoenix to Tokyo, the cheapest option when booked as one ticket cost $1,353 round-trip — and that's with an overnight stay in Vancouver.

Pricing out the same itinerary and dates through Kiwi drops the price to just $789 round-trip. The secret? Booking this as two round-trip flights: One from Phoenix to Los Angeles on Frontier and a separate round-trip from Los Angeles to Tokyo on Zipair.

Keep in mind that there are risks with booking separate tickets to get where you want to go. If a delay or cancellation causes you to miss your connection, the second airline/bus/train company isn't obligated to honor your ticket and rebook you on the next option. So make sure to factor in all of the risks of booking travel like this.

» Learn more: When to use Kiwi for your next flight booking

6. BookWithMatrix

ITA Matrix is a very powerful and ultra-customizable search platform for finding exactly the flight itinerary you want — whether that's booking a longer layover, avoiding certain aircraft types or booking nerdy trips such as the Alaska Milk Run .

The catch: Travelers can't actually book flights through ITA Matrix. And, unlike Google Flights, ITA Matrix doesn't even link to the best flight booking site for that itinerary. Instead, travelers are left to attempt to re-create the same itinerary through another flight booking website — which can be hard in the case of certain complex itineraries.

Enter BookWithMatrix. Travelers can copy-paste their perfect itinerary from ITA Matrix into BookWithMatrix to get bookable links through the airline or select OTAs.

Alternatively, travelers have the option to install the PowerTools extension in Google Chrome .

This extension adds booking links right on the ITA Matrix itinerary page, avoiding the need to browse to another page.

Popular cards for booking flights

Depending on the airline and credit card issuer you choose, you may earn anywhere from 1 to 3 miles per dollar spent on the card that you can put towards booking flights.

You usually earn more when you use the card to purchase travel directly from the airline. You could also earn more by making purchases in expense categories that pay bonus miles, like restaurants or gas stations (these vary from issuer to issuer).

on Chase's website

on American Express' website

$0 intro for the first year, then $95 .

$0 intro for the first year, then $150 .

• 2 miles per $1 on United purchases.

• 2 miles per $1 at restaurants and hotels (when booked directly with hotel).

• 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.

• 2 points per $1 on Southwest purchases.

• 2 points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases, local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and on internet, cable, phone services and select streaming.

• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.

• 2 miles per $1 on purchases made directly with Delta and at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.).

• 1 mile per $1 on all other eligible purchases.

Terms apply.

• 6 points per $1 with JetBlue.

• 2 points per $1 at restaurants and grocery stores.

• 1 point per $1 on other purchases.

• 1 Mosaic tile per $1,000 spent.

When you open a new airline credit card account, you may be eligible for a big welcome bonus after meeting a minimum purchase requirement. After that, you'll continue to earn miles for purchases you would have made anyway.

If you seek more flexibility in redeeming miles for award flights, consider applying for a more general travel credit card instead. A more general travel credit card differs from an airline card in that you can book flights with multiple carriers, rather than reaping the benefits of staying loyal to a single brand.

The more high-end (or 'premium' ) the travel credit card, the more benefits you can enjoy, including airport lounge access or automatic elite status in certain programs. That said, a brand-specific airline card can net you benefits like waived baggage fees, which can have meaningful dollar value.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards

Final thoughts on the best flight booking site

There's not a one-size-fits-all best website for booking flights. Instead, the best flight booking site for you is going to depend on how simple you want the process to be, whether you're willing to get creative with your booking, and even which credit cards you have.

For most travelers, the simplicity of Google Flights is going to make it the best one-stop shop for searching and booking flights. However, it's worth considering other options if you're flying internationally, want to book a flight-and-hotel package or have a Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card .

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

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

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ 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

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

Earn 5 free nights at an IHG property after $4k in spend (each night valued at up to 60k points).

24 Best Travel Websites and Apps to Find Deals and Save You Money

Use our guide to the best travel websites and find discounts and deals so you can vacation without breaking the bank.

• Newsletter sign up Newsletter

If you're looking for a cheap vacation , you’ll want to know the best travel websites to use. And if you’re tired of wondering which sites are best for each part of your trip planning, we’ve got you covered.

Here are some of the best travel sites we’ve found to help you bag bargains on airfares, lodging, car rentals and all your other travel needs. Best of all, almost all of the travel websites are free to use. Bon voyage! 

Best websites and apps to save on airfare

Keeping up with airfare prices has gotten easier thanks to sites like Google Flights and Kayak . To use them, just type in your home and destination airport, pick the flights that work best for you and then set an alert to track the price. For example, Google Flights will send you an e-mail showing if your tracked flight went up or down in price. Both sites also let you see which days are cheaper to fly in that month. Airfarewatchdog also lets you search flight deals.

If you haven’t decided on where exactly you want to go, sign up for Going (formerly known as Scott’s Cheap Flights.) Their newsletter comes straight to your inbox with deals on domestic and international locations. Or you can follow X (formerly Twitter) handles such as @TheFlightDeal for flights, too.   

Sponsored Content

Best websites and apps for flight information

Once your flight is booked, you’ll want to keep tabs on gate changes, layover information and more. FlightStats.com can help you plan a smooth trip by advising you on the best time of day to fly from a specific airport and which terminals to avoid when connecting flights. You can also view live updates of flight delays and sign up for free e-mail and phone alerts. Flightaware.com also tracks and predicts flight delays.

If you’re delayed by weather or some unforeseen event, it pays to act quickly. The TripIt Pro smartphone app ($49/year) will send you alerts about cancellations, delays or gate changes, sometimes even ahead of an airline announcement. Use it to locate alternate flights, find out when better seats are available, get fare refund notifications, track your rewards program points and more.

Best websites and apps to save on hotels

Hotels.com lets you search just one site for accommodations at hundreds of thousands of properties. Plus, its rewards program is simple: earn OneKeyCash for every dollar spent on eligible hotels, vacation rentals, flights, car rentals and more when you book on Hotels.com (or partner brands).

Similarly, HotelTonight is an app that lets users book hotels at low last-minute rates. Priceline Express Deals helps you find the best bargains, but there’s a catch. Priceline doesn’t tell you which hotel you’re booking until after you pay.

And try TripAdvisor.com for a detailed list of rated hotels (and excursions) that are close to your destination. The site links you to partner sites, such as Expedia and Travelocity for fulfillment. Click on the "check rates" button and select the site or sites you’d like to try — a new window with results will open for each partner.

Best websites and apps to save on vacation rentals

Vacation rentals are an especially good value for groups because they generally offer more space and amenities for prices similar to or less than hotel rates, particularly if you look at it on a per-bed basis. Check out VRBO and Airbnb to find the perfect experience. For Marriott loyalists, Marriott Bonvoy lets you browse its 30-brand portfolio — which includes more than 2,000 private homes.

At the other end of the scale, if you don’t mind college-dorm-level amenities, check out Hostelworld.com as a way to save money on vacation rental properties . The site lists more than 17,000 hostels in over 180 countries around the globe and includes reviews.

Best websites and apps for cruises and vacation packages

At CruiseCompete.com , more than 500 travel agencies vie to give you the lowest prices for dates, ports and ships you specify, whether you’re booking well in advance or at the eleventh hour. You set up a CruiseCompete account, and they send you their best offers without ever seeing your personal information.

Kayak.com and Tripadvisor.com will also knit together vacation packages for you. Just type in your destination and travel dates to get the best prices.

Best websites and apps to save on rental cars

Hotwire often offers the best-published deals on cars by collecting rates from its eight rental car company partners, including Alamo, Enterprise and Hertz. The site also offers "hot rates" from rental companies that aren't identified until after you’ve paid.

And while Hotwire does offer some good prepaid rental car deals, in certain international cities for the best overseas auto deals you should check out AutoEurope . It offers rentals at more than 20,000 locations worldwide, and customer service is available 24/7.

AutoSlash is also a good site to find rental deals, as it will apply the best coupons and discount codes to your rental and re-book your reservation if the system finds a better deal.

If you rent a car on your next vacation, consider booking it with a credit card that covers rental car insurance .

Best websites and apps to save on international train tickets

Trains are often the fastest and cheapest way to travel within and between European countries. Our favorite for checking timetables and booking tickets on European train lines is RailEurope . But you might be able to catch better deals directly from European railways’ sites if you don’t get lost in translation — and make sure you have what you need to travel to Europe as an American!

Best websites and apps for travel insurance

You never know when an emergency will spoil your travel plans. That's what travel insurance is for. But don't just go for the default options from agencies and travel providers. At Squaremouth , you can compare plans and prices from multiple insurance providers with just one search and narrow your search results by specifying the kind of coverage you need. Another option is InsureMyTrip.com .

Related Content

• Hotels That Give the Best Value for Your Money, as Rated by Guests
• Best Summer Travel Deals
• Best Airline Credit Card Bonuses With a Free Ticket

Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free

Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

Rivan joined Kiplinger on Leap Day 2016 as a reporter for Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. A Michigan native, she graduated from the University of Michigan in 2014 and from there freelanced as a local copy editor and proofreader, and served as a research assistant to a local Detroit journalist. Her work has been featured in the Ann Arbor Observer and Sage Business Researcher . She is currently assistant editor, personal finance at The Washington Post.

• Erin Bendig Personal Finance Writer

Living trusts can help manage your assets (and taxes) while you're alive and transfer them after you die, but they have disadvantages, as well as advantages.

By Patrick M. Simasko, J.D. Published 27 August 24

When adult kids make financial mistakes, their parents can suffer. So, step in early to help your kids succeed, instead of letting their regrets become yours.

By Deb Placet, CFP® Published 27 August 24

The government is once again providing free COVID tests to American households this fall.

By Alexandra Svokos Published 26 August 24

Get your Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte or new Iced Apple Crisp Nondairy Chai as the coffee retailer brings back the popular fall menu to Starbucks stores in the U.S.

By Kathryn Pomroy Published 26 August 24

Inflation has been a thorn in the side of many presidential administrations, but how much impact does the commander-in-chief have over price growth?

By Charles Lewis Sizemore, CFA Published 24 August 24

Collectibles such as Hot Wheels and rare trading cards have been outperforming some more conventional investments. Should you consider these alternative investments?

By Donna LeValley Published 24 August 24

Travel in retirement is a dream for many people. Here are 12 tips to make the reality of it more enjoyable.

By Daniel Bortz Published 23 August 24

With data breaches in the news from National Public Data and Change Healthcare, people are wondering if they should freeze their credit.

By Alexandra Svokos Published 22 August 24

For a limited time, you can score 50% off Paramount Plus — pay just $29.99.

By Erin Bendig Published 21 August 24

• Contact Future's experts
• Terms and Conditions
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy
• Advertise with us

Kiplinger is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site . © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

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

Germany: 8-Night Christmas Markets Tour w/Daily...

TripCompanion Tours

Poconos: 2-Nt, All-Incl. Stay at Upscale...

ResortsAndLodges.com

10-Night Mediterranean Cruise From Barcelona to...

Norwegian Cruise Line

Trending on SmarterTravel

Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market.  See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our  credit card rating methodology .

The 12 Best Websites for Booking Flights at the Cheapest Prices [2024]

Katie Seemann

Senior Content Contributor and News Editor

371 Published Articles 66 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 28 U.S. States Visited: 29

Stella Shon

Senior Features Editor

118 Published Articles 806 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 25 U.S. States Visited: 22

Senior Editor & Content Contributor

153 Published Articles 768 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 41 U.S. States Visited: 28

Table of Contents

Book direct through the airline’s website, price comparisons, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Key Takeaways

• Booking directly on an airline website often offers the best prices and makes it easier to resolve issues. However, checking OTAs can reveal additional discounts and special deals not found elsewhere.
• Kayak and Google Flights are excellent for comparing prices, tracking fare trends, and providing flexible booking options.
• OTAs like Expedia and Priceline provide loyalty rewards and exclusive deals, but be aware of potential booking fees and restrictions on earning airline status miles.

Searching for a flight can be a bit overwhelming. There are so many factors: dates, times, price, fare class, airline, and more. Even when you know exactly when and where you want to fly, where should you look for the absolute best price?

Unfortunately, no website consistently has the lowest prices. Most of the popular OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) are usually in the same ballpark for the price, but not all offer the same benefits or search functionality.

We’ve combed through many popular OTAs to compare prices and show you the benefits and drawbacks of each site.

More often than not, booking directly through the airline’s website will give you the best price, or will at least be the same as the OTAs.

Some airlines, like Southwest, won’t even show up on sites like Expedia or Orbitz, so you have to book direct. It can also be the most simple way to book. If a problem arises, you don’t have to deal with a third party to get it resolved.

Another reason to book directly through an airline’s website is to use those frequent flyer miles — hooray for award flights!

Of course, to book through the airline’s website, you first need to know which airline has the best prices. There are lots of travel search engines and OTAs that can help you find the best deals so you know which airline’s website to visit. Some OTAs even offer perks that might make it worth booking someplace other than the airline’s site.

Hot Tip: A card such as The Platinum Card ® from American Express earns an impressive 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with  AmexTravel.com on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.

Momondo is a travel metasearch engine similar to Kayak. The home page displays a simple search box where you can plug in your travel details.

One of the things we love about this site is the visual way it shows you the price trends for your flight. At first glance, you can tell if you could save some money by shifting around your travel dates a bit. It also offers a price tracker and lots of filtering options on the left-hand side of the screen.

It also offers Mix & Match fares (formerly Hacker Fares), which are simply 2 one-way tickets from different airlines packaged together to get you the best deal. However, unlike other sites, you must go to 2 separate websites to book these types of tickets.

Pros and Cons of Momondo

• Great price tracking tools
• Mix & Match fares require you to make 2 separate reservations; this is usually handled “behind the scenes” on other websites

Hot Tip: We cover the ins and outs of finding cheap airfare with this website in our guide to using Momondo .

Kayak is not an OTA. Rather, it’s a travel search engine — making it a great place to start your flight search.

The site compares prices from many websites in a single spot, so you can easily see the cheapest options . Most of the time, you’ll click through to a different site to complete your booking.

Kayak offers the ability to combine 2 one-way tickets (usually on different airlines) in 1 itinerary, which is a great way to save money on your flight. These itineraries can be pretty good deals and something that doesn’t always appear in search results of other websites.

A couple of new features were introduced in early 2024 — Kayak PriceCheck and Ask Kayak. Kayak PriceCheck allows you to upload a screenshot of an itinerary in the Kayak app, and Kayak will compare it to prices on hundreds of other sites to ensure you’re getting the best deal. Ask Kayak is an AI tool that helps you personalize your travel planning.

Pros and Cons of Kayak

• Ability to combine 2 one-way flights on a single itinerary
• Price Alerts to keep an eye on flight prices
• Kaya PriceCheck
• Kayak offers the most benefit when your travel plans are very flexible; many of its most valuable tools help you search for deals, so this site might be less appealing when you have a specific flight in mind

Bottom Line: For more information about Kayak’s travel search tools, check out the complete guide to booking travel with Kayak .

Daily Deals Special: Click here for up to 40% off at Expedia

Expedia is another tried-and-true OTA that people have been using since the 1990s. Back then, Expedia was a go-to source for searching and booking flights. But how does it stack up now?

You aren’t necessarily getting a better deal booking through Expedia, but you aren’t paying any more than you might on the airline’s website.

A nice perk of using Expedia is that it offers a rewards program called One Key. This program offers member pricing plus the ability to earn points for flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, activities, and more.

The One Key loyalty program is also used by Hotels.com and Vrbo.

If you’re a member of an airline’s frequent flyer program, you’ll be happy to know that you can still earn airline miles on a flight booked through Expedia . However, you often won’t be able to earn miles/points toward status or be eligible for seat upgrades.

Pros and Cons of Expedia

• Earn and redeem points through the One Key program
• Booking through Expedia may limit your mileage earned toward elite status
• Your ability to be eligible for upgrades can be limited when you book through Expedia

Hot Tip:  For more information, check out our post about how to use Expedia to find great deals on flights, hotels, vacation packages (and more).

4. Priceline

Priceline is a popular OTA that introduced the Name Your Own Price tool and opaque bookings. These types of bookings can offer discounts, but many of the details are hidden until after the booking. The Name Your Own Price tool was discontinued for flights in 2016, so now Priceline operates like most other OTAs .

One of the nice things about searching for flights on Priceline is that it has a nice color-coded calendar, so you can easily see which days offer the lowest prices.

The search results on Priceline are clear and easy to navigate. As you scroll through your search results, you can easily see the cheapest nonstop options and things like flights with no change fees or early bird flights.

Another way to save money is by looking at Priceline’s Express Deals . These opaque bookings are ones where select details of the flight (like the departure, arrival times, or even the airline) are hidden until the booking is complete.

Pros and Cons of Priceline

• Express Deal flights can offer a good discount if you have some flexibility; many of the details of the flight, including airline and arrival and departure times, are hidden until the booking is complete
• Color-coded calendar and easy-to-read search results
• Price Match Guarantee
• Free online cancellation within 24 hours of booking (except for Express Deal flights)
• No rewards program
• Express Deal flights can be good deals, but they can sometimes be even more expensive than a standard booking

Bottom Line: For more information, check out the complete guide to booking travel with Priceline .

Daily Deals Special: Check out Orbitz’s Daily Deals

Orbitz is another reliable OTA that has been around since 2001. One thing that makes this site a little different is that it offers its own rewards program called Orbitz Rewards . You can earn Orbucks when you book hotels, flights, and vacation packages through Orbitz. However, you can only redeem Orbucks for hotels.

When booking a flight through Orbitz, you’ll earn 1% of your purchase price back as Orbucks (or 2% if you use the Orbitz mobile app). If you book a $500 flight, you will earn 5 Orbucks, which is worth $5 toward a hotel booking. Joining the Orbitz Rewards program is free.

Unfortunately, Orbitz sometimes charges a 1% booking fee . Keep an eye out for these on your trip summary page before finalizing your purchase, and factor them into your calculations to see if you’re getting a good deal or not. While earning Orbucks is great, paying a booking fee could wipe out all of the benefits.

Pros and Cons of Orbitz

• Orbitz Rewards lets you earn Orbucks that can be applied to hotel bookings
• 24-hour cancellation policy
• Low Price Guarantee: if you find a lower price for your flight on another website within 24 hours, Orbitz will refund the difference
• Flight booking fees

Bottom Line: For more information, check out our guide to booking travel with Orbitz .

Agoda is an OTA owned by Priceline. This website doesn’t offer much more than a simple search with limited filter options when looking for flights. Agoda is worth checking out if you’re looking for unique accommodations such as an apartment or private villa, but it doesn’t offer much when searching for flights.

One cool thing about Agoda is that the site is multilingual. You can select your language by clicking on the flag in the top menu bar.

Pros and Cons of Agoda

• Simple search functionality
• Multilingual option
• Limited filtering options for flights

Hot Tip: Agoda has a loyalty program called VIP, but it only applies to hotel stays. For more information, check out our guide to booking travel through Agoda .

Special: See these Hotwire Flight Deals

Hotwire is a popular OTA that has been around for almost 20 years.

The simple home page offers the main search box to input your departure and arrival cities as well as your desired dates of travel.

Hotwire can offer a great deal when booking a hotel along with your flight . Many times during the booking process, you’ll see pop-ups or prompts advertising great savings when booking a hotel at the same time. We tested it, and every time we priced out a Hotwire vacation package deal against purchasing a flight and hotel separately, the package deal was cheaper.

Bottom Line: If you need a hotel in addition to your flight, booking both together through Hotwire can save you money.

Another thing to remember when using Hotwire to find great flight deals is that sometimes a booking fee will be charged.

Pros and Cons of Hotwire

• Package deals that include a hotel stay can save money
• Low Price Guarantee
• Hotwire can sometimes charge a booking fee

Bottom Line: For more details about finding great deals, check out our complete guide to booking travel through Hotwire .

8. Skyscanner

Skyscanner is another travel search engine that does not sell flights directly. It shows you a list of flights and links to the airline’s website or OTA to complete the purchase.

This site excels for travelers with flexibility . In the search box, you can select Explore everywhere  to search for the cheapest destinations on your chosen dates.

Skyscanner operates like most other travel search sites if you have a set destination with specific dates.

Pros and Cons of Skyscanner

• Flexible searches, including Explore everywhere  and Multi-city search
• Easy to change language and currency
• Price alerts

Hot Tip:  For more information, check out our in-depth piece on Skyscanner . 

9. Travelocity

Travelocity is yet another OTA that has been around for a while and is very similar to the other websites we’ve been looking at.

On the plus side, there are some nice filtering options to help you find the best flight for your needs. On the downside, prices can change between selection and booking. We did a dummy booking, and by the time we got to the payment section, the flight price had gone up from $157 to $338!

Much like other online travel agencies, Travelocity can also charge booking fees, so keep an eye out for those in the payment section of the booking process.

Pros and Cons of Travelocity

• Price Guarantee: If you find a lower price on an identical itinerary within 24 hours, Travelocity will refund the difference in price
• Free cancellation on flights within 24 hours of booking (on most airlines)
• Travelocity sometimes charges a booking fee
• Prices can change between flight selection and payment

Bottom Line: For more information, check out our guide to booking travel with Travelocity .

10. Google Flights

Google Flights is not an OTA. Rather, it’s a metasearch engine similar to Kayak. Once you find a flight, Google Flights will link you to the airline’s direct website or an OTA to complete the purchase. It is a powerful search engine built on the ITA Matrix , which was originally developed for travel agents.

This site shows you price trends and how your travel dates could affect the cost of your ticket. Plus, it allows you to track the prices of a route , so you can jump on low prices when they pop up. These features make Google Flights a great tool to help you feel confident that the price you’re getting is a good deal.

Google Flights recently rolled out a price guarantee feature on select flights departing from the U.S. If you book a flight with the price guarantee badge and the price drops, you’ll get a refund of the difference (with a maximum of $500 per calendar year) from Google Flights via Google Pay. However, you can only receive up to 3 price guaranteed refunds at any one time.

Pros and Cons of Google Flights

• The price graph shows you the pricing trends for your route and allows you to see what days might be cheaper to fly
• Price tracking will send you an email when your flight’s price increases or decreases
• Automatic price guarantee on select flights
• Since this search engine is so powerful with lots of options, it could get complicated for a novice traveler

Hot Tip: You can earn frequent flyer miles on flights booked through an OTA, but you might not earn miles toward elite status.

11. CheapOair

CheapOair is an OTA that offers its own credit card. Before applying for the card, we recommend considering a better travel rewards credit card  for more lucrative and flexible travel rewards.

This site might not be as cheap as you would think. That’s because it can charge expensive “agency fees.” For most flights, the fees can be up to $35; however, once you read the fine print, you’ll see they can actually be as high as $200 per ticket!

In addition, CheapOair charges a fee to change or cancel any ticket, including within 24 hours, which is free on many other sites.

Pros and Cons of CheapOair

• Price Match Promise: CheapOair will refund the difference in price if you find a lower price on the same itinerary on a major OTA within 24 hours of booking
• CheapOair charges hefty booking fees in addition to fees to cancel or change your flight
• Price Match Promise is very limited; the guarantee is only good for identical flights on Expedia, Orbitz, Priceline, and Travelocity

Bottom Line: CheapOair might not be cheap after all. It advertises low base fares, but it charges booking fees, which usually result in a higher price than the airline’s website. For more information, check out our guide to CheapOair .

Hopper is an app that tries to predict the right time to buy a flight. It claims that using its app can save you up to 40% on flights. The simple interface and color-coded map show you the cheapest and most expensive times to fly to your chosen destination.

You can also set up alerts to watch the prices for your specific dates or watch a whole month if you have flexible travel plans.

Pros and Cons of Hopper

• Easy to use
• Choose to watch prices for a specific trip or choose to watch prices over a whole month
• No ability to search on a desktop
• Few filtering options

Hot Tip: There are many credit cards with travel insurance and extra protections like trip interruption and cancellation protection and baggage delay coverage . We suggest looking at Chase credit cards or Amex credit cards for great insurance coverage.

We searched for a flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to New York City (JFK) across different travel booking websites to compare pricing head-to-head. Below is the cheapest ticket each website offered.

In this search, we weren’t taking anything other than price into consideration. When you are actually booking a flight, there will most likely be more factors that go into your decision of which flight to book.

In this example, Google Flights, Hopper, and Priceline tied for the cheapest flight cost with Expedia, Hotwire, Orbitz, and Travelocity coming in just $3 more expensive. CheapOair was by far the most expensive option.

There is no one-stop shop to find the lowest prices on a flight every time. Most OTAs are in the same ballpark when it comes to price.

If you’ve got some flexibility, many of these sites can help you find the lowest-priced travel dates and destinations.

If you prefer a more traditional booking, start out with a travel search engine like Kayak or Google Flights to search all of the other sites. That will give you a good idea of the best website to use to save the most money on your next flight.

Are you a student? Don’t miss our guide to the best websites for cheap, discount student flights .

Like this post? Pin it on Pinterest!

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here .

Related Posts

UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation  calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

Most popular inspiration

Most popular experiences

Most popular destinations

Most popular itineraries

60 Best travel websites for researching & planning a trip

Researching and planning a holiday is like decorating a room. It’s all about the preparation. (Yes, you can have a great spontaneous holiday, but there’s a lot of luck involved in that…).

In the good old days, before the internet, we relied on travel agents, but in today’s digital world, a wealth of online websites and apps are on-hand to help.

But too many. The choice is overwhelming and the quality and trustworthiness variable.

So which ones are the best? Which ones should you use and for what purpose?

Planning a holiday – even before you book it – involves several steps. We’ve broken down this process and recommended the best tools to use at each stage, to make your research and planning process as simple, painless, fast –and enjoyable – as possible.

Where to go & what to do

1.1 ideas & inspiration.

Discover new places you never thought of going to, wonderful things to see & do on your travels. Add them to your travel bucket list.

Bucket List Travels

Concept: This specialist travel inspiration site works with an impressive list of leading travel writers around the world to recommend the world’s greatest travel experiences. It also offers destination guides, simple itineraries that link the top attractions together, and recommends the best places to stay while you’re there. You can search and filter through the recommendations e.g. to find recommendations by price, or that are suitable for kids. You can also save your ‘finds’ to your travel bucket list.

Pros: the search and filtering is unique amongst travel inspiration sites, and it allows you to sort through the thousands of expert recommendations to find what you want quickly – a huge time saver. The destination guides have curated, not comprehensive recommendations, so they’re effectively handing you a list of great recommendations for when you visit a new destination, i.e. the ‘bucket list’ experiences not-to-be-missed. The adding to favourites is also unique – great for ‘saving for later’ those brilliant experiences or places to stay you come across.

Cons: coverage is limited to only 100 or so destinations, which mainly centres on the UK and western Europe. Non-Europe content is limited (but being added in the near future).

When to use: Use it before any other site to decide on where to go or what to do next, and to get an outline list/itinerary of what you want to do there. Then supplement that with tours & activities from other inspiration sites listed here, especially the ones with the local authentic experiences.

Website : https://www.bucketlisttravels.com/

Concept: Instagram is a social media platform that allows users to share photos and videos with their followers. It’s popular among individuals, influencers, and businesses for promoting their personal brands or products.

Pros: Insta is a great source of travel inspiration, as it allows you to discover new destinations, attractions, and experiences through visually appealing and engaging content. You can follow travel influencers and bloggers for tips and recommendations, discover lesser-known destinations and experiences, find out about local events and festivals, and see how others experience a particular destination, which can provide ideas for your own itinerary.

When to use it: Day-to-day inspiration and idea generation for your next trip. Bookmark your favourites, or save your ideas to your travel bucket list for the next time you do want to go somewhere special.

Website : https://www.instagram.com/

Concept: Pinterest is a social media platform that allows users to discover, collect and share images and videos on virtual pinboards. Users can create boards on any topic and save Pins from other users or external websites, as well as search for inspiration and ideas. The platform has over 400 million active users worldwide.

Pros: Like Instagram, it’s a great visual travel inspiration tool, for discovering what to do in the world and specific destinations.

When to use it: For visual searches of potential destinations, and saving ideas (pins) for future trips.

Website : https://www.pinterest.com

Travel & Leisure

This high-end, luxury travel magazine covers a range of topics including hotels and resorts, airlines, cruises, food and drink, and various travel destinations around the world. Being a magazine, it focuses on the new and topical, so it’s a showcase of the latest and greatest in travel if novelty is your thing.

Pros: It’s top-quality content and genuine expertise from leading journalists and travel writers, with selective, curated recommendations. They have tonnes of round-ups of the ‘world’s best’ too.

Cons: Recommendations can be a bit too curated, missing lots of smaller experiences, and are often outside of the budget of most travellers. It’s primarily a magazine with an online afterthought, so recommendations tend to get buried in long pages of text. The site search turns up articles/posts that you then have to read further, rather than specific recommendations, and you can’t filter anything which is the big time saver.

When to use it: Sign up for their social feeds and newsletters, which often feature great round-ups like: “Best place to…”. Great for day-to-day inspiration and idea generation for your next trip. Bookmark your favourites, or save your ideas to your travel bucket list for the next time you do want to go somewhere special.

Honourable mentions: other great magazines for this include Conde Nast Traveller (featured later) and Wanderlust .

Website : https://www.travelandleisure.com/

Travel blogs

Concept: Travel blogs (too many to mention, but pretty much all the same in format) feature personal experiences, advice, and recommendations, usually written by an individual traveller or group of travellers who share their travel stories, photos, and tips with their audience.

Pros: You can’t beat personal experience when it comes to travel recommendations, and often these experienced author-travellers offer good insights and tips. They’re also usually an interesting, engaging read.

Cons: for planning a trip, blogs are hit and miss. They are written from the perspective of the blogger i.e. where they have just been or what they have just done, so it’s pot luck if that coincides with where you want to go or do next. They are also flat, text articles – you can’t search or filter their recommendations.

When to use it: Follow the ones you like if you enjoy reading such things. Once you have your list itinerary roughly planned out, they’re worth a quick scan for additional tips and insights (if you can find something relevant).

1.2 Top attractions, activities, tours & events

If you’re ready to start planning your trip, and nothing on your travel bucket list fits the bill, take a look at one of these sites to decide:

Concept: See listing above.

When to use: Head to their search results that shows all 100+ destination they cover, then use the filters to select a destination based on cost (cheap v expensive), or theme  (e.g. Science & Nature, Art, History & Culture) etc. You can also handily filter the list according to the best month of the year to visit.

FlightsFrom

Concept: this handy website lists all of the destinations you can fly to from every airport, on what days and with what airline.

When to use it: great for identifying where you can fly to from your local airport, and planning multi-destination trips.

Website : https://www.flightsfrom.com/

Google Flights

Google’s flight aggregator and comparison service consolidates flight schedules from all of the world’s commercial airlines in one place. By entering your dates and departure/arrival airports, you can quickly see who flies there, on what dates and at what times, and the price of the fare. Prices and availability are updated in real-time, and you can sign up for price alerts.

How to use it: The ‘Explore’ function allows you to specify a departure airport and see the cheapest flights to any destination you can fly to from that airport, for certain dates and trip durations – so great if you don’t have a fixed destination in mind. You can also handily add more than one departure airport if you have more than one departure option. (NB FlightsFrom shows you all available flights; Google Flights shows you available flights and their prices). NB Skyscanner has a similar ‘Explore everywhere’ feature, however, it is only available on the app and you can only enter one departure destination).

Website : https://www.google.com/travel/flights

This travel inspiration website provides a wealth of travel content, including destination guides, hotel and restaurant recommendations.

Pros: there’s loads of decent quality content, and their network of experts worldwide have good credentials and specialise in the destinations they write about.

Cons: The recommendations feature in text-heavy pages, making it hard to use for planning. You can’t filter, or save your favourites, and if you site search, you then have to wade through lots and lots of article posts. The content can also be quite random – as if it’s what someone felt like writing at the time, rather than being structured.

When to use it: Once you have your main list drawn up from the other sites listed here, it’s worth a quick scan for additional tips and insights.

Website : https://www.tripsavvy.com/

This global deals site specialises in providing exclusive offers and one-of-a-kind experiences to its 30 million members worldwide (membership is free). They partner with over 5,000 travel suppliers to source cut-price inventory.

When to use it: Sign up for their newsletter, then sit back and let the deals roll in. If you’re price-conscious, or just love a deal, then use their offers to decide on where to go and what to do next. Works best if you’re flexible on dates – most deals will be for when demand is lower i.e. in winter and/or outside of school holidays.

Website : https://www.travelzoo.com

1.3 What to do when you get there: attractions

Now you’ve decided on a destination, what should you do there? What are the top attractions, the must-see-and-dos, and the ‘bucket list experiences not to be missed?

How to use it: Navigate to the destination guide webpage. Our expert writes not only curates the top travel experiences – attractions, activities, tours & events – for you, but also further splits them as either ‘bucket list’ i.e. the not-to-be-missed, or ‘other’ experiences – nice to know about, but only for if you have time/interest.

Also, be sure to scroll through the destination page photo gallery for a pictorial summary.

Google Travel

Concept: Google’s travel planning platform offers a range of tools to help users plan their trips. It includes Google Flights (see later), a hotel aggregator and holiday rentals

For deciding what to do when you go somewhere, type your destination into the search, then click on the ‘Things to do’ side icon for full listings. It tries to list in order of priority/popularity, which mostly works, though it is an auto-generated list. The written descriptions come from Wikipedia, so it lacks that human expertise and it all feels a bit soulless (to me anyway). The interface however is easy to use, and you can add favourites to a trip list.

How to use it: After you’ve been to Bucket List Travels for the curated, expert list, if you feel you need more in your itinerary, and/or you’re worried we may have missed something, then use Google Travel to check the full comprehensive listings and see if there is anything else you want to do.

Website : https://www.google.com/travel/

Lonely Planet

Concept: The original ‘guidebook’ company, they have destination guides for pretty much every place on the planet. Their expert writers, who must specialise in the destination, provide comprehensive listings and recommendations for sightseeing, accommodation and food & drink, plus very detailed logistical and practical information.

How to use it: They’re comprehensive, not curated. They include a lot of minor attractions that the majority of travellers would not want to bother with, and there’s not a lot of imagery, just text. I use them as a cross-check once I have outlined what you want to do. It’s too detailed/comprehensive for researching and planning – unless you’ve got days to spare. Handy to take the book with you, though, for the in-depth local tips when you’re there.

Honourable mentions: all of the guidebooks are broadly similar. Also try Rough Guides , Fodor’s , Frommers’ , Rick Steves (Europe only) and DK Eyewitness .

Website : https://www.lonelyplanet.com/

Tourism Associations

Concept: A local government body, tasked with promoting tourism to the destination, that will provide comprehensive information, advice and recommendations for visitors to both attract and facilitate their visit. Being the local specialist, they should know better than anyone what to see & do, and they often include many smaller, high quality attractions and tours that others will miss. However, the quality of websites is highly variable (best in the most developed, richer nations as you’d expect), and they have to be impartial so there is no curation and little opinion.

How to use it: A great resource when it’s done well. If you’re going to a developed nation, I would say they are a must-visit. Use them to start drafting up your list.

Concept: A video-sharing website where users can upload, share, and view videos on a variety of topics. It attracts billions of monthly active users. There’s a digital tonne of travel content on there, covering every aspect – from destination recommendations to videos on how to book flights.

When to use it: if you’re a visual person, YouTube is a great resource for travel inspiration. It’s jammed packed these days with ‘What to see in X’, with video and image slideshows showing you the top sights. It tends to be top sights only, but a good place to start drawing up your shortlist. It’s also great for travel advice and tips.

Website : https://youtube.com

1.4 What to do when you get there: local experiences

‘Authentic’ experiences enable you to experience the real destination, to experience its culture, to meet its people, and to live like a local. Indeed, many travellers prefer them to crowd-thronged, tourist-spoiled ‘big ticket’ attractions. Here are some resources I use to discover them in my chosen destination:

Air BnB experiences

Concept: This service allows individuals and small businesses to offer unique activities and tours to travellers in over 1,000 cities around the world. Experiences can range from food tours to pottery classes to wildlife safaris, and are designed and led by locals who have expertise in their field.

Pros: Coverage is extensive, and the experiences can be a more immersive and authentic way for travellers to connect with the local culture and community.

Cons: Some of the experiences listed I feel are more for locals than tourists, and it’s tours/classes, so not really attractions you visit like museums.

When to use it: If you’re a first-time visitor wanting to tick off the main attractions, use a site like Bucket List Travels first to find those out and make a preliminary list, then complement what they give you with these experiences to add some local flavour and insight to your itinerary.

Website : https://www.airbnb.com/experiences

Atlas Obscura

An online travel guide that features unique, offbeat and even bizarre travel experiences – be it unknown/obscure destinations or little-known experiences within well-known destinations. It also offers tours and experiences to some of the destinations featured on the website.

Pros: Once again, this is a site for those seeking off-the-beaten-track, authentic and unusual experiences.

Cons: It’s very niche, aimed at the truly intrepid traveller. If you’re a mainstream tourist, wanting to tick off the main sites, this is not the site for you.

When to use it: If you want to avoid the big tourist sites and experience something unique and different in a destination. If you’re a first-time visitor wanting to tick off the main attractions, use a site like Bucket List Travels first to find those out and make a preliminary list, then complement what they give you with the Atlas Obscura experiences to add some local flavour and insight to your itinerary.

Website : https://www.atlasobscura.com/

Spotted by Locals

Concept: A travel website/blog that provides insider city tips from locals. Each city ‘guide’ is curated by a team of handpicked city residents, featuring their favourite local spots for food, drinks, culture, and entertainment.

Pros: it’s a great source for finding those authentic local experiences, away from the tourist hoards.

Cons: Recommendations/articles are quite random in subject – and you have to scroll through pages and pages of blog posts. You can’t search or filter by interest for example. Coverage is also limited to only 80 cities.

When to use it: They also don’t cover the big-ticket attractions first-time visitors will want to see, so use this for filling gaps in your itinerary or for second visits once the big ones have been ticked off.

Website : https://www.spottedbylocals.com/

1.5 What to do when you get there: tickets & tours

Get Your Guide

Offers a very similar proposition to Viator (see below). GyG though is Europe-based, so it has much stronger tour options in Europe than the US-based Viator, which conversely has a better US inventory.

Website : https://www.getyourguide.com/

Concept: An online tour ‘aggregator’ combines and lists multi-day organised tours, both small and large group, from all the leading tour operator brands like Intrepid , G Adventures and Exodus. They are to guided tours what Booking.com is to hotels. Search is by destination, so you need to know where you want to go first.

Pros: Listings are comprehensive and up to date, giving you a window on all of the options available that you can search and filter to your specific need.

Cons: Always beware the pricing on aggregators. Operators have learned to use low pricing to get you to click through to them, then load that up with expensive extras and upgrades once you are on their site (or they lie about the price in the first place).

When to use: If you want to go on a guided tour, this is a great place to start. It will tell you who the best tour operators are, what are your tour options, and the prices.

Website : https://www.tourradar.com/

Concept: A ‘tour aggregator’ offers a wide range of tours and experiences in destinations worldwide, through local third-party tour operators. (Think of them as the Booking.com or Expedia of tours). Tours can be anything from 1-hour walking tours to 10-day organised tours. A US-based company (owned by TripAdvisor), it’s much more comprehensive in the US than in Europe.

Pros: They partner with the best local tour operators, so the tour quality is good, and you have someone to complain to if things go awry. The site search allows you to sort through the extensive catalogue quickly.

When to use it: Work out where you want to go, and get a feel for the top attractions, somewhere else, then come to Viator to book tickets and tours.

Website : https://www.viator.com/

1.6 Draft an outline itinerary

Now you know what you want to see & do in your destination, work out a rough day-by-day itinerary to ensure you get to do everything you want to do, with minimal travelling around.

Concept: see listing above.

How to use it: For most destination guides (where it makes sense to do so), our writers have set out simple itineraries of what to do and where to go on each day of a trip. For cities, they are usually 3- and 5-day itineraries (the 5-day version has the same first 3 days, then two additional days on top). They link all of the top attractions together in the most logistically convenient way, minimising travel, and including recommendations for lunch and dinner while you’re there.

Rick Steves Europe

Rick Steves is a travel guidebook author and television personality who specialises in European travel. His guidebooks offer practical advice and recommendations for budget travel, including tips on accommodations, dining, and sightseeing. His approach emphasises cultural immersion and connecting with locals, and his guides often include suggested walking tours and off-the-beaten-path destinations.

Pros: Rick’s guidebooks offer much more in-depth expertise than the others for Europe, with high-quality, well-researched recommendations based on experts with years of experience. The website has great travel forums for asking fellow travellers questions.

How to use it: It’s not a site for researching where to go and what to do. It’s better once you know where you want to go, and really want to drill into the fine detail. However, like Bucket List Travels , the site does have helpful itineraries that set out where to go and what to do day-to-day.

Website : https://www.ricksteves.com/

1.7 Specialist travel

Cruise Critic

The world’s leading online cruise review website and community provides comprehensive reviews, ratings and forums to help you assess cruise vacations. It’s the TripAdvisor of cruises (and not surprisingly, it’s owned by them), so just like with TripAdvisor, don’t believe everything you read.

When to use: We would personally recommend finding recommendations elsewhere e.g. from cruise travel journalists writing for newspapers, magazines or even Bucket List Travels. Then come to this site to check out the reviews of your shortlist.

Website : https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/

Euan’s Guide

Set up by wheelchair user Euan MacDonald MBE, this disabled access review website is the go-to tool for many disabled people wanting to travel in the UK and beyond. It shares accessibility information for venues and the experiences/reviews of other disabled users.

Pros: Helps to solve some of the challenges disabled people face, and gives them the confidence to travel.

Cons: the coverage is mainly UK and Europe, but thankfully is widening to the rest of the world at a pace.

Website : https://www.euansguide.com

We Love 2 Ski

This excellent online resource provides skiers and snowboarders with up-to-date and comprehensive information on ski resorts, conditions, accommodation, equipment, and more. The website features detailed reviews, insider tips, and expert advice on everything related to skiing, as well as an active forum for the ski community to share their experiences and knowledge.

It’s managed by 3 ski experts, with a wealth of expertise between them and who really know their stuff and take pride in keeping the information up-to-date. It’s one of those more genuine sites that care about their advice and is not trying to constantly do the hard sell.

When to use: if you want to go skiing, start here. If you’ve already found somewhere to go or stay, be sure to check what they say about it here before you go.

Website : https://welove2ski.com/

Getting there & around

2.1 flights.

Concept: a flight deal finder service that sends you price and deal alerts on flights. You enter your preferred departure airport and they send you notifications of great deals, and price movements. Tickets are discounted 40-90%, for flights 2-6 months out in Economy, Business and First classes.

How to use it: If you’ve got flexible travel dates, or have a bucket list destination in mind. Sign up and wait for a deal.

Website : https://www.going.com/

Google’s Flights is a flight aggregator that allows you to find and compare flights. It enables you to find the airlines that fly between your destinations, and available flight times.

Prices and availability are updated in real-time, and you can sign up for price alerts. The pricing can sometimes be inaccurate, however, and when you click through, it’s usually for a basic fare without any luggage.

When to use it: Start your flight search here. You may have to add in the extras, then compare prices, or you may not get the cheapest option.

Honourable mentions: Skyscanner and Kayak offer similar services. In my experience, they pretty much have the same inventory. It really comes down to which interface you prefer.

Hopper is one of the US’s most successful travel apps, selling over $4.5B of travel each year. It helps you find the best deals on flights, hotels, home rentals, and car hire by analysing trillions of data points to predict when prices will rise or fall. When you set your dates, you see a helpful calendar showing when prices are highest and lowest, and you can sign up for price alerts.

Their second big USP is their ‘price freeze’ option, where you pay a small fee (5%-15% of the price) to freeze the price for a limited duration (options range up to 3 weeks). If the price goes up, you pay no more; if it goes down, you pay the lower price (like insurance). They also offer Flight Disruption and Cancel for Any Reason Guarantees.

Pros: Simple to use, the most accurate predictor of prices, really helps you get the best deal (if your dates are flexible). The insurance options have been a godsend to many in the recent years of travel disruption and inflating prices. Unlike other flight aggregators like Kayak or Skyscanner they show the different airline fare options within the app, so you don’t get caught by the artificially low basic fare enticing you to click through (see Skyscanner summary).

Cons: None that we can see! It really is an excellent service.

When to use it: Once you know where you want to go, come to the site to get the best deal on flights, car hire and accommodation. Simple as that.

It works best if you’re dates are flexible, so you can pick the cheapest travel dates, and/or if you have time before you book – take out the freeze option and you can be assured that the price will only come down, or sign up for the price alert.

Website : https://hopper.com/

Concept: This flight aggregator, owned by Chinese-backed Trip.com and based in Edinburgh, does the same thing as Google Flights. . It enables you to find the airlines that fly between your destinations, and available flight times.

Prices and availability are updated in real-time, and you can sign up for price alerts.

When to use it: I’ve not found much difference in pricing to Google Flights, though I much prefer Skyscanner’s user interface. It really comes down to personal choice.

Honourable mentions: US-based Kayak , originating in the US, offers a similar service to Skyscanner.

Website : https://www.skyscanner.net/

The Points Guy

If you’re someone that loves to save on travel using reward points, check out this advisory site by Brian Kelly. As he puts it, it’s ‘your go-to source for all things travel, points, miles, credit cards and more’. His advice covers both where best to earn points, and how best to spend them. There’s both a US and a UK website , with custom advice based on where you reside.

He gives up-to-date advice and tips in this ever-changing, evolving space that cuts through all of the confusion, and helps you find the best deals in the market, and explains how to take advantage of them.

How to use it: Visit here first if you’ve got points to burn, or will have and want to know the best scheme to sign up for.

Website : https://thepointsguy.com/

2.2 Car hire & taxis

Rentalcars.com

A global car rental booking platform that provides customers with access to over 60,000 rental locations in more than 160 countries worldwide. The site enables you to compare prices and features from a wide range of rental companies. Customers can also benefit from 24/7 support and free cancellation on most bookings.

I’ve regularly rented cars via them, and never found a cheaper deal. The customer service and support are also very good. There’s not really a reason to start looking anywhere else.

Website : https://www.rentalcars.com/

It doesn’t really need any introduction… but just for completeness. Founded in 2009, Uber is a ride-hailing service that connects riders with drivers in most major cities around the world. Through the app, you can request and pay for rides, track your driver’s location, and rate the experience.

Uber’s meteoric rise to a global brand can be attributed to solving several customer issues with then-taxi firms: they would find you a ride tell you how long it would take to arrive, how much the fare would be upfront, and sort payment automatically through your account, thus avoiding the need to have enough cash on you.

Other leading ride-sharing apps include Lyft (US and Canada) and Cabify (Spain & Latin America).

2.3 Rail, Bus & Ferry

Concept: Omio is a comprehensive travel search and booking platform that helps users find and book the best deals on trains, buses, and flights across Europe. The website offers a user-friendly interface, with real-time price comparisons and flexible search options to suit individual needs and preferences.

When to use: It’s a great tool for planning and booking multi-modal trips.

Website : https://www.omio.co.uk/

Rail Europe

Concept: Rail Europe is a one-stop-shop for planning and booking train travel in 33 European countries. The website offers a wide range of tickets, passes, and packages for different destinations and budgets, as well as information on train schedules, routes, and stations. Note, they don’t cover local trams and metros, it’s intercity trains only (that includes Eurostar). Enter the destinations you want to go to and they’ll recommend the best value ticket/pass.

For multiple trips, you’ll likely be recommended a Eurail pass. This brilliant invention allows you to travel on over 30 European railway operators and some ferries too. Kids under 11 travel free with an adult.

Website : https://www.raileurope.com/

2.4 Route planning

Google Maps

Who hasn’t used google Maps? And for good reason. Its coverage is comprehensive, it’s simple to use, and it’s is invaluable when you’re trying to figure out how to get from A to B in an unfamiliar place. It shows travel times and distances in multiple transport modes: on foot, bike, by available public transport and by car.

How to use it: use it to help plan upfront your transportation from point to point in your itinerary.

Website : https://www.google.com/maps

Hands down the best service for planning and booking journeys within and between countries. It combines and compares transport options from over 5,000 transportation providers across 160 countries, then recommends the cheapest, fastest, and most convenient routes for different modes of transportation including flights, trains, buses, and car rentals. The website also provides comprehensive travel information. It will quote prices, distances, times, mileage, route numbers, and which companies to book.

Their slogan is “Discover how to get anywhere by plane, train, bus, ferry & car – and it does exactly what is says on the tin.

Website : https://www.rome2rio.com/

Where to stay

3.1 'best' hotels - curated selections.

Whatever you go, there are always thousands of hotel options. These sites do the research work for you and use experts to curate a list of the best, based on location, quality and quality.

How to use it: For all the destinations we cover, we provide you with a curated list of the best hotels – for all budgets, from the mainstream to the unusual.

The selections are made by our writers, who must not only be leading travel journalists, but also specialise in that destination (either living there or visiting frequently). The writers have at least inspected and usually stayed in the properties they recommend.

Conde Nast Traveller

Similar to Travel & Leisure above, this high-end, luxury global travel magazine covers a range of topics including hotels and resorts, airlines, cruises, food and drink, and various travel destinations around the world.

When to use it: They do great round-ups of the ‘best’ hotels to stay in a destination – but obviously at the top end. If you’re not that price sensitive, start with their shortlist.

Honourable mention: Travel & Leisure, their great rival, also does destination hotel round-ups.

Website : https://www.cntraveller.com/

In my view, it’s the best ‘guidebook’ website for researching and planning a trip online – once you know where you want to go. They simply and helpfully list out a reasonably long short list of things to see & do and places to stay, and rate them each from 1-3, depending on how good they are.

However, like all the guidebooks online, coverage is comprehensive at times, requiring a lot of time and effort to research through it. The website is also swamped with banner ads that are off-putting and annoying.

How to use it: A good place to start your hotel search. They generally do select good options, though it’s more aimed at budget travellers.

Website : https://www.frommers.com/

The Telegraph (Travel)

This long-standing British newspaper does a fine job of curating and rating (out of 10) the best hotels in destinations around the world, for all budgets. The reviews tell you what you want to know – style, location, key amenities – without being overwhelming.

As for Bucket List Travels , selections and reviews are written by top travel writers who have inspected and usually stayed in the property. The number of hotels they recommend is a lot more than Bucket List Travels – and includes ones we certainly wouldn’t include – but it does give you a longer list to start with.

When to use it: if you care about where you stay, and really want one of the best places, this is a great place to start your start for somewhere to stay.

Website : https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/

TripAdvisor

The original hotel review site, it has since expanded to become the global platform for reviews (and information) on hotels, restaurants, attractions, and other travel-related businesses. It also offers a variety of travel-related content and resources, including travel guides and forums.

Over the years it has, sadly become increasingly corrupted with fake reviews, but they can’t fake all of them and as long as there are at least several hundred reviews, the score should be reasonably reflective.

When to use it: I personally like to start drawing up a shortlist of places to stay on other sites listed here, then do a quick check of the reviews of each on TripAdvisor. I also filter to see only the negative comments, then look at 1) how recent they are 2) if it is a one-off complaint i.e. someone had a refund request refused and 3) if it is something that can and probably has been fixed e.g. a rude receptionist. Small room sizes, traffic noise from road proximity, and so on – these issues are not easily fixed.

Website : https://www.tripadvisor.com

3.2 Boutique hotel collections

If it’s a boutique hotel you’re after, try one of these specialist sites. They only list high-quality properties that meet their individual criteria.

Design Hotels

As the name suggests, this website offers a curated selection of over 300 independently owned and operated hotels and resorts around the world, each chosen for its unique design and aesthetic. The site emphasizes design and architecture and offers a range of luxury and boutique properties.

Pros: It’s a brilliant resource for finding unique and interesting stays, especially with modern and/or minimalist interiors.

Cons: if you’re not that worried about hotel design, then it doesn’t offer a lot of value other than a list of interesting hotels.

When to use: if you’re interested in design, and prioritise that in your accommodation, then this is a great resource. If it’s not that important, you’re better off elsewhere with a greater selection and better prices.

Website : https://www.designhotels.com/

This boutique hotel booking website offers a carefully curated selection of stylish, unique and independently-run hotels and vacation rentals around the world. They offer in-depth reviews of each property, personalised recommendations, and a friendly, 24/7 booking service.

Pros: The curated selection of unique and stylish properties is exceptional and of a consistently high quality that you can rely on. Each property has been personally inspected by staff. The reviews, from both customers and staff, are honest and in-depth and tell you who it is and isn’t for, rather than pretend everyone’s going to love it.

Cons: There’s a limited number of properties in many destinations, and it is property, not destination, led – meaning is easier to find the place, then decide on the destination rather than the reverse (which may suit).

When to use: if their style of property i.e. unique, high quality, small and independent, is what you like/are looking for, there’s no better resource to use. If they don’t have something in your preferred destination, then look elsewhere, but check first.

Honourable mention: Sawdays offers a similar service, but they’re UK & Europe only.

Website : https://www.i-escape.com/

Mr & Mrs Smith

This first-rate, UK-based hotel booking website curates handpicked, boutique hotels around the world, each personally inspected to meet their high standards of facilities, service and location. The website has in-depth reviews of each property, with insider tips like what are the best rooms to book, without being overwhelming.

There are also exclusive benefits for members like gifts on arrival, or late checkouts, and a 24/7 booking service.

Pros: The standard of hotels is consistently high, so much so that the brand has become a trusted stamp of quality. The booking service and post-sales support is efficient yet very personable, and hotel staff genuinely care about ‘Smith’ customers so you feel very welcome when you arrive.

Cons: They have limited or no options in many destinations. They also can’t match the benefits of the OTA reward schemes like Booking.com .

When to use: The site is great if this is your style of hotel, and you want to be looked after at every step. Limited coverage is only an issue if you are dead set on a destination. If you’re not really that bothered where you go, or at least are open to suggestions, check this excellent site first.

Website : https://www.mrandmrssmith.com/

Secret Escapes

A members-only hotel booking website that offers exclusive deals and discounts on luxury hotels and vacations around the world. The site negotiates special rates with hotels and resorts, available to their members only.

Pros: There some great deals and genuine exclusive discounts to be had, though max discount tends to be 30% (and average of 15%-20%), but still not to be sniffed at. They also do a good job of curation, so you know you’re getting a decent hotel.

Cons: You still need to compare prices to other sites like Booking.com and the hotel’s own website, as there are lots of sneaky tricks and breaking of agreements that going on behind the scenes and you never really know where the best deal is until you check.

When to use: if you know where you want to go, it’s well worth checking in for a deal.

Website : https://www.secretescapes.com/

Small Luxury Hotels of the World

This website has personally visited, verified and vetted every single one of its 520 hotels in more than 90 countries. The criteria for inclusions I small (<50 rooms, non-chain and offering the highest standards of luxury and service.

Pros: it’s an exceptional collection of outstanding hotels, and the brand guarantees a high-quality, luxury stay. Members get 10% off and extra (tiered) benefits like upgrades and late checkouts. Hotels welcome their members with open arms, as they usually spend well, and SMH look after their customers.

Cons: things this good come with a price tag. Many hotels are out of reach of most travellers’ budgets.

When to use: if you’re a discerning, occasionally demanding, traveller, that specifically wants a smaller hotel, this is a great place to start your search. Check other websites though for better prices – even with the 10% off – but if you’re not that price sensitive, it’s nice to book with someone who cares, as opposed to a hotel production line like Booking.com.

Website : https://slh.com/

Tablet Hotels

This New York-based brand, founded in 2000 and well-known across the US, has curated over 3,500 boutique & luxury properties around the world. In 2018, it was purchased by and merged with Michelin.

Similar to Mr & Mrs Smith, they curate a selection based on criteria, offer a full booking service, and exclusive benefits for ‘Tablet Plus’ members like VIP upgrades and free valet parking.

Pros: the curated selection guarantees a measure of quality, and some of the VIP benefits are really nice ones to have and make you feel a bit special.

Cons: You inevitably will pay more than on other sites, and sometimes they overpromise and underdeliver on the VIP experience – much depends on the attitude of the hotel. The criteria for selection is much broader than a Mr & Mrs Smith, so you’re not getting that real consistency of accommodation, and the personal relationship that Smith has with its properties.

When to use: If you want to feel like a VIP and value those benefits over saving a few pennies or cents, then they are worth a look.

Website : https://www.tablethotels.com/

3.3 Home rentals & stays

Launched in 2008 and needing no introduction, this global accommodation powerhouse forever altered the holiday market. Now with more than 300,000 listings in over 190 countries, it has expanded from its original core offering of ‘spare rooms to rent’ to include apartments, treehouses, villas – whatever you can stay in, it’s likely to be on AirBnB.

Pros: the sheer number of options and global coverage means you’re highly likely to find something you want. The site is simple and easy to use, with lots of photographs, user reviews and star ratings.

Cons: The product and website is great, but they don’t really care about customers, and customer service if something goes wrong can be challenging to find.

When to use: whenever you’re looking for something other than a hotel, and/or something more authentic or with a local feel. It’s especially good for families and groups wanting to stay together in one place.

Website : https://www.airbnb.com

Couchsurfing

This global hospitality exchange enables you to stay with a host for free for a few nights – be it sofa or, if you’re lucky, a bed. You simply create a profile, search for hosts, and request to stay with them. Surprisingly, perhaps, it works, and over the years the site has built a loyal following and a strong community of ‘couchsurfers’ who help and support each other, and even organise events around the world.

When to use it: When budget is tight and you just really want somewhere to crash, and/or you’re looking to connect with other travellers and the local community.

Website : https://www.couchsurfing.com/

This upscale holiday home and apartment rental specialist has a large catalogue of privately-owned places to stay, which you can filter by key criteria like price, location, number of bedrooms etc. Each listing is vetted by their team to ensure it meet minimum standards. It’s owned by the Expedia Group.

The quality of homes for rent is exceptional and varied, from lake houses to treehouses, and the search and filtering makes it quick and simple to find something that suits. Customer service is good, much better than AirBnB for example.

Website : https://www.vrbo.com/

Villas of Distinction

Villas of Distinction is a luxury villa rental company that offers an extensive portfolio of properties in over 50 destinations worldwide. They provide personalized service to help clients select the perfect villa for their vacation, and offer a range of amenities such as private pools, chefs, and concierge services to enhance the guest experience.

When to use it: When you’re looking for an independent, self-catering stay in an uber-luxurious villa. It’s top-end, with a price tag to match.

Honourable mention: One Fine Stay offers a similar service.

Website : https://www.villasofdistinction.com/

3.4 Campsites & Hostels

HostelWorld

The hostel specialist is the go-to place for booking budget accommodation in over 170 countries – both dormitory beds and private rooms. The website and mobile app allow you to browse and book from a wide range of hostels, hotels, and guesthouses, with a focus on affordable and social options. There are also offers travel guides, reviews, and a loyalty program for frequent users.

Pros: The UX is really smooth, the inventory (number of options) is much is larger than on the major hotel search engines (OTAs), and it does a much better job of setting out dormitory bed pricing and deal options. There are a number of ‘community’ features that encourage you to connect with fellow travellers.

When to use it: If you’re on a budget or want to meet people when you’re travelling, start here with your accommodation search.

Website : https://www.hostelworld.com/

If you’re looking for something off-grid, preferably unique and unusual – but don’t want to compromise too much on luxury, this website is for you. It’s a directory of for luxury campsites and stays, with various accommodation options ranging from tents to tipis, log cabins to vintage caravans. Coverage is mainly Europe & UK, though they have plans to expand beyond.

Website : https://campaglam.com/

3.5 Price comparison

Concept: This Expedia-owned hotel search engine allows you to compare prices from various booking sites for over 1.8 million hotels in more than 190 countries. You can search & filter to discover hotels matching your criteria, then each hotel listing shows the price of a room on the various OTA sites. The site also offers user reviews, ratings, and filters to help you decide.

For all aggregators, the prices are often inaccurate, and not the cheapest option when you click through. The OTAs (like Expedia, Booking.com) have learned over the years how to manipulate them to ensure their listing comes up first with the cheapest price.

When to use it: It’s a good place to start your hotel search, especially when you have specific requirements such that you can use the on-site filters to narrow down the options quickly. If you discover a hotel you want somewhere else, always come and check the prices here before booking.

Note – it doesn’t always include the hotel direct price (so make sure you check separately), and sometimes the prices are inaccurate when you click through.

Honourable mentions: HotelsCombined , owned by Booking.com and the main rival to Trivago, is known for having better deals as they search lesser-known booking sites (though that can come with risks). Both I suspect of bias, however, in pushing Booking.com and Expedia products. Skyscanner also now offers accommodation price comparison, and they have the advantage of being independent and unbiased of the leading OTAs. Kayak also offers price comparison – but they are owned by Booking.com too. I prefer Trvago above the rest purely because they also helpfully show you show the lowest price depending on the ‘deal’ type i.e. cancellable or non, including breakfast etc. which obviously makes a big difference to the ‘cheapest’ price.

Website : https://www.trivago.com

3.6 Accommodation booking

Booking.com

The world’s largest accommodation online booking service that lists over 28 million hotels (and now rentals, B&Bs and hostels) from around the world. They offer a tiered loyalty program called ‘Genius’ The three levels offer 10%, 15%, and 20% discounts (respectively) on bookings at hundreds of thousands of participating locations. They also include priority customer service help, and free breakfast packages or room upgrades when possible.

Pros: The website is easy to use, with excellent filter options, and once you have created an account, you can book within a few clicks. Their inventory is phenomenal, with most hotels in the world signed up. The loyalty program is accessible and with great benefits.

Cons: The loyalty program only applies for a limited number of participating hotels, so you won’t always get the benefits. Hotel websites often still have a better deal, and some don’t release all of their room types to Booking.com so you can’t see these rooms.

Booking.com may also confusingly say ‘sold out’ when there are rooms available still on the hotel website. So always check the hotel website before booking.

When to use it: Start your accommodation search here, and then once you’ve narrowed down the options with the filters, check other sites and the hotel website for a better deal.

Honourable mention: Agoda is essentially a carbon copy of Booking.com – they are owned by the Bookings Holdings Group. Agoda has it’s roots in Asia, and is based in Singapore, so it has more comprehensive Asian content. If that’s where you’re going, it’s worth using.

Website : https://www.booking.com

Concept: same as for Booking.com, with a similar tiered loyalty program, though at time of writing, the tiered benefits are not lifetime like they are with Booking.com. You need to be a regular customer to benefit from the higher tiers – not the case with Booking.com.

Their famous loyalty program of stay 10 times, earn one free reward night – now the basic tier – requires you to book at least once every 12 months or your reward night expires.

Honourable mention: Expedia is essentially a carbon copy of Hotels.com. They’re owned by the same group, and effectively have the same hotel inventory and pricing. There are slight differences in the reward program – I think Hotels.com’s one is better, hence why they got the nudge.

Website : https://hotels.com

HotelTonight

Owned by AirBnB , this mobile app and website offers last-minute hotel rooms at discounted rates. Inventory ranges from budget to luxury, and you can use the filters to specify your location and preferences. There’s also a ‘Rate Drop’ feature that discounts same-day prices after 3pm.

When to use: if you need a last-minute room, it’s definitely worth checking for a deal. However, in my experience, their deals weren’t especially good compared to other standard booking sites – though the ‘Rate Drop’ does deliver discounts.

Website : https://www.hoteltonight.com/

Food, drink & entertainment

4.1 food & drink.

A food and dining news website that provides reviews, guides, and information on restaurants and food trends in various cities across the world. The site offers articles on topics such as dining culture, chefs, industry news, and more. They also feature videos and podcasts related to food and restaurants. The quality of content and recommendations is excellent, and they’ve regularly won awards to their food & wine journalism.

When to use it: Officially it only spans 23 US cities, and if that’s where you’re headed, it’s a good place to check. However, that’s for detailed coverage. For most cities, however, they have a round-up of ‘the best restaurants in X’, covering all price ranges. Just search for it on their site.

Website : https://eater.com

Foodie blogs

Local foodies blog about anything from food trucks to Michelin-starred restaurants. In any destination, especially cities, the food scene changes so fast that almost any corporate website will not keep up. Local foodies are out testing daily, and take pride in keeping their blogs up to date with the latest and greatest. They also cover the smaller, more niche places that only a local would know about.

There are too many to mention, but search for ‘food blogs in X’ by Googling (or Binging) and see who you can find.

When to use: When you want to discover some insider foodie experiences in a destination, and get some good restaurant tips that are not Michelin-starred.

Concept: Increasingly the go-to resource for vegan and vegetarian dining around the world, run by vegans, as the popularity of the movement continues to gather a welcome pace and momentum. The site is also becoming a thriving community hub, with active forums and listings of fellow vegans in local cities that you can message for tips.

When to use it: to discover the best vegan and vegetarian dining options in your destination, or to get tips/advice from the local community.

Website : https://www.happycow.net/

This stalwart former magazine is still the place to go in the digital era for local listings of ‘what’s on’. It provides comprehensive listings, information and reviews on cultural events, concerts, theatre performances, film screenings, and other entertainment in cities around the world.

When to use it: If you’re wanting to book in some entertainment on your trip, this is the best place to start looking.

Website : https://www.timeout.com/

Yelp is a platform that allows you to search for and review local businesses, including restaurants, bars, shops, and other services in 220 cities in 32 countries . It’s best known for restaurant reviews, however – some of the other business listings can be fairly light. As with all review sites, it suffers from fake reviews,  but the volume is sufficient to give you an overall sense of what’s worth a try.

How to use it: I use it to draft a short list of places to try, then cross-check that with other sources and/or my hotel if I’m staying in one. Concierges will give good restaurant tips, but in my experience, the options they give are limited.

Website : https://www.yelp.com

Before you go

Centre for Disease Control

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a national public health institute in the United States. The website provides comprehensive information and resources on health and safety topics, including infectious diseases, vaccines, travel health, environmental health, emergency preparedness, and more.

When to use it: before you go to a new destination, stop here to check any disease risks and vaccination requirements (you can search by country from the home page). It also has helpful advice for people with special health conditions , and/or doing specialist activities.

Website : https://www.cdc.gov/

5.2 What to take

This global online store is a specialist in all things travel accessories, with over 200 products covering everything from adapters, to travel pillows and luggage security.

How to use it: have a skim before you go. I always end up seeing/buying things I never even knew I needed!

Website : https://go.travel

Packing List Checklist App

A handy app to create packing checklists – a godsend for people like me who always forget their sunglasses. A plethora of packing list apps, I like and use this one before it’s simple, quick – and free. No upgrades needed.

You manually create your own list(s) – you can create multiple different ones, for different holiday types for example – then select from a list of a fairly comprehensive list of suggested items to start you off. Most of the time that will do it, though you can add your own if needed. When it comes to packing, you can tick things off as and when they’re in the case.

How to use it: Next time you get a few free moments, create a packing list. Add to it as and when things pop into your head. Tick them off when you pack.

Website : https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/packing-list-checklist/id1235121075

5.3 Travel planning

TripIt is another travel organising app that allows you to store all of your travel plans in one place. Users can forward their confirmation emails for flights, hotels, and rental cars to the app, which will then create a master itinerary for their trip. The app also provides real-time flight alerts, directions, and travel recommendations.

Website : https://www.tripit.com/web

17 Best Travel Sites for Hotels, Flights, Tours and Car Rentals

Booking.com tops our list for the best travel booking websites, but there are a few others we recommend for specific purposes.

With so many travel booking websites on the market today, finding the best deals for your travels can be tedious. Thankfully, there are several top travel websites you can use when booking flights, hotels and tours.

From flight aggregators to hostel and hotel booking sites, the websites in this list will make planning and booking your travels a little easier. Whether you’re trying to score cheap flights or find the best tour on the other side of the world, these are the best travel sites for making it happen.

I realize all of this information can be a little overwhelming. Every online travel site out there seems to do something different, and sifting through hundreds of search results to find something you like is time consuming. The offers are endless, but the ideal booking site doesn’t overwhelm its users with options or questionable services.

I have personally used every single company on this list for booking travel , and most play a crucial role in allowing me to adventure around the world. These are the best travel booking sites for helping you plan the ultimate trip.

• Our Top Picks
• Best to Find Cheap Hotels: Booking.com
• Best Hotel Rewards Program: Hotels.com
• Best Site for Vacation Rentals: Vrbo
• Best Booking Site for Hostels: Hostelworld
• Best Booking Site for Hotels in Asia: Agoda

Best Hotel Search Engines & Booking Sites

Finding the right accommodation is one of the most important decisions to make while traveling. Location, amenities, and cost are all factors to consider when looking for the right hotel or hostel for your adventure.

And while there are dozens of hotel booking websites to choose from, finding the right place doesn’t have to be complicated.

Here are the best sites I’ve used for fining hotel deals:

Booking.com : Best to Find Cheap Hotels

Booking.com has, by far, the largest number of hotel search results. With over 5.7 million listings in 227 countries, they’re the first place you should look to find hotels online. In addition to hotels, Booking.com also has hostels, guesthouses, apartments, vacation rentals, and all-inclusive resorts available.

With Booking.com, the advertised price is the final price you pay. Other travel websites may have hidden taxes and fees that aren’t explicitly stated, so you’ll end up paying more than you thought at the reservation desk. But with Booking.com, there are no unexpected fees or hidden resort charges. This makes budgeting and trip planning much easier.

All reservations come with a price match guarantee. That means Booking.com will refund the difference if you find a lower price for your hotel on another website after you book. This best price guarantee is an unbelievable perk that could save you a lot of money in the long run.

And once you make your second booking, you’ll automatically become a Booking.com Genius, which rewards you with member-only discounts and offers (even freebies). It’s like accessing a whole world of insider information without actually having to sign up for anything. Genius members receive 10% to 15% off rates, free breakfast, and free room upgrades.

Plus, Booking.com also lets you search for and book your flight, rental car, and attractions, so you can just put in your travel dates and create full vacation packages from one site!

Hotels.com : Best Hotel Rewards Program

Although they aren’t as big as Booking.com, Hotels.com is still a great option when looking for the best deals on hotels. They have over 300,000 hotels in over 19,000 locations around the world. Besides traditional hotel rooms, they also have apartments, cottages, hostels, motels and all-inclusive resorts.

Like other travel sites, Hotels.com lets you filter the search results by date, price, and amenities. You can also sort by distance to find hotels close to certain attractions or neighborhoods. Plus, look at hotel reviews by real, verified users.

Despite the name, Hotels.com lets you search and reserve more than just hotels. They also have a wide range of vacation rentals available including chalets, condos, and full houses.

One of the main reasons for booking with Hotels.com is to take advantage of their unique rewards program. Once you sign up and book 10 nights, you’ll get to stay one night for free. Your free night can be redeemed at one of their 200,000+ properties in popular destinations around the globe without restrictions or blackout dates. Hotels.com also shares a rewards program with Expedia and Vrbo, so you’ll be able to take advantage of savings with any of these sites.

Hotels.com reward members or app users can also unlock secret deals on accommodation. These are specially negotiated discounts that will save you even more money for certain hotel or accommodation listings.

App users can also find last-minute deals using the “Deal for Tonight” feature. You’ll find huge discounts (up to 40%) when looking for a room with same-day check-in.

Vrbo : Best Site for Vacation Rentals

If you want the comforts of home while you’re halfway around the globe, then Vrbo is an excellent alternative to traditional hotel booking websites. Vrbo is a search engine that lists thousands of homes, vacation rentals, apartments, and condos for anyone who wants to experience a country while living like a local, whether staying in the city center or out in the woods.

Ideal for couples, families, or those needing a bit more privacy, Vrbo lets you relax without the hassle of dealing with a host or other travelers. They also tend to list more luxury vacation rentals that have a much higher standard compared to other rental sites.

For this reason, the vacation rentals on Vrbo might cost more than your average hotel from other travel sites. However, you’ll get much nicer accommodations.

Vrbo also has great customer service. All guests are protected by their Book with Confidence Guarantee, which comes with a 24/7 hotline, payment protection, and even last-minute cancellation coverage. So if your host cancels your booking before you arrive, the Vrbo team will try and find another place for you to stay. You can also buy travel insurance so you get a full refund in case you have to cancel.

In addition, Vrbo has a rewards program called One Key that lets you earn rewards on every dollar you spend on travel. This loyalty program is shared across Vrbo, Expedia, and Hotels.com, so you’ll be able to get package deals no matter how you travel.

Hostelworld : Best Booking Site for Hostels

Hostelworld is the top travel site for researching and booking hostels all over the world. They operate in over 178 countries and have a database of seemingly every hostel in existence.

When looking for a hostel, you’ll find accurate ratings and hotel reviews from real users on this booking site. The review score considers information about security, facilities, services, atmosphere and overall value for your money. And they only accept reviews from people who have booked through Hostelworld, so you know the reviews are genuine.

If you want to save money, Hostelworld is an excellent option for those on a tight budget. That’s because most hostels allow you to book a bed in a dorm room, which is far cheaper than booking a private room. But if you want some extra privacy, some hostels have private rooms with (or without) en-suite bathrooms.

You’ll be able to filter hostels by certain amenities, like free breakfast or on-site laundry. You’ll also see a list of different events happening at the hostel during your stay, from pool parties to pub crawls.

However, Hostelworld really shines when it comes to its great customer service. They will refund the price difference if you find your hostel on another site for cheaper. And if you can no longer go on your trip, you have up 24 hours before check-in to cancel without losing your deposit.

Agoda : Best Booking Site for Hotels in Asia

Agoda started out as the top hotel booking site for hotels in Asia, but since has expanded its offerings worldwide. They also have non-traditional accommodation types like homes and hostels. From capsule hotels in Tokyo to private bungalows in Bali, Agoda has over 2 million properties to choose from.

Generally speaking, prices for Agoda hotels are comparable to other travel websites. However, you can save money by booking a hotel through their secret deals program.

With the secret deals program, the identity of the hotel will remain anonymous until you complete your booking. But you’ll be able to see the hotel’s star rating, neighborhood, and amenities before reserving. Some luxury hotels don’t like to advertise their cheap rooms openly, so this is a way to sell rooms at discount prices without making it too public. If you aren’t set on staying at a specific hotel or chain, this program is an excellent option for saving money on accommodation.

By booking on Agoda, you have the opportunity to maximize your earnings with the Agoda PointsMAX program. Once you sign up and link your Agoda account to one of your other mileage programs, you can earn up to 6,000 points per stay. Some of their current partners include American Airlines AAdvantage, United Mileage Plus and KLM/AirFrance Flying Blue.

Couchsurfing : Best for a Free Place to Crash

If all you need is a couch to sleep on, Couchsurfing will help you to find it. Instead of spending the night in a hotel, you’ll be using this booking site to find a couch to sleep on in the home of a friendly host. Trust me — it’s not as awkward as it might seem!

For those needing a bit more privacy, some people also list their private rooms through Couchsurfing. But generally speaking, you’ll usually be staying in the same living quarters as the host.

You’ll also be able to connect with like-minded people from all over the world who want to share their culture and show you the best parts of their city. They’ll tell you about the best local hangouts and restaurants so you can avoid the tourist traps. They might even be interested in joining you for sightseeing in the city or drinks at the local pub. In my experience, hosts are eager to interact with their guests.

When you’re browsing for places to stay, you can search for hosts by gender, age, language, and house preferences. Whether you’re allergic to cats or looking for wheelchair-friendly accommodation, you can easily find the ideal housemate. Remember, you should be looking at the host just as carefully as you look at the apartment itself. Make sure you read the reviews left by other guests. The more reviews, the more confident you’ll feel about staying with that host.

The goal, ultimately, is for you to return the favor whenever you’re at home, thus keeping the Couchsurfing spirit alive around the world. (Trust me, it can be just as fun to host as it is to surf.)

But best of all, unlike pretty much all other travel websites, Couchsurfing is completely free! It’s customary to bring a gift or cook for your host as a token of appreciation for letting you stay in their place, but besides that, you’ll be able to see the world without spending a single penny on accommodation.

• Best Hotel Booking Websites
• Airbnb Alternatives
• Airbnb vs. Vrbo
• Airbnb vs. Hotels

Cheap Flight Booking Websites & Search Engines

In the world of online travel, booking a flight is one of the most important initial steps to having a great trip. And unless you’re planning on spending thousands to sip champagne in business class, the cost of your ticket will probably be a significant deciding factor in what you book.

Although you could book directly with the airlines, using online travel agencies (OTAs) allows you to compare pricing to find the best rates for your trip. To help you figure out where to book your next flight, consider one of the flight search engine travel sites in this section.

Keep in mind that these search sites are not booking sites . They simply compare rates for flights and redirect you to other sites to complete your purchase. You’ll get tons of results, but it’s up to you to sort through them. You should also take the time to use more than one website to compare pricing. Results may vary!

If they send you to a small website you’ve never heard of, do your research to make sure the company is dependable (although these OTAs don’t tend to deal with shady booking websites—a big reason these are the ones I recommend). It’s important to look at the fine print, as some companies might have their own cancellation fees or change fees in addition to the fees set by the airlines.

Google Flights

It seems that you can find anything you want from Google. There’s Google Maps, Google Scholar, Google News, Google Earth, and now Google Flights.

Google Flights is always the first search engine I turn to when I’m looking for the best flight deals. They scan through all available flight options for both major airlines and online travel agencies and then sort through the results to show you the best possible option for your trip. Like Google Maps, or anything else from Google, they’ve really mastered the art of searching, and this is one of the best sites to find deals.

The calendar view makes it easy to pick dates with the best price. And if you haven’t locked down your travel dates, you can check for flights with their flexible date tool. For example, you can search for the cheapest flights in January or even a one-week trip in the next six months.

You can also use the Date Grid in Google Flights to see the cheapest flight combinations for different departure and return dates. Or, check the Price Graph to compare how the prices are likely to change over the next few months. This is a great tool for identifying significant price drops for your desired route.

Many times you’ll want to search for a specific airport, but if you’re also flexible with your destination, you can search for flights by continent or country. This flexible search is an excellent option if you’re looking for a last-minute weekend getaway without a set destination in mind.

And unlike other travel websites, Google Flights will make sure you’re getting the best rates by offering money-saving recommendations. They’ll let you know that by flying in two days later — or to a different airport nearby — you could save even more money.

Whether you’re booking an RTW adventure, a weekend getaway to New York or simply browsing for inspiration for your next trip, start with Google Flights. And if you’ve got the time to really learn how to use Google Flights , I highly suggest it. Knowing how to squeeze the most out of this incredible tool is a skill well worth having.

Skyscanner is a great travel site for cheap airline tickets, and it’s always my second stop after Google Flights. They search through over 1,200 different airline companies and smaller OTA sites to compare the best offers for your travels.

You can also use their “Everywhere” search engine to look up the cheapest flight going anywhere in the world. The results show the average price for a country, so you’ll need to narrow down the search by destination city to see the exact price for a specific airport. However, you’ll get a better idea of which countries tend to have cheaper flights.

It’s also easy to filter for nonstop flights, included luggage, nearby airports, departure/arrival time, and more so you can find deals on the exact flights you’re looking for.

I recommend downloading the Skyscanner app. Not only can you search and book flights through the app, but you can also use the “Explore” feature to find destinations for solo travel, quick getaways or last minute trips (which is especially handy if you’re traveling open-ended).

One last bonus: Skyscanner also lets you search for deals on hotels, vacation rentals, rental cars, and even complete vacation packages. This travel site has it all.

Momondo is another flight search engine that should be on your radar. This company scans through thousands of airline companies and OTAs to display rates for both domestic and international flights. And unlike other sites, Momondo shows prices for many of the smaller OTAs overlooked by Google Flights and Skyscanner.

I also use Momondo to find out when the best time to fly is. I particularly love their matrix that highlights an entire month, meaning you can compare prices to find the lowest price possible.

On the search results page, Momondo offers bar charts that show prices for different departure and return dates. You can use this feature to spot any significant price drops for flights if your dates are flexible. Play around with these features — it takes some getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, you can score some fantastic travel deals.

You can also look at the “Flight Insights” page to see price trends and analytics for your exact route. This page uses historical search data to show you the cheapest month, day, and even time of day to book. It will tell you the cheapest airlines that serve your route, along with how far in advance you should be booking to save the most money.

In addition, you can consult the “Price Forecast” feature to see if prices are expected to increase or decrease in the near future. If so, you can set a price alert to notify you if the cost of your flight drops.

Dollar Flight Club

Finding inexpensive flights can be time-consuming, but Dollar Flight Club simplifies the process by sending exclusive deals straight to your inbox. Most of their offers are 60-90% off the list price, with savings averaging around $500 .

Dollar Flight Club uses technology and historical data to find cost-saving deals. Although you can’t search for specific dates or destinations, you will still find great domestic and international deals if you’re flexible with your plans.

When you sign up for the free version of Dollar Flight Club, you’ll get one email a day for your selected departure region. Or, you can upgrade to premium to get four times as many deals for multiple departure airports. Premium members also receive instant SMS alerts as well as deals for cheap domestic flights over the weekend. Signing up for Premium Plus will give you access to their rewards program with more deals and offers for tickets for business and first-class flights.

Going (Formerly Scott's Cheap Flights)

Going was formerly known as Scott’s Cheap Flights, and it is another one of my favorite travel sites for finding affordable flights. Like Dollar Flight Club, they send emails for flight deals on domestic and international airline tickets. Most deals are 40-90% off the original price!

But instead of using an algorithm to find great deals, members of the Going team search all of the fares by hand to find deals. This goes a step above others to make this one of the best travel sites out there.

When you sign up for the free version, you’ll receive 15-20 selected deals per month. Even though you’ll select a specific airport as your preferred point of departure, it includes deals from an array of different cities. If you only want to see deals from your specific city, then you’ll want to upgrade to the premium version. Not only does the premium membership include an extra 30-35 deals per month, but it also includes error fare flights and offers for summer and holiday travel.

While Scott’s Cheap Flights has rebranded and changed the name, it’s still an awesome place to find flights for your vacation package.

• How to Find Cheap Flights
• Cheap Flight Hacks
• How to Use Google Flights
• 11 Genius Hacks to Take the Stress Out of Flying
• How I Booked an $8,967 First Class Airplane Ticket for $5.60

Recommended Tour Companies

Sometimes, we all need a little bit of adventure to keep us on our toes while we’re on the road.

Maybe you’re a solo traveler interested in joining a group backpacking experience through Asia. Perhaps you want an action-packed itinerary full of hiking, diving, and bungee-jumping (just make sure you have travel insurance that covers those adventure activities). Or maybe you simply want an agency to take the stress out of planning by giving you a list of all the top places you must visit. Whatever your reason, here are the best travel sites for tours and fully guided vacation packages.

GetYourGuide

GetYourGuide is a search engine with a massive database of tours and attractions in over 7,000 destinations around the globe. I’m talking more than 40,000 activities like street food tours, skiing and snowboarding trips, skip-the-line museum passes, and boat excursions. You name it, GetYourGuide has it, and their one of the best sites for finding and reserving travel activities.

If you’re visiting a new city for the first time, GetYourGuide also takes the hassle out of planning the perfect itinerary. You can reserve your spot on a tour or purchase your tickets for an event directly through their website or mobile app.

Best of all, all tours come with detailed reviews full of handy insider information, so you can hear first-hand from past clients if the activity is worth it. Not to mention, most of the offers are more affordable than if you were to book directly at the attraction itself.

It’s not the best place for all-inclusive vacation packages, but when it comes to travel sites for tours, GetYourGuide tours are a great way to soak in the culture of a city. From wine tasting to helicopter rides to snorkeling, you’ll be able to get the lowest price (guaranteed) by booking on GetYourGuide.

G Adventures

If group tours are more up your alley, then G Adventures is one of the best sites for you. Whether you’re traveling Europe by train, cruising through the Galapagos, or cycling through the countryside in China, there’s a tour for almost every traveler.

These aren’t your run-of-the-mill group tours. G Adventures are small groups (averaging 10 travelers) that all share a common desire to explore the world. When you look online, you’ll see tours organized by travel style. You’ll be able to book vacation packages specifically catered to 18 to 30-year-olds, tours focusing on health and wellness, and even active tours for adventure lovers.

Solo travelers are also welcome to join a tour with G Adventures. Whether you’re looking for full vacation packages or short day trips, you can expect to meet some awesome people along the way.

They’ve also partnered with National Geographic to create immersive tour experiences. Whether you’re learning how to tango in Argentina or cooking authentic meals with a local Thai family, these tours will give you a deeper appreciation for your destination’s history and culture.

Intrepid Travel

Intrepid Travel is like G Adventures in many ways — they offer small-group tours for adventurous travelers in more than 100 countries. Tours are divided into themes, like adventure cruising, cycling, and culinary. And if you’re interested in meeting other like-minded travelers, they have also organized trips specifically for people between the ages of 18-30.

But Intrepid sometimes goes to places where G Adventures does not, and vice versa. Intrepid also has tons of amazing deals available year-round. Many trips are discounted up to 50% and some tours can be reserved with just a $1 deposit. And if you’re eager to leave ASAP, then you can browse a variety of last-minute deals.

They’ve also partnered with Lonely Planet to create unique, niche experiences. With hundreds of single or multi-day vacation packages, you’ll be able to get off the beaten path to see the world through the eyes of a local.

But the biggest perk of traveling with Intrepid Travel comes down to the group leaders and small group sizes. You won’t feel like you’re just getting carted around because every tour is led by a local guide, meaning you get a more authentic experience.

One important note, for many trips, Intrepid requires you to have travel insurance . That’s a good idea anyway though.

Best Rental Car Sites

For many trips, you’ll need to rent a car to get around once your flight arrives. Finding rental cars can be frustrating and expensive.

Fortunately, by using one of these car rental sites , you can find the best prices and reserve your vehicle ahead of time, so there’s no stress at pickup. These travel websites let you search through many car rental providers, compare pricing, and make a reservation. Here are the best travel sites for finding rental cars:

Rentalcars.com

It’s all in the name here. Rentalcars.com is owned by the same company as the hotel site, Booking.com . It is a search site that lets you find car rentals and easily book them online.

Rentalcars.com has a great streamlined process for searching, filtering, and paying for your rental car. With just a few clicks you can find the best deal and have your car reserved. Plus, listings on Rentalcars.com typically have free cancellation when you book through their site. That’s a big win in my book because I hate stressing about what will happen if my flight is delayed or if I have to cancel my trip.

Rentalcars.com typically has great discounts available. In my experience, I’ve often been able to find the best prices compared to other rental car websites.

They also offer insurance directly though their site, though you may not need it if your travel insurance already covers rental cars.

Ultimately, one of the main things I look for in rental cars is the lowest price possible. Would I like to drive a BMW around on vacation? Sure. But typically I’m saving pennies for a trip and don’t want to spend them all on car rentals.

Priceline is one of the best travel websites to find low-price car rentals. They will often offer “Express Deals” which give you a much lower price than you’d get going directly through a car rental agency.

How do they do it? Priceline was the first travel site to offer “opaque rentals.” While that sounds complicated, it just means that you don’t know what car you’ll get until you pick it up. As long as you aren’t picky, this is a fantastic way to save cash on car rentals.

As a bonus, you can get package deals if you use Priceline to reserve flights, hotels, or even trips with a cruise line. They also have a loyalty program that can help you save on travel over time. For many travelers, this could be a one-stop shop for the ideal vacation package.

Unlike the other travel websites on this list, Kayak doesn’t let you reserve rental cars directly through their website. Instead, Kayak is just a big search site that filters through dozens (or maybe hundreds?) of other rental companies, travel websites, online travel agencies, and other related resources. You put in your travel dates, and Kayak gives you a list of options offering competitive prices. They then give you a link to book your car through the site or company that’s offering the deal.

The benefit of Kayak is that, because it is searching so many different travel websites, you can find great deals that other websites may not show.

If you want help with your entire trip planning process, Kayak also lets you search for flight deals, hotel deals, and even complete vacation packages.

Travel Booking Websites FAQs

What is the best travel site to book through.

Booking.com is the best (and largest) travel booking site.

Is it cheaper to book through a travel agent or online?

Booking online will almost always be cheaper than using a travel agent.

How do I get the best travel deals?

You can get great travel deals by comparing across multiple travel booking sites.

What is the best rental car site?

Rentalcars.com is our top pick for the best rental car website.

What is the best site for cheap flights?

Google Flights is always a good starting point when searching for cheap flights.

Jeremy Scott Foster

I’m curious why Airbnb is not listed, are they not a good option?

Given their high (and increasing) fees, lack of consistency and poor customer service, the TravelFreak editorial team can’t, in good faith, recommend booking with Airbnb. We do consider them to be a viable option, but can’t stand behind them as a company nor recommend them to readers.

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

Search our latest articles, reviews and gear guides

• TravelFreak on Instagram
• TravelFreak on Facebook
• TravelFreak on Twitter
• TravelFreak on Pinterest

Sign up now and get the best gear, travel tips, deals and destinations, straight to your inbox.

Thank you for signing up!

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.

Compare flights from 100s of sites.

Big names, great deals, filter for what you want, track prices, more than flights, start your travel planning here, search flights , hotels & rental cars.

• The Parkdale Hostellerie C$ 48+
• Samesun Toronto C$ 83+
• Homenets C$ 89+
• University Apartment - Campus Accommodation C$ 92+
• Toronto North Travellers Home C$ 97+
• Woodbine Hotel and Suites C$ 130+
• The Palmerston C$ 149+
• Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport C$ 170+
• Best Western Plus Travel Hotel Toronto Airport C$ 172+
• Toronto Don Valley Hotel And Suites C$ 174+
• Pembroke Inn C$ 178+
• Holiday Inn Toronto International Airport C$ 180+
• Pan Pacific Toronto C$ 188+
• Sandman Signature Toronto Airport Hotel C$ 200+
• Delta Hotels by Marriott Toronto Airport & Conference Centre C$ 203+
• Flight Calgary - Toronto (YYC - YKF) C$ 109+
• Flight Winnipeg - Toronto (YWG - YYZ) C$ 112+
• Flight Saskatoon - Toronto (YXE - YYZ) C$ 120+
• Flight Thunder Bay - Toronto (YQT - YYZ) C$ 123+
• Flight Halifax - Toronto (YHZ - YKF) C$ 124+
• Flight Halifax - Toronto (YHZ - YYZ) C$ 135+
• Flight Québec City - Toronto (YQB - YYZ) C$ 136+
• Flight Abbotsford - Toronto (YXX - YKF) C$ 139+
• Flight Calgary - Toronto (YYC - YYZ) C$ 140+
• Flight Calgary - Toronto (YYC - YTZ) C$ 141+
• Flight Edmonton - Toronto (YEG - YKF) C$ 144+
• Flight Winnipeg - Toronto (YWG - YTZ) C$ 144+
• Flight Regina - Toronto (YQR - YYZ) C$ 151+
• Flight Vancouver - Toronto (YVR - YKF) C$ 153+
• Flight Abbotsford - Toronto (YXX - YYZ) C$ 156+
• Book A Bed Hostels C$ 31+
• Generator London C$ 35+
• Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage C$ 38+
• Flight Toronto - London (YYZ - LHR) C$ 594+
• Flight Halifax - London (YHZ - LGW) C$ 602+
• Flight Toronto - London (YYZ - LGW) C$ 607+
• Pod Hotel C$ 40+
• M Montreal Hostel C$ 59+
• Hotel Chrome Montreal Centre-Ville C$ 81+
• Hotel Newstar C$ 118+
• Flight Halifax - Montreal (YHZ - YUL) C$ 144+
• Flight Edmonton - Montreal (YEG - YUL) C$ 148+
• Flight Winnipeg - Montreal (YWG - YUL) C$ 159+
• Flight Calgary - Montreal (YYC - YUL) C$ 184+

Los Angeles

• Freehand Los Angeles C$ 62+
• City Center Hotel C$ 136+
• Four Points by Sheraton Los Angeles International Airport C$ 148+
• Flight Vancouver - Los Angeles (YVR - LAX) C$ 137+
• Flight Calgary - Los Angeles (YYC - LAX) C$ 186+
• Flight Winnipeg - Los Angeles (YWG - LAX) C$ 219+
• Malate Pensionne C$ 22+
• RedDoorz Near Naia Terminal 1 C$ 23+
• Hotel Dreamworld Araneta Cubao C$ 26+
• Flight Vancouver - Manila (YVR - MNL) C$ 1,049+
• Flight Kelowna - Manila (YLW - MNL) C$ 1,144+
• Flight Calgary - Manila (YYC - MNL) C$ 1,186+
• Fabhotel Royal Residency Ii C$ 22+
• The Manohar Hyderabad C$ 40+
• Katriya Hotel & Towers C$ 52+
• Flight Toronto - New Delhi (YYZ - DEL) C$ 1,208+
• Flight Toronto - New Delhi (YTZ - DEL) C$ 1,235+
• Flight Toronto - Mumbai (YYZ - BOM) C$ 1,240+

Philippines

• The Daylight Inn Davao C$ 9+
• Hotel Uno C$ 18+
• OYO 197 Sunny Point Hotel C$ 23+
• Flight Vancouver - Angeles City (YVR - CRK) C$ 1,143+
• Flight Vancouver - Cebu City (YVR - CEB) C$ 1,146+

Niagara Falls

• Niagara Lodge & Suites C$ 51+
• Super 8 by Wyndham Niagara Falls ON C$ 62+
• Travelodge by Wyndham Niagara Falls Lundys Lane C$ 63+
• Close to center C$ 57+
• Winnipeg Peace Home C$ 59+
• The Cavalier Inn C$ 92+
• Flight Toronto - Winnipeg (YYZ - YWG) C$ 121+
• Flight Vancouver - Winnipeg (YVR - YWG) C$ 121+
• Flight Toronto - Winnipeg (YTZ - YWG) C$ 124+
• Empire Landmark Hotel C$ 73+
• The Cambie Hostel Seymour C$ 86+
• Hotel at the Waldorf C$ 123+
• Barclay Hotel C$ 141+
• Flight Edmonton - Vancouver (YEG - YVR) C$ 81+
• Flight Calgary - Vancouver (YYC - YVR) C$ 89+
• Flight Kelowna - Vancouver (YLW - YVR) C$ 89+
• Flight Victoria - Vancouver (YYJ - YVR) C$ 105+
• Hi New York City Hostel C$ 74+
• West Side Ymca C$ 151+
• Pod 51 C$ 220+
• Flight Toronto - New York (YYZ - JFK) C$ 193+
• Flight Toronto - Newark (YTZ - EWR) C$ 213+
• Flight Toronto - Newark (YYZ - EWR) C$ 238+
• Hotel Hari Piorko C$ 34+
• Hotel Ajanta C$ 34+
• Hotel Ramhan Palace C$ 39+
• Flight Hamilton - New Delhi (YHM - DEL) C$ 1,240+
• Flight Toronto - New Delhi (YYZ - DEL) C$ 1,264+
• Flight Toronto - New Delhi (YTZ - DEL) C$ 1,298+
• St Christopher's Inn Paris - Canal C$ 42+
• St Christopher's Inn Paris - Gare du Nord C$ 44+
• Generator Paris C$ 45+
• Hotelf1 Paris Saint Ouen Marché Aux Puces C$ 61+
• The People - Paris Nation C$ 62+
• hotelF1 Paris Porte de Châtillon C$ 64+
• Le Regent Montmartre by Hiphophostels C$ 71+
• Hotel De La Poste C$ 77+
• The People - Paris Marais C$ 80+
• Auberge Internationale Des Jeunes C$ 82+
• ibis budget Paris Porte de Montmartre C$ 90+
• Hôtel Félicité C$ 100+
• Flight Hamilton - Paris (YHM - CDG) C$ 408+
• Flight Montreal - Paris (YUL - ORY) C$ 575+
• Flight Toronto - Paris (YYZ - ORY) C$ 575+
• Flight Abbotsford - Paris (YXX - CDG) C$ 606+
• Flight Toronto - Paris (YYZ - CDG) C$ 611+
• Flight Toronto - Paris (YTZ - CDG) C$ 614+
• Flight Calgary - Paris (YYC - CDG) C$ 619+
• Flight Vancouver - Paris (YVR - CDG) C$ 644+
• Flight Victoria - Paris (YYJ - CDG) C$ 660+
• Flight Québec City - Paris (YQB - CDG) C$ 669+
• Flight Montreal - Paris (YUL - CDG) C$ 672+
• Flight Halifax - Paris (YHZ - CDG) C$ 715+
• Hotel Casa Mallorca C$ 78+
• Suites Malecon Cancun C$ 94+
• Real Inn Cancún C$ 94+
• Flight London - Cancún (YXU - CUN) C$ 283+
• Flight Montreal - Cancún (YUL - CUN) C$ 304+
• Flight Toronto - Cancún (YYZ - CUN) C$ 306+
• Sparta Team Hotel C$ 21+
• Victory Inn C$ 50+
• Socrates Hotel C$ 61+
• Flight Toronto - Amsterdam (YYZ - AMS) C$ 563+
• Flight Montreal - Paris (YUL - ORY) C$ 567+
• Flight Toronto - Paris (YYZ - ORY) C$ 568+
• Azores Youth Hostels - São Miguel C$ 26+
• Out Of The Blue C$ 39+
• Hotel Sete Cidades C$ 76+
• Flight Hamilton - Lisbon (YHM - LIS) C$ 543+
• Flight Toronto - Porto (YYZ - OPO) C$ 563+
• Flight Toronto - Faro (YYZ - FAO) C$ 586+
• Ottawa Backpackers Inn C$ 37+
• Saintlo Ottawa Jail Hostel C$ 41+
• The Stay Lounge C$ 74+
• Flight Edmonton - Ottawa (YEG - YOW) C$ 132+
• Flight Winnipeg - Ottawa (YWG - YOW) C$ 145+
• Flight Calgary - Ottawa (YYC - YOW) C$ 178+
• Mount Saint Vincent University C$ 75+
• Lake City Motel C$ 116+
• Granville Hall Residence C$ 127+
• Flight Toronto - Halifax (YKF - YHZ) C$ 123+
• Flight Toronto - Halifax (YYZ - YHZ) C$ 129+
• Flight Montreal - Halifax (YUL - YHZ) C$ 153+
• OYO Hotel And Casino Las Vegas C$ 36+
• The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower C$ 41+
• Harrah's Las Vegas Hotel & Casino C$ 60+
• Silver Sevens Hotel & Casino C$ 62+
• Excalibur Hotel & Casino C$ 63+
• The Orleans Hotel & Casino C$ 68+
• Rio Hotel & Casino C$ 71+
• Flight Calgary - Las Vegas (YYC - LAS) C$ 148+
• Flight Vancouver - Las Vegas (YVR - LAS) C$ 156+
• Flight Edmonton - Las Vegas (YEG - LAS) C$ 171+
• Flight Regina - Las Vegas (YQR - LAS) C$ 207+
• Flight Toronto - Las Vegas (YYZ - LAS) C$ 211+
• Flight Winnipeg - Las Vegas (YWG - LAS) C$ 242+
• Flight Abbotsford - Las Vegas (YXX - LAS) C$ 275+
• Monumental Movieland Hotel C$ 65+
• Rosen Inn International C$ 86+
• Rosen Inn Closest to Universal C$ 88+
• Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Orlando Resort & Suites Intl Drive C$ 88+
• Rosen Inn At Pointe Orlando C$ 92+
• Grand Hotel Kissimmee At Celebration C$ 94+
• Avanti International Resort C$ 102+
• Avanti Palms Resort And Conference Center C$ 107+
• Westgate Town Center Resort C$ 109+
• Wyndham Garden Orlando Airport C$ 113+
• Best Western Orlando Gateway Hotel C$ 113+
• Flight Toronto - Orlando (YTZ - MCO) C$ 187+
• Flight Vancouver - Orlando (YVR - MCO) C$ 188+
• Flight Toronto - Orlando (YYZ - MCO) C$ 193+
• Flight Toronto - Orlando (YYZ - SFB) C$ 213+
• Flight Montreal - Orlando (YUL - MCO) C$ 214+
• Flight Halifax - Orlando (YHZ - MCO) C$ 221+
• Flight Toronto - Orlando (YKF - MCO) C$ 222+
• Flight Ottawa - Orlando (YOW - MCO) C$ 257+
• Flight Winnipeg - Orlando (YWG - MCO) C$ 273+
• Flight Saskatoon - Orlando (YXE - MCO) C$ 285+
• Flight Calgary - Orlando (YYC - MCO) C$ 310+

Fort Lauderdale

• Days Inn by Wyndham Fort Lauderdale Airport Cruise Port C$ 77+
• Red Carpet Inn Airport Fort Lauderdale C$ 85+
• Plaza Hotel Fort Lauderdale C$ 87+
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Fort Lauderdale Tamarac C$ 88+
• HomeTowne Studios by Red Roof Fort Lauderdale C$ 90+
• Fort Lauderdale Grand Hotel C$ 98+
• Ocean Beach Palace C$ 105+
• Flight Toronto - Fort Lauderdale (YYZ - FLL) C$ 152+
• Flight Montreal - Fort Lauderdale (YUL - FLL) C$ 162+
• Flight Toronto - Fort Lauderdale (YTZ - FLL) C$ 163+
• Flight Ottawa - Fort Lauderdale (YOW - FLL) C$ 252+
• Flight Vancouver - Fort Lauderdale (YVR - FLL) C$ 269+
• Flight Calgary - Fort Lauderdale (YYC - FLL) C$ 308+
• Flight Winnipeg - Fort Lauderdale (YWG - FLL) C$ 324+
• Canadas Best Value Inn Chinook Station C$ 53+
• Hi Calgary City Centre - Hostel C$ 59+
• Olympia Lodge C$ 75+
• Flight Abbotsford - Calgary (YXX - YYC) C$ 88+
• Flight Vancouver - Calgary (YVR - YYC) C$ 88+
• Flight Toronto - Calgary (YKF - YYC) C$ 116+
• Travelodge Sukhumvit 11 C$ 48+
• Prince Palace Hotel Bangkok C$ 49+
• Ambassador Hotel Bangkok C$ 50+
• Flight Vancouver - Bangkok (YVR - BKK) C$ 1,047+
• Flight Toronto - Bangkok (YYZ - BKK) C$ 1,169+
• Flight Ottawa - Bangkok (YOW - BKK) C$ 1,170+
• Red Roof Inn Tampa Fairgrounds - Casino C$ 89+
• Rodeway Inn Fairgrounds-Casino C$ 90+
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Tampa Fairgrounds - Casino C$ 93+
• Flight Toronto - Florida (YYZ - USFL) C$ 148+
• Flight Montreal - Florida (YUL - USFL) C$ 183+
• Flight Toronto - Florida (YTZ - USFL) C$ 187+
• Hérað - Berjaya Iceland Hotels C$ 123+
• Lyngás Guesthouse C$ 144+
• Hótel Valaskjálf C$ 156+
• Flight Hamilton - Reykjavik (YHM - KEF) C$ 388+
• Flight Calgary - Reykjavik (YYC - KEF) C$ 536+
• Flight Toronto - Reykjavik (YYZ - KEF) C$ 661+
• Hi Edmonton - Hostel C$ 40+
• Thriftlodge Edmonton C$ 69+
• Economy Inn C$ 75+
• Ocean Island Inn Backpackers Suites - Hostel C$ 51+
• Island Travel Inn C$ 94+
• Arbutus Inn C$ 101+

Frequently asked questions about KAYAK

How do i find travel deals on kayak.

Simply use one of our travel search engines to scan for prices gathered from hundreds of travel sites. KAYAK’s search results pages have loads of filter options to help you find deals, discover exactly what you’re looking for and make booking seamless. Plus, there’s no extra fee from KAYAK.

What makes KAYAK a great travel app?

On the KAYAK app for iOS and Android you’ll find all the great travel offers found on the website and much more. There are special mobile rates and app only deals that allow you to save even more money. Plus, you can get notifications straight to your phone letting you know when prices for your next trip have dropped. But the KAYAK app is much more than just a travel app. Use the Trips function to manage your travel itinerary and get up to date status alerts on flights, check-in changes and to store your boarding pass. Even if you’re in the middle of nowhere on your travels, you can still access your travel notes via Trips, as no internet connection is required.

How can I use KAYAK to manage my travel bookings?

KAYAK Trips creates a travel itinerary for you that will give you flight status alerts, can be shared with friends and more. Simply forward your booking confirmations to [email protected] or use the KAYAK app and sync your email account to keep all your travel plans organized in one app, even if you didn’t book with KAYAK. You can share your vacation plans with friends and family and also check out your travel stats for past vacations, like how far you’ve travelled, your most popular cities and how many times you’ve travelled around the world. Even if you don’t have signal, don’t worry, as you can access Trips to check out your itineraries whilst on the road. Your data is safe and secure with us and you won’t have to re-enter credit card info when booking future trips. If you want to make changes or cancel bookings, then you should contact the travel provider, which is provided on the booking confirmation.

What are KAYAK Price Alerts?

Instead of manually checking back in on the price of your next flight or stay, let KAYAK do the hard work for you with KAYAK Price Alerts. Once you’ve saved your search, our data will determine how the price will rise or fluctuate over the coming days. You’ll then get a push notification letting you know when’s the perfect time to book.

Search flights , hotels , rental cars , travel guides and more with KAYAK. KAYAK searches hundreds of other travel sites at once to get you the information you need to make the right decisions.

Labor Day traffic and travel: Best and worst times to drive and fly

Millions of Americans are gearing up to head to the airport or hit the highway for the last long weekend of summer.

Here's what to know about Labor Day weekend travel:

More than 17 million people are forecast to be screened at U.S. airports from Thursday, Aug. 29, to Wednesday, Sept. 4 -- an 8.5% increase from last year, the Transportation Security Administration said.

The TSA anticipates Friday, Aug. 30, will be its busiest day with 2.86 million travelers expected.

The TSA's top 10 busiest travel days ever have all occurred since May.

United Airlines expects this year will be its busiest Labor Day weekend on record, with over 2.9 million passengers poised to fly between Thursday, Aug. 29, and Tuesday, Sept. 3 -- up 3% from last year. United predicts Aug. 30 will be its busiest day.

American Airlines predicts this year will be its largest Labor Day operations ever, with over 3.8 million customers anticipated from Aug. 29 to Sept. 3 -- up 14% from last year. American says its busiest travel days will be Aug. 29 and Aug. 30.

For Southwest Airlines, Aug. 30 and Sept. 2 are forecast to be peak travel days.

The busiest airports are anticipated to be Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, according to Hopper.

The most searched domestic destinations for Labor Day are New York City, Seattle and Los Angeles, according to Hopper.

Road travel

If you’re hitting the road on Thursday, Aug. 29, the worst time to drive is from 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., according to analytics company INRIX.

On Friday, Aug. 30, the worst travel time is from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. On Monday, Sept. 2, the busiest time on the roads will be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., INRIX said.

AAA said drivers should expect to pay less for gas this year. The national average for gas during Labor Day weekend 2023 was $3.81; this year, prices are expected to be around $3.50.

Sign up for the Breaking News Newsletter and receive up to date information.

Now signed up to receive the breaking news newsletter..

Search City or Zip Code

‘Most Disappointing' National Park Named

August 28, 2024

Do you agree with this title? This national park was recently named one of the “most disappointing” national parks. In a system of over 400 park sites, do you have any guesses at which one this could be? Workers for this park are taking the title in stride, encouraging visitors to come find out firsthand if the park really deserves to be on the list.

Now Playing

Meet The Cutest Airport Therapy Animals

Great White Sharks Bring Tourists To Cape Cod

And The World’s Best-Connected Airport Is…

Five Picks For A Fall Getaway

Best National Parks To Visit Each Season

After Big Collapse, Are Other Utah Arches Doomed?

America’s Largest National Park Is Off Limits

This Airline Terminal Is A Forest Wonderland

Italy Sets Rules To Limit Selfies For Tourists

The UK’s New Weather Warning About The US

Lightning Strike Injures 2 At Horseshoe Bend

Cities Hiding Popular Landmarks From Tourists

Why Did Utah’s Iconic ‘Double Arch’ Collapse?

Check Out Massachusetts’ New Ice Cream Trail

State Parks Great For Impromptu Visit This Summer

3 Of The Best Indoor Water Parks In The US

Gorgeous National Parks Off The Beaten Path

Drinks Explode On Flights; 20 Injured

Airport Employs Llamas: Here's Why

Avoid These Travel Spots In Hurricane Season

Munich Opens Beer Garden Without The Buzz

Tiny Toiletries Checking Out: New York Hotel Ban

And The Best Beaches Of The Year Are...

Extreme Summer Heat No Match For These Curious Tourists

Weather in your inbox.

Your local forecast, plus daily trivia, stunning photos and our meteorologists’ top picks. All in one place, every weekday morning.

By signing up, you're opting in to receive the Morning Brief email newsletter. To manage your data, visit Data Rights . Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Find anything you save across the site in your account

14 Best Winery Airbnb Rentals Across the US

All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

For wine lovers who appreciate solid innovative design, it doesn’t get any better than waking up to vineyard views in one of the many wine regions in the US. It’s not just postcard-perfect views from one room in the house: These properties offer vineyard vistas from bed, a soaking tub, or via walls of windows—as well as from outside the property. Sip that first cup of coffee overlooking the vines, and come sunset enjoy dinner curated from local wines (maybe even born out of grapes harvested on the property) and culinary ingredients—all while taking in the vistas only a vineyard can provide.

In the US, harvesting of wine grapes extends until early November, and autumn is the perfect time to immerse yourself in the vines. Here are 14 winery Airbnb rentals nestled in vineyards. From California to New York—and lesser-known regions like Colorado and Texas—the list isn’t solely limited to European-style sprawling estates. They include a Scandi-style cottage, a converted historic railcar, and a modern farmhouse. There are even luxury amenities like an outdoor pool, a movie theater (to watch the film Bottle Shock , perhaps?), and a boccie-ball court. Keep scrolling for our favorites—grab a glass of wine and start perusing, won't you?

Suttons Bay, Michigan

With five bedrooms and seven baths in the 9,000-square-foot custom home—plus an outdoor pool, open layout, wrap-around deck, and a chef-grade kitchen—you can bring your friends and host a major harvest party in one of America’s lesser-known wine regions: the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail . With a three-acre vineyard on the property’s 80 acres, plus views of Grand Traverse Bay, you may never want to leave this blissful spot—except to visit local tasting rooms, of course.

Paso Robles, California

This recently renovated four-bedroom modern farmhouse is packed with a mix of luxuries (like a built-in BBQ and speaker system—not to mention an outdoor pool and hot tub) and vacay essentials (such as board games and pool floats). Also included is a two-bedroom, two-bath guest house so a group can further spread out in comfort. It’s located on a seven-acre estate, which means there’s plenty of privacy. There are many areas from within the home—as well as the pool —where vineyards are in view.

Healdsburg, California

Set on a nine-acre vineyard, this two-bedroom, two-bath modern barn dials back the exterior design to evoke a bygone era. It’s owned by an architect and photographer couple, and it’s perfect for two couples traveling together. There are two primary suites and the design features include Restoration Hardware bed frames. The home also features original art and the pièce de résistance: a 45-foot covered porch overlooking Dry Creek Valley vineyards.

Bluemont, Virginia

Inside this adorable stone cottage on the grounds of Bluemont Vineyard (and built from stone on the property) is a one-bedroom, one-bath accommodation. It’s a former loafing shed that was once home to the property’s horses and is now updated to accommodate overnight guests. A custom stone shower and open floor plan await inside, while the outside features a porch with swivel rockers to take in the sunset.

Paw Paw, Michigan

Tucked into a restored 1912 railcar now stocked with modern luxuries (such as a washer and dryer and a 50-inch TV), this is a new one-bedroom accommodation at Warner Vineyards, which has been making wine since 1938. That makes it Michigan’s second-oldest winery. During business hours at the tasting room, walk over for a drink—perhaps the winery’s sparkling Riesling, Chardonnay Reserve, or Cabernet Franc—and relax along the Paw Paw River.

Sonoma, California

Book this modern one-bedroom farmhouse-style cottage that includes access to a private 40-foot boccie-ball court and you’ll get lots of bonus hygge (after all, the owners call it Hygge Haus). Views of a neighboring biodynamic vineyard are best seen from the redwood deck’s set of Adirondack chairs and picnic table. The interiors are minimalist-minded in their design, with natural light, lots of texture, and various neutral shades.

Because this one-bedroom, one-bath 800-square-foot loft is on the loft level of a charming barn and boasts a deck, the views of Gracianna Winery’s Pinot Noir vineyards in this Sonoma County hotspot can’t be beat. And if it’s a late-night or early-morning harvest, you may even fall asleep to the sound grapes coming off the vine. A tasting room pouring the winery’s wines—Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel—is also on property. For a chill vibe, walk approximately one minute to the banks of the Russian River.

Cleveland, Wisconsin

No, that fortress-like castle isn’t in Tuscany, it’s actually in a state that’s better known for its cheese than its wine. With four bedrooms and two and a half baths, there’s also a wine cellar (with retired Maker’s Mark whiskey barrels), a movie theater, a piano room in which to entertain, a dining table crafted from a 1914 John Deere plow, and a chandelier that was once a hay trolley. Located on a 20-acre parcel that includes a working vineyard, this is a new rental as of 2022.

Palisade, Colorado

A balcony overlooking vineyards (there are six wineries within three miles) is a huge perk of this two-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath winery Airbnb. Vines are also literally outside the door and adjacent to an outdoor seating area. Walls of windows frame the wine-country lifestyle, and there are wine accents throughout, like a wine barrel turned into a sink in one of the baths.

Ithaca, New York

Looking for a road trip not too far outside New York City? The Finger Lakes region is an unexpected destination for delicious wine—and practically unbeatable travel-wise if you live on the East Coast. This deeply charming Parisian-inspired apartment is nestled right in downtown Ithaca, which is located at the base of Cayuga Lake, one of the Finger Lakes American Viticultural Areas (a.k.a. AVAs). Beyond being close to vineyards and some of the best wineries, this romantic home is steps away from Ithaca Commons, the famous gorges, plenty of coffee shops, and the historic Cornell University campus. The apartment itself boasts 10-foot ceilings, enviable crown molding, and decor accents that feel chic, not cheesy.

Wapato, Washington

Stay on-site at Freehand Cellars, located in Wapato, Washington. Sure, you’ll get unparalleled access to wine tours (and great wine), but you’ll also look out of your suite at sweeping willow trees and sprawling vineyard views. The unit itself has plenty of comfy fixtures (hello, handsome leather sofas!) and a covered outdoor hot tub for romantic evenings. The winery itself sits on eight acres of grapes, rosebushes, and orchards, so though you might come for the wine, you’ll stay for the gorgeous bouquets and apple picking. Freehand Cellars makes wines of all kinds, whether you’re looking for a deep, dark Cabernet, or a crisp white wine.

Salem, Oregon

This luxurious château, nestled in the Willamette Valley (one of Oregon’s AVAs), is conveniently located near a handful of good wine tasting opportunities (think: wine flights full of Merlot, French rosés, and Italian red wines), plus Rosedale Fruit Farm, which offers hands-on fruit picking (we recommend going during cherry season). The space itself is decorated in rich jewel tones, ornate frames and mirrors, and sparkling accents, but it doesn’t feel overstuffed or dated. Plus, the fridge comes pre-stocked with snacks and essentials. The property is worth exploring too, thanks to the many wildflower patches and ponds.

Stay at this ultramodern cottage that sits on a 47-year-old family-owned Pommard vineyard in Oregon’s Willamette Valley (which the kids are saying is the new Napa—don’t say we didn’t tell you first). As a guest, you’re free to roam around the vineyard at your leisure. After all, it’s literally in your backyard. The house offers two bedrooms, an (admittedly small) kitchen, fireplace, and outdoor rocking chairs overlooking the vineyard. Design-wise, this vineyard stay is impressive too. The owners’ eye for detail is tasteful and minimalist, with a slight Western touch that gives it some charm.

Hondo, Texas

Yep, there’s rolling hills, award-winning wines, and lots of varietals right down in Texas. This stay, located in Texas’s Hill Country, is charming enough that you’ll be tempted to just buy a few bottles and drink them there. The colorful exterior, spacious covered patio, panoramic windows, fire pit, hot tub, among other features, leave no boxes unchecked. The decor and furniture feel welcoming and lived-in (without making you want to grab a bottle of disinfectant), and you can easily hop in the car and drive to nearby vineyards, restaurants, and more.

Craving an escape? From colorful carry-ons to cleverly designed packing cubes (how did we ever travel without them?), shop everything you need to make the journey in style—and as streamlined and stress-free as possible.

Save up to 40% off Madewell, Brooklinen and more with these Labor Day deals

• Share this —

• Watch Full Episodes
• Read With Jenna
• Inspirational
• Relationships
• TODAY Table
• Newsletters
• Start TODAY
• Shop TODAY Awards
• Citi Concert Series
• Listen All Day

Follow today

More Brands

• On The Show
• TODAY Plaza

I’m a chronic overpacker and I hate airline fees — this backpack is my holy grail

If there's one thing to know about me, it's that I travel a lot more than I can probably afford to. To compensate, I'm always scouring for cheap flight options, which often don't include a carry-on or checked bag with purchase.

I can't even pack for an overnight stay using just one bag, so I often end up having to max out as much space as possible in my personal item and my carry-on (if I choose to purchase one). However, as a chronic overpacker, this was impossible to pull off before I tried what might just be the largest backpack I've ever seen while shopping at Target .

Why I tried the Open Story 35L Travel Backpack | Why I like the Open Story 35L Travel Backpack | What to consider | More Open Story travel products | Why trust Shop TODAY

Open Story 35L Travel Backpack

35L Travel Backpack

• Suitcase-like design
• Zip pockets
• Too big for some airlines

Dimensions: 19.25 inches x 13 inches x 8.25 inches | Weight: 2.6 lbs | Material: 100% polyester | Capacity: 35L

Why I tried the Open Story 35L Travel Backpack

I travel often to visit family in other states and prefer not to check a bag when possible. So, after noting how large this pack was, I figured I could get away with using it as a personal item or as a carry-on.

I first tried the backpack for consideration as part of Shop TODAY's 2023 Travel Gear Awards and was excited to test it because it had gone viral on TikTok earlier that year. I've found that viral products rarely tend to be worth the hype — until I tried this bag.

Why I like the Open Story 35L Travel Backpack

It's super spacious.

You don't need to look at the product specifications to see that this is a rather large bag — and that's exactly why I like it! The main compartments are roomy, plus there are plenty of additional pockets to hold everything from pencils and books, to a laptop.

Despite packing it to the brim, I've still managed to stuff it under my airplane seat when I travel. To give you an idea of what I am typically able to fit inside, the list is as follows: two pairs of sneakers; a purse; two notebooks; various snacks, headphones, a 40 oz. water bottle; a hooded sweatshirt; a laptop; multiple charging cords; keys; a camera and other miscellaneous items that can fit in the assortment of pockets the bag has to offer.

The bag unzips like a suitcase

There is a large interior compartment on one side and two zippered compartments on the opposite side, but you can still store more items between the two before zipping the bag closed (pictured above). I like that I don't have to rummage through my belongings like I would with a normal backpack, but this opening style can be inconvenient if you don't have enough room to unzip the bag while on the go.

I like keeping my ID and other items needed at TSA in the front zipper though, which allows for easy access and a smoother check-in process at the airport.

It's durable

I've owned the bag for over a year and have taken it on six flights, used it for commutes to the office and have relied on it for weekend trips. It's been shoved in overhead bins, forced under seats and tossed with reckless abandon into the backseat of my car — and it's still in great condition. I've spilled a few coffees on it and trekked through rain with it on my back, but you wouldn't be able to tell.

What to consider

If you like to travel light , this probably isn't the bag for you. It's hefty on its own, and if you plan on loading it to the brim, you should be prepared for a heavy lift. The bag is not expandable, but it does feature side straps that you can clip and unclip for a more secure (or looser) fit.

Family members and coworkers have made fun of how large it is and how small it makes me look, but I've remained unbothered. It beats paying $70 roundtrip for a checked bag — and allows for even more space, should I need to purchase one.

That being said, if you frequently experience back pain or struggle to carry weight on your back, a rolling option that you can check at the airport would probably be a better fit (if that's the case, I would recommend Open Story's hardside spinner ).

I've been able to get away with using this as a personal item when flying budget airlines, but can't guarantee the same experience for everyone, so you should double-check your airline's regulations before relying solely on this bag for a trip.

Even if you're not flying, it's perfect for a road trip or train travel, and I would recommend it to anyone.

More Open Story products to shop

Open story complete travel toiletry set.

Complete Travel Toiletry Set

This TSA-friendly and aesthetically pleasing toiletry set includes one lotion bottle, one spray bottle, two silicone bottles, two rolling bottles and two jars.

Open Story Packable Duffel Bag Blue

Packable Duffel Bag Blue

Need something smaller for a weekend getaway or want to bring an extra bag along for purchases made on your trip? This packable duffel is perfect for either occasion.

Open Story Large Hanging Toiletry Bag

Large Hanging Toiletry Bag

I also own (and love) this toiletry bag — it's the roomiest one I've ever owned! I pack my five-step skin care routine, hair care products, body wash, perfume and other miscellaneous items in here and can pack it to the brim without feeling like it is going to rip open.

Open Story Packing Cube Set (4 Piece)

Packing Cube Set (4 Piece)

Pack smarter, not harder! These cubes make it easy to organize your suitcase or carry-on and can save you some space in the process.

Open Story Memory Foam Travel Neck Pillow

Memory Foam Travel Neck Pillow

Whether you plan on taking a quick nap or catching some serious shuteye on a flight, a neck pillow can come in handy. This option is made with memory foam for a contoured fit. Plus, the cover is removable for easy care.

Open Story Anti-Theft Vertical Crossbody Bag

Anti-Theft Vertical Crossbody Bag

Need to take the essentials on the go? This bag features a clasped zipper that requires you to unclip it before opening it (which makes it harder for others to try and open it). Plus, it also features RFID-blocking technology to help protect against theft, says the brand.

Open Story Signature Commuter Backpack

Signature Commuter Backpack

Associate editor Kamari Stewart uses this bag daily for her commute and for travel, too. She says it boasts plenty of space, extra pockets and a five-year limited warranty.

Open Story 45L Travel Backpack

45L Travel Backpack

If you need something a little more spacious for your travels, there's a larger version of my beloved backpack that features a larger interior compartment.

Open Story Hardside Carry On Spinner Suitcase

Hardside Carry On Spinner Suitcase

Prefer a classic carry-on? This popular option won't break the bank and comes in over five different colors.

Open Story Signature Hardside Large Checked Spinner Suitcase

Signature Hardside Large Checked Spinner Suitcase

I purchased this suitcase three years ago and it has survived over two dozen flights (and rough treatment by ramp agents who toss it with little care for where it lands). The bottom has cracked but it's still holding up all of this time later!

Why trust Shop TODAY

The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources and use our own personal experiences with the product and brand to make shopping easier for our readers.

Jillian Ortiz is an editorial operations manager at Shop TODAY. She has been with the team for five years, covering a wide range of topics, including product reviews, sale events and Awards.

Jillian Ortiz is the Editorial Operations Manager at Shop TODAY.