8 tips and tricks for finding a great travel deal
Editor's Note
If you’re hoping to travel on a budget, one of the best ways to save money is to take advantage of travel deals when they come up. We’ve seen some great deals recently as more people start planning spring and summer travels.
But for beginners, it can be hard to know how to take advantage of deals. Part of the equation is being flexible enough to jump on last-minute deals when they pop up (something I still struggle with because I like planning trips far in advance). The other part, however, is knowing where to look and how to decide which deals are worth taking.
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So today, I’m going to walk through a few tools, tips and tricks for spotting deals and figuring out which ones you should jump on.
Travel apps and services
If you’re just dipping your toes into the travel universe, the right app on your phone can help you find the best deals for budget travel.
Scott’s Cheap Flights
This service allows you to set up deal alerts catered to your home airport and a select number of destinations. The base service is free, but you can also pay for premium or elite versions that range from $49 to $199 per year and come with additional perks such as the ability to choose more airports and destinations, get alerts for premium-class tickets and more.
Hopper
With the Hopper app, you can set alerts for flights and hotels based on where you want to go or stay. The app uses predictive technology to determine when the best time to book a trip will be. You can also freeze prices for a specific window of time if you find a deal but don’t want to finalize your plans just yet.
Alerts are a free service, but you will have to put down a small deposit whenever you freeze a flight or hotel deal.
Related: How to use Capital One's new travel portal powered by Hopper
Skyscanner
Skyscanner is a booking website that publishes daily deals and allows users to set price alerts for flights.
It’s also a good resource if you aren’t sure where you want to go. When you type in your home airport, you can leave the destination blank for Skyscanner to pull up the best deals for top destinations so you can explore the possibilities that make the most sense for your budget.
Google Flights
You can set up email alerts for specific routes through Google. This is best for when you have specific flights in mind and want to know the best time to book.
TPG app
The TPG app can help you track your points and miles balances so you can maximize your spending and have the confidence to book award flights and hotel deals when they come up. The Award Explorer tool can help you find your next destination and see how many points it takes to get there. This also helps you have a baseline for how much a trip will typically cost in points or miles so you know when you come across a great deal for a specific route.
Follow the right accounts
There are also a number of accounts you can follow on Twitter that share deals every day. These deals won’t be catered to your specific home airport or bucket list destinations, but it’s not uncommon to find some solid cheap flights shared by these accounts. Just know that sales, mistake fares and other deals tend to go fast — especially when shared with a large audience — so you’ll have to be quick to book on some deals or you’ll miss out.
@TPG_Alerts
We have a separate Twitter account that exclusively posts every single TPG deal article we publish.
@TheFlightDeal
This account focuses on inexpensive paid tickets, so follow if you like to hunt for affordable cash flights.
@JetBlueCheeps
JetBlue Cheeps is an official side account for JetBlue where deals on last-minute flights and JetBlue sales are posted. Of course, these flights are all JetBlue, so if you don’t live near an airport where JetBlue flights are regularly available, this account isn’t as relevant for you.
When to jump on a deal
You’re on your phone, and — ding — an email alert for a deal to a destination you’ve been wanting to visit pops up. Do you take it?
It can be hard to know when a deal is worth it.
The first step is knowing what typical flights and hotels cost for your desired destinations. Google Flights is a good resource for exploring cash prices for flights, and the TPG app is a great way to gauge how much certain trips will generally cost in points and miles. Once you have a good idea of what standard prices are, it’s easier to recognize when a deal is worth it.
Related: How I decide when to redeem points for a flight or pay cash
But it’s not just about the price. Also consider these factors before hitting “book” on a deal:
- Source: Is the deal only available on a third-party booking site you’ve never heard of? If so, it can be risky to book. Also keep in mind that when you click into a deal to book from a third party, the price might jump up. Always double-check the final price before finalizing a reservation and putting money down for a ticket.
- Layovers: Just because the price is low doesn’t mean it’s an ideal flight. If you’ll need to spend the night at an airport (which means risking it to sleep at the gate or shelling out money for a hotel), it could negate the lower price of the flight.
- Flight time: Even if the flight is nonstop or only has one layover, check what time it flies. If you aren’t willing or able to get up super early or fly overnight, the deal may not be worth taking.
- Airline: Not all airlines offer the same experience or the same customer service policies. Know which airline is offering the deal and its specific cancellation policies, baggage fees and other terms before booking the flight.
If you’re looking at a potential points and miles deal, a good rule of thumb is to compare the points cost of the flight or hotel to the cash price at the time of booking. At a minimum, you should try to get at least 1 cent out of every point. You can use TPG’s most recent valuations to see if the points cost is comparable to or better than what we typically value points or miles, or check out our new points versus cash calculator to help do the math for you.
For example, let’s say you find a flight on Delta for 60,000 miles round-trip for a flight that normally costs $1,200. Using the 1-cent-per-mile rule of thumb, the award flight is a good deal ($600 versus $1,200). Even when you use TPG valuations (which currently value Delta SkyMiles at 1.46 cents each), you’re getting a better value by using miles than paying cash ($876 versus $1,200).
Not every deal you come across is going to make sense for your travel goals and budget, but hopefully, these tools and tips will help you find deals that you can take advantage of as we all book our upcoming getaways. The key is to be flexible enough to book a deal once you find it before it disappears.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.