Best travel planning websites and apps for budget friendly travel, plus my favorite travel credit ca
- Abigail Gaston
- Feb 19, 2019
- 12 min read
Over the past 5 years, I have been blessed with the ability to do quite a bit of world travel. A portion of my being able to travel regularly has been due to being allotted a decent amount of vacation days through work. However, much of the benefit comes from making use of the following budget travel resources. Doing so has helped me create cheap travel opportunities, so that I can travel more often! The following are, in my opinion, the best travel planning websites and apps for budget friendly travel, plus my favorite travel credit card is listed (websites linked for easy navigation)!
Favorite for finding and monitoring cheapest flights:
Skyscanner
What is it:
A website and app program that collects travel information from multiple brands and displays it in one easily accessible location and in a concentrated form, so to minimize your search requirement. It creates a more efficient and happy travel planning experience by doing most the work for you.
Why I like it:
Allows you to pinpoint the cheapest months to travel.
Allows you to pinpoint the cheapest destination to travel to from your home airport, by selecting the “Everywhere” option. The everywhere option allows you to identify the cheapest destinations to fly to and from during a specific date range.
Example: You have a long weekend coming up and you would like to go somewhere; however, you are unsure as to where, but you do know you want to keep it a budget friendly trip. Enter your home airport in the “From” box and select “Everywhere” in the “To” box. Submit the rest of the info needed, then simply watch the destinations roll in!
Allows you to view an entire month of travel routes at once. This helps you to identify when the cheapest days are to fly.
If you have a flexible schedule, this is a great option. All you must do is type your travel route into the from and to boxes and instead of selecting dates, select “Whole Month.”
An annual calendar will appear, and you can select the month you are looking to travel.
You can also select “Cheapest Month” and Skyscanner will provide you with the current cheapest month to travel between the two airports that you selected.
Allows for price alerts. Skyscanner will notify you when prices drop for your specific travel route.
Note: During your initial search, Skyscanner will display what the lowest price is likely to be for a specific route. However, when you select “Shop Flights,” the price may not always populate at the lowest price previously presented.
Do not worry! What you will want to do now is select the “Get Price Alerts” option in the top left corner. What has happened, is that Skyscanner has done its job by providing you with their prediction of the lowest airfare cost; however, it is just not the right time to purchase flights yet.
By selecting the price alerts option, Skyscanner will, however, inform you when the right time to purchase is; when the lowest price you were previously informed of takes place. The key here is patience.
The Hopper
What is it:
A phone application that allows you to locate and monitor airline travel routes. It will help you to not only discover the best month to travel, but the best days during that month. It will also inform you when to purchase airfare.
How to use The Hopper:
1. Download the App
2. Identify your departure and arrival airport
3. Select round trip or one way
4. Identify if you have any filters (i.e. non-stop flights only)
5. Choose your travel dates
The Hopper has a color-coded identification system that helps you choose your dates:
Green = Cheapest
Yellow = Next Best
Orange = Higher Priced
Red = Most Expensive
When you scroll through The Hopper's calendar, you will notice some months have more green and yellow dates and others have more orange and red dates. This will help you identify when the cheapest month to fly to and from certain locations is.
Back to the "how to use" list:
5. Tap on the month you will be traveling
6. Select your travel dates
7. The Hopper will provide you with the current lowest price. Sometimes, it will tell you to book now and other times it will tell you to keep watching. You can either select “Shop Flights” or “Watch this Trip.”
8. If you are watching a trip, just sit back and relax; The Hopper will notify you of the best time to purchase. I highly recommend you utilize the filters option if non-stop flights are all you would like to see; this specification could change the "when to buy" window.
Other fun features:
The Hopper offers a "Price Prediction" section that tells you forecasts about your travel dates. These forecasts include things like the window of time for prices to vary and drop to its lowest price before it increases for good, and so on.
The proof is in the pudding:
I recently was watching a one-way flight from Detroit to New York City through The Hopper. For 2 months The Hopper periodically informed me to keep watching because they predict the flight cost to drop lower than the current price. Just last week I was informed that it was time to purchase!
When I started watching this flight, it was at $140. When The Hopper had notified me that it was time to purchase the flight, the cost dropped to $75. This is proof that The Hopper knows what it is doing and that it is a valuable tool for budget travel planning.
Favorite for booking budget vacations with the least amount of effort by you:
Groupon Getaways
What is it:
A sub-category on Groupon that only promotes travel specific deals.
How does it work:
Travel agencies post bottom dollar deals to Groupon Getaways (listed as “Travel” on the phone apps navigation bar) in the hopes that budget travelers will purchase them. Travel agencies do not actually make a large sum of money off their Groupon travel deals, but Groupon provides travel agencies a platform to be more present in the eyes of buyers. If the initial Groupon trip goes well, it could convert Groupon shoppers into future travel agency clients, without Groupon being the middle-man.
After purchasing a Groupon Getaway, you will receive a voucher for each guest. You will complete the confirmation of purchase by following the instructions on your voucher. Some travel agencies direct you to a website where you submit your voucher number and complete the steps to confirm your vacation. Others request that you call the travel agency to complete the purchase. I have purchased and attended 3 spectacular Groupon Getaways and will purchase additional Groupon advertised trips in the future; it is a very inexpensive way to see the world.
Offerings: Groupon offers all-inclusive vacations, air+hotel vacations, air+hotel+rental car options, hotel only deals, and more.
Bonus: It is very easy to navigate and use; I am always impressed with the simplicity of Groupon’s Getaway purchase process compared to other online platforms.
Momondo
What is it:
Momondo is a travel booking website that assists you with finding real-time prices on flights, hotels, rental cars, and vacation packages, including all-inclusive options. Momondo can even help you identify the best vacation rental homes based on price, quality and reviews.
How does it work:
You input your travel information into Momondo’s search boxes and Momondo goes to work scouring the web for the best deals. Momondo searches hundreds of websites; from globally known brands to individual proprietors. Momondo compiles a list of the best options that fit your search. If you click on a hotel, flight, or vacation package, you will be redirected to the sight it originated from. Basically, Momondo takes the search work out of the equation for you, therefore you spend less time searching for the right vacation package and more time tackling the rest of the items on that giant to-do list.
What I like:
Momondo has a 100% price transparency moto, which is why they choose not to use cookies. It is understood that cookies store a significant amount of data from searches completed on an individual’s computer. It is suspected that cookies may assist some online brands in increasing prices of travel, based on the amount of times one person searches for a specific travel route or vacation package on their site. Meaning, the more you search a travel option via a specific website, the more the chances the end price will raise based on your activity.
Additionally, Momondo stands by their claim that they only get paid when customers purchase travel from a sight Momondo redirects them to. Momondo maintains there position as a 'no hidden referral fees' brand. Instead, the travel company that Momondo referred you to pays a fee to Momondo for their referral and this fee is not supposed to be hidden in your travel purchase.
Favorite for booking budget friendly tropical & all-inclusive travel:
Apple Vacations
What is it:
Apple Vacations is a prominent company within the travel industry. They have been around for 50 years (celebrating their 50-year anniversary in 2019) and truly understand the very happy median between budget travel and a great experience. In fact, they are probably the best at discovering this happy median for all-inclusive travel.
What I like:
I personally like Apple Vacations for all-inclusive tropical travels because it is a one and done site that truly offers great deals with a “best price guaranteed” stance. When you navigate to the Apple Vacations website, you can complete your airfare, resort, transportation, and all-inclusive package in a single transaction and with very little research needed on your end.
Even more, you can trust that you are receiving the best deal. However, if you discover a better deal elsewhere for the same dates and resort, let Apple Vacations know, so that they can match it or refund you the difference! I also love that Apple Vacations has been around for as long as it has; proves their trustworthiness.
Cheap Caribbean
What is it:
Cheap Caribbean is another well-known and respected online all-inclusive travel company. What I like about Cheap Caribbean is that they have identified themselves as the leader in Caribbean travel; establishing this niche has worked well for them.
When consumers are looking to book travel to Paris, they may checkout 3 to 5 websites, maybe more, before booking. However, if travelers are searching for an all-inclusive vacation to Punta Cana, many moderately experienced travelers will head to Cheap Caribbean, and beginners will learn fast that Cheap Caribbean is a good go-to site.
What I like:
For starters, it is easy to navigate. Additionally, Cheap Caribbean identifies how well-liked properties are by providing their rating and customers’ ratings (2 different perspectives). I also love that Cheap Caribbean does not just sell property experiences, it provides Caribbean cruise packages too. Which leads my next topic on my favorite budget travel tools list.
Favorite for booking budget cruises:
Cruise Direct
What is it:
Cruise Direct is a highly reputable brand. It is an online world-wide travel website that only books cruises. Cruise Direct works with all the major cruise lines and brings to prospective customers the best deals in cruise vacations all around the world.
What I like:
It is reassuring that Cruise Direct has been around for over 15 years now and has a 4.75 out of 5-star rating from nearly 10,000 reviews. However, my favorite things about Cruise Direct are listed below.
They have a vast amount of cruise options with all the major brands all around the world. If you want to cruise it, Cruise Direct likely has it available for scheduling.
You can put a deposit down and make payments at your convenience. The time frame you have before a final payment is due depends on when you book your cruise compared to your departure date.
The booking process is very easy and straightforward. Plus, customers are provided with the complete itinerary immediately.
Cruise prices are incredibly low to begin with; however, Cruise Direct still has multiple sales daily!
Favorite Timeshare Vacation Option:
BookVIP
What is it:
BookVIP is a company that sells luxury vacations at a super cheap price! On average, customers tend to save 83% on pretty lavish vacations. The catch is that you must attend a timeshare presentation to get this next to nothing price.
The process:
BookVIP works with multiple timeshare resort brands from all over the world, giving you the opportunity to vacation in countries around the globe; from various locations in the United States, to Mexico, and even India, for super cheap! Timeshare guests must attend a presentation that is typically scheduled for the morning of the first full day at the resort.
Why is it my favorite timeshare vacation company:
The customer service team is always wonderful to work with, the scheduling process is fairly simple, if there are any hiccups, BookVIP goes out of their way to present customers with an experience that is better than the original offer, the properties I have stayed on have all been fabulous and the experiences wonderful. Plus, I felt the least pressured at the 3 BookVIP presentation vacations, compared to the latest timeshare presentation I attended.
My experience:
I have attended 4 timeshare vacations and 3 of them were through BookVIP. During each of the 3 BookVIP scheduled vacations, the timeshare took place the morning of the second vacation day and lasted between 1.5 and 2 hours. It included a tour of the property, drinks/snacks, and a sales pitch.
Despite popular belief, before and after each timeshare appointment, we were not bothered once by anyone from the property about investing in a timeshare; just during the 2 hours or less scheduled meeting. The point here is that I have taken 4 great vacations that cost me very little and all I had to do is spend 2 hours of the 6 days touring the property that I was vacationing on, and then listening to a brief sales pitch. For individuals looking to travel more but fear they cannot afford it, this is an advantageous trade-off for a cheap vacation.
Favorite for finding best prices on hotels:
Booking.com
What is it:
“Booking.Yeah!” Booking.com’s famous statement; have you heard it before? Booking.com is a virtual travel booking website, but it is most famous for hotels.
What I like: Booking.com pulls together an organized mix of budget friendly to luxury options to choose from. Even more, Booking.com provides customers with a combination of hotels, apartments, houses, and hostels; something for everyone. You can easily organize your listings by price, stars, top reviewed, and so on. If you wish to filter anything out; like, no hostels or lowest price to most expensive price, just make a few clicks and your search results should populate to your liking.
Hotels.com
What is it:
As you probably can tell by the name, Hotels.com is an online hotel booking platform. Hotels.com also hosts properties other than commercial ones; like apartments, condos, town homes and houses, by private owner.
What I like:
Hotels.com specializes in, well, hotels! Which means that much of the attention other online travel websites spend on "the whole package," Hotels.com focuses on just hotels. I particularly like the “Today’s Best Deal” option. For example, Hotels.com has a great listing in San Diego today that I purchased for 25% off the regular price. To make sure that this deal was really legit, I took to a few other sites to confirm and sure enough, the same hotel was more expensive on other sites.
Priceline.com
What is it:
Despite being the total package for booking travel (airfare + hotel + rental car, and cruises and vacation packages too); Priceline is one of my favorites for booking hotels!
What I like:
Priceline is a great tool for hotel shopping! It has one of the freshest designs and easy to follow layouts, which makes it a synch to navigate. I particularly love the name your own price tool. To test it out, I used it to book my hotel in Times Square. I ended up only spending $280 total for 2 nights; which is a steal in the heart of Times Square! In fact, a friend booked the same hotel for 2 nights and she paid $300 each night ($600 total). I am not saying that it is all because of Priceline.com, but I used the “Name your own price tool” and she did not, and I got a room for $140/night and she booked one for $300/night.
Favorite travel points credit card:
Delta Skymiles by AMEX
What is it:
Delta’s Skymiles credit card is a mileage credit card through American Express that allows credit card holders to earn miles toward flights and vacation packages purchased via Delta.com.
What I like:
Delta’s Skymiles credit card by American Express is my favorite airline credit card because it has multiple levels (Blue, Gold, Platinum, and Reserve) for different card holder desires. Each allows credit card holders to earn points toward future flights and vacations through everyday purchases. Connect your credit card to your Delta Skymiles account and you could earn points even faster.
Bonus: My 2 favorite things about my Platinum Delta Skymiles credit card:
Delta allows you to use points as cash. For example, I purchased a Delta Comfort flight to Denver for $320. I had 13,000 points available in my Skymiles bank and Delta allowed me to use 10,000 ($100) of it to knock the cost down to $220.
As a Platinum card holder; Delta provides me with 1 free domestic companion airline ticket annually.
Favorite budget friendly excursion/ vacation add-ons websites with the greatest options:
Viator
What is it:
Viator is a TripAdvisor company that specializes in vacation excursions. Viator has a catalog of over 100,000 activities to do in areas all around the world, and the adventure add-on giant has organized them and made them readily available at your fingertips.
What I like: 4 simple reasons; Viator is easy to use, has tons of destination specific choices, has proven to have the best prices on excursions, and is reliable.
City Pass
What is it:
City Pass is a company that has researched and streamed together the very best attractions in each touristy location in areas around the world.
How it works:
Vacationers build a ‘city pass’ prior to their vacation and then use their pass to create a great experience for less. How do they make it so cheap? Easy! City Pass has created a method where the more you add to your pass, the cheaper each attraction becomes. For example, I received around 20% off each attraction when I added 3 attractions to my Washington DC City Pass.
What I like: City Pass does not have as many attractions as Viator; they focus on the best, most popular attractions in each tourist destination. However, the pass is very easy to build and convenient (simple app within your phone). Plus, being limited to the most popular attractions is nice if those are the ones travelers are most interested in. The discount is pretty great too!
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