Getting the best budget vacation deal starts with research. There are many sites and apps available that are geared towards helping you find the hottest travel deals. While booking airfare together with hotel and transportation can sometimes save you money, it isn’t always the best choice. Booking separately and traveling off-peak season may also help you get a better deal. It’s time to look at a few travel sites and explore the various benefits to help you compare deals and find your perfect budget vacation.

Our favorite tools to start your research

Expedia

Expedia is a favorite because it offers some of the most competitive rates in the market. It’s one of the leading travel sites on the web with cutting-edge technology. You can search and book through the website or mobile app. There are great deals when you bundle your air and hotel. The site provides maps to view hotel locations and filters for sorting based on your preferences. You can filter based on guest rating, amenities, and more. You can also search categories such as “Sun Seeker,” “Holiday Your Way,” and “Luxury Escapes.” Finally, Expedia also offers a generous rewards program, as well as the ability to book entire packages, including hotel, rental car, excursions, air, and more.

Priceline

Similar to Expedia, Priceline offers a handy map with hotel locations. Priceline offers one-stop shopping for all travel needs. It’s a breeze to navigate with plenty of filters to help you find the budget vacation you want. There are also express deals for flexible travelers. A new “Pricebreakers” section on the website features three popular hotels at a heavily discounted price. In addition, Priceline still has its popular “name your own price” feature for selecting hotels. It’s great for those who don’t mind being surprised by where they are staying. The app also offers last-minute deals with a “Tonight Only” feature.

Travelzoo

Travelzoo collects the best deals from various websites and then links you to the site to book. Most are time-sensitive deals. If you’re flexible, you can score some great budget vacation deals. Travelzoo also categorizes deals into useful groups that enable you to search and filter based on things such as your destination choice. They offer a weekly “Top 20 Deals” page that reflects their best offers on a range of trips, including some bucket-list options.  Most offers have been negotiated specifically for Travelzoo members. It’s another favorite for finding a great deal, including cruises, all-inclusive vacations, and more. A glance at the site may find you deals to Ireland, Peru, Hawaii, and more.

Hotel Tonight

Hotel Tonight provides discounts on hotel rooms for same-day, next-day and following week stays. If you’ve had your eye on a specific hotel for a one-night stay, this may be your opportunity to grab a room at a significant discount. It’s a good option for road trip travelers who are open to last-minute hotel bookings along the way

Booking budget air travel 

When looking for a deal, it’s best to be flexible with your airport choices. The most convenient airport does not always equal the best deal. Compare the cost of traveling and commute times to an airport that provides a better flight deal. Google Flights, Skyscanner, and other airfare sites will enable you to compare alternative airport options. We like Google Flights because it enables you to search the airport, the city, the state, or even the whole country or continent. It’s one of the best flight search engines for seeing extensive flight options, including how a slight shift in travel date can save you even more.  

Skyscanner is handy because it will search route combinations from lesser-known carriers and use a wide range of filters. This includes price, flight durations, connections, and more. It even lists the CO2 emissions of flights. Like Google Flights, Skyscanner will also help you find the cheapest day to fly. Momondo is another of our favorites for getting the most out of your airfare dollar. It’s a great place to find the cheapest airfare for budget vacations. This is especially true for last-minute tickets. It also shows a calendar with average prices for other days. Keep in mind when doing your research on airfare that bundling your hotel and your flight might get you the best deal. It’s always smart to compare.

Ready to travel?

In addition to the travel sites we’ve mentioned above, certain travel destinations also offer special deals. Search your destination to see if there are any special offers that pop up. For example, a search of California travel deals may bring up deals on specific travel sites, as well as certain hotel and resort offers. There’s nothing standing between you and your next vacation with our tips for booking a budget vacation.

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