- Jesse Collier booked a weekend away in 45 minutes on a Friday afternoon.
- She recommends calling a hotel to see if they will price match or beat a price you find online.
- Collier also says to consider taking advantage of bereavement deals if that’s why you’re traveling.
I was feeling restless at 3:15pm on a Friday. “Crazy idea,” I said to my husband. “How about we leave town?”
I texted my friend, asking if he could come over and feed our rabbits a few times. After I confirmed pet careour weekend getaway was possible… provided we found a good price for a hotel room.
I had everything booked in 45 minutes.
Travelers have resources to find the best last-minute flight and accommodation deals. Here are four ways I saved thousands of dollars over the years.
1. Check online travel agencies
I’ve used online travel agencies (OTAs) like Expedia, Hotels.com, and HotelTonight to save up to 56% on hotel bookings.
One Friday afternoon, my husband and I decided to take a weekend trip to San Diego. I watched HotelTonight and I found a room for the next day at the store Porto Vista Hotel in Little Italy for $130 a night. At the time of writing, the Porto Vista website lists the weekend rate for the same room as $302.25.
I also used an OTA to find a room at the Manhattan Club in New York. The hotel is a five-minute walk from Central Park, a generally popular and expensive area, but I booked a room for the next day for $353 a night. Although that seems high, their website currently lists their room rates starting at $529 per night. At the very last minute, many hotels offer discounts to fill as many rooms as possible.
Hotels often match OTA prices and may even negotiate a little lower to sweeten the deal. Call the hotel, mention the quote and source found online, and ask if they can beat the price.
It’s also a good idea to ask about any discounts or packages offered directly by the hotel.
2. Check Google Flights
Whenever I need to book a flight, the first thing I do is visit Google Flights, which aggregates ticket prices from most major airlines. This gives me a general idea of the average price to get to my destination, as well as the price differences between airlines. If you have a day or two before you make your decision, you can always turn on the “Track Prices” setting, and they’ll send you an email every time the prices change.
Sometimes booking two one-way flights costs less than booking just one round-trip flight, especially if you shop around with airlines.
One of the main advantages of Google Flights is that you can easily use them to book one-way flights with different airlines. If United Airlines has the best price to Boston, but American Airlines has the cheapest return flight, you can easily book both flights in just a few minutes.
Although Google Flights displays prices for many carriers, the following are not included in their database: Southwest Airlines, Philippine Airlines, China Eastern, Thai Airways, and Air China.
3. Avoid going on a Saturday when possible
If I decide to take a vacation in two weeks and can play with my travel days, I almost never leave on a Saturday morning and come back on a Sunday.
Although there are many opinions on this topic, there is no black and white formula: “travel on this day costs more than that day.” When shopping for flights and hotels, I open multiple windows and look at different dates. How much would my flight cost if I left on a Wednesday and returned the following Tuesday? Are hotel prices cheaper Tuesday to Thursday?
Prices vary depending on the season, local events, whether people are traveling for business or pleasure, and tourist demographics, to name a few. Many travelers leave on vacation on Saturday morning and return the following weekend, but if you can leave on a Wednesday and return the following Thursday, you could save money.
I took a Monday flight to Maui and returned on a Tuesday for $588 in July, which is peak travel season. Flying from Los Angeles to Maui on Saturday can cost up to $1,000 per person, so I was happy with this booking. I also used the two aforementioned one-way flight hacks; I went with American Airlines and returned with Alaska Airlines, which also saved me money.
4. Take advantage of bereavement rates
Many airlines, including Alaska, Delta, Air Canada and WestJet, offer discounts to passengers booking last-minute flights due to the death of a family member.
For example, Alaska Airlines Policy is offering their Mileage plan members a 10% discount on flights within the next seven days if needed in the event of an immediate family member’s emergency. Eligible family members include parents, grandparents, immediate in-laws, children and grandchildren, aunts and uncles, and nieces and nephews. Cousins is not listed as eligible for Alaska Airlines bereavement fares.
To find out if your favorite airline offers bereavement rates, check their website or call their reservations number.
Spontaneous trips often come with a high price
Naturally, airlines and hotels set their prices based on demand. They may also be taking advantage of travelers’ desperation: they may need flights for last-minute business trips or to take care of urgent family matters.
When you’re looking for a deal on your next trip, I’ll be the first to say that it’s usually best to book as early as possible. However, life throws upheavals and new opportunities, which can make planning more of a luxury than a given.
Jesse Collier is the creator of The Road Jess Traveled and helps people save, plan and book their dream vacation.
WATCH NOW: Popular videos from Insider Inc.
Loading…