Want to save money when you book travel? Eager to go on vacation but think you can’t afford it? While travel can be expensive at times, here are some great travel websites and apps that save you money on flights and hotels; as well as ways to save money by tapping into the shared economy. Here’s a photo of me talking about money-saving travel apps and websites this year at the New York Times Travel Show.
Money Saving Websites for Flights:
-Check out Dohop, Skyscanner, Momondo, Hipmunk, Kayak
-Sign up for Fare Alerts
-Follow Airfare watchdog on Twitter
-Yapta.com (will alert you if there’s a drop in airfare, so you can get $$ back)
-Hopper.com (tells you best times to fly and buy. Suggests alternative airports and airlines)
Money Saving Websites for Hotels:
-Watch for refunds: Tingo.com offers automatic refunds when a room rate drops, helping you get money back after you book your hotel. You’ll automatically be rebooked at the lower hotel room rate and the difference will be refunded to your credit card. Average difference is $50.
-Travel planning procrastinators will love Hoteltonight.com. This app offers last minute hotel deals on unsold rooms, with discounts of up to 70%. Plug in your city, scan through property photos, and book a hotel straight from your mobile phone.
–TripExpert.com aggregates reviews from travel guides and magazines such as Frommer’s, Lonely Planet, Fodors Travel and Travel + Leisure to give the hotel in question an overall score. The New York Times called it the Kayak of hotel reviews.
For accommodations, tap into the Shared Economy :
CampInMygarden
Couchsurfing
Hovelstay
Roomorama
Airbnb
One Fine Stay
VRBO
All the Rooms.com – Searches hotels and shared accommodation like Airbnb and VRBO.
Local Tours
For local tour experiences, check out these marketplaces where you can book unique travel experiences from locals:
Vayable.com, a hookah tour in Istanbul, a tapas tour in Madrid, a Banksy graffiti tour in London, or a DIY seafood tour in San Francisco.
CanaryHop.com Fun, locally run tours include a beer tour of Prague, harmonica lessons in Vegas or dumpling making in Brooklyn.
Car Rentals, Meals, Boats and Bikes
For car rentals, check out car sharing sixtes like – Uber, Lyft, Getaround, RelayRides, Hubber
For meal sharing – EatWith, Feastly, HomeDine
Share boats – Boatels
Rent bikes, SUP and snowboards – SpinLister
