There’s a lot of travel sites out there and they all seem very similar.
If you are planning for spring break in 2022, next year’s summer vacation or just getting started for upcoming holiday travel here are three great options to assist you with your travel planning needs.
Google Flights
Google Flights is an online flight booking search service. One thing that sets Google Flights apart is that it deals directly with the flight carriers. Google Flights pulls not only the cheapest flights but also the best flights for travelers.
Having the ability to book and work directly with the airline provides customers with the following benefits:
- The ability to change or cancel bookings without having to pay additional fees or deal with third parties
- No hidden costs because the prices reflected stem directly from the provider
- Discounted rates appear instantly
- Flexible dates option allows for best rates
- Clients can search by airline, cost, airport, travel time, and seat type (economy or first class), making it quick and easy for users to find exactly what they are looking for.
Matrix/ITA
Instead of using the standard web search engine you know and love and coming across numerous advertisements and sponsored results to sift through, try using the advanced flight search engine created by Google’s very own travel information software company, ITA Software.
ITA Matrix is used by both companies and consumers to find cheap flights. Airlines including American, Delta, and United (among others) all rely on ITA Matrix to deliver proprietary flight information to customers and keep them engaged throughout their booking experience.
With ITA Matrix, you can search for roundtrip, one-way, and multi-city flights. The tool also allows you to customize your search based on additional criteria and the number of stops. I personally like seeing the calendar of the lowest fares.
GasBuddy
You are probably wondering why I added a gas price app recommendation within my article. It’s because U.S. gas prices are the highest in 7 years, up 40% since January.
The national average price for a gallon of gas as of 10/10/2021 was $3.22, according to AAA. In California, the average price is much higher, around $4.50 per gallon.
The lowest was in the state of Arkansas at $2.91 per gallon.
While U.S. consumer spending increases, inflation is eroding a household’s buying power. So if you are driving this holiday season it’s smart to save a few cents per gallon here and there and place those savings elsewhere.
GasBuddy is a tech company based in Boston that operates apps and websites based on finding real-time fuel prices at more than 140,000 gas stations in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Members also can save even more on their fuel by enrolling in a free program called Pay With GasBuddy. This is not a credit card but a free payment card that links to your checking account to pay for gas.
The perk is that when you use your Pay With GasBuddy card you’ll automatically enjoy 5 cents off per gallon at participating fuel stations.
