5 tips to simplify online travel booking

Going on holiday is one of the best things in the world. You get some stress-free time off work, during which you can do whatever you want, whenever you want and you don’t have to set any alarms. But, the process leading up to being on vacation can be potentially stressful if you don’t know what you’re doing. Nowadays, holidays are predominantly booked online, which is an absolute lifesaver. It’s quick, easy and you don’t have to wait on hold on the phone for 25 minutes. Online travel booking is already simple but there are ways to make it even easier and we are going to show you how.

1. Be as Flexible as Possible

If you can be flexible on where you want to go on holiday then you are likely to find some really great deals. The same goes for if you can be flexible with your dates. If you don’t mind where you go or when you go then you’ve hit the jackpot. Simply look out for the best deals and then base your date and destination on what you find. Googling the words ‘promo’ or ‘discount’ when you start searching for holidays can be useful.

2. Use Google Flights

Once again, Google has proved to us that they reign supreme by creating the ultimate flight search engine. You can search for flights by country, continent or ‘everywhere’ – allowing you to find the cheapest prices around the world. This could help you choose somewhere for your vacation or it could help you find a cheaper route to somewhere you already wanted to go. For example, you might want to go to Peru and a direct flight is £800 but a flight to Colombia is only £550 and to get from Colombia to Peru is £80. You might spend a bit longer in transit but you will save yourself £170. Bargain!

3. Read Reviews

Unsure about an airline or travel agency? Read some reviews on websites like Tripadvisor and Yelp before you commit. There is nothing worse than booking flights and then realising the airline you booked it with have a propensity for being delayed and cancelling flights. The same goes when booking hotels. It might look great on its own website but travellers will definitely speak out if it isn’t up to scratch.

4. Check Multiple Sources

Once you’ve decided where you want to go and when, use as many different search engines as you can to find the best deal and make a note of which offers appear on each one. To name a few: Skyscanner, kiwi and momondo are all great for finding and comparing flight fares. If you find a great deal, always check on the airline’s actual website to see if it is any cheaper there. If you are under 26 then I recommend using STA travel as they usually have some great youth deals.

5. Book Things Early

The earlier you book your flights and hotels, the cheaper they will be. Occasionally you will find airlines discounting tickets the day before the flight, but do you really want to wait that long and take the risk? If you know where and when you want to go on vacation, lock everything down as soon as you can, this way you get the stressful bit out of the way and you save a bit money as you do so.