<\/span><\/h2>\nWhen searching for plane tickets, you can save a ton of money by searching with flexible travel dates.<\/p>\n
As part of our cheap travel tips series, I’m going to reveal my three favorite search engines for when you have very flexible travel dates.<\/p>\n
All three of these search engines allow you to search with more than the standard flexible search of 1-3 days around your travel dates.<\/p>\n
Instead, they allow you to search for flexible travel within the next 330 days.<\/p>\n
Searching for flexible travel dates can save you literally hundreds of dollars on a flight.<\/p>\n
For example, if looking at airfare from Washington, DC to San Francisco, if you have flexible travel dates for when to visit you could pay $219 to for a flight in June.<\/p>\n
But, if your dates aren’t flexible — forcing you to leave a few days earlier or later — you would pay $319 for the cheapest flight.<\/p>\n
This is how flexibility saves you money.<\/p>\n
Again, very few travel search engines allow you great flexibility when searching for flights.<\/p>\n
Usually the “flexible search” option is 1-3 days around your given date, but these search engines allow you the maximum flexibility — 330 days from today.<\/p>\n
The three best are FareCompare, Kayak, and Travelocity.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Kayak for Flexible Travel<\/span><\/h2>\nKayak’s search function also shows a popup window when you type in your to\/from cities.<\/p>\n
Cons: Kayak’s flexible travel search is based on other’s recent searches– so the results they show aren’t necessarily fares that are still available for you to purchase.<\/p>\n
This can be frustrating if you find a great fare, but then it’s no longer available.
\n![\"Kayak](\"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/04\/kayak.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
<\/span>FareCompare for Flexible Travel<\/span><\/h2>\nI like FareCompare the best for flexible travel because it shows you the cheapest dates earliest in the searching process.<\/p>\n
As soon as you type in your travel to\/from airports, the cheapest and most expensive months to travel appear on the right hand side.<\/p>\n
Then as soon as you click on the departure date, a calendar pops up. It’s fast and easy to follow.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Travelocity for Flexible Travel<\/span><\/h2>\nTravelocity also has a great flexible travel search option that searches 330 days out.<\/p>\n
It lists the very cheapest ticket price first (no matter what month it’s in), but I don’t like it as much for three reasons.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Travelocity Cons<\/span><\/h2>\nFirst, it isn’t laid out in a format that works well for me.<\/p>\n
I like the calendars that appear on both Kayak and FareCompare.<\/p>\n
Why?<\/p>\n
Because if it’s only $3 more to fly on a Friday versus a Thursday, I’m going to pay the extra $3.<\/p>\n
With Travelocity it’s much harder to see the flexible travel dates that work well with a certain schedule.<\/p>\n
Second, it takes 4 or 5 times as many clicks to choose your actual flight options — this gets cumbersome.<\/p>\n
Third, Travelocity don’t include taxes\/fees in their results.<\/p>\n
Giving you an artificially reduced price (until the final screen).<\/p>\n
Searching for airfare with flexible travel dates will save you tons of money on your next airline ticket.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Save Thousands with Flight, Hotel, and Rental Car Preferences<\/span><\/h2>\nI almost always use Kayak search engine during some part of a trip planning process because I love Kayak’s search preferences.<\/p>\n
So I’ve put together my favorite travel hacks that you can use on on Kayak flight, hotel, and rental car searches.<\/p>\n
Kayak’s customization search bar is awesome, through TripAdvisor recently launched an aggregator that has pretty nifty search preferences as well (it may even top it).<\/p>\n
The following tips show you how adjusting search preferences (on any travel search engine) will save you thousands of dollars.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Cheap Flights Search Tips<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/span>Adjust Leaving Time To Save on Transportation<\/span><\/h2>\nEnsure that your flight departure\/return times allow you to take public transportation (or is at an hour where a friend\/family member can pick you up).<\/p>\n
If your flight is leaving at 7 am out of Washington-Reagan Airport, the Metro won’t be open early enough for you to take it — resulting in a hefty cab fare.
\n![\"flight](\"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/04\/flighttimes.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
<\/span>Take Overnight Flights to Save on Accommodation<\/span><\/h2>\nCheck the “Red Eye\/Overnight Flights” box to search for overnight flights.<\/p>\n
While red eye flights aren’t the most enjoyable for sleeping, that $75-$200 you’ll save in hotel costs will be nice.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Choose Nearby Airports to Find Lower Cost Alternatives<\/span><\/h2>\nFrequently nearby airports turn up cheaper fares.<\/p>\n
Make sure you include them by checking the appropriate box when you search for your flight.<\/p>\n
For example, in a recent search I would save $103 by flying into LaGuardia instead of JFK in New York.<\/p>\n
Newark was $20 cheaper than JFK.<\/p>\n
![\"nearby](\"https:\/\/gogreentravelgreen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/04\/nearbyairports.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
<\/span>Include Taxes and Fees<\/span><\/h2>\nTaxes and fees add up — even though Orbitz, Expedia, et al recently suspended some fees.<\/p>\n
Kayak automatically includes these, so there should be no surprises when you click through to buy.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Review Airline Fees (e.g. Checked Bag Fees)<\/span><\/h2>\nTripAdvisor includes these in their search results.<\/p>\n
Kayak has a nice summary that’s frequently updated.<\/p>\n
You can save anywhere from $15-$200 depending on number of checked bags, snacks and drinks, and pet fees by carefully comparing airlines’ fees.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Cheap Hotels Search Tips – Choose a Hotel Nearby<\/span><\/h2>\nIf you’re in town for a convention, wedding, to visit relatives, or any other event where you’ll be frequenting one place more than most, choose a hotel near that location.<\/p>\n
Kayak allows you to enter an address, or choose from a landmark, to search for a hotel nearby.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Look for an Airport Shuttle<\/span><\/h2>\nChoosing a hotel with a free airport shuttle can easily save $10-$50, and you’ll avoid the hassle of a cab or rental car.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Find Hotels with Fitness<\/span><\/h2>\nSearch for a hotel with a free fitness center to avoid shelling out extra cash to use the treadmill. Savings: $10-$15\/day.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Search for Hotels with Internet<\/span><\/h2>\nFind hotels with internet, then narrow it down to find free internet to save $5-$15\/day.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Check Parking (if you’re renting a car)<\/span><\/h2>\nIf you’re renting a car or driving, you’ll save up to $40\/day (depending on the city) by finding a hotel with free or reasonably priced parking.<\/p>\n
Bonus: In this economy, give the hotel a call and negotiate for free parking if they don’t already offer it.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Cheap Rental Car Search Tips<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/span>Adjust Miles per Gallon<\/span><\/h2>\nSave money and the environment when you choose a car with better gas mileage.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Check the Unlimited Miles Box<\/span><\/h2>\nIf you’re driving a really long way (like Minneapolis to Chicago), check the unlimited miles box to save a ton (up to $0.89\/mile).<\/p>\n
<\/span>Types of travel coupons and codes<\/span><\/h2>\nHere’s some information that\u2019s good to know about using travel coupons and codes and discounts on traveling.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Travel Coupons and Codes that Set Dollar Discount<\/span><\/h2>\nSome online travel sites offer coupon codes for a certain dollar amount off.<\/p>\n
For instance, there are numerous online travel booking sites that will give you a $10 or $15 discount with a coupon code.<\/p>\n
It doesn\u2019t matter if you spend $100 or $10,000 the discount will still be the same set price.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Travel Coupons and Codes that are Percent Discount<\/span><\/h2>\nMost car rental coupon codes come with a percent discount.<\/p>\n
Occasionally you may find cruise coupons with a percent discount, but the majority of the time only car rental companies offer a percent discount.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Travel Coupons and Codes that are Package Deal Discount