Consumer Reports: Tips to find the best
travel deals
Need a vacay, like, right now? ShopSmart, the
shopping magazine from the publisher of Consumer Reports, suggests these sites
that make last-minute
travel cheap and easy to book. Each one of them meets ShopSmart’s
requirements for contact info disclosure and customer service.
In addition, check out the last-minute travel
sections of the Big Three sites (Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity). And try
GetARoom.com (800-468-3578) for super-low unpublished room deals.
AIRBNB.COM
BEST FOR living like a local. Users can rent private
rooms in people’s homes or entire homes. With more than half a million listings
(including 600 castles) in 34,000 cities, it can save you from a bland hotel --
and save you money. ShopSmart found an entire three-bedroom house in the
Riverdale section of New York City, just minutes north of Manhattan, for $150
per night. Safety tip: Opt for hosts with a Verified ID badge; they provide
proof of identity.
BOOKING.COM
BEST FOR finding a hotel room. Get the best of both
worlds: Search every hotel in a city and book your favorite (you don’t pay
until you show up). The Best Price Guarantee means if you see a cheaper price,
the site will match it. But discounts such as AAA’s aren’t covered.
GETGOING.COM.
BEST FOR nice surprises. Feeling adventurous? With
GetGoing’s Pick Two, Get One program, you enter your preferred travel dates and
the experience you want (say, a beach vacation or an outdoor adventure), and
the website finds flights to different cities at up to 40 percent off. The site
makes the final decision for you. After you enter your credit card info, you
find out where you’re going on vacation.
TRAVEFY.COM.
BEST FOR group travel. These tools take the pain out
of coordinating a group trip. You can all vote on a location, book flights and
accommodations, agree on your itinerary and even split shared costs. Join the
rewards program to earn points for everything you do. Points are redeemable for
gift cards and more.
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