So I've been getting a lot of questions about how I find the best travel deals when I am exploring this vast planet. As most of you all know, I am a budget traveler, so I am always looking for the best prices, not necessarily the cheapest (because cheapest isn't always the best, trust me on this one).
With that being said, just because I am a budget traveler doesn't mean that I don't enjoy nice places either. If you do your homework like I do, you can find some really nice places for great rates, I've done this many times during my travels at over 40 countries. It's really all about knowing when and where to book to find amazing deals!
THAT'S WHAT THIS BLOG POST IS FOR
My purpose for this blog is to share with you where I book my travels, and why. With almost 20 years of travel experience, I have found what platforms have yielded me the best deals, and now it's time to share them with you, only because messaging all of you every week on this matter is just very time consuming =).
BEFORE YOU BOOK TRAVEL
It's important for you to know that I only use a handful or platforms. I may find a good deal at one place but book somewhere else because I may get a kickback, or incentive from my travels, so loyalty is also important in the world of travel. It's all about taking care of the people, or company who takes care of you....again, cheapest isn't always the best.
MY TOP PLACES TO BOOK TRAVEL, and get cash back:
- FLIGHTS
1. www.CashBack4Travel.com - this is where I book flights and get cash back. They also have a free membership program so if you refer other fellow friends and travelers to the search engine, you can either receive cash back or even commissions on their travel. There isn't any other travel site that does that.
Also, if you have a concierge business, or any hospitality type of business, you can use this platform to offer free travel services to your clients and get cash back or commissions towards your business. Not a bad deal!
2. Kayak.com - I tend to find the cheapest tickets on this search engine, but I have also had the most terrible experiences with the booking from doing it the cheap way. For example, extra fees on baggages and getting charged for not checking in via web etc. Again, cheapest from the beginning doesn't mean cheap, they will get you somewhere along your travels.
3. Skyscanner.com - I enjoy using this platform mostly during my European travels. But just like Kayak, I do not ever get cash back.
- HOTELS and ACCOMMODATIONS
1. Airbnb.com - I have been using Airbnb for plenty years now, and I am also an Airbnb Host, a SUPER HOST at that =). Airbnb isn't for everyone, but it is a great place to find great deals and local people to hang out with. I'll include some links to help you get up to $55 usd off your next booking, and if you decide to become a host, I'll include that link too. If you decide to host, you can earn as much as $1,000 and more, of course this all depends on your location and service.
2. CashBack4Travel.com - I rank this up there with Airbnb because there are times that I would rather stay at a hotel. This platform works with companies like Priceline, Booking.com, and Agoda, so with that combined inventory, there are thousands of hotels at really good prices, and on top of that, you will always get cash back every time you book. You won't get this anywhere else on the web.
3. Kayak.com - Again, a great app for flights, hotels and even car rentals. Just beware of the cheapest rates, they can give you the biggest headaches when you are finally on your vacation. Spend the extra bucks to ensure a better trip, so for this, I would go for CashBack4Travel.com first, and then Kayak.
4. HostelWorld.com - No brainer here, this is where I go when I am traveling alone and on a really tight budget. It's also a good way to meet other travelers too.
5. FreeCampSites.net - I use this site on my long road trips. Most of the campsites listed are all FREE, but you must make a reservation far in advance. The site isn't that great, but the savings is all worth it. Great for the outdoor traveler =)
- CAR RENTALS
1. Turo.com - This is really the only place that I rent cars. Turo is like the Airbnb for car rentals, and the rates are very comparable to all the other car agencies out there, but I enjoy bypassing the car rental counter. Also, by using Turo, there are no hidden fees like the other car rental agencies tag you for just for a commission. The downside is that Turo doesn't really allow unlimited mileage, so if you are going to use the car for a long time, then just go with booking on Kayak.com to find the best rate =).
2. CashBack4Travel.com - If you want cash back every time you rent a car, then this is a no brainer =) This platform has better rates than Turo.com most of the time, but you still have to deal with the counter services and annoying car agents trying to make a commission from you.
