8 strategies for finding incredible travel deals

If you’re aiming to travel affordably, one of the smartest ways to save is by seizing travel deals as they arise. Recently, we’ve noticed some fantastic offers emerging as more people plan their spring and summer getaways.

However, for beginners, it can be challenging to know how to capitalize on these deals. Being flexible enough to take advantage of last-minute offers is essential (something I still find difficult because I prefer planning trips well ahead). Additionally, knowing where to search and how to evaluate which deals are worthwhile is crucial.

Today, I’ll share some tools, strategies, and tips for identifying deals and determining which ones are worth pursuing.

Travel apps and resources

If you're just starting to explore the world of travel, the right app on your smartphone can help you discover the best budget-friendly deals.

Scott's Cheap Flights

This service allows you to create deal alerts based on your home airport and chosen destinations. The basic service is free, with options for premium or elite versions ranging from $49 to $199 annually, offering extra features like more airport choices and alerts for premium-class fares.

Hopper

With the Hopper app, you can set alerts for flights and accommodations tailored to your travel preferences. The app uses predictive technology to suggest the optimal time for booking. You can even freeze prices for a specific period if you spot a deal but aren’t ready to finalize your travel plans yet.

Alerts are provided as a complimentary service, but you'll need to pay a small deposit whenever you choose to freeze a flight or hotel offer.

Skyscanner

Skyscanner is a booking platform that features daily deals and enables users to set price alerts for flights.

It’s also a helpful tool if you’re unsure about your destination. By entering your home airport and leaving the destination field blank, Skyscanner will display the best deals for popular locations, allowing you to explore options that fit your budget.

Google Flights

You can set up email notifications for particular routes using Google. This feature is ideal when you have specific flights in mind and want to know the optimal time to book.

TPG app

The TPG app helps you monitor your points and miles balances, enabling you to maximize your spending and confidently book award flights and hotel deals as they arise. The Award Explorer tool can assist you in identifying your next destination and estimating how many points you'll need to get there. This also gives you a reference for the typical cost in points or miles, helping you recognize a great deal for a specific route.

Follow the right accounts

You can also follow several Twitter accounts that share daily travel deals. While these offers won't be tailored to your specific home airport or dream destinations, you can often find great cheap flights posted by these accounts. Just remember that sales, error fares, and other deals can disappear quickly—especially when they reach a wide audience—so you'll need to act fast to secure some offers before they’re gone.

@TPG_Alerts

We maintain a dedicated Twitter account that only shares every TPG deal article we publish.

@TheFlightDeal

This account specializes in budget-friendly paid tickets, so follow it if you're on the lookout for cheap cash flights.

@JetBlueCheeps

JetBlue Cheeps is an official account for JetBlue that shares deals on last-minute flights and sales. Keep in mind that these offers are exclusively for JetBlue flights, so if you don’t live near an airport served by JetBlue, this account may not be as useful for you.

When to seize a deal

You’re checking your phone when — ding — an email alert about a deal to a destination you've been eager to explore arrives. Do you go for it?

Determining whether a deal is truly worthwhile can be challenging.

The first step is to understand the typical costs of flights and hotels for your chosen destinations. Google Flights is an excellent tool for exploring cash prices for flights, while the TPG app can help you estimate how much specific trips usually cost in points and miles. Once you have a clear idea of standard prices, it becomes easier to spot a good deal.

However, it’s not solely about the price. Consider these factors before clicking "book" on a deal:

• Source: Is the deal exclusive to an unfamiliar third-party booking site? If so, booking may carry risks. Be aware that when you click on a deal from a third party, the price may increase. Always verify the final price before completing your reservation and making any payment.
• Layovers: A low price doesn’t guarantee a convenient flight. If it requires an overnight stay at the airport (which could mean sleeping at the gate or spending on a hotel), the savings might not be worth it.
• Flight time: Even if the flight is direct or has only one layover, check the departure time. If you’re not willing or able to wake up extremely early or travel overnight, the deal may not be worth pursuing.
• Airline: Different airlines provide varying levels of service and customer support. Understand which airline is offering the deal, along with its specific cancellation policies, baggage fees, and other conditions before booking your flight.

If you’re considering a points and miles deal, a good guideline is to compare the points cost of the flight or hotel with the cash price at the time of booking. Ideally, aim to get at least 1 cent per point. You can refer to TPG's latest valuations to determine if the points cost aligns with or exceeds typical values for points or miles, or use our new points versus cash calculator to assist with the calculations.

For instance, imagine you discover a Delta flight available for 60,000 miles round-trip, which typically costs $1,200. By applying the 1-cent-per-mile guideline, this award flight represents a solid deal ($600 compared to $1,200). Additionally, using TPG valuations (currently valuing Delta SkyMiles at 1.46 cents each), you're gaining greater value by redeeming miles rather than paying cash ($876 versus $1,200).

Not every deal you encounter will align with your travel objectives and budget, but hopefully, these tools and tips will assist you in discovering offers that you can utilize for your upcoming trips. The crucial aspect is to remain flexible enough to seize a deal as soon as you spot it before it vanishes.