Getting the Most for Your Travel Dollars

• Omnibus travel sites. These sites allow you to book various components of a trip—airline tickets, lodgings, and/or rental car, for example—at one site. Traditional sites—such as the big three, Expedia.com, Orbitz.com, and Travelocity.com—are “transparent” sites that allow you to review and compare different options before booking. According to Consumer Reports, two big "discount" sites—Priceline.com (its “bidding option” only) and Hotwire.com—generally offer cheaper rates but generally you can see little about the booking before you commit and there may be heavy restrictions such as no cancellations, no changes. In fact, heavy restrictions (such as “use it or lose” it) may apply to many bargain bookings through almost any of these sites. There may also be booking fees or other fees beyond the basic price quoted. Be sure you read the details and the fine print before you sign up. Any of these sites may offer what you desire if you understand and agree to the rules.
• Lodging only sites. Almost 9 out of 10 long distance trips in America are made by private vehicle. So you may need only a hotel or motel room at your destination. Several omnibus lodging sites offer options from many participating chains and independent establishments in a variety of locations. As for the omnibus travel sites, read the fine print and know what the limitations, fees, and rules are before you book.
• Direct online booking with airlines, rental car agencies, and hotels/motels. In my experience—and I spend at least half the year on the road—individual companies may frequently beat the fares offered by the discount or omnibus sites. So I always shop the travel sites to see what they are offering, then go direct to the airline, rental car agency, or hotel to compare rates. Also, some discount airlines don't provide their listings to the travel sites. I also look for special offers on the company sites that might apply to specific locations or times of the year. If you plan to use airline frequent flyer miles, you will need to book directly with the issuing airline. Another tip: If the airline matches the discount site fare, remember that airlines typically don't charge a booking fee for booking online while most travel sites do charge a booking fee.