How to Find and Book Affordable Travel: My Top Tips

1. Use Google Flights to Find the Best Deals

Google Flights is one of my favorite tools for finding cheap airfare. Here’s how to use it:

  • Enter your destination and departure city, then open the calendar view to see the cheapest days to fly.

  • Be flexible with your dates—sometimes shifting your trip by a day or two can save hundreds of dollars.

  • Use the "Explore" feature if you’re open to different destinations and want to find the best deals from your home airport. I’ve taken really fun spur-of-the-moment trips to places with the best deals.

Tip: If you don’t have a specific place in mind, just enter your departure city and type “Anywhere” in the destination field. Google will show you the best deals globally.

2. Use Credit Card Points for Free Travel

One of the best ways I save on travel is by using credit card points, especially from the big bonuses you get when opening a new card.

  • The best way to use points? Transfer them to airline and hotel partners instead of booking through the credit card’s travel portal. This often gets you more value per point.

  • Cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred, Amex Platinum, and Capital One Venture X offer great sign-up bonuses that can cover multiple flights or hotel nights.

  • Check out this breakdown of my favorite cards

Tip: Always check the transfer partner rates before redeeming points—sometimes transferring to an airline can double the value of your points.

3. Travel During Shoulder Season

Peak travel times (like summer and holidays) come with high prices and large crowds. Instead, I often consider traveling during shoulder season—the time between peak and off-peak periods.

  • Flights and hotels are usually cheaper, and you’ll find fewer tourists at popular attractions.

  • For example: 

    • Europe: I like to visit in late spring (April-May) or early fall (September-October) for great weather and lower prices.

    • Caribbean: still great to visit in May or November for sunny skies and lower hotel rates.

Tip: Google “[destination] shoulder season” to find the best months for lower prices and smaller crowds.

4. Set Fare Alerts for Price Drops

Prices fluctuate constantly, and booking at the right time is key. Instead of manually checking flights every day, sometimes I set fare alerts on sites like:

Once you set an alert, you’ll get notified when prices drop—helping you book at the lowest fare.

Tip: If you see a great deal, don’t wait—prices can change quickly. Since many airlines offer free 24-hour cancellations, book first and finalize your plans later.

5. Sign Up for Airline & Hotel Loyalty Programs

Even if you don’t fly frequently, signing up for loyalty programs can earn you:

  • Discounts on flights and hotel stays

  • Bonus points for future trips

  • Perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, or complimentary hotel upgrades

Some of the most common programs to join:

Tip: Try to book directly with the airline or hotel when possible. Many loyalty programs offer better rates and perks when booking through their official site.

6. Use TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or Mobile Passport

While not necessarily a money-saver, skipping long security lines saves time and stress—and has made traveling for me so much easier.

  • TSA PreCheck ($78 for 5 years) gets you expedited security screening at U.S. airports.

  • Global Entry ($100 for 5 years) includes TSA PreCheck + expedited customs clearance when returning to the U.S.

  • Mobile Passport (free) is a great alternative if you don’t have Global Entry. It allows you to skip long customs lines at certain U.S. airports.

Tip: Many travel credit cards reimburse the cost of TSA PreCheck or Global Entry—check your card benefits before paying out of pocket, or consider opening a card that includes this benefit in the offer.

7. Make Travel More Comfortable with Lounge Access

Many of my travel rewards credit cards include lounge access as a perk, making all those trips to the airport a bit more manageable.

  • Priority Pass gives you access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide (included with many premium travel cards).

  • Amex Centurion Lounges offer free food, drinks, and Wi-Fi if you have the Amex Platinum.

  • Some airline-branded credit cards (like Delta Amex or United Club Card) also grant lounge entry.

Tip: Research the lounges available at your home airpot, or others you frequent, so you can pick the right card.

8. Use a VPN to Find Cheaper Flights & Hotels

I’ve found that airline and hotel prices can change based on your location. Some travel booking sites show higher prices to users in more expensive areas, but you can get around this by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to change your location.

How to Do It:

  1. Use a VPN service (like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark).

  2. Set your location to a country with a lower cost of living.

  3. Search for flights or hotels again and compare prices to what you originally saw.

I’ve seen fair differences in the hundreds of dollars just by switching my virtual location before booking.

Final Thoughts

For me, finding and booking affordable travel isn’t about cutting corners—it’s about traveling smarter. By leveraging Google Flights, credit card points, fare alerts, and loyalty programs, you can travel more for less while often getting an even better experience.