Nab The Best Late-Summer Travel Deals

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This summer, the travel landscape is shifting fast. “While demand is still strong, we’re seeing airlines like Delta and American lower their summer revenue forecasts because travelers are becoming a lot more price-sensitive,” says Jesse Neugarten, founder and CEO of Dollar Flight Club, a travel membership service that helps travelers find the best deals.

Neugarten says that means there are more deals to be had and more ways to book smart late-summer travel. Here, travel pros weigh in on some of the best ways to save money.

Check Nearby Airports

Flying into smaller or alternative airports from the U.S. can save hundreds. “Flying into Milan from New York City, for example, is often cheaper than Rome — same goes for Brussels versus Amsterdam. You can hop on a train or budget airline to your final stop and save hundreds,” says Neugarten.

Use Your Points and Miles

Now’s the time to cash in. “A round-trip flight to London might cost $750 in cash or 30,000 points if you play it right with miles by transferring to Virgin Atlantic,” he explains.

Stay Flexible with Your Travel Dates

Shifting your flight by just a day or two, especially midweek, can make a huge difference, saving you up to 30 percent. Tuesday and Wednesday flights are almost always cheaper than Fridays.

Take a Road Trip

“More travelers are opting for destinations within driving distance, reducing overall transportation expenses,” says Alex Alioto, head of growth at Whimstay, a vacation deal platform for the best prices on last-minute properties. Consider exploring attractions within a few hours' drive of home.

Try Group Travel

More Americans are traveling with extended family or friends to share accommodation costs, split rental vehicles and benefit from group discounts at attractions and activities. Larger travel parties allow for cost distribution, making experiences more affordable for everyone.

Book Last Minute

Download and explore apps that specialize in last-minute deals, like HotelTonight for hotels or Whimstay for vacation rentals.

Travel During Off-Peak Hours

“Book flights and hotels during non-peak hours, for example, 6 a.m. or midnight on Saturday or Sunday, when there is less real-time competition,” says Tim Hentschel, CEO and co-founder of HotelPlanner, a hotel travel booking site. Airline and hotel prices are fluid and dynamic and can change by the minute. Booking during non-peak hours can save you a lot of money.

Book Your Trip on Tuesdays

Finally, someone tells us which is the best day to book! “Tuesdays are usually a good day to pick up a good holiday deal — particularly if you can travel at the last minute,” says Hentschel. “Most often, the pricing teams for hotels and tour operators meet on a Monday to review what’s sold well over the weekend. Then, on Tuesday morning, they’ll update their systems and websites with deals and offers to increase bookings to hotels and destinations where they have more availability.”

Booking on a Tuesday can save around 5 to 8 percent on international travel compared to the higher price points later in the week.

Stop Revisiting the Same Booking Site

Using the same website repeatedly to search for the same trip or flight with the exact dates may drive the price up. Each website has an algorithm that determines the cost based on the number of searches there are for a specific trip or flight on the same date. The more searches you run, the more the price may increase because it’s in demand. Instead, add the trip to the “favorites” tab so it doesn’t generate a new search each time you visit.

Pick up the Phone

Yes, it may feel old-fashioned, but you’re likely to snag savings if you can get an unpublished discount from a reservation agent. It’s a private, closed sales environment and you may do better than you can online.

Ask for a Hotel Upgrade

Odds are better in the low season since there are more rooms available. However, if there’s a particular hotel chain you enjoy, sign up for their loyalty program, as they’re more likely to upgrade repeat guests.

Get the Most From Your Points

“One of my favorite tools for scoring summer travel deals right now is Pointhound,” says Kristy McDonough, founder of Rhythm & Routes, a travel blog that details her tips for smart travel. “It takes the guesswork out of booking flights with points by aggregating the best redemption options across your loyalty programs. Just plug in your origin airport, destination, dates and point balances and it shows you exactly how to maximize your rewards and even suggests the best transfer strategies,” says McDonough. “With four summer trips on the horizon, Pointhound has already saved me thousands of dollars.”

Veer Off the Beaten Path

For better value, skip the tourist track. “When Paris or Rome is expensive in the summer, there are places such as Porto, Marrakech, Istanbul or Oaxaca that provide amazing culture and value,” says Estephani Espindola, a PR professional at Greether, a global travel platform with an emphasis on safety that links female travelers with reliable local female guides. “Greether travelers have had amazing and affordable experiences in these places under the local guidance of Greeters who can take you to the absolute best off-season spots.”

Try an Emotional Upgrade

“Most women, particularly solo travelers or women in their 50s and beyond, report to us that the emotional ‘upgrade’ of being hosted and guided by a local woman is the real deal, useful to avoid scams, navigate public transportation or simply feel seen and attended to in a new city, while also having a trusted person there to show them the city and be their contact during their trip,” says Espindola.

 
Do any of you have plans for late-summer travel? Where are you going? Let us know in the comments below.