From here, you can begin weighing different
destinations and dates to see which could
maximize your preferences. For example, you
might start with flights to Hawaii, but notice
that airfare is through the roof. So you switch
to the Caribbean, narrow your interest to a
few destinations with cheap flights, then start
researching hotel prices.
Finally, you can find the dates and destinations
that offer the best combination of price and
features, then book your travel.
Think about how many times you (or someone
you know) have gone about it the other way —
by starting with dates and a destination, then
accepting whatever costs come up.
THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE JOB
As this flexible travel approach gains in
popularity, travel booking sites and services
have begun offering helpful tools specifically
designed for the task.
AIRFARE DEAL ALERTS
Airfare deal newsletters, like Scott’s Cheap
Flights and Dollar Flight Club, are how many
travelers start thinking in terms of flexibility.
These newsletters send a blast to subscribers
whenever they discover a low-cost airfare deal.
But there’s usually a catch: These airfare deals
are available only on certain dates, or to very
specific destinations. You can’t sit around
waiting for a great deal from Atlanta to Sydney,
because that may not come around in time.
But you can wait for an exciting fare from
Atlanta to ... somewhere, and jump on it when
it becomes available.