If you’ve ever opened your laptop ready to book a flight, found what looked like a great deal, and then refreshed the page only to see the price jump hundreds of dollars, I’ve been there too.

Traveling can get expensive fast, but over the past few years of constantly being on the move with my fiancé, who works travel nurse contracts, I’ve learned some insider tricks that actually save money without cutting comfort.

From booking flights in incognito mode to bundling on Expedia and signing up for Scott’s Cheap Flights, now Going, these are real strategies that have helped me save hundreds, sometimes even thousands. Let’s break down exactly how you can do the same, with real stories of what worked, what didn’t, and what to watch out for.

Use Incognito Mode to Avoid Price Hikes

I’ll start with the biggest lesson I learned the hard way.

When my fiancé and I were booking a flight from Boston to Hilton Head, South Carolina, for one of her friend’s weddings, I found round-trip tickets for around $600 each. I hesitated, texted her the link, and by the time she replied (less than two minutes later), the same flight was $800 per person.

I couldn’t believe it! The only thing that changed was that I had checked the same flight multiple times. That’s when I learned that airlines and booking sites track your search history with cookies. They use that data to raise prices when they think you’re serious about buying.

Since then, I’ve always searched for flights in incognito mode or cleared my cookies before checking again. Now I consistently get the real, uninflated prices.

Quick Tip: Always open a private browsing window when searching for flights or hotels. It’s a small step, but one that can easily save you $100 or more per ticket.

Compare Hotels and Rentals with OTAs

When it comes to finding hotels or short-term rentals, it’s easy to overpay if you only look at one site. The big online travel agencies (OTAs) like Booking.com, Agoda, and Expedia make it easy to compare hundreds of listings at once.

What I love most about them is that they show hidden deals and “member prices.” On Expedia, I’m a rewards member, and I can’t tell you how many times that little blue “Expedia Member Discount” has made a difference.

For that same South Carolina trip, I used Expedia to bundle our flight, hotel, and rental car together. Booking them separately would’ve cost around $2,400 to $2,600 total, but the bundle price came out to $1,300. It was such a good deal that I double-checked to make sure it wasn’t an error fare.

Since then, I always look at bundles first before booking anything individually. You get one price, one confirmation, and major savings.

Book Flights on the Cheapest Days (Tuesdays and Wednesdays Are Gold)

If you’ve ever wondered if certain days are actually cheaper to fly, I’m here to tell you: yes, they are.

When we were planning that South Carolina trip, I noticed something strange. Flying out Friday cost over $600 per ticket, but switching our departure to Thursday dropped it to around $400. Same airline, same route, just one day earlier.

That’s when I realized that airlines quietly adjust prices based on demand. Weekends are expensive because that’s when most people travel. Midweek flights, especially on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, are usually hundreds cheaper.

Now, I plan my schedule around that. If we’re heading somewhere for a long weekend, I’ll try to leave a day early and enjoy an extra day at the destination for less money.

Sign Up for Flight Deal Alerts

If you’re serious about saving on airfare, sign up for deal alerts.

I use two services: Scott’s Cheap Flights (now called Going) and Fly Beyond Flights. Both work differently but complement each other perfectly.

Going sends email alerts for what they call “mistake fares” or “error deals.” For example, they’ll find $400 round-trip flights to Europe that might normally cost over $1,000. These deals don’t last long, but if you’re quick, you can grab incredible prices.

Fly Beyond Flights, on the other hand, is a full-service agency. They can access open seats on last-minute flights, often at lower rates than major booking sites. What really sold me on them, though, is their customer service.

When one of our flights got canceled due to weather, I called Fly Beyond Flights (877-693-4751), and within 20 minutes, they rebooked us on a new flight — no hassle, no waiting hours on hold. They also help with refunds and flight changes, which is huge when you’re traveling frequently.

If you like finding deals yourself, check out www.going.com/flights. But if you prefer hands-on help and fast responses, call Fly Beyond at 877-693-4751.

Travel Insurance Can Save Money and Stress

I used to think travel insurance was a waste until I got food poisoning the day before my flight home.

It happened after a trip from Boston to South Carolina. Around 3 AM, I woke up sick, and it lasted for hours. My flight wasn’t until 8 PM, and the idea of waiting in the airport all day like that was brutal.

Because I had travel insurance, I was able to change my flight for just $19 instead of paying a full fare difference. That experience completely changed how I travel.

It might seem like an unnecessary extra, but it can save hundreds when something unexpected happens, from illness to cancellations. Think of it as cheap peace of mind.

Take Advantage of Cashback and Rewards Programs

If you’re not earning something back every time you travel, you’re missing out.

I’m an Expedia One Key Member, which means I earn points on every flight, hotel, and rental I book. What’s better is that I also use a cashback credit card that gives me rewards for travel purchases.

That means every time I book through Expedia, I’m getting cashback twice — once from Expedia and once from my card provider.

When you combine those two systems, it adds up quickly. The next trip you take could be partially paid for with the points you earned from the last one.

Tip: If you travel often, look into travel credit cards like Chase Sapphire, Capital One Venture, or American Express Gold. They offer high cashback and point values on travel-related purchases.

Lesser-Known Tips for Maximum Savings

Use Less Popular OTAs

Most people stop after checking the big sites like Expedia or Google Flights. But there are smaller OTAs (online travel agencies) that can show regional airlines or offbeat deals others miss.

Try searching something like “one-way flights to New York” on Google, and you might see sites like Fly Beyond Flights pop up with direct booking options. Smaller agencies often have access to unpublished fares that airlines don’t list publicly.

If you’re flexible and don’t mind a little research, this is where some of the biggest savings can come from.

The South Carolina Trip Breakdown

To show how this all works together, here’s exactly how we saved money on one of our real trips:

• Used Incognito Mode: Prevented a $200 price increase on the same flight.

• Bundle Booking on Expedia: Saved $1,300 on our flight, hotel, and car.

• Midweek Flight: Moving the flight from Friday to Thursday saved another $200.

• Rewards + Cashback: Earned future travel credit worth about $75.

• Travel Insurance: Paid $19 to change our flight when I got sick instead of paying full price.

By combining just a few of these methods, we turned a $2,600 trip into about $1,300, without giving up comfort or convenience.

Extra Tips to Save Even More

• Set Alerts: Use Google Flights or Going to track price drops.

• Be Flexible: Changing your travel date by a day can save hundreds.

• Alternate Airports: Smaller airports sometimes offer lower fares.

• Bundles First: Always compare bundle pricing before buying separately.

• Rewards Matter: Sign up for every free airline or OTA reward program. They really do add up.

Final Thoughts

Saving money on travel isn’t about luck. It’s about being strategic.

Every time I plan a trip now, I use these same steps, and the results are consistent: lower prices, more flexibility, and less stress. Whether you’re booking a vacation, flying for work, or heading to your next travel nurse contract, these methods will help you find low-cost flights, affordable hotels, and better deals every time.

So open that browser, incognito of course, and start planning smarter.

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