Booking Travel Online: 3 Ways To Save Big
I book all my hotels online, I spend a little bit of extra time and hunt down the best deal possible. It’s worth it as I have saved up to $100 a night on some specials, and I thought I knew it all when it came to saving money when booking online. Then yesterday I learned a new tip for when it comes to booking travel online. It’s a game changer.
 
I was booking a few rooms while chatting with my friend, Katie, and she let me in on a HUGE travel tip that I can’t keep to myself. I have to share it.
Before you start searching deal sites like Hotels, Orbitz, Expedia, etc you need to do one simple thing first:
Clear your cookies
I was checking out a room and when I went back it went up $5. I was a little confused and that’s when Katie told me that travel companies track you and see that you’ve been searching and give you different rates – each time. It’s always better to start fresh when booking travel online.
The above photo shows you how to clear your cookies using Firefox on OSX. If you don’t have a Mac or use a different browser, it will be different. If you’re not sure how to clear your cookies, a quick Google search will help you out.
Booking Travel Online, More Ways To Save:
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- Use Ebates. I’m a HUGE believer in Ebates, I love love love this site. Before I buy anything online, I always check to see if Ebates supports the store. For travel Ebates supports Orbitz, Hotels, Expedia, Travelocity, and many MANY more. All you have to do is head to Ebates, click on the online store you want to shop at and that’s it. You will then earn cash back for your purchase.
Back in January, my husband needed a hotel for 10 days, so we used Ebates to book his hotel through Hotels.com. Not only did I get $114 cash back from Ebates, I got a free nights stay credited to my Hotels.com account. Most of the time there is a double cash back deal or a special with travel. The hotel I booked yesterday? I got 10% cash back. It’s only $20 but hey; $20 is $20. What kills me is that if I knew about Ebates a few years ago, the $5000 vacation I booked to Hawaii would have got me $500 cash back. - Use a discount hotel site. Not only do you get great deals, there are always benefits to using one. For example, when you use hotels.com when you book 10 nights, you get the 11th for free. You have a variety of hotels to choose from too. I really like Hotels.com because I have had to cancel last minute and never lost my money or points (however, it’s usually up to the actual hotels policy) and I find great prices on there.For my last booking, I used Orbitz. It was my first time using this site, but I got a $150 room for $93. Plus the 10% back on Ebates and I got $6.40 Orbitz bucks to use towards a later stay. Edit: Another discount hotel site is Booking.com, I just saved $50 on a room last month.
- Use Groupon. Wait, before you use Groupon or Groupon Getaways – go to Ebates first. It qualifies (more money in your pocket). There are two ways you can do this:
Groupon Getaways – Get your vacation for super cheap. You can book worldwide or local travel.They offer flash deals, right now I’m looking at an All Inclusive 5 Star resort in Cabo San Lucas for $525 (ARV $1890) – 72% off!
Groupon – Find activities, or meals for cheap. Dinner for two at 51% off? It’s a great way to save money while traveling. Or use it for activities: spa days for $30, Zoo admission for the whole family for $10. There are so many great deals to be found on Groupon.
- Use Ebates. I’m a HUGE believer in Ebates, I love love love this site. Before I buy anything online, I always check to see if Ebates supports the store. For travel Ebates supports Orbitz, Hotels, Expedia, Travelocity, and many MANY more. All you have to do is head to Ebates, click on the online store you want to shop at and that’s it. You will then earn cash back for your purchase.
Like these tips? Please share it for others to enjoy.
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post, just me sharing my tips However, I do have some affiliate links added.
I’ve been wondering about why the prices change from one minute to the next. Those rascally cookies!
I love all these rewards companies and how you can get rewards upon rewards.
Thanks for sharing.
Besos, Sarah
Blogger at Journeys of The Zoo
I know! It’s a huge game changer. I’m so happy I know about it now.
Lots of great tips here Randa. I am shocked about clearing your cookies, so sneaky but so great that we now know why that happens. I’m pinning.
Thanks for pinning Lisa. Yes, I’m happy I learned about the cookies as well.
I’ve never used Ebates before, I’ll have to check it out
I recommend it. I love getting cash back 🙂
What a great tip!! I heard about Ebates but I always thought that it was too good to be true! It sounds like it isn’t!! Thanks for the clear the cookie tip!! Who know?!?!
Jenn! I have almost $200 being paid out to be in a few days from my Black Friday shopping! It’s great.
I have never thought of clearing cookies! Thanks for sharing Randa! I love Ebates: so helpful and saves lots of money
You’re welcome 🙂
Wow! Those are two really great tips. I did also wonder why that happened. Jeez. Clear the cookies is simple really to save money. Um… I have actually never used ebates. Guess I need to make that happen. Thanks.
Highly recommend it Paula. I’m frugal, so I like to save as much as I can.
I am always so nervous to book trips online . I think because if something messes up I need someone to blame lol These are great tips and I am always needing to save. Will have a better look
I’ve booked a few online now (one being a big trip), and have never had any issues.
I book nearly everything online and didn’t know about clearing the cookies either! Will definitely try that next time to see what kind of difference it makes in the price!
That’s what I always forget to do – clear cookies! When I remember to actually do it yes I have noticed a change in price. Thanks for the reminder 🙂
Thanks for that awesome tip, I will keep that in mind for sure!!
The cookie tracking thing is new to me! Thanks for the tips, honestly!! I’m booking for NYC soon and will be sure to check eBates!
You’ll love it 🙂 Anything cash back is great, and it goes for regular purchases as well 🙂
Great tips! Thanks for sharing… I’ll have to check it all out ~
I love ebates too! I had no idea though that they would be using your cookies to give you different prices! That was eye opening. I’m guessing that opening an incognito window each time might help if you don’t want to bother cleaning your cookies.
Out of curiosity I watched prices for a few MONTHS twice a day to see if there was a difference in prices when I was booking a trip – what I found is that it is CHEAPER when you look during the week (compared to weekends) and earlier in the day – around 11am to 2 pm compared to evenings..
Great tip! Thank you for sharing.
Great tips! I’m going on a mini vacation soon and need to book a hotel! I’ll have to use these tips and tricks to ensure I get the best deal
Since you posted this I have signed up for EBates. Great site
It really is. Since last November I have got over $200 back!
Booking on line is a great way to save money especially if you have a points card of some sort. We are in the midst of researching flights for next winter and by using my points card for the flights I can earn real money to put against the rest of the trip! Gotta love that!
Thanks for the tips, Randa 🙂 I went to share it with my wife… but then she told me she already knew all this.
I guess that’s why she does the planning, right?
I don’t go anywhere but it’s nice to know that if I decide to you have provided me with ways to save money on the travel so I have more money for the fun!
I’ve never booked travel online but I would never have known that if you hadn’t told me. I will be sure to remember that tip for sure!
Great tips! I haven;t thought of Ebates for my travel searches – something I need to be mindful of in the future 🙂 Every little bit saved helps
That’s what I think too 🙂
WOWWW what a great tip ….did not know about clearing my cookies when booking or serching for a hotel rate!! This is a saver for sure! I love Ebates and use it whenever I shop online and I have gotten cash back for purchases also…it is a great company and good savings too for anyone who joins. I have looked at Groupon….but a lot of the deals are in Toronto and not locally here where I live but can be of value if I travel to different cities….i will have to check it out a bit further to get more info. Thanks for the tips and this has been an eye opener also and I will definately use this information . Thanks for sharing. 🙂
You’re more then welcome Linda, thank you for leaving me a comment. Anything I can do to help people save some cash!