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In today’s economic climate, everyone is worried about saving money for the future. With a record number of companies laying off workers, and families tightening their budget, travel for business or pleasure is decreasing. Most companies and individuals just can’t find the money to take trips like they used to, but that doesn’t have to be the case.
These days many of the top rated travel sites aren’t travel agencies or airlines, but discounted travel sites. The lowest priced travel sites are dedicated to providing travelers with the best rates, service, and standards in the industry, while allowing them to save money on their hotel reservations, flights, and rental cars. Some provide frequent user discounts, while others are well equipped to find last minute deals that won’t cost a fortune.
Priceline®
Priceline.com® was one of the first low priced travel sites to emerge. Founded in the late 1990’s, Priceline® made a name by promising to provide the lowest price possible for higher rated hotels and flights. The interesting thing about Priceline® is that the site allows travelers to choose from two different models. Using the booking system, a traveler can pick from already priced options in air, hotel, rental cars, or cruises. There is also an option to plan an entire trip rather than individual components. The second option is the Name Your Own Price® where travelers have the ability to name a price they think is fair for their trip. This unique feature is one of the main reasons Priceline® remains the most popular discount travel website.
Expedia®
Expedia.com® is no doubt one of the lowest priced travel sites for both business and personal travelers. As one of the first online travel businesses to provide booking for multiple services in one location, Expedia® serves millions of customers each year. Whether travelers are booking one service or multiple services, they get the Expedia® best price guarantee. This means if you find the same flight, hotel, or other service online for a lower price within twenty-four hours of booking your trip, Expedia® will provide you with a coupon for up for $50. Expedia® also offers a rewards program where frequent travelers get extra discounts, the ability to change their trip without incurring fees, and ThankYou points which can be used to purchase travel deals and cool gifts.
Orbitz®
Orbitz® is one of the largest providers for the lowest priced travel in the world. With companies such as cheapticket.com, ebookers.com, and hotelclub.com operating under the Orbitz® banner, it’s easy to see why people love booking their flights, hotels, and full vacation packages with Orbitz®. When it comes to vacation packages, Orbitz® has some of the best prices you’ll find online. Whether you are looking for that all-inclusive trip or a last minute getaway, Orbitz® can help. They also have great deals on top destinations including Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, Las Vegas, and New York City. Orbitz® is also the home of the Orbitz® Price Assurance. The Price Assurance ensures that no one else will book the same flight for less. If this occurs, Orbitz® will automatically send out a refund for the overage you paid. Deals like this keep customers coming back again and again.
Travelocity®
Another leading site for the lowest priced travel booking is Travelocity®. Travelocity® provides many of the same great features offered by the companies listed above. One of the major differences is that Travelocity® has more destinations to offer when it comes to booking a last minute reservation. Travelocity® wants users to be able to get away for that long weekend, or be able to afford to travel across the country for an emergency meeting. Travelocity® offers one of the best customer satisfaction guarantees in low priced travel. Similar to the Orbitz® guarantee, Travelocity® will refund the difference if another traveler books the same trip at a lower price. In addition, Travelocity® will also give that traveler a $50 discount on future travel booked through their site. Travelocity also makes sure that customers are satisfied with their flight and accommodations and will do everything possible to make sure your trip is exactly what was promised when you booked it.
Hotwire®
Hotwire.com® is one of the newer online reservation and vacation planning sites. Hotwire® works with their partners to sell rooms that have not been previously claimed at a discounted rate. Many Hotwire® customers come back time and again because they are able to get a higher rated hotel or flight for a fraction of the regular price. Hotwire® also promises not to add additional booking fees to flights that are booked through their site, something many of the others don’t offer.
Shop And Compare
Sometimes looking at multiple sites is the best way to make sure you are getting the lowest priced travel possible. A few great sites pull information from these large travel sites, as well as from some of the smaller ones, and give travelers everything they need in one central location. Sites like this include Kayak.com®. Kayak® allows users to compare prices among Priceline®, Hotwire®, Expedia®, and Travelocity®. When you find a rate that’s right for you, it’s booked through the site where the rate was found and not Kayak®. Another site that offers a similar service is Vayama®; the only difference is Vayama® concentrates on international travel where most other sites offer domestic flights as their main destination. Vayama® is a newer site and lists more than 75 different airlines with nearly 200 destinations.
Just because your family is living on a stricter budget these days doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice that vacation you have been planning. Many great websites will help you locate and book the lowest price travel arrangements around. While some sites offer better perks than others, you will never be disappointed when you shop with a site that allows you to book a hotel, rental car, cruise, and a flight with just a click of the mouse. Stop putting off that trip and book a flight today!
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