Doing this one thing could get you a cheaper flight - plus more of the best booking hacks
At nine.com.au we’re dedicated to helping you get the most out of your holiday – and that starts right from when you begin to plan and book a trip.
Getting away without spending too much money is the ideal scenario, so we’ve rounded up some of the best booking tips we’ve learned over the years.
There are many ways you can save money when you're booking a trip. Adobe Stock
There are many ways you can save cash while still travelling the world.
Here is some of the best advice we’ve collated from our team, as well as renowned Aussie and international travel experts.
Cheap flight hacks
Getting a bargain on a flight is the absolute dream. If you want to fly somewhere, you’ll want to watch the prices.
Search engine specialist, Luca Tagliaferro, revealed the top search hacks to help travellers unlock hidden discounts and cheaper flights online.
He says that one of the simplest things you can do is one of the most beneficial: set up a Google alert.
Booking early is generally the key to getting the best prices, especially amid the Middle East war, says Australian Travel Industry Association CEO Dean Long.
Flight alerts are a great way to find cheap flights. iStock
However, some experts claim that data shows Sunday to be the cheapest day of the week to book your holiday.
The time of year can make a difference too.
Obviously, Christmas is the most expensive time of year for Aussies to travel, especially if heading to Europe.
September is also a pricey month to travel, while January is the cheapest, according to an Expedia report
How to save money booking a cruise
Cruises too, are best booked in advance, and you might not have known that you can even contact the company for a refund if the price drops later.
It also means you’ll have more choice of cabins.
Booking early will help you have the best choice of cabin. Supplied
If you’re a solo cruiser you’ll need to do a little extra work to save on those dreaded single supplements.
But some cruise lines do have special cabins you can book without being slugged extra.
They include Norwegian Cruise Line and Cunard.
Every week, we share a top travel tip from our readers or something our writers find. Drop us an email with all your wisdom to travel@nine.com.au, and your tip could be featured in an upcoming story on nine.com.au.
Hotel booking tricks to save for later
There’s also a lot of debate on which device to book hotels on if you’re doing it online.
We found out that using your phone, when booking hotels at least, can save you money.
Many travel sites offer exclusive deals for people who book on their mobile site or app.
And if you’re ready to choose that hotel, make sure you consider your plans.
Dean Jones, Vice President, Commercial, East Asia & Pacific at IHG Hotels & Resorts said be clear on cost versus the location.
“We’ve all had that moment where you arrive at a beautiful hotel, only to realise it’s far from where you actually need to be,” Dean said.
As for whether to book directly or via a booking site, experts generally agree there’s no clear rule.
These days, hotels are pretty much the same price, no matter where you book them.
If you’re a frequent traveller, it’s worth trying to stay with the same chain wherever you go to lock in discounts.
There are a few things to watch out for when booking a hotel. Getty
The general advice, though with flights, is to book direct, or with an accredited travel agent. For an easy option, package holidays are on the rise again, with options including Virgin Australia.
Before you book anything
Our Travel editor Kristine also has a list of things she checks before hitting book.
Checking reviews from different pages, reading the fine print and checking extra carefully you’ve entered your details properly are among them.
