Travel web sites

[bones]

While reading in the magazine I noticed mention of a new (to me at least) travel site. It collects data from several of the other sites watching for the lowest prices. You enter a few items it goes to work. 

www.voyij.com

Hope this give additional resource to help find the best deals.

[georoc01]

I use two similar sites in www.kayak.com and www.sidestep.com

[bones]

If I read the couple paragraphs correctly it pulls data from both those sites as part of its process. So why visit multiple sites when one will collect it from them for you?

[georoc01]

Because they pull the data differently and don't necessarily provide the same results.

And neither pulls Southwest airlines, which is generally a low cost provider when looking at airfare.

But the biggest thing to do is always check out the site of which one you choose. Sometimes you can find better deals that way, other times a 3rd party like Orbitz may be cheaper as they get rooms in a block.

Lastly, sites like Priceline & Hotwire can provide great deals too. You have to deal with their limitations and there are other sites where people post the answers that they recieved when booking with them to give you an idea of what you may see also.

Travel pricing is very much like brothel pricing. Every day prices can and will change and the price someone else got is pretty much unimportant as long as you are happy with the prices you received!

[SIDEWINDER]

I've never used Priceline. Does it work for getting lower prices? Once you bid, do you have to take what they are offering? From what I understand it's more like "let's make a deal" not knowing whats behind door number 1 until after you've bought it?

[georoc01]

Yes there is a lets make a deal aspect to it. You know you are buying say a 3 star hotel in downtown Reno, but you won't know its a Marriott Courtyard until your bid is accepted.

Like I said, there are some sites where people post what results they have received, which can help understand what the results are going to be.

[Interested bystander]

I've used Priceline once and I'm sold on using it for hotels.   We used it for our stay in Chicago and our hotel was located in the perfect downtown location and we got the room for less than half the going rate.   My son uses it all the time and has yet to be disappointed.  Now flights may be a different thing.   I googled Priceline once and found a site that gave a list of the hotels chains that Priceline uses and the star rating given for each so you can have a pretty good idea of where you will be staying before you buy.  BTW, Priceline works best in large cities where there are 3.5 to 4 star hotels, those are the ones where you get the best price break.

[East Coast Guy]

I've never used Priceline. Does it work for getting lower prices? Once you bid, do you have to take what they are offering? From what I understand it's more like "let's make a deal" not knowing whats behind door number 1 until after you've bought it?

You don't have to bid w/Priceline.    I booked my W/Fest 2010 flight last December using them and got a great price.    $227 R/T Boston - Reno before taxes with Delta out and American coming back.   One connection each way.   Getting that price, there was no need to look any further.   BTW, I was not committed until after I got that price and proceeded with the transaction.   

East Coast Guy   

[afriend]

BTW, I was not committed until after I got that price and proceeded with the transaction.   

East Coast Guy   

I did not know you had been committed, you seem fine now...

I could not resist Banned Member 1.   

Take care,
afriend

[georoc01]

I've never used Priceline. Does it work for getting lower prices? Once you bid, do you have to take what they are offering? From what I understand it's more like "let's make a deal" not knowing whats behind door number 1 until after you've bought it?

You don't have to bid w/Priceline.    I booked my W/Fest 2010 flight last December using them and got a great price.    $227 R/T Boston - Reno before taxes with Delta out and American coming back.   One connection each way.   Getting that price, there was no need to look any further.   BTW, I was not committed until after I got that price and proceeded with the transaction.   
East Coast Guy   

The only caveat with flights, is that you have no control over time. As long as you don't mind having a flight that leaves at 6am, you might get a great deal. Or some long layover somewhere out of the way on your trip (like flying from Denver to Reno via Los Angeles or Seattle).