Travel industry consolidation has made finding travel deals more challenging than ever. With fewer competitors and more mergers, travelers have to work harder to snag bargains. However, there’s a bright spot amidst all this: shopping around still holds potential for significant savings, especially with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). AI technology is increasingly being integrated into travel apps and websites, offering a new way to plan trips. According to a recent study by AARP, about 75 percent of travelers aged 50 and older are interested in learning how to leverage technology, particularly as they book their vacations. While many already use apps and websites to plan trips, they aren’t necessarily doing so consistently. Now, with AI-powered assistants embedded in platforms like Tripadvisor, Expedia, and Booking.com, travelers can create tailored itineraries that fit their budget, travel dates, and personal preferences.
AI has become nearly omnipresent in today’s world, and this extends to travel planning. According to the AARP survey, nearly 90 percent of older adults are familiar with AI, and of those, around 80 percent are eager to use it for personalized travel assistance. AI tools such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini, along with travel-specific sites like Mindtrip and Vacay, are designed to help users build and refine their travel plans quickly and efficiently. While these tools excel in planning, the cost savings they offer may not always be their strongest point.
Among the top tools for finding affordable flights, Google Flights remains a favorite of travel experts. We strongly recommend it as a starting point for booking flights. Other good options include Skyscanner, Hopper, and Kayak, which each have unique features to help travelers find deals. Kayak’s “best time to travel” tool, for example, highlights the ideal months to visit certain cities. Those looking to redeem points for flights should also consider Point.me, a paid service for booking award travel, and MaxMyPoint, which identifies points deals at major hotel chains. For last-minute bookings, apps like Hotwire, Priceline, and HotelTonight are tough to beat, although some of their deals are opaque, meaning you won’t know the hotel you’ve booked until after payment. While this could feel risky, it’s a way to snag deep discounts while still filtering options based on criteria like neighborhood or star rating.
Even if you don’t end up booking through these third-party apps, they can still be useful for gauging prices. Travel expert Howard advises using them for research before making any final decisions. However, if the specific room type is important, such as when traveling with kids, booking directly on the hotel’s website might be the better route. Third-party sites often don’t display every available option, which could limit your choices or lead to unexpected surprises.
Regardless of which tool you use, it’s crucial to pay close attention to the total price, not just the advertised rate. Taxes and fees are often excluded or hidden in the fine print. It’s also important to double-check refund policies—some bookings may be labeled “no prepayment” but still aren’t refundable. With a little extra vigilance and some help from technology, travelers can still find good deals in an increasingly consolidated market.
