Newer iPhones (the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15) have an Emergency SOS via Satellite feature built-in, which allows you to contact emergency services via satellite, even if no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage is available. If your attempts to call or text emergency services fail due to a lack of traditional connectivity, your device will automatically try to connect you through a satellite.

How to Use the iPhone Satellite SOS

The satellite SOS feature is only to be used in an emergency. Use it in scenarios where you would call 911, like a car crash or getting injured while hiking. 

To utilize the Satellite SOS service, you must be outside and have a clear view of the sky and horizon. Trees, mountains, and buildings can all block the connection. 

First, try calling the local emergency number to reach emergency services. Even if your normal cellular carrier network isn’t available, you might be able to make the call.

After an emergency call fails, an option will pop up where you can tap “emergency text via satellite.” Then follow these steps:

1. Tap “report emergency.”
2. Choose from the following prompts to describe your situation: Car or vehicle issue, sickness or injury, crime, lost or trapped, fire.
3. The iPhone will then ask you a series of questions based on your response, that can be answered using simple taps. You will be given the option to share your location and nature of your emergency with your emergency contacts. 
4. Follow onscreen directions to connect to a satellite. You’ll need to manually position your phone to help it lock on to a satellite.
5. Stay connected as emergency services asks you further questions over text.

Once you’re connected, your iPhone will start a text with emergency responders that shares any information you have provided (such as your medical ID), your location (including elevation), and how much battery life you have left. 

How to Use the iPhone’s My Location via Satellite Feature

For non-emergency situations, where you simply want to share your location with your contacts, you can use the My Location via Satellite feature on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15. This feature is available in the Find My App. Tap the “me” tab and navigate to My Location via Satellite. Tap “send my location” and follow the steps to connect to a satellite and send your location. 

Before You Travel

Apple recommends watching the Emergency SOS Satellite demo at home in order to familiarize yourself with the process in case you ever need it. 

Make sure you have the most recent version of iOS installed on your phone. iOS 16.4 or later may be required to use the feature. 

Set up your iPhone’s Medical ID and emergency contacts, which the satellite feature can transmit to emergency services. You need to set up this information before going somewhere with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.

How Much Does the iPhone Satellite Connection Cost?

The iPhone Satellite Connection is currently free. Apple has indicated that this will be a feature it may charge for in the future, but has not disclosed when that will start or how much it will cost.

Where Can You Use the iPhone Satellite SOS?

The iPhone satellite feature is currently available in: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, and the US.

The post How to Use the iPhone’s Satellite SOS When Traveling appeared first on SmarterTravel.

If you want to avoid flying on a Boeing aircraft, there are a few ways to check which type of plane you’ll be traveling on before booking.

1. When searching for a plane ticket, look for the aircraft type used for the flight. This is generally displayed right below the flight details for almost every airline. If you search on Google Flights, you can see the aircraft type right below the flight times.

2. To make it easier to find a flight on a non-Boeing plane, you can search on Kayak. Kayak has an aircraft filter that allows you to exclude certain aircraft models, such as the Boeing 737-8 Max.

If you’ve already booked your flight, you can find out what type of aircraft you’ll be flying on by logging into your reservation. Most airlines will display the aircraft model under your flight information.

If you can’t find this information on your reservation, you can go to SeatGuru and input your flight number to see what aircraft you’re flying on, along with a plane seat map. 

However, a schedule change, mechanical issue, or weather delay could all cause an airline to swap the plane that was originally scheduled to be used for a flight. This could result in a different type of aircraft being used than was listed when you booked your flight. 

Which Airlines Use the Boeing 737 Max 8 and Max 9?

Although there have been significant concerns around the entire Boeing brand lately, the two aircraft that have garnered the most bad press are the 737 Max 8 and the 737 Max 9.

The 737 Max 9 was recently grounded following the Alaska Air doorplug incident but is now back in service. The 737 Max 8 was grounded by the FAA a few years ago after it was involved in two fatal crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia. However, it was recertified and returned to the air in November 2020. 

The airlines that use the 737 Max 8 and 737 Max 9 are:

• United Airlines
• Alaska Air
• Copa Airlines
• Aeromexico
• Turkish Airlines
• Icelandair
• Lion Air
• Flydubai
• SCAT Airlines

What Can You Do If You’re Already Booked on a Boeing Plane?

Contact your airline directly if you have concerns about the type of aircraft that will be used for your flight. If you’re booked on a Boeing 737 Max 9 and don’t want to fly on that aircraft, the airline may work with you to change your flight, even if you’re booked on a non-refundable ticket. A spokesperson for United Airlines told SmarterTravel, “We’ll work with customers directly to ensure they feel comfortable flying. If they wish to change their flight, we’ll move them onto the next available flight.”

Alaska Air has a similar policy, telling SmarterTravel that although they have “complete confidence in the safety of all our aircraft,” guests who are uncomfortable flying on a Max 9 can call the airline and be rebooked on a different flight without an additional charge. This policy applies even to Saver tickets. Alaska Air says they will not charge a difference in fare for the tickets.

The post How to Check if You’re Flying on a Boeing Plane appeared first on SmarterTravel.

The travel site Upgraded Points calculated the average legroom for each major US airline by analyzing the carriers’ aircraft used across its ten busiest domestic flight routes. Upgraded Points studied the average seat pitch (the distance between a point on one seat and the same point on the seat in front of it) of economy seats on those routes, and used to create a standard legroom score for each airline.

Not surprisingly, budget carriers Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines tied for last place in the average amount of legroom offered in economy, with an average seat pitch of just 28 inches. In comparison, the airline with the most amount of legroom, JetBlue Airways, had an average seat pitch of 32.3 inches in economy class on domestic flights. 

The US Airlines With the Most Amount of Legroom

You’ll get more legroom flying on these airlines.

1. JetBlue Airways: 32.3”
2. Southwest Airlines: 31.8”
3. TIE: Alaska Airlines & Delta Airlines: 31.0”

The US Airlines With the Least Amount of Legroom

Prepare for a very cramped flight if you fly any of these airlines. 

1. American Airlines: 30.2”
2. United Airlines: 30.1” 
3. Hawaiian Airlines: 29.0”
4. TIE: Frontier Airlines & Spirit Airlines: 28.0″

Tips for Getting More Legroom in Economy

Want to get more legroom in economy? Here are a few ways to do it:

1. Check the aircraft model before buying your ticket. If you’re shopping for a flight, check SeatGuru before purchasing to find the pitch and width on the specific type of plane that will be flying on your route. You can compare it to flights at other times or on different airlines to find which ones will give you the most legroom for free.

2. Gamble on checking in late. If you go to check-in for your flight and a number of extra legroom seats (like the emergency exit row) are available, but you don’t want to pay for them, you could wait to check-in and hope that the other standard economy seats get filled up first. If that happens, the airline will assign passengers to the extra legroom seats for free. Just be warned, this move could backfire and you could get stuck in a middle seat! 

1. Use your points to upgrade to a premium economy seat—an upgrade with points is often significantly cheaper than it would have cost to buy the seat with the extra legroom when booking.

The post The Airlines With the Most and Least Amount of Legroom appeared first on SmarterTravel.

New York hosts millions of tourists every year, and each visitor has their own set of interests and desires when they visit. Because of this, the need for a variety of tours evolved, and now you can find a tour for almost every interest, and by any type of transport as well. From first time visitors to natives, guided tours will shed new light on the city, all led by expert tour guides who can answer your every question. 

Types of NYC Tours

There is a wide variety of types of tours you can take during your NYC vacation. Walking tours, bus tours, and even helicopter tours. Once you decide what type of tour you want, you can narrow it down to what topic you’d like to learn more about. 

Different types of tours include: 

• Bus Tours: Great for getting an overview of the city’s major attractions with the flexibility to explore at your own pace.
• Walking Tours: Great for seeing specific city neighborhoods; if you visit for several days, you can schedule one for each neighborhood you’re interested in seeing. Walking tours are also fantastic for specific topics: food, ghosts, history- whatever NYC topic you’re interested in; there likely is a walking tour. 
• Bike Tours: Great for active tourists looking for a way to see the city and get some exercise simultaneously. 
• Helicopter tours: For those with extra cash wanting a birdseye view of the city and to see the city from a different perspective. 
• Boat Tours: See the city from the water on a boat tour, where you will see what 

NYC Tour Topics

Once you decide what type of tour you want (walking, bus, bike, helicopter), now you have to decide the kind of tour you want to go on. Here are some examples of tours available in the city: 

• Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours: Great for getting an overview of the city’s major attractions with the flexibility to explore at your own pace.
• Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour: Explore these iconic landmarks, learn about immigration history, and enjoy stunning views of the city skyline.
• Walking Food Tours: Dive into NYC’s diverse culinary scene with guided tours through neighborhoods like Chinatown, Little Italy, or Greenwich Village.
• Central Park Bike Tours: Discover the beauty and history of Central Park while biking through its scenic paths and famous landmarks.
• Broadway Walking Tour: Get an insider’s look at the world-famous Broadway theater district, learn about its history, and maybe even catch a glimpse of a rehearsal or backstage activity.
• Neighborhood Walking Tours: Explore specific neighborhoods like Harlem, SoHo, or the Lower East Side with knowledgeable guides who can provide insight into their culture, history, and architecture.
• Architecture Tours: Delve into NYC’s architectural wonders with tours focusing on iconic buildings like the Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, or the High Line.
• Street Art Tours: Discover the vibrant street art scene in neighborhoods like Bushwick in Brooklyn or the Lower East Side in Manhattan.
• Gangster Tours: Explore the city’s notorious past with tours highlighting locations associated with famous mobsters and historic crime scenes.

The Best Tours in New York City

Whether you want a broad look at the city as a whole, are looking to get some exercise while getting educated, or what a tour on a specific topic, there is a tour for you. Here are some of the best tours in NYC. 

Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Open Top Tour

Prices From: $54.00

Duration: 1.5 hours

When you’d like to see the whole city but not waste time taking a tour and trying to figure out when to see your favorite spots, or if you aren’t exactly sure where you want to visit, a hop-on, hop-off tour is probably for you. These bus tours are exactly as they sound: you can get off one bus, check out a museum, then hop on another one that stops there later on and continue the tour. Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off is a double-decker bus with an open-top deck for spectacular viewing. 

The tour allows you to hop on and hop off at five stops, including Battery Park, the Empire State Building, and Rockefeller Center. There is an Uptown and Downtown route; it has audio guides in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and German, and even includes live bus tracking through their app, so when you hop off, you’ll be able to see when another bus will be coming. 

Small Bus Tours Sightseeing Bus Tour

Prices From: $197.00

Duration: 6 hours

This six-hour bus and boat tour is perfect for anyone visiting the city for a short time but wants to see all the important sights. See the Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, and 9/11 Memorial, and pass through SoHo, Chinatown, and Central Park. It includes a boat ride around the Statue of Liberty and Governor’s Island, as well as walks on the Brooklyn Bridge and around Grand Central Station. 

“Hamilton” Walking Tour 

Prices From: $63.00

Duration: 3 hours

Dive into the history of Alexander Hamilton’s life and New York City during the Revolutionary War era during the Hamilton Walking Tour. Visit significant sites related to Hamilton’s life, such as Trinity Church, Fraunces Tavern, and the site of the Hamilton-Burr duel. This tour syncs its stops to the music from the musical for a truly unique experience. 

Not only will you see the spots highlighted in the musical, but you will also get background information on the history that is not included in the musical. It’s a three-hour tour and requires good weather. In the case of bad weather, you will be offered an alternative date or a full refund.

Harlem Gospel Tour

Prices From: $80.00

Duration: 4 hours

A Harlem Gospel Tour allows you to experience the soulful sounds of gospel music with a guided tour of Harlem’s historic venues. This four-hour tour on Sunday morning brings you to the top spots in one of NYC’s most culturally rich neighborhoods.

This tour includes a tour of the Apollo Theater, walking by the oldest house in Manhattan, and stopping at a church for a traditional Sunday morning service. Upgrade your tour for a soul food brunch at a local-favorite restaurant for a truly immersive experience. 

NYC TV & Movie Tour

Prices From: $61.00

Duration: 3 hours

Let’s be honest: most people’s ideas of what NYC is like are thanks to the countless TV shows and movies that take place there. If you’ve always wanted to visit filming locations from popular TV shows and movies while cruising through NYC’s streets in a comfortable bus, this is the tour for you. See iconic sites from Friends, Sex and the City, Seinfeld, and more, and hear behind-the-scenes stories from your guide. 

Watch clips from the movies and TV shows as you wind your way through the city, visiting some of the most famous landmarks from the big and small screens. Get your picture in front of the Friends building, see the Ghostbusters headquarters and more. 

Secret Food Tour

Prices From: $85.00

Duration: 2.5 hours

Embark on a culinary adventure through NYC’s hidden gems with a secret food tour. Sample delicious dishes from local Greenwich Village or Chinatown/Little Italy eateries while learning about the area’s history and culture. 

This is a walking tour- and for good reason! With each stop, you’ll sample delicious food, which is included in the price of the tour. Past samplings have included handmade dumplings, fresh mozzarella, and, of course, bagels. 

Ghost Tour of Greenwich Village

Prices From: $36.00

Duration: 2 hours

Delve into NYC’s supernatural side with a walking ghost tour of Greenwich Village. Explore the neighborhood’s haunted history, hear spine-chilling ghost stories, and visit notorious sites rumored to be haunted. This two-hour tour takes place at night, so make sure you dress appropriately. 

You’ll visit Poe House, where horror writer Edgar Allen Poe lived, see where the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory burned down, visit Washington Square Park, one of the city’s most haunted places, see an old speakeasy and other spooky spots. 

Central Park Photography Tour

Prices From: $100.00

Duration: 2.5 hours

For any photographer wishing to capture some of the most iconic spots in Central Park, but don’t want to waste time trying to find them yourself, the Central Park Photography Tour is for you. Capture stunning photos of Central Park’s picturesque landscapes and landmarks with the guidance of a professional photographer. 

Your guide will show you photography techniques and composition tips while exploring one of NYC’s most beloved green spaces. This two-and-a-half-hour tour only allows a few participants to guarantee a hands-on experience with your guide, making it a truly unique experience.

Brooklyn Bridge Bike Tour

Prices From: $48.00

Duration: 2 hours

If you’ve always wanted to cross the historic Brooklyn Bridge, and enjoy a bike ride, this two-hour tour is the one for you. Get some exercise while viewing familiar landmarks, getting insight to the rich history of the city from your tour guide. 

Get stunning panoramic views of the city from Brooklyn, spot the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and cycle through Brooklyn Heights- not to mention riding over one of the most recognizable bridges in the world. 

NYC Helicopter Tour

Prices From: $235.00

Duration: 15 minutes

Looking for an experience of a lifetime? A Helicopter tour of New York City will awe and inspire anyone on board. See Central Park, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, and more landmarks during this twenty-minute ride above the city. For stunning nighttime views of the city skyline, book the night tour. 

Helicopters seat up to six passengers, and any passenger over the age of two must sit in their own seat. Only cameras, cell phones, and sunglasses are allowed on the flight- no bags, so plan accordingly for your arrival at the heliport. Flights will be canceled in case of inclement weather. 

New York Media Boat Tour

Prices From: $99.00

Duration: 1 Hour

Want to see the city from a different perspective but aren’t a fan of flying? Try this media boat tour. See the city from a boat traditionally used by news photographers, guided by a U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain. A bumpier ride, it is not recommended for pregnant people or those with back problems. 

This one-hour tour gives you close-up views of the Brooklyn Bridge (which you will ride underneath), the Statue of Liberty, and breathtaking panoramic views of the city from New Jersey. Capture stunning photos of the Manhattan skyline from the Brooklyn Bridge, and ride by Governors Island, where you’ll hear tales of the old Army base. 

On-Location Tours – “Sex and the City” Hotspots Tour

Prices From: $66.00

Duration: 3.5 hours

Sex and the City has stood the test of time, and the tours are as popular as ever. Cruise around the city and see familiar sites from the series: Carrie’s brownstone, bars the ladies visited, the shops they visited, and more. This three and a half hour tour covers spots seen in both the show and movies. 

Try a cupcake at Magnolia Bakery, made famous thanks to the show. The tour’s final stop is at Onieal’s, used in the show as SCOUT, the bar Aiden owned, where you can pay homage to the show by relaxing with a cosmo (not included in the price of the tour).  

Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise – Landmarks

Prices From: $44.00

Duration: 1.5 hours

Circle Line tours take you to similar spots as the media boat tour, in a bigger, calmer boat. The leisurely pace of the cruise allows ample time for photography and appreciation of the city’s famous landmarks from different angles. 

As one of the most iconic sightseeing cruises, it circumnavigates Manhattan Island, providing breathtaking views of renowned attractions such as the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the Empire State Building. With knowledgeable guides providing informative commentary throughout the journey, passengers gain insight into the rich history, architecture, and culture of New York City.

Intrepid Urban Adventures – New York Tenements, Tales, and Tastes Discovery

Prices From: $79.00

Duration: 3 hours

With this tour, you’ll get a look at the beginnings of what makes New York such a fascinating city: through the food of the immigrants that settled there. Included in the price of your tour are four tastings at four different spots along the way. Try knishes, dumplings and other ethnic foods that were brought to the city from the first immigrants who settled in the Lower East side. 

Your tour begins at the African Burial Ground, and stops along the way at the Tenement Museum, 100-year-old bakeries, Little Italy, Chinatown and more; with your guide giving fascinating insight on the history of each neighborhood and the people who lived there. 

Gangsters and Ghosts Tour

PricesFrom: $35.00

Duration: 2 hours

Godfather fans, rejoice! Take a tour of the neighborhoods once riddled with gangsters and speakeasies with this Gangsters and Ghosts Tour. Stroll along Five Points, where the Irish gang made famous in Gangs of New York  lived and operated. Walk the streets that Charlie Luciano, Mayer Lansky and others walked (and committed crimes) on. 

During this two-hour tour, your guide will fill you in on tales of the old mobs, as well as spooky tales of the buildings you pass. Your tour ends at Washington Square Park, which is not without it’s own history and ghost stories.

The post Discover New York City: The Best Tours to Explore the Big Apple appeared first on SmarterTravel.

We’re not saying that you can’t strike up conversations and enjoy being on your own while traveling, but creating at least the initial illusion of a safety net with a fictional travel companion (who just happens to not be around at that moment) can help keep you safe.

Here are some situations we can think of in which this solo travel safety tip can come in handy:

• Fending off unwanted advances.
• An easy out with persistent sellers: (for example, “Oh, I can’t buy that without consulting my husband, but he’s back at the hotel. Maybe we’ll come back later”).
• An excuse not to join an activity that you don’t want to do—”Sorry, my friend is waiting for me at the hotel; I have to get back!”

If you want to go even further, embellish the story by picking up two room keys when you check in (you never know who might be watching).

Caroline Morse is a Senior Editor at SmarterTravel. Follow her adventures on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline and on Twitter @CarolineMorse1.

The post The One Lie You Should Always Tell While Traveling appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Hotel Checkout Mistake #1: Failing to Double-Check Your Bill

Hotels are notorious for tacking on hidden fees. While some are unavoidable, you’ll want to scan your bill for anything that looks fishy—such as charges for snacks or drinks when you didn’t touch the minibar, or a dinner in the hotel restaurant that was charged to the wrong room number. Be sure to dispute these charges and get an updated copy of the receipt before you check out.

Hotel Checkout Mistake #2: Leaving Something Behind

My parents once made it all the way to the airport in Paris before realizing they had left their passports in the hotel safe. Needless to say, they missed their flight—and had a stressful ending to an otherwise pleasant trip.

Their story isn’t uncommon. In addition to leaving things in the safe, travelers often forget about toiletries in the shower and phone chargers in out-of-sight, out-of-mind electrical outlets.

Pack as much as you can the night before, when you’re not stressed for time. Then, right before hotel checkout time, do one last sweep of your room. Peek under the bed for things that might have fallen, pull back the shower curtain, check all the outlets, and open up the safe.

One trick long recommended by savvy travelers: Put one of your shoes in the safe the night before so you can’t leave without opening it. Another option is to bring along your pre-trip packing list and go over it to make sure you have everything before you leave the hotel.

Hotel Checkout Mistake #3: Forgetting to Leave a Tip

Don’t forget your hardworking (and often underpaid) housekeeper in your rush to get out the door. If you don’t have small bills handy, the front desk can make change for you. Consider leaving the equivalent of $2 to $5 each night of your stay, depending on local tipping norms and how messy you are.

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Hotel Checkout Mistake #4: Not Allowing Enough Time

In an ideal world you’d step out of the elevator, hand the keycard to a front desk staffer, and complete your hotel checkout in about 90 seconds. Don’t count on that—especially if you’re staying at a large hotel that caters to conventions and/or tour groups. Such properties often have long lines at the front desk during the most popular checkout times.

If you’ve got a plane or train to catch, allow yourself plenty of extra time to check out—just in case.

Hotel Checkout Mistake #5: Letting the Hotel Call You a Cab

Yes, it’s convenient, but travelers on a budget should order themselves an Uber or Lyft instead. Not only will the fare likely be cheaper, but you’ll also save a few bucks on tips for the hotel staff.

Hotel Checkout Mistake #6: Failing to Reserve a Spot on the Airport Shuttle

If you’re staying in an airport hotel before an early flight, chances are the property offers a free shuttle—but don’t assume you can just show up at 5:30 a.m. and hop on. Shuttle spots can be limited, and many hotels recommend (or even require) that you reserve your place the night before.

Once you make a reservation, be sure to arrive on time. The front desk might give you a courtesy call if you aren’t in the lobby when the van is ready to leave, but with other passengers in a hurry to make their flights, the shuttle might not wait long.

Hotel Checkout Mistake #7: Overstaying Your Welcome

Normal hotel checkout time for most properties is 11:00 a.m. or noon so housekeepers have time to clean rooms for the next guest. Be sure you know the deadline at your hotel so you can plan accordingly.

If you need a little extra time, call the front desk as far in advance as you can and see if they can accommodate you. Don’t just stay in the room beyond the checkout time; you will disrupt the housekeeping schedule and could face extra fees.

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The post 7 Things Not to Do at Hotel Checkout appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Don’t Forget About Alternate Airports

Many major cities have more than one good-sized airport, but by searching only on a specific one, you won’t see potentially better fares to other nearby gateways. A couple of classic U.S. examples are Newark vs. JFK vs. LaGuardia, or Long Beach vs. LAX; overseas a good example is Gatwick vs. Heathrow in London.

To get these airports into the mix, choose the “All Airports” option shown on many airline and flight booking sites that includes a city code instead of an airport code. So when traveling to or from New York, sites like Expedia allow you to use NYC instead of JFK or EWR, and will return fares from all area airports. In Los Angeles, the code for all airports is QLA (instead of the more limited LAX).

In the case of densely populated areas, you can sometimes fly into an entirely different city altogether. For example, San Diego is about a two-hour drive from Los Angeles (depending on traffic, of course); that makes it a somewhat reasonable alternative to Los Angeles, especially if your trip takes you to areas south of L.A. like Newport Beach, San Clemente, and the like. Similarly, Chicago and Milwaukee are about 90 miles apart, and Tampa and Orlando are separated by about 85 miles.

If your booking site does not allow this (for example, CheapFlights.com seems to accept NYC, but not QLA), or you’re not sure what your other options are, another way to discover nearby airports is to do a search on Kayak and use their filter options to include nearby airports with available routes. You can also consult this cool chart from Johnny Jet that lists nearby airports in the U.S. by miles from your departure or destination airport.

Don’t Forget to Try Searching on an Incognito Browser

It’s long been suspected that airlines and booking engines may show higher fares on routes that you have previously searched. If you are researching an upcoming trip from Chicago to Paris, for example, and have checked airfares on the route frequently in recent days or weeks, the site “knows” you really want these fares, and “guesses” that you might be willing to pay a bit more for them.

So, do flight prices go up the more you look at them? I have not been able to duplicate this myself, and the SmarterTravel team hasn’t found any evidence that airlines raise fares if you’ve previously searched for a given itinerary. A recent study found that fares do differ on occasion, but you’re actually more likely to see lower fares if you’re logged into a given booking site rather than searching on a browser with no previous history of researching that route.

Because of this uncertainty, it’s worth trying your search both ways—on your normal browser (preferably while logged into your favorite booking site) and on an incognito browser where your searches aren’t tracked.

Don’t Book on Days When Prices Are Higher

Unless you are booking travel for work, it is obviously most convenient to shop for and purchase airfares over the weekend, when you have more free time. However, Airfarewatchdog reports that many airlines release sales early in the week, making Tuesday and Wednesday a good time to catch low fares. FareCompare narrows it down even further, reporting that the best time to book U.S. domestic flights is Tuesday at 3 p.m. Eastern.

This varies somewhat for international flights, as might be expected with airlines based in a variety of countries with different fare updating patterns, so you will want to be a bit more vigilant for international fares. I recommend checking prices throughout the week or signing up for fare alerts from Airfarewatchdog.

Keep in mind, too, that prices for last-minute flights are almost always higher than those booked further in advance. You’re typically better off booking at least six weeks before a U.S. domestic flight, and even further in advance for international itineraries.

Don’t Fly on Friday or Sunday

Airlines tend to jack up airfares for Friday and Sunday flights for the simple reason that these are the most likely days leisure travelers and vacationers are going to travel. The number of travelers also gets pushed up on Fridays by business travelers racing home, so this can be a particularly pricey day. Mondays can also be pricey thanks to their popularity with business travelers.

The cheapest days to fly tend to be Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with Thursdays and Saturdays costing a little more. That means that if your departure or return flight falls on a Monday, Friday, or Sunday, you’re likely paying more than you need to. It may take some creative use of your vacation time—such as a trip that runs Tuesday to Tuesday rather than Sunday to Sunday—but what you lose in flexibility you more than make up for in savings.

Don’t Forget to Shop Around

Like a lot of us, over the years I have accumulated some booking engine loyalties, but they’re not strong enough to keep me from checking fares on multiple sites, especially as I get closer to making the actual booking. There are some great search engines out there that allow you to compare flight prices on multiple sites at once. But relying on any one of them alone would be a mistake. Each site employs slightly different search algorithms, and as a result can sometimes return different prices—and flight times and combinations as well, which certainly adds value.

A good starting point is our list of The Best Flight Search Sites for Booking Cheap Airfare. To make this easier and semi-automated, you may want to set up multiple email alerts, too. It can take significant time to check a whole heap of sites every day, but if you sign up for fare alerts, you’ll be notified when a price goes down.

And unless you’re aiming for elite status on a specific airline—which generally requires a minimum of 25,000 air miles flown per calendar year, as well as a minimum amount spent—it doesn’t make a lot of sense to base your purchasing decisions around loyalty to an airline or its frequent-flyer program. Shop around on all of the major online travel agencies (OTAs) and directly with the low-cost carriers (like Southwest) whose best fares are nowhere to be found on OTAs.

Don’t Book a Too-Tight Connection

Fifty minutes might seem like long enough to get from one gate to another on a domestic flight, but what happens if your first flight is delayed by half an hour? On international flights, have you allowed enough time to go through customs, reclaim your bags, and wait through another security line—even if your first flight doesn’t arrive on time?

Avoid booking domestic connections that are less than an hour, particularly if you know your connecting airport is large and has terminals spread out, or if you’re flying different legs on separate carriers that may not share gate areas and/or terminals. On international flights, allow at least two hours.

Don’t Ignore Other Costs, Both Human and Financial

Sometimes the money you save on a cheaper airfare is absorbed almost instantly by other expenses you incur. Make sure you check to see if the rates you’re excited about include all taxes and fees, including baggage fees for checked or even carry-on bags. For example, a $200 round-trip flight on American will cost you $240 if you check a bag. That same $200 flight on Southwest will cost you … $200.

Consider other sneaky travel expenses as well: the need to stay in an airport hotel for a really early flight, seat selection fees on a discount airline, or gas and tolls to a more distant airport. Other potential costs might include an extra day in a kennel for your pet or more expensive airport meals on the road when saving by booking connections.

You may also want to check whether one airline has better entertainment options, seatback screens vs. overhead (or none), a better seat layout, more legroom, or better meal service. Price aside, these are all factors that can make a big difference in how pleasant—or miserable—your flight might be.

A good friend recently booked his family on a very early flight out of San Antonio, and at around 7:00 a.m. posted a photo on Twitter of his bleary-eyed teenage daughter dragging herself through the airport. The caption: “Thank you to my daughter for getting up at 3:30 a.m. so we could save $30 on airfare.” Ouch.

4 Quick Bonus Flight Booking Mistakes to Avoid

• Don’t book a trip to the wrong airport. Make sure you know your airport codes; you don’t want to end up in South Dakota when you meant to go to Hawaii (it’s possible).
• Don’t dismiss the travel agent option—especially if you’ve got complicated, multi-stop flights. If you’ve got an agent you love and who loves you, you’ll quickly see the perks pile up.
• Don’t ignore any follow-up emails or calls from your travel provider. Be sure to update your spam filters to ensure these messages don’t end up in the trash folder. Otherwise, you might miss flight time changes or other important notifications.
• Don’t confuse direct and nonstop flights. A nonstop flight is exactly what it sounds like, while a direct flight may include a few stops along the way to drop off and pick up passengers. You may want to pay the extra fare to get the nonstop (read: faster) trip.

One Mistake That Could Work In Your Favor

We all make mistakes, and this applies to major airlines as well. Every so often, carriers accidentally publish fares much lower than the actual intended cost of the flight. If you can snag these ‘mistake fares’ while they’re still live, you could score an incredible deal. Rather than staying glued to the screen in hopes of coming across a mistake airfare by chance, there are multiple services that will send you automated emails when these fares are published. Check out our guide on How to Score Premium Airfare Deals to learn how to stay on top of the best fares for your flight.

Traveling? Aim for a Carry-On That Does MORE

Three words: lightweight, durable, & multi-functional. The Bigger Carry-On from Away makes traveling that much easier, especially with its removable, TSA-approved battery for your electronics.

This story was originally published in 2017. It has been updated to reflect the most current information. Heather Greenwood Davis, Sarah Pascarella, Josh Roberts, Sarah Schlichter, and Margaret Leahy also contributed to this story. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The post 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Booking a Flight appeared first on SmarterTravel.

From how to get more than a 30-day supply of pills to what you’ll need from your stateside doctor to get a prescription abroad, here’s advice from international healthcare experts about traveling with medication.

Bring a Note from Your Doctor

Dr. Christopher C. Hollingsworth, MD, a general and endovascular surgeon who has practiced in Europe and the United States, says it’s unlikely you’ll get stopped at customs or border control because you’re carrying more than a month’s supply of medicine. However, having an official prescription on hand when traveling with prescription medication is never a bad idea.

“In general, countries honor the rights of travelers to transport their prescribed medications with them,” Dr. Hollingsworth explains. As long as you have supporting documentation about your medical condition (ID cards or a letter from a physician), you are unlikely to have a problem.

Dr. Brendan Anzalone, a doctor of osteopathic medicine and the president and chief medical officer at AeroMD Air Ambulance, suggests going digital with these forms, as they can get lost or creased throughout your travels. This will ensure you won’t have to go digging if you’re questioned.

Keep Medicines in Their Original Bottles

Again, while it’s unlikely you will face any sort of issue when you’re flying with medication, Dr. Anzalone still recommends keeping your pills in the original bottle—complete with the sticker on the front with your name and doctor’s name—as an extra safety precaution. “Carrying your medication in [its] original prescription bottle with a label on it from the pharmacy is helpful if there are any questions in the security line,” he explains.

If you don’t have room in your luggage for the full-size bottles and must downsize, you can pack a small day-of-the-week pill organizer rather than several bulky bottles. Ensure you have documentation from your physician to avoid any potential issues. Paul Tanenbaum, R.Ph., a retired pharmacist, offers this tip if your original prescription bottle is too large: “Make friends with your pharmacist and see if he or she could make you a smaller travel-size bottle for you to fill up.”

Learn the Laws Around Traveling Internationally with Medications

The recommendations for domestic trips also apply to traveling abroad with medication. When flying internationally with prescription medications, the U.S. Department of State recommends storing medications in their original labeled containers and bringing a copy of a doctor’s letter to show customs officers and other officials if necessary. The prescription should note the brand and generic name of the drug.

If you’re taking an unusual drug or one that contains narcotics such as sedatives, carry a note from your doctor explaining what the medication is and why you need it.

Note that some over-the-counter drugs legal in the U.S. may be illegal elsewhere. For example, painkillers containing codeine are prohibited in the United Arab Emirates. Always double-check before you fly.

Exercise Caution with Herbal Medicines

Flying with herbal medicines or supplements to international destinations can be tricky since each country has its own laws about what’s allowed in. To find out what may be restricted in the countries you’ll be visiting or transiting through, refer to the embassy website or contact local consulates.

Make sure herbal remedies and Ayurvedic medicines are in clearly labeled, well-sealed containers, preferably in original bottles. Although the TSA doesn’t require it, it may be helpful to bring a doctor’s note explaining your remedies’ intended use. Keep up to date with any changes in TSA rules by downloading its free MyTSA app (iOS | Android).

Always Pack Medicine in Your Carry-On

Now that you have the prescriptions you need and the note from your doc to prove your case, it’s time to pack. Depending on how much medicine you need each day, you may be tempted to shove your pill pack into your checked bag, but Dr. Anzalone warns against it: “It is best to keep medications in your carry-on baggage. If your checked baggage gets lost, you will still have your prescription medications with you. Remember some aircraft cargo holds are not temperature controlled, which may affect temperature-sensitive medications.”

If you’re worried about bringing medication that must be refrigerated (like insulin, for example) on a plane, Dr. Hollingsworth offers the TSA regulations on cool packs that are allowed through the gates. “Domestically, gel-cooling packs are allowed if frozen at time of presentation to security,” he notes.

Liquid medications (prescription or over-the-counter, like saline solution or eye drops) aren’t subject to the TSA’s three-ounce limits. However, you are required to declare anything over that amount to security officers and present it for inspection.

You may also travel with accompanying items, such as IV bags, pumps, and syringes, as long as they’re declared before you begin the screening process. All of these items will be X-rayed unless you request a manual inspection.

Bring Extra Medication

Dr. Hollingsworth’s rule of thumb is to bring twice the amount of medicine you need and to separate the bottles between your carry-on and your personal item. Why? Two words: flight troubles. “Changes or delays can have a butterfly effect that can have repercussions for the rest of your trip. Plan for the unexpected and pack extra medication you might need for an unplanned longer stay,” he says.

Exercise Caution When Flying with Narcotics

If you’re traveling with any type of prescribed narcotic used to relieve pain, such as Vicodin, Oxycontin, Percocet, or codeine, you might want to bring your prescription documentation, as well as a doctor’s note. Though this is not required by the TSA, it may prove helpful when getting through security. Since these types of drugs are widely abused, security screeners may be suspicious if they are unaccompanied by the proper paperwork. Having the original prescription will prove the pills’ necessity, and avoid any further delays or additional questioning.

The trouble of traveling with only a doctor’s note is that unless it was written in the previous month, it may lose validity. Prescriptions are clearly dated and include the signature of your doctor. Simply make a photocopy of each prescription before you have it filled. The photocopied version will be null and void, but this does not alter it as a valid document.

To take extra precaution, you may also want to travel with phone numbers for your pharmacy and prescribing doctor. This may seem like an unnecessary hassle, but it could prevent delays and problems at the airport.

Be Strategic About Your Meds

If your carry-on is just too heavy to meet those puddle-jumper restrictions, Dr. Hollingsworth challenges you to be strategic. While you might want to take your mini-sized bottle of Advil, those sorts of medications are available everywhere.

“Give priority to any medications that are vital to your functioning or survival. Asthma inhalers, diabetic medications, anti-seizure medications, and blood pressure medications come to mind. Make sure to bring medications that have rebound or withdrawal symptoms if you run out,” he says. “A trip is not a good time to see how you function without your arthritis or anti-anxiety medications.”

Consider Travel Insurance

Many factors influence whether you should purchase travel insurance. How long will you be traveling? Where are you going? Will you be lounging by a beach for a week or undertaking adventure activities in a rainforest? Do you have ongoing medical conditions that might need care?

If you’ll need health insurance for your trip, Dr. Quigley recommends exploring your options before heading overseas to determine what policy and plan are best for you. You can also work with assistance companies—like International SOS—to help you if you’re struggling with a health situation overseas.

Make a Date with Your Doctors

If you’re leaving the U.S. for an extended time, in addition to getting foreign currency and shedding tears at your farewell party, you should schedule pre-departure appointments with your doctors. During these visits, get a full physical and begin a discussion about your wellness needs while traveling. Work with your physician to plan for the medications you’ll need. Medical professionals can help you secure more than a 30-day supply of any medicines along with the necessary paperwork. They can also offer advice about what you need to bring to keep your health top-notch.

Find the Loopholes for Refilling Prescriptions Overseas

Dr. Quigley explains that prescriptions cannot be filled abroad, nor can your primary care doctor call in a prescription for you. But there is a way around it: Know the generic forms and other names of the same medicine. Depending on the country, you may be able to get the medicine without a prescription.

As an example, Dr. Hollingsworth was able to walk into a pharmacy in Paris and receive antibiotics for a pal with a serious ear infection—no note required. Even so, packing a few “just in case” prescriptions before you leave will help ease your worries. Your primary care doctor or a travel clinic can help you navigate the options.

Tanenbaum recommends caution: “If you must obtain your meds from somewhere other than your U.S. pharmacy, beware that there is a major problem of counterfeit drugs out there.” He also notes that brand and generic drug names may differ from one country to another: “The same name may be for a totally different medication; if you have to get some while overseas, it may not be what you usually take so that it does not treat your medical condition, and may actually be dangerous for you to take.” Make sure you’re visiting a reputable pharmacist (ask for a recommendation from your hotel or the local tourist board) and that you double-check whether the drug you’re requesting actually treats your condition.

Most Importantly, Plan Ahead

Plan ahead, especially if you are switching time zones and have to take medicine at a certain time of day. “Have a medical itinerary run parallel to your day-to-day travel itinerary. Plan out the nearest towns [to] where you’re going to be and identify the best providers for you based on your specific medical needs. Don’t let it be a fire drill when you get there,” recommends Dr. Hollingsworth. “If you know in 30 days [that] you need to have a prescription refilled, and you know where you will be within that time frame, then research which medical professional will be best for you. Do your homework.” It just may save your trip—or even your life.

Tips to Stay Healthy While Traveling

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Lindsay Tigar is a travel and lifestyle writer with a constant thirst for adventure and exploring new lands. You can find Lindsay globetrotting when the mood strikes, making sure to find time to explore both the wine and fitness scene in countries across the globe. Her work has appeared across dozens of outlets; learn more at LindsayTigar.com.

 Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2017. It has been updated to reflect the most current information. Molly Feltner, Jessica Labrencis, Patricia Magaña, and Michele Sponagle contributed to this story. A previous version of this story had an incorrect spelling of Paul Tanenbaum’s name. It has been corrected. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The post Traveling with Medications: What You Need to Know appeared first on SmarterTravel.

I tested more than a dozen vacation package sites to see which ones had the lowest prices and best user experience. I discovered that many of the best vacation package websites allow you to book any combination of flight, hotel, and rental car, while others are more limited (flight + hotel is often the default). Fortunately, some sites will let you add a car onto a hotel+flight package, even if a car isn’t listed on the initial booking page.

It’s also important to compare the price of a vacation booked as a bundle to that same trip booked a la carte as separate components. Booking a package isn’t always cheaper, and sometimes you’ll get  better flight options to choose from if you search for your airfare separately. In some searches, I discovered that the flight options included by default with my vacation package had ridiculously long layovers or undesirable departure times (4:30 a.m., anyone?).

Keep a sharp eye out for resort fees; many of the best vacation booking sites don’t count them in their initial per-person price estimate because they’re collected separately by the hotel, but they can drive up the final cost of your trip. Similarly, optional airline baggage fees can also increase your total bill, especially if you book a flight in basic economy, and some vacation package sites don’t disclose these fees as clearly as others.

Finally, it’s important to know that many of the best sites for vacation packages are owned by the same parent company, so you’ll often find similar inventory and prices from one to the next. Knowing which sites are mostly interchangeable can save you some research time.

The Best Travel Package Sites

We put them to the test to compare prices, inclusions, and more. The following are the best websites to book vacations, listed in no particular order. Scroll down for more in-depth analysis of each one.

• Expedia
• Expedia’s sister sites: Travelocity, Orbitz, and CheapTickets
• Priceline
• CheapCaribbean.com
• Kayak
• Funjet Vacations

Expedia

This well-known site is one of the best travel package sites for a reason. Expedia offers a full complement of bundle options (flight/hotel, flight/car, hotel/car, and flight/hotel/car) as well as trips to just about every corner of the globe. It’s reliable when it comes to pricing, too: Expedia offered the lowest price in two of my five tests, and was cheaper than average in all but one test booking.

That said, the amount the site said I was saving on a given package didn’t always match up to the actual price difference when I added up the cost of the trip’s individual elements. In one of my test cases, it was actually cheaper to book my flight, hotel, and car separately. So take those supposed savings with a grain of salt (or even better, price out the components separately on your own to be sure you’re getting the best deal).

Expedia has plenty of useful filters to help you find what you need. You can sort hotels by price, distance from a city’s downtown, guest rating, package discount, and property class, while flight options can be filtered by general departure and arrival times (for example, morning vs. evening), airline, whether carry-on bags are included, and more. You can also sort flight options by duration (longest or shortest), price (highest or lowest), departure time (earliest or latest), and arrival time (earliest or latest). There’s also a map view so you can check out the location of each hotel.

Best Feature: The breadth of choice and consistency of pricing make Expedia perhaps the best site for vacation packages. You may not always get the absolute lowest price here, but chances are you’ll pay a fair rate and have plenty of options to choose from.

Check out Expedia

Expedia’s Sister Sites: Travelocity, Orbitz, and CheapTickets

Many travelers don’t realize that Travelocity, Orbitz, and CheapTickets are all owned by Expedia Group, and typically have very similar inventory and pricing to Expedia. Each of these sites has similar layouts and filter options, too. Like Expedia, these three sites offer every possible vacation package combination involving a flight, hotel, and/or rental car.

It was rare for any of these sites to beat out Expedia’s prices in my tests; in general, the rates were identical (especially on Travelocity, where I didn’t find any deviations from Expedia) or a little bit higher. However, Orbitz and CheapTickets did offer slightly cheaper packages on one flight/car itinerary.

Because the pricing is so similar, it’s probably not worth searching all three of these sites in addition to Expedia unless a difference of a few dollars will make or break your travel budget.

Best Feature: Travelocity, Orbitz, and CheapTickets offer a checkbox on their main booking page to specify “I only need accommodations for part of my trip”—a feature that allows user to select a subset of their trip dates and search for travel packages only within that period. This feature is also reflected on Expedia’s search page.

Note: Expedia Group also owns Hotwire, which I didn’t find quite as reliable as the other three in my tests. For one itinerary, a nonstop flight that the other sites offered was not available when booking a Hotwire package (though it was available when booking a separate flight on Hotwire), and the pricing on some searches was a little higher than on the other sites.

Check out Expedia’s sister sites below:

Priceline

Like Expedia and its partners, Priceline also offers every possible combination of flight, hotel, and rental car. Its search results pages are easy to navigate, with plenty of filter and sort options, plus a map view for hotels. Priceline offers numerous hotel options in popular vacation destinations at every price point.

One quirk to prepare for: Priceline’s flight result page lists departure and return flights together as a pair rather than letting you choose each one separately. This cuts down on the number of screens you have to click through but could mean extra scrolling while you try to find the exact two flights you want. Not all flights that are available when booking airfare separately on Priceline seem to be accessible to those booking a package—so it’s worth checking both.

Priceline was in the middle of the pack as far as pricing was concerned. It won one of my tests but was the most expensive option in two others; overall, it offered cheaper-than-average prices 60 percent of the time. To help you save money, the site offers “Express Deals” for rental cars, an opaque option in which you don’t know which rental car brand you’ll get until after you’ve booked. If you’d rather choose which company you’re renting from, standard car rentals are also available.

Best feature: Once you’ve selected your flight and rental car preferences, the site will keep them the same as you click through alternate hotel possibilities—saving you the hassle of having to select them over and over again.

Check out Priceline

CheapCaribbean.com

As its name suggests, CheapCaribbean.com has a more limited scope than other sites on this list, but it’s worth checking if you’re planning a trip to the Caribbean, where package trips such as honeymoons are particularly popular. The site turned up cheaper-than-average prices for both of my Caribbean tests.

CheapCaribbean.com is one of the best vacation websites for all-inclusive packages. Once you’ve entered your trip information, you can also filter your results by “adults only,” “children’s amenities,” and “luxury.” Each hotel-specific page includes a list of active promotions, on-site activities, and the property’s Tripadvisor Traveler Rating.

In some ways CheapCaribbean.com isn’t quite as sophisticated as other travel package sites. There’s no map available to compare locations of the listed hotel options. Also annoying: not being able to group Houston’s two airports into a single search, though you can select “all airports” for New York City and Washington, D.C. But the affordable deals are worth a few snags, as long as you’re only looking for a flight/hotel package—there’s no option to add a car or create any other package combinations, though you can add travel insurance and transfers, at least for the destinations I checked.

Best Feature: The “Deals of Fortune,” or bookings where you know the destination but not the exact resort until about a week before the trip. This is a fun feature for value-conscious travelers who aren’t set on a particular island or property.

Check out Cheapcaribbean.com

Kayak

A popular meta-search site, Kayak saves travelers time by searching many of the best travel package sites with a single click. Unfortunately, you can’t specify which elements of your trip you’d like to bundle; it searches flight + hotel by default. You can add a car later on some of its partner sites, but if you’re looking for a flight/car package, you’ll have to go elsewhere.

Results list the cheapest available packages from sites such as Priceline (Kayak’s sister company), Expedia, and CheapCaribbean.com. There’s a map view available, and the results page shows both air- and hotel-related filters to make it easy to find nonstop flights, free breakfast, or a specific hotel.

I found that the prices listed on Kayak didn’t always match the price on the source site when I clicked over to find the deal—a fairly common problem with meta-search sites. But I also occasionally discovered that I got a different price after clicking from Kayak than I did when searching the same itinerary from the booking site’s home page. For example, a Las Vegas package was $819 per person on Priceline when I clicked over from Kayak, but just $783 when I booked the same package from the Priceline home page. Another test offered the opposite result, with the price being cheaper after clicking from Kayak than it was when booking directly on Priceline. The lesson: Test both options when using a meta-search site.

Best Feature: Being able to search some of the best vacation booking sites in a single place is a major time saver. Though Kayak doesn’t always find you the lowest possible price, it’s a good place to start your search and get an idea of what’s out there.

Check out Kayak

Funjet Vacations

The Funjet home page gives you a single package option: flight/hotel. However, you can work around this by adding a rental car on at the end of a flight/hotel or individual flight booking. There are plenty of sort options for your results, including price, hotel name, rating, points of interest, and location.

One annoyance: Similarly to CheapCarribbean.com, there is no option to select “all airports” for certain cities like Houston or Chicago. And Funjet’s prices aren’t the most consistent, ranking as the cheapest in one test and the most expensive in another. Still, the site is worth comparing to others when booking your vacation.

Best Feature: Rather than making you scour the web for coupons, Funjet automatically applies any relevant promo codes to your search.

Note: If you’re headed to the Caribbean, Central or South America, Hawaii, or Mexico, try your search on Funjet’s sister site, Apple Vacations. The destinations it covers are more limited than Funjet’s, but I found that the prices were often a little better. CheapCaribbean.com is also owned by the same parent company, Apple Leisure Group.

Check out Funjet

Book Your Stay With SmarterTravel Hotels

If you’re ready to book your next adventure but don’t want to commit to a prepackaged bundle, you can still save big by booking your hotel stay with SmarterTravel Hotels.

Book Now

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Follow Sarah Schlichter on Twitter @TravelEditor for more travel tips and inspiration.

The post The 8 Best Travel Package Sites for Booking a Cheap Vacation appeared first on SmarterTravel.

As with so many other travel buys, like the best hotel booking sites and the best airfare booking sites, to find the very best car rental deals you’ll need to cast a wide net. Still, some places tend to do better than others, at least some of the time.

The Best Car Rental Booking Sites in the U.S. and Europe

Here’s a quick roundup of the candidates for best car rental booking sites, based on detailed car searches in both the U.S. and Europe. (Find more details below on the perks and downfalls of each.)

• AutoRentals.com
• Hotwire
• Rentalcars.com
• Priceline
• Expedia
• Low-cost car rental booking sites Alamo, Payless, and Thrifty
• Sixt Car Rentals
• AARP’s discount with Avis, Budget, and Payless
• Auto Europe
• Rentcars.com
• Kayak
• CarRentals.com
• Autoslash

I tested base rental car rates by searching only for economy or compact cars, for a rental period of one week, and only for picking up and returning the car at the primary airports for a number of city destinations in both the U.S. and Europe. All quoted rates (except for opaque rates that hide car specifics until after you purchase their lower-priced deal) are fully cancellable, although some require an advance payment with the option of a refund given upon cancellation. Some vendors offer lower non-refundable rates. All rates include air-conditioning and all U.S. rates include automatic transmission; European rates are for manual since automatic comes at a premium there.

For the most part, the search-and-buy sequence is roughly the same for all car rental booking sites. No one rose out of the mix as especially easy or dropped as especially difficult. Therefore, my comparisons are based almost entirely on my ability to locate the best deals.

AutoRentals.com

Overall, AutoRentals.com is an excellent place to start a search. It’s a metasearch system that displays a matrix of prices for up to 25 model options available through more than two dozen different sources, including a mix of other metasearch car rental booking sites, online travel agencies, and rental company home pages.

Price displays include both the posted daily rate and the all-up cost of the requested rental. The display also indicates which rental locations, if any, are off-airport—which is important. This matrix feature is especially helpful in comparing options quickly.

Pros: Coverage of major cities is worldwide. Once you select an option to check, AutoRentals links you through to the vendor’s web pages to make your booking, and it includes many rental companies and search systems you’ve probably never heard about, let alone would find on your own.

Cons: Some of the “best deals” reported are not actually the true total price; they exclude some taxes and fees. And some are not fully cancellable—they’re either nonrefundable or entail a cancellation fee. This information is not disclosed until well into the booking process, and even then you have to dig for it.

Hotwire

Car rentals on Hotwire offered some of the lowest rates by way of “opaque” rates in most of my U.S. tests. Opaque means that you don’t find out about the rental company until after you pay the nonrefundable price. Given the sameness of cars, however, you risk very little disappointment with an opaque rate. The option to filter by “free cancellation” also gives peace of mind when booking. 

Pros: Hotwire’s leadership in low rates is confirmed by the AutoRentals matrix, where it shows up as the best buy on a regular basis.

Cons: I did not find as many opaque rates for Europe on Hotwire.

Rentalcars.com

Rentalcars.com consistently yielded good prices for my searches, though it didn’t always win every test. The site covers rentals in 163 countries worldwide, with more than 55,000 pick-up spots to choose from. Offering an “I’m flexible” option in the travel dates field gives customers who don’t yet know when they’d like to travel the ability to peruse rental deals within a wider date range, although this functionality may be less important to a car rental search than a search for flights or hotels. 

Pros: As with AutoRentals.com, Rentalcars.com is a metasearch system that makes it easy to compare offers. In some cases it offers opaque rates for lower prices if you don’t mind not knowing the exact car type.

Cons: Because some of the booking sites Rentalcars.com works with may be unfamiliar to you, the site shows user ratings for each so you can decide whether you’re comfortable booking. Unfortunately, some of them don’t have particularly high ratings (in one search, many of the results on page one were from providers rated just 5.9 out of 10).

Priceline

Like Hotwire, Priceline car rentals list opaque rates as the lowest options in many U.S. cities. Although Hotwire posted lower ones more often, Priceline was a winner in some cases. So if you’re looking for the lowest, you have to try both. The search results page has a summary of the best deals across the top for easy browsing. Customers can sort the page by recommended, lowest total price, or car type and refine results with a robust selection of filters from fuel type to cancellation policy.

Pros: The chance of it having the true lowest price. If you already use this site for hotels or airfare, it’s also easy to add on a car (as with the other big search engine booking sites).

Cons: I didn’t find any opaque rates for Europe in my Priceline searches.

Expedia

Expedia consistently offered or matched the lowest or near-lowest rates as frequently as Priceline and Rentalcars.com did. Plus the option to bundle with your airfare or hotel is easy and could save you money (as with other price comparison engines), if you already use Expedia for those, as many do. Like Priceline, Expedia’s search filters are extensive. Toggle on the “great deal” feature to see the lowest priced car currently on offer in each category.

Pros: In almost all cases, rates were the same as through the rental company’s own system. And if you already use this site for hotels or airfare, it’s easy to add on a car.

Cons: Expedia doesn’t seem to offer opaque rates, which is only truly a con if you’re looking for them.

Low-Cost Car Rental Booking Sites

In general, prices directly from low-end renters such as Alamo, Payless, and Thrifty were always less expensive than the top-name rental companies, usually with a difference of $100 or more per week. If you’re just looking for the cheapest car rental website, these are the sites for you.

Pros: The obvious benefit is you’re paying a lot less. But…

Cons: The trade-off is that the low-end outfits and third-party agencies generally don’t include the bells and whistles that top-end company loyalty programs provide. I also sometimes found lower rates on metasearch sites such as AutoRentals.com or Rentalcars.com than I did when booking directly through the low-cost car rental booking sites.

Alamo

Alamo has over 1,000 locations in 92 countries. Although owned by Enterprise, there’s not much resemblance between their initial search pages. If searching by city, Alamo will direct customers to an interactive map that allows them to see all nearby Alamo locations. If customers search for a specific Alamo location, the site brings them directly to the vehicle selection page. My search surfaced a “fits your search” option for an economy vehicle, but also a “recommended for you” option for a midsize SUV that didn’t completely match my search criteria.

Alamo offers a Pay Now and a Pay Later option. Pay Now is typically the cheaper option (about $15 cheaper in a search for Boston economy car rentals) but it comes with a stricter cancellation policy. If you cancel more than 24 hours in advance, you incur a $50 fee—any cancellation with less than 24 hours’ notice will cost you $100. Coupons are also only valid on Pay Later rentals.

Pros: Having the most locations in the most countries of the budget booking set means you’ll be able to find deals at more destinations.

Cons: The free cancellation and coupon policy incentivizes customers to pay the more expensive Pay Now rates.

Payless

Owned by Avis Budget Group, Payless rental cars has 120 locations in 35 countries including the United States. Although laid out similarly to other booking sites, it offers bare-bones filtering options. There’s no option on the initial search page to filter by what type of car you want, and no further filtering options on the search results page.

Payless also offers Pay Now and Pay Later rates, showing higher savings than Alamo—a difference of $38 dollars on an economy car rental. However, the cancellation policy for Pay Now is once again stricter, with customers forfeiting the entire prepaid amount if they cancel their reservation within 48 hours of intended pickup.

Pro: Payless Perks Club members get discounted car rental rates and access to exclusive promotions.

Cons: Lack of filter options makes it difficult to refine search results.

Thrifty

Operating over 1,000 locations in 77 countries, Thrifty is another top budget car rental option. Similarly to Payless, Thrifty offers a member discount if you sign up for an account. Their Blue Chip rewards program comes with perks in addition to discounts, including an additional authorized driver and quicker reservations. 

The search results page shows the daily rate and estimated trip total, where Payless and Alamo only show trip totals. Like some of the major rental dealerships listed above, Thrifty offers opaque rates. Their “Managers Special” rate offers a rental of a “wildcard or similar” at a promised discount price. Opaque rates on electric vehicles are specially flagged.

Pro: Opaque rates can save you even more on top of Thrifty’s already budget prices.

Cons: The opaque rates surfaced in my search were not that much cheaper than the regular deals, and only came up during domestic car rental searches.

Sixt Rent a Car

For European cities, the Sixt booking site is proof that higher-end companies occasionally offer specials better than any other source. At the time of my search, the German company was running a “special” found to be the cheapest option in some cases, but didn’t specify the rental company. Sixt also offers car rental deals in the US, with locations at dozens of major airports across the country.

Pros: Another strong chance of finding the lowest price.

Cons: The grid layout and dropdown details panels on the search results page is not as easy to navigate as the results pages on other sites on the list.

AARP Partners

If you qualify for them, AARP’s car rental partnership with the Avis Group (Avis, Budget, and Payless) promises discounts up to 35 percent as well as a 3% credit toward your next car rental, and in some cases I did find prices lower than those I’d seen anywhere else. The age requirement to join and access these benefits is lower than one may think—anyone over 18 years old can become an AARP member and take advantage of the savings. 

Pros: AARP rates could end up saving you money over all your other options.

Cons: Even with a “discount,” you might not be getting the lowest rate, so you still have to shop around.

Auto Europe

In Europe, Auto Europe generally matched all other sources, including self-described “discounters,” for offering the lowest rates. Think of it as the AutoRentals.com or Rentalcars.com of Europe. Their grid-style search results page makes it easy to compare prices from different rental companies at a glance, highlighting the cheapest deals in each category. However, there’s no option to scroll through all the search results together in one page. 

Pros: I’ve used Auto Europe in the past, and found its customer support to be outstanding. It can also help with difficult rentals, such as finding a rental agency in Ireland that accepts drivers over age 70. It’s a good place to start any European rental search.

Cons: As you’d expect from its name, Auto Europe is best for bookings in Europe. This car rental booking site does offer rentals in the U.S. and elsewhere, but usually won’t get you the best price for them.

Rentcars.com

Rentcars.com is another metasearch system that raises similar results to those search engines that were included in my original tests. Like the others, it manages to dig out some good deals. Like Hotwire, a summary of the best deals in each category is easily accessible at the top of the results page. Customers can also open the interactive map to see all Rentcars.com locations in a given area, making it easy to confirm you’re picking up and returning your rental at the most convenient location. 

Pros: It scans more than 300 rental car companies and confines the search display to the most useful prices.

Cons: As with many other sites, the best prices it finds are sometimes pay-in-advance, including full or partial non-refundability, meaning you need to know ahead of time that your plans are concrete unless you want to lose prepayments.

Kayak

Kayak is best known for airfare metasearch, but it offers a good product for car rentals as well. It searches numerous car rental agencies and booking sites and came up with some of the best prices in my tests. It includes opaque options advertising a “surprise agency” if you’re willing to take a risk.

Pros: The site has lots of handy filters, including “pay now” and “pay at counter” as well as an option to show only hybrid vehicles.

Cons: Kayak works with a wide variety of booking sites, which means you’ll sometimes be pointed to companies you’re not familiar with. Search for reviews before booking with vendors you haven’t used before.

CarRentals.com

CarRentals.com is owned by Expedia, but it didn’t show the exact same results as its parent company in the tests I ran, so it’s worth checking both. (Neither one came out consistently ahead of the other.) However, the search results page is formatted similarly to Expedia’s, with the same extensive set of filters and option to sort by lowest deals on the website. 

Pros: The site has some interesting filter options, including customer rating and the option for online check-in.

Cons: Making a booking through this site automatically signs you up for emails about “special offers,” with no way to opt out until the first email arrives.

Autoslash

Autoslash is a one-stop shopping site for discounts. When filling out your dates, you also check off any rewards programs or memberships you have, and let Autoslash do the searching for you. Within minutes, you will get an email with a link taking you to your best rate.The initial search is broken down into steps, taking customers through a flow of screens asking about their pick-up and drop-off dates, car preferences, frequent flier memberships, credit cards, and more. Unfortunately there is no way to select multiple preferences for your vehicle at the same time (for example, searching for deals on economy and compact cars), so if you want to compare deals across specific categories you will have to run separate searches.

Pros: Ability to search all rewards programs and membership discounts at once. If you’ve already booked through another site, you can enter your confirmation number, and they will let you know if there is a better deal available.

Cons: You may have to pay in advance for the best deal, and you may have to book with a lesser-known car rental company.

The Car Rental Booking Site Gotchas to Avoid

No matter where you rent, you have to check out the terms and conditions of any rental before you make your final purchase. Among them:

• Great-looking deals that are nonrefundable or entail a stiff cancellation penalty.
• Cancellable deals that require upfront payment rather than payment at the end of a rental.
• Best deals that apply to tiny “economy” or “mini” cars that are not practical for anything other than running errands around town.
• Occasional deals with a mileage cap instead of the unlimited mileage you normally expect.
• Supposedly all-up prices that exclude some local taxes and fees.

How old do I have to be to rent a car?

In the United States, you must be at least 21 years old to rent a car in most states. However, many spots in Europe allow car rentals starting at age 18. If renting in Europe, check the policies of your specific car rental service. 

Renting a Car if You Are Under 25 Years Old

Drivers under 25 years old are typically charged an extra daily surcharge and potentially subject to restrictions on what types of cars they can rent. The fees vary by car rental site and can be waived in certain scenarios—for example, AAA member under 25 years old renting with Hertz can have their young renter fee waived.

Rental Car Insurance

Purchasing a Collision Damage (or Loss Damage) Waiver from your rental car provider is the one way to guarantee you won’t be held liable for any damages incurred during your rental period, but it can be expensive. Alternatives include sourcing your own insurance from your credit card or a third-party provider, but gaps in this coverage could leave you in trouble. Read our comprehensive guide on car rental insurance to learn what type of coverage is right for your situation.

Always document existing damage when first picking up your rental car. Fill out a damage from if provided by the company and take photos and video of any notable damage. 

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Consumer advocate Ed Perkins has been writing about travel for more than three decades. The founding editor of the Consumer Reports Travel Letter, he continues to inform travelers and fight consumer abuse every day at SmarterTravel. Carol McPherson contributed to this story.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2019. It has been updated to reflect the most current information. Sarah Schlichter contributed to this story. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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