Best Travel Websites

We all seem to know our way around a computer and buying online has become the norm. Although, if you’re like me, you probably like to hear a friendly voice who can reassure you that what you are booking or buying is EXACTLY what you want or need.

Online travel has grown over 60% the past year and it continues to grow rapidly, but there are so many websites out there it can be difficult to weed out the good from the bad. Below are some that I’ve tried, tested and would certainly recommend.

IRISH WEBSITES

If you live in Ireland, the below will provide packages with flights leaving from Ireland, saving you the hassle of having to book a flight to the UK.

GOHOP.IE – one of the largest and most reputable Irish online companies. You can book flights, hotels, packages, car hire and transfers. They always have amazing city break offers and great deals to South Africa and other worldwide destinations.

BUDGETAIR – offer hotels, flights and package holidays around the world at discounted price.

CLICKANDGO – Irish owned online travel company who sell a range of package holidays and city breaks. They have the possibility to build your own holiday so you’re not committed to the traditional package holidays and they also have a price comparison facility so you can find the cheapest options

LOWCOSTHOLIDAYS – offer hotels, flights and package holidays around the world at amazingly low prices!

FLIGHTS

Skyscanner.ie – An easy to use comparison website that will bring up all the different flight options for your destination based on your dates. It will also bring up the cheapest flights to particular destinations based on dates you put in, so if you’ve not decided where to go, it pulls up the cheapest options. It also compares sites for hotels, car hire and insurance.

HIPMUNK – a very easy to use comparison website that shows results for flights by cost/departure times/duration

FLYCHEAPO – tells you which low-cost airlines fly into which airports.

HOTELS

Expedia.com, ebookers.com and hotels.com would be some of the top hotel booking websites, however many of the comparison websites will pull up the best deals from sites like these.

TRIVAGO – comparison site showing cost comparisons for hotel rooms, comparing the results from different websites like expedia.com and hotels.com

HOTELLY.COM – for those a little nervous about booking online without having being to a place, try hotelly.com. The site compares hotel prices from other sites, but also shows written and video reviews of over half of the hotels listed

ADVICE

TRIPADVISOR – we all know it and whether you love it or hate it, it’s here to stay. Be careful when using it if there are only a few reviews of a place however, nowadays you will get several hundred comments on places and the overall rating is what you should be looking at.

GOGBOT – a range of reviews of destinations throughout the world. Recommendations on cities, family holidays, foodie holidays – you name it, they have it.

CHEAP ACCOMMODATION

Airbnb.com – has over 100,000 listings in 192 countries where people rent a room in a person’s home. You can get rooms for as cheap as €10 per night, but the more popular destinations tend to be the price of a cheap hotel room, but have a more welcoming feel than a bland hotel room.

http://www.homestay.com – Similar to Airbnb – offering accommodation with a host in destinations throughout the world.

Couchsurfing.org – a social networking site of sorts that hooks travellers up with people around the world open to letting people sleep in their home for free. People leave reviews of their stay online, so potential bookers can see feedback. A great way to travel the world for free!

Homeaway.com – rent a property, often someones home or second home, during your holidays. Put in your destination, dates and budget and then choose from the selection brought up.

Homeexchange.com – Swap your house with someone else across the world and save hundreds of euros on your holiday.

FLEXIBLE TRAVEL

If you’re flexible about when and where you can go then some of the low-cost websites offer incredible deals. The sites will offer you up to 70% off luxury accommodation

LIVINGSOCIAL 

SECRET ESCAPES

LASTMINUTE

I-ESCAPE

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Shop around and check with your own private health insurance to see what rate they will offer you for annual coverage. It’s usually cheaper to go with a multi-trip policy and shouldn’t be more than €50 for this. However, you can get great online deals offering you annual cover, just be sure that it covers your baggage loss too.

Check out expedia.com, travelsupermarket.com, comparethemarket.com

ALL INFORMATION FROM THE SLOT WILL BE ON MY WEBSITE: WWW.JULIANNEMOONEY.COM