So you've decided where to go, now how to get there and where will you stay?

Airlines and Flight Choices

I generally start my search out broad and then narrow down based on certain factors. The “broad search” starts with an online travel agency (OTA). My preference is Google Flights or Kayak. From there, I narrow my search based on the options that return.

Aim to include baggage in your filtered search. The difference in baggage fees can lead to quite a sticker shock with some airlines. Some airlines (cough… Spirit, RyanAir, Jetstar) will nickel and dime you for essentially all services, such as; carry-on luggage, choosing a seat, and in-flight beverages.

Try not to filter arrival/departure times (unless you have time-sensitive events planned). This will increase your options and likely help to keep costs down. Do be mindful of very late or early arrival times. For late arrivals, keep safety in mind, especially if you are traveling alone. For early arrivals, keep in mind that during busy times, most hotels can’t accommodate early check-in, so you will need to find something to keep you busy. And, if you have the time, I strongly recommend long layovers, i.e., stopovers. This will allow time to add in a quick trip to a new country. More on this in the “stopover section”

My aim, when booking, is to accumulate as many points as possible, with as few airlines as possible. This helps narrow down my search as I aim to keep airlines contained to 4 or fewer. Thankfully, many airlines have alliances, so even if I book with a non-preferred airline, I can often still select my preferred airline’s points program, so I’m not spreading my points too thin. If prices are comparable, book directly with the airline and not through an OTA. This helps to avoid having to negotiate with “middlemen” in the event of flight disruptions.

Be wary of prices that seem too good to be true, usually found on less reputable OTAs. While the prices can work out in the end, sometimes you are entangled in a third-party disaster if an issue arises with your flight or possible negative consequences from the airline if your ticket is booked as a “hidden city ticket.”

Even if you do book indirectly with an OTA, I still recommend that you register the booking with the airline directly to ensure that you collect your miles and you have direct access to your boarding pass and immediate flight updates.

There are many other sites that are solely dedicated to the game of points and flights, so I will leave the details to them. I will direct you to my favorite, The Points Guy (TPG).

Cabin choice

This will ultimately come down to personal preference and, more importantly, money! I travel a lot, so I just can’t afford to fly business or first class. Every so often (generally with long-haul flights), I will splurge.

Just know all business or first-class seats aren’t equal. They vary depending on the type of plane, year of the plane, and the airline. I’ve been on some flights where the only difference between the so-called business class section and economy was the divider that marked off the sections.

My only advice here is that you look at the seating plan first before confirming your upgraded class. You can see this by either googling the type of plane you will be flying or by simulating booking until you get to the “seat selection” section. For example, IcelandAir’s business class (Saga Premium) comes with the price but not the expected luxury. You will get more space and more comfy chairs, but the seats aren’t lie flat, which is a must-have in my opinion when flying business class on a long-haul flight.

Adding a stopover

What is a stopover? Generally speaking, it’s an extended layover. There is more technicality to the true definition, but for the purposes of this blog, it is an opportunity to quickly visit a new country or city. If I have enough time when traveling, I will usually pick flights with a long (at least 6 hours) layover in a city I’ve never visited. I say 6 hours because you will need to allow time for exiting the airport (including customs) and returning to the airport (including security again) as well as transferring to and from the city (which during busy times around major cities can take time). Think about the time of day as well, because overnight stopovers don’t really allow you the opportunity to explore the city.

Hotels

My hotel selection process is somewhat similar to my airline selection process. Similar in that I do like to accumulate points with my preferred brands; MarriottBonvoy, Hilton, Hyatt, or Hotels.com (we will need to see how this new “OneKey” program pans out).

Outside of that, my process is less methodical and more emotional. For me, my stay in the hotel is a part of the experience of my vacation. Honestly, there are some places on my travel list that I’ve chosen just for the hotel/resort.

Thus, if I can find a hotel in which I really want to stay… AND it happens to be a part of my preferred brands or hotels.com, then double win. Because I do include hotels.com, it is a rare occasion that I’m not able to find a hotel that is included in both categories.