Summer travel tips: Beat the crowds and snag deals

With the peak summer travel season upon us, TheStreet digs into the top tips and tricks for snagging last-minute travel deals while avoiding the crowds. Travel app Going suggests utilizing the internet, remaining flexible and doing your research.

Related: 2024's hottest summer travel destinations

Full Video Transcript Below:

CONWAY GITTENS: The peak summer travel season is about to kick into high gear and even if you haven’t booked your ticket yet - listen up - there are still some deals out there.

In order to snag the best fares, travel app Going has this advice: Use the power of the internet.

Sites like Google Flights can help you cut through the clutter to find the flights and the fares you want. Be flexible with dates, destinations, and airlines. The more flexible you are, the more success you’ll have in snagging a cheap ticket. 

If you’re flying international, consider flying into alternative cities and airports. You’ll often pay a cheaper price, and especially in Europe, you can jump on a train with ease to your final destination. And finally, don’t procrastinate - if you see a good fare snag it. Waiting to see if the price will get cheaper can often leave you paying more.

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Going has scoured the web and found some great deals over the past 12 months. For travel within the U.S., believe it or not, Hawaii, New York City, and Miami/Fort Lauderdale top the list.

Since these are some of the most desired places to visit, and most airlines fly there, they are forced to compete on price.

On the international front, Paris, London, and Dublin top the list. Just make sure you avoid Paris from late-July to mid-August because of the Summer Olympics.

You should be seeing a smaller travel bill this year, overall. Though the cost of eating away from home jumped by 4 percent over the past 12 months through May, airline fares are down 6 percent over the past year, lodging costs away from home fell in April and May, and gasoline prices saw a sharp drop in May, according to the latest Consumer Price Index.

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