Travel Apps, Sites, Browser Extensions to Save Money

Travel industry consolidation is making bargain hunting trickier than ever.

The good news is that you may be able to save big by shopping around, in some cases with help from artificial intelligence (AI) — computer systems that can draw on vast amounts of data to perform tasks that mimic human learning and language.

“There is an illusion of choice because there are so many brands,” says William McGee, a senior fellow for aviation and travel at the nonprofit American Economic Liberties Project. “But in the U.S., six hotel companies oversee most of the major hotel brands, and three companies oversee most of the rental car industry.”

About three-quarters of travelers 50 and older want to learn more about using technology in their travel, especially as they plan and book their trips, according to an AARP Research study released Oct. 3. Most already use apps and websites but not consistently.

After trying out some of the latest travel apps and talking to travel professionals about how they save, I came up with this bargain hunter’s tool kit.

1. Start with a chatbot to get some quick answers

AI-powered assistants have been added to apps such as Tripadvisor, Expedia and Booking.com, and they’re part of many new travel-planning sites, including Mindtrip, Vacay and Layla. Along with general-purpose chatbots ChatGPT and Google Gemini, they can quickly build itineraries based on your budget, trip dates and interests.

They might save you money although that’s not always their strong suit.

AI is almost everywhere these days, and nearly 9 in 10 older adults are familiar with it, the AARP survey shows. About 4 in 5 of those who say they know about AI are interested in using it to help personalize their travel.

My advice for using chatbots:

• Try asking the same questions in different ways to get good answers.
• Double-check results to make sure they’re accurate. AI is still known for making stuff up that sounds plausible, what’s politely known as hallucinations.
• Most important: Shop around to make sure you’re getting the best legitimate deals.

The bigger the trip, the more likely a scammer will be attracted to you and your itinerary. About 2 in 5 AARP survey respondents worried about scammers as they planned their travel, rising to half during booking and nearly 3 in 5 while on a trip.

2. Fly for less by looking at prices beyond airlines

Most experts I spoke with recommend Google Flights.

“There really is no better starting point,” says Madison Blancaflor, a managing editor at the Points Guy website. Alternatives include Skyscanner, Hopper and Kayak. On Kayak, I love the “best time to travel” tool, which recommends particular months to visit cities.