7 secrets of cheap travel from the founder of travel deal website

You should travel solo at
least once.
hanohiki/Shutterstock

I’ve experienced firsthand how to travel on a budget, but it does require
some research, constant airline scanning, and, oftentimes, a bit
of luck. There are also awesome travel sites out there that can
help you save on airfare, and of course
there’s always good ol’ fashioned saving up.

But those who’ve nailed the strategy of sitting on flights and
jumping on them at the perfect time are professionals for a
reason, like Scott Keyes of Scott’s
Cheap Flights who scans the most affordable international air
prices and alerts you at the perfect moment.

Thankfully, he answered various questions on a Reddit
iAMA that will hopefully do you some good on your next
vacation. Check out seven tips and favorites he shared with
users.

1. Where is your favorite travel destination that you only
discovered after finding a cheap flight there?

“Oh, great question! This is going to sound silly, but Milan. I
had zero interest in going to Milan, until I found a nonstop
flight there for $130 round trip. Who wouldn’t go to Milan for
$130 round trip? Granted, I didn’t spend a ton of time in the
city itself (aside from seeing an AC Milan game), but there’s so
much magic in northern Italy. Took a train to hike Cinque Terre,
took a train up to Lake Como for the day, even took a train out
to the Italy/Switzerland border to ski the alps right by the
Matterhorn. All on a whim! Likely never would’ve gotten to do any
of that if not for the cheap flight.”

2. Any tips on saving on hotel costs?

“I’m a big fan of Airbnb to be honest. Usually far better central
location for the same price, ya know?”

3. Any successful honeymoon stories?

“You’re absolutely right that honeymoons can be suuuuper
expensive, especially with Summer flights and whatnot. But one of
the most gratifying success stories I see each day are couples
who didn’t think they’d be able to afford a honeymoon but ended
up getting one because of the list! Some of the more popular
honeymoon destinations for US travelers of late (along with
price):

• Paris for $351 round trip
• Mallorca for $469 round trip
• Croatia for $541 round trip
• Rome for $498 round trip
• Hawaii for $475 round trip

Not nothing, obviously, but hopefully much more affordable than
the $1000-to-Europe many people are used to paying!”

4. What do you think about solo travel?

“Oh man. I highly recommend everyone travel solo at least once,
purely as a learning and get-to-know-you experience. But
personally once I’ve gotten that growth out of the way, I’m a big
fan of shared experiences. Misery loves company.”

5. How long would a stopover have to be before you decide it
isn’t worth the saving?

“Great question. The answer is partly to each his own, but also
partly depends on the city you’re laying over in. If it’s in a
city like Frankfurt with a quick-and-easy train from the airport
to the city, I actually like half-day layovers because it gives
me a chance to sample a new city that I might not have seen
otherwise and then decide if it’s worth coming back to. I’ve
gotten to do that in places like Frankfurt, Seoul, Hong Kong,
etc. But you’re definitely right that multi-leg trips are usually
much more exhausting than direct flights. Nice if you can get ’em
cheap!”

6. Any advice on finding a good deal on flights to Colombia in
June or July?

“Cheap flights to Colombia pop up fairly regularly, so don’t book
too early. (Don’t wait too long either since it’s peak Summer.)
I’d recommend monitoring prices and booking if they get below
$350 round trip, and setting late March or so as the deadline to
book if nothing great has popped up before then.”

7. What are some must-see places in London?

• “Take a free guided walking tour the first day to get
  oriented and learn the city of London.”
• “Get high tea at the Saatchi Gallery.”
• “Go to the British Museum, of course.”
• “Get lunch at the Borough Market.”
• “It’s a great city for wandering, so don’t be afraid to throw
  away the plans and just explore.”

Read the original article on POPSUGAR Smart Living. Copyright 2017. Follow POPSUGAR Smart Living on Twitter.