My booking philosophy 

If I'm not doing group travel that requires me to arrive at a certain country on a specific date, I book the cheapest flights I can find, because at the end of the day I want to see the entire world, and I don't care what order I see it in.  Having this mentality makes booking flights really easy, because if I see a good deal on a domestic or international flight, I book it and go! I'm not putting all this pressure on myself to see one specific country in any given year, I stay incredibly flexible with choosing a destination. 

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How I decide my travel destination

For solo travel, I don't spend too much time thinking about where I'm going to go. I first decide how much money I'm willing to spend on a flight (usually no more than $1,000 international), then I let the flight websites suggest my next destination based on budget.  There are two great websites I like to use for this method of booking:  Sky Scanner and Google Flights. 

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Sky Scanner and Google Flights 

Both of these websites have a really awesome feature in their Search Bars: you can fill out the dates you want to travel, and leave the destination blank.  If you click "search" without typing in a destination, both websites provide you with pricing for various places around the world for those dates you typed in.  Sky Scanner lists them out for you by price, Low to High.  Google generates a map and shows you flight prices directly over the states and countries.  You can zoom in on the map to find more and more prices.  You can get the flight details by clicking on the prices shown.  This is how I found my $500 round trip ticket from San Francisco to Dubai... 

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If you are trying to rack-up frequent flier miles with a certain company, this method is not very beneficial because sometimes the cheapest flights are not with your preferred airline.  If you want to keep racking up those points, it makes sense to book through their dedicated website instead. 

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Booking through specific airlines

Choosing one or two specific airlines to fly with exclusively has one major benefit:  You can create a "frequent flier" account with them and start racking up mileage points that will result in gaining membership "status" with them.  Depending on the airline and the level of your "Status" you can enjoy perks such as being able to use their dedicated airport lounges instead of waiting in front of the gate with everyone else, free seat upgrades, priority boarding, and free checked bags.

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Though most of the major airlines do not allow you to leave the destination blank when searching for your travel destination like Sky Scanner or Google Flights, there is still a way to save a little money when booking for that specific destination... All major airlines have a tab dedicated to "flexible dates" and if you click on that tab, you will be shown different travel dates within the timeframe you initially entered, and most of the time those different travel dates come with a lower flight price.  Stay flexible in your travel dates and save money! 

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I currently have status with United Airlines and Alaska Airlines and I love the perks! 

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Bundled Deals

One other way to save money and keep working towards that airline membership status is by buying bundled flight and hotel packages.  Two websites I love to use for this booking method are Expedia and Cheap Caribbean. 

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Expedia and Cheap Caribbean 

I use Expedia for domestic and international travel.  Booking both flights and hotels together has saved me plenty of money.  They even offer flights from some of the major airlines and you can add in your frequent flier number to still get your points!  What's great about their bundled deals is that they offer more options than just hotels to stay at, they also offer hostels, all-inclusive resorts, and Bed and Breakfast places.  They have an app and it makes booking and checking your itinerary very easy. 

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For Cheap Caribbean, the name says it all.  It's a great website for booking trips to the Caribbean.  I've gotten great deals on bundled packages for my trips to Jamaica, Cancun, and Dominican Republic.  When visiting the Caribbean I love to stay at all-inclusive resorts and this website offers many options for this.  You can also add on private or semi-private transportation to and from your hotel and it costs a lot less than the average taxi ride.  They also sell excursions on their website, but I don't recommend booking them, your hotel will have the same excursions and sometimes for a lower price.

 

Hotels, Hostels, Airbnb

I'm not the pickiest traveler, so I stay at a variety of places when I travel.

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Hotels

Hotels are obviously great, they're private, have membership programs with cool benefits, and sometimes come with free breakfast.  I love them!  But they don't always fit into my budget.  If I'm in a position to splurge,  or if I can get a good bundled deal with my flight, I will book them.  Otherwise, I stay at Hostels or at an Airbnb. 

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Hostels

Personally, I love hostels!  You can book either a bunk bed or a private room to yourself.  They cost way less than hotels.  But as always, you get what you pay for, and you really only pay for a bed and locker to store your valuable items.  Most times you will have to share a bathroom and shower, so if you're not ok with that, I don't recommend staying at hostels.  The only way to get a private bathroom is by booking a private room if they have them available, not all hostels do.

 

What every hostel does offer though, is a social and fun environment!  Hostels are full of other solo travelers and the staff usually go out of their way to put on events and group tours for their guests.  I have met some of the coolest travelers in hostels, some of which are my closest friends today.  It's a great experience and a great way to not feel so lonely on your trip.  But one thing to keep in mind: you get out what you put in, so put yourself out there and be social! 

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Most hostels offer a light continental breakfast and also have a kitchen so you're welcome to cook your own meals to save a little money.

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Here are a few ways to make your hostel stay a little more comfortable:

• Bring your own towel, some hostels charge for the towel

• Bring flip flops for the shower, you will most likely be sharing a bathroom

• Bring your own lock, you get a locker to store your most valuable items

 

The company I use for booking hostels is called Hostelworld and I highly recommend them. 

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Airbnb

If you're not trying to be a social butterfly on your trip and don't want to spend most of your budget on a hotel, Airbnb is a great option!  You can book a room in someone's house/apartment or rent out their entire place.  It's usually cheaper to just book a room so that's what I have done in the past.  The host will give you a key to the house and to your room and you can come and go as you please.  You are usually allowed to use the common living spaces including the kitchen. 

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Your hosts have great knowledge of the area and are a great resource for getting advice on great places to eat, sights to see, and local transportation.  You can also ask them for help in booking things for you before you arrive, worse case scenario, they simply say no, but you don't know until you ask!  I have had some incredible hosts help me with bookings. 

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Pro tips for staying at Airbnbs:

• I only book Airbnbs that have a rating of "Super Host."  I suggest you do the same. That rating lets you know that they have hosted plenty of people in their home all of whom have left great reviews.

• Book a place with a pool or hot tub!  Nothing screams "vacation" better than pool or hot tub! 

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