Leadership and Executive Development for women of all races, cultures and backgrounds
Issue link: https://diversitywoman.epubxp.com/i/510478
d i v e r s i t y w o m a n . c o m S u m m e r 2 0 1 5 D I V E R S I T Y W O M A N 41 By Sar a J. Welch V ayama. Skyscanner. Tripol- ogy. Do those names make you scratch your head and go "huh?" Ten you need to spend more time on the Internet. Tey're among the dozens of websites that can help you plan your next getaway. If the thought of scrolling through multiple sites sounds so overwhelming you just want to hire a travel agent, have no fear. Diversity Woman is here to help you sort out how to arrange your dream vacation online—and save big bucks in the process. All you need is a laptop, an In- ternet connection—and some time. Research, research, research Did we say time? We meant it. Tere's no way around it—you're going to have to do your homework. Te average person planning a trip visits seven websites be- fore even choosing a hotel, notes Bjorn Hanson, a clinical professor with New York University's Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism. Of course, you've heard of Expedia and Priceline—the online travel agencies, or OTAs, as they're referred to in the travel business. For many customers, this is where their travel planning begins. After a series of recent mergers, Expedia and Priceline are the only two major OTAs left in the industry. Travelocity, a third, was recently acquired by Expedia, and at press time, Expedia was in the process of acquir- ing Orbitz, another former competitor. Te main advantage of OTAs is that they're one-stop shops that allow you to book fights, hotel rooms, car rentals, cruises, and, in some cases, activities in your chosen destination. Often the package deals they ofer are more afordable than if you were to pur- chase all the components of a trip indi- vidually. But buyer beware: make sure Power Trip you're comparing apples to apples, says Hanson. Some third-party sites won't al- low you to accrue loyalty program points, for example. And if you're reserving a ho- tel room, you may not be able to book an early check-in or late departure. Many smaller websites are beloved by travel experts and other people in the know. A popular one is Kayak (acquired by Priceline a couple of years ago), mainly for its "buy or wait?" feature, which tells you if prices are expected to go up or down in the next seven days. Others include Vayama, Adioso, and Skyscanner. Jim Friedlander, president of Academic Arrangements Abroad, a tour operator in New York City, says Momondo is his go-to site when booking international fights. Just keep in mind that there's no magic bullet when it comes to booking fights. Given the mergers and acquisitions in the airline business (there are now just four major carriers in the United States— United, Delta, American, and Southwest), THINKSTOCKPHOTOS Plan Your Dream Trip—Now! How to effciently and inexpensively plan your next vacation DW Life >