Choosing the Right Destination

The best way to save on a summer vacation is to consider alternative destinations where things may be less expensive. Known in the industry as “travel dupes,” travelers have found success by flying to smaller, regional communities instead of the main city airport. For example, if a family wanted a beach getaway, instead of flying into the more expensive Miami International Airport and exploring South Beach, they could fly into the regional Orlando Sanford International Airport and explore Daytona Beach Shores, FL. Best of all, along with cheaper airfares, the beach offers reduced crowds and more space to spread out.

"Rather than setting your heart on one destination, have a few in mind," Smart Shopping Expert at TrueTrae, Trae Bodge shared with us. "That way, when you start researching, you can choose one over another based on flight prices, weather, exchange rate, and other factors."

When to Book Airfare

Booking airfare doesn’t have to be a guessing game. Google Flights recently analyzed four years of flight data to find the cheapest days to book a flight, with some clear evidence. When traveling within the United States, it is cheapest to book at least 38 days in advance of departure on average. For international flights, the cheapest fares are typically available 101 days on average before departure. This means that a July or August domestic vacation should be booked in late May and early June, and an international trip in September should be booked in early June.

Best of all, when booking directly with an airline, travelers can set alerts within Google Flights to monitor their airfare. If the price drops, travelers can often recover the savings through a price adjustment. Google Flights also gives the option to select a wide radius when choosing a destination airport, giving you a chance to capture those regional airports which may offer discounted flights.

When to Book Hotels

Once the flight is booked, hotels should be next on the planning list. It is critical to book early for the best selection of room type and value, especially if you’re looking to secure specific room types, such as double beds or connecting doors since these can often sell out quickly during the summer months and leave travelers with more limited options. The time period between August 19, 2025 and August 25, 2025 is currently the cheapest time to book flights or hotels, according to summer travel data from Expedia.

When to Book Rental Cars

Similar to flights and hotels, travelers hitting the road in a rental car should book early. Rental cars come with some of the more flexible reservation policies than other travel companies, making it easy to book and cancel if needed. Monitor the price of the rental car leading up to your trip. These change more frequently than flights or hotels and can potentially offer unexpected savings.

How to Uncover the Best Deals

While in the early planning phases of a vacation, sign up for promotional emails from travel companies and airlines to get their best deals sent to you. Set up a secondary email account to capture the messages, so the promotions don’t overwhelm your personal inbox.

Also, with the exception of booking a vacation package that includes hotel, airfare, and rental car at one price, it is most often cheapest to book directly with the individual companies themselves. Best of all, many companies offer price matching if you find their direct rates higher than those on a third-party site. For example, Hertz Car Rental has a best rate guarantee that offers a 10% discount if a cheaper rate is available versus what is on their website.

Destination Inspiration

Even after following all of the tips and tricks to book the cheapest flights or rental cars for a summer getaway, there are easy ways to save once you’re actually on vacation.

Rest and relaxation are ranked as the primary motivators for people to do summer travel, according to a 2024 Deloitte Summer Travel Study. With this in mind, a relaxing getaway can be built around a variety of discounted or free experiences. Travelers may want to consider visiting national parks or state parks that have no entry fee or are extremely cost-effective, especially for groups.

Check in with the hotel concierge or front desk team for advice, letting them know you’re hoping to save on local attractions. Many local hotel employees can give you the inside scoop of the best things to do in their region without breaking the bank.

Bodge, who blogs about money savings tips and ways to save on family travel, also shared to comparison shop activity and ticket prices, as different vendors offer promotions.

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