Your Solo Traveller’s Guide to Smart Online Booking. Think Smart, Book Smart!

In past articles, we have explained the benefits of using travel planners to help you plan your trip, detailing both the advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take the reins and guide you on booking your entire solo trip online…

Booking travel online has put immense power in your hands as a solo traveller. No longer are you beholden to a travel agent's hours or limited options. You can explore the world from your living room BUT, but you have to be smart, patient, and diligent.

But with so many sites and so much information, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and miss out on the best deals.

To make sure you're getting the most out of your online travel research, here are five crucial things to know before you click “book.”

1. Know Your Booking Sites: (There are Dozens of Them).

Not all travel websites are created equal. Broadly, they fall into two main categories: Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and Metasearch Engines.

• Online Travel Agencies (OTAs): These are the big names you're likely familiar with—sites like Expedia, Orbitz, and Priceline. They operate like modern-day travel agents, buying blocks of flights, hotel rooms, and car rentals to resell to you.

They often offer package deals (e.g., flight + hotel), and their platforms are designed for a seamless, all-in-one booking experience. However, they only show you what's available within their own inventory, which can limit your options.

• Metasearch Engines: Think of these as the Google of travel. Sites like Kayak, Skyscanner, and Google Flights don't sell you anything directly. Instead, they scrape the web for prices from airlines, hotels, OTAs, and other sources, then present all the options in one place.

These are great for finding the absolute lowest price because they compare a massive range of sites. The downside is that they often redirect you to the original site to complete the booking, so you might not get the same bundled services or customer support as you would with an OTA.

2. Always Compare, Compare, Compare!!

It can feel tedious, but the single most effective way to ensure you're getting a good price is to compare across multiple platforms. What seems like the best deal on one site might be undercut by another, even for the same flight or hotel room.

This is because different OTAs have different agreements with airlines and hotels, and prices can fluctuate constantly due to dynamic pricing algorithms. A price you see in the morning could be different in the afternoon. So, it pays to check a few different sites—both OTAs and metasearch engines—before you commit.

As a solo traveller, this is especially important when you’re flexible with your dates or routes. You can often save a significant amount of money by flying on a Tuesday instead of a Friday or by choosing a slightly different route.

3. Check Directly with the Sources.

This might seem counterintuitive, but after you've used a metasearch engine to find the best price, it's always a good idea to perform a final check on the airline or hotel's official website.

Sometimes, airlines and hotels offer special "direct booking" deals or exclusive promotions that they don't share with third-party sites.

Booking directly can also give you more control over your reservation, a better chance of earning loyalty points, and a clearer path to customer support if something goes wrong. Plus, you can often avoid the service fees that some third-party booking sites charge, which brings us to our next point.

4. Watch Out for Hidden Fees.

One of the biggest pitfalls of online booking is getting hit with unexpected fees. OTAs often charge a service fee for their convenience. While it's usually a nominal amount (around $5-$10), it's important to be aware of it.

More importantly, pay close attention to the fine print regarding cancellation and change fees. This is where solo travellers can get into trouble.

While direct bookings may have stricter cancellation policies, OTAs can sometimes charge a hefty fee for any changes or refunds, in addition to the airline or hotel's own charges. If your plans are at all uncertain, read the fee disclosure carefully before you book.

Metasearch engines generally don't charge a fee, as they make money through referrals, but this can change. Always confirm the final price before you enter your payment details.

5. Leverage Your Flexibility.

As a solo traveller, you have a massive advantage over families and groups: you're more flexible. Use this to your benefit.

• Be Flexible with Dates: Use the "flexible dates" or "calendar view" tools on metasearch engines to see the cheapest days to fly. Even shifting your travel by a single day can result in significant savings.
• Be Flexible with Airports: Consider flying into or out of a smaller, regional airport. A short train or bus ride might be worth the hundreds of dollars you save on a flight.
• Consider Alternative Accommodations: Don't limit yourself to hotels. Look into hostels (many have private rooms!), guesthouses, or Airbnb. These options often provide a more authentic experience and can be a great way to meet fellow travellers.

Navigating the world of online travel booking can feel like a game, but with a few smart strategies, you will be able to find the best deals and have more money to spend on your adventures.

There are more tools than ever to help you travel better and cheaper. And if you ever feel overwhelmed, remember you can always turn to a traditional travel agent for help.