Steal These Deals: Travel Sleuth
He scours the web for packages and last-minute deals.
Row 0 - Cell 0 | Steal These Deals |
Row 1 - Cell 0 | PLUS: See Our Bargain Hunters |
Row 2 - Cell 0 | PODCAST: Steal These Deals Covercast |
Row 3 - Cell 0 | QUIZ: What Kind of Spender Are You? |
Row 4 - Cell 0 | AND: 10 Things We Overpay For |
Hylton’s favorite travel Web site is Travelocity, where he’s found package deals for less than the cost of the flight alone. For example, in January, he found a flight from New York City, where he lives, to Washington, D.C., for a pricey $429. But he was able to book a bundled trip he found on the site that included a round-trip flight and three-day car rental for just $199.
E-mails from various sites help Hylton watch for the best bargains. Last year, an alert from Kayak.com let him know that the fare for an American Airlines flight to Los Angeles that he had booked on Travelocity for $429 had dropped to $289. After a call to Travelocity, he was refunded the difference. He also receives weekly e-mails with deals from TravelZoo.com, which bagged him a $99-a-night stay, including two 60-minute massages, at a resort in Vermont.
Top Tips
Package a flight with a car rental or hotel stay for the best vacation bargains. Set up alerts at Kayak.com and other travel sites. Check Craigslist for cheap weekend apartment rentals.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
-
The Best FSA or HSA-Eligible Amazon Prime Day Deals You Can Shop Now
Double down on savings by taking advantage of these early Prime Day deals that are FSA or HSA eligible. Save on fitness trackers, air purifiers, baby gear and more.
-
Stock Market Today: It's 'All Sectors Go' Ahead of Independence Day
The resilience trade continues to work, even for sectors and stocks with specific uncertainties.
-
Amazon Resale: Where Amazon Prime Returns Become Your Online Bargains
Feature Amazon Resale products may have some imperfections, but that often leads to wildly discounted prices.
-
The United and JetBlue Partnership: Everything We Know About Blue Sky So Far
Blue Sky, the United and JetBlue partnership just announced, will give frequent fliers more ways to earn and use miles. Here's what you need to know.
-
Struggling with How to Plan a Trip? These Companies Will Help
Travel Plans Sit back, relax and let the professionals handle the logistics.
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2025
Roth IRAs Roth IRA contribution limits have gone up. Here's what you need to know.
-
Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnb
real estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
-
Five Ways to a Cheap Last-Minute Vacation
Travel It is possible to pull off a cheap last-minute vacation. Here are some tips to make it happen.
-
Best Places to Visit Where the Dollar Is Strong
From the Americas and Europe to Africa and Asia, we list the 10 best places to travel to where the U.S. dollar is the strongest.
-
24 Best Travel Websites and Apps to Find Deals and Save You Money
Travel Use Kiplinger's guide to the best travel websites and find discounts and deals so you can vacation without breaking the bank.