This Google Flights’ secret can help you get cheap flight tickets and hotels this summer – Times of India

If you are planning a trip this summer vacation, Google Flights can be a tool to look for cheap flights and hotels. Google pitches its Flights tool as an extensive travel planner for users. Google Flight offers a range of features including the option to find the cheapest possible flight tickets, hotels and car/bike rentals. Other than these, Google Flights also has a neat feature that can help users find flight tickets and hotels at good prices.

The feature works best when you are flexible with your travel dates and time. Here’s how this feature works.

Open Google Flights
First, head to the Google Flights website and enter your departure destination. Now, don’t enter the destination in the ‘Destination’ field. Instead, select it from the suggested list or from the world map shown on the page. You can enter dates, but that’s optional.

Choose journey type
Select whether you want a return ticket or one-way ticket or a multi-city option. Customise it with filters. For instance, choose the Stops, Airlines, etc.

Hit Explore Destinations
Once you are done filling up the details, click on the “Explore” button. You’ll see a map with a host of options including the lowest flight ticket prices for multiple destinations you can travel from your departure location — both national and international.

Select the location and make the booking
Once you have finalised your destination and dates, select the ticket and make the booking.

There are chances that you will end up booking one of the most affordable flight tickets for the selected destination.
Finding hotels using Google Flights
At the top, select the “Hotels” option from the filters. Now, if you’ve not entered your destination, enter it and click on the Explore tab.

You’ll see a list of hotels on the left along with a map on the right with prices. Google Flights allows you to filter your search results by star rating, price range, and review scores.

However, keep in mind that Google Flights is an aggregator, so it will show you estimated prices and redirect you to various travel websites for booking. You cannot complete your hotel or flight reservation directly on Google Flights.

Things to keep in mind

• You need to be flexible with the destination
• Flexibility with dates is also helpful as Google Flights will show the most affordable ticket prices for some other dates.
• Once you select a location from the map, Google Flights will show a message “Prices are currently low — ₹ —- cheaper than usual for your search”. If you see the message, the price you see on the page is one of the cheapest.