Booking Strategy

Plan a trip in under 15 minutes


Family at the beach
Christine Sarkis

    Can you really plan a trip in less than 15 minutes? Sure, if you're flexible about your destination and price. You won't have time to make sure you've found the lowest fare, but if you're planning a trip in under half an hour, your top priority is probably saving time, not money. Here are three ways to plan and book in under 15 minutes:



    Method 1: Work the last-minute angle



    At the last-minute, you don't have a lot of time to plan. Which is precisely when a site such as

    lastminute.com

    (formerly Site59) comes in handy. Browse destinations with last-minute air-and-hotel and other packages, or you can search by theme, including "sun and beach," "luxury," and "outdoors."



    Method 2: Look for air-and-hotel packages



    You can spend a lot of time finding that perfect hotel, or you can aim for a decent star rating and hope for the best. Providers such as

    go-today.com

    ,

    Pleasant Holidays

    , and

    EuropeASAP

    package air and hotel together, which speeds up the booking process if you're willing to choose from the listed hotel options.



    Method 3: Book a guided tour



    With most tours, you'll book airfare, hotels, activities, transportation, and meals in a single step. Tours are often built around a theme, making it easier to find one that suits your interests. Before booking with a company, check for affiliations with organizations such as the

    United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA)

    , look for the

    Better Business Bureau's

    "BBBOnline Reliability seal," and ask people you know for company recommendations.



    Have a great travel tip you'd like to share? Send your insider travel strategies to [email protected].