Besides the big travel sites, do you guys have any specific sites you enjoy visiting for packages deals or cheap airfares?
I would love to find a site, where you can search without a set destination, but where the results are based on prices and time of travel.
I'm a little surprised I haven't seen any posts about travel deals, is it against LP policy?
kayak.com for flights and some others.
Just knoow that if you need to cancel, every middle man and airline gets a fat fee.
Seems most Thorn Tree forum folks are backpackers.
Or unrealisting honeymoon deamers.
Have you tried hostels? Beware of out of date paradigms concerning them.. Try two b4 deciding its not for you. They are all a little different. We don't have to sleep in dorms. They are age friendly. And family oriented. Whole families bp together. And not just because its cheapest.
I'm 70. hostelz are one reason I travel.
www.hostelz.com Tour a few sights, rates, maps to.
One thing you won't see is backpacking and shopping, in the same sentance.
Hostels are great for meeting people. Its sociable and you meet like minded travellers. There are of course different hostels. Clearly a pary hostel wouldnt be for gawkabout but it would be for someone else that is of 20-30 years of age.
That being said most HI/YHA will be more family orientated than the independent hostels. Thats just from personal experience.
skyscanner/kayak/fly.com/wotflghts.com.au there are a heap of ones out there. Go through a few and search. Some will have cheaper flights than others.
Sign up to airlines (national carriers and budget airlines) ''e-letters". They'll send you any last minute deals. I've had some absolute beauties from both ends of the spectrum. I got a really good return to Canada for less than half the normal cost - and got great 'same day' to Corfu (onward to Albania) for under £40 return incl tax, card fee etc.
Always worth a shout.
Skyscanner and (especially) Momondo, often dont quote budget airline fares.