Top 10 Digital Travel Apps and Websites for 2016
Escaping from the everyday mundaneness of life is a huge draw for people from all across the world. Couple that with the harsh reality of freezing temperatures, snow, ice, and rain that are very much common occurrences during the winter, and there's an even greater desire to head for those almost-forgotten sun-drenched shores replete with palm-tree-lined white-sandy beaches.
Of course, winter isn't the only time we decide to jet off to destinations unbeknown to ourselves; summer is also high season for when people from across the world begin traveling in droves, looking to explore and discover different regions of the earth. From sizzling European destinations such as Italy and Spain, to the more glitzy and glamorous locales like Los Angeles, New York, or Las Vegas, there's a place for just about everyone to explore year-round.
While traversing the globe is nothing new, technology has certainly increased our access to a variety of travel channels and products, connecting us with a range of options previously not available before, allowing us to truly discover the world's best kept travel destinations from the comfort of our homes. From sizzling travel apps, to the go-to websites for people looking to book hotels, cars, villas, cruises, and more, there are a number of top sources for booking travel online in 2016.
Depending on what you're looking for -- whether you're on a tight budget or money is simply no object -- there's an app or a Website that will help you part ways with your money. Whether you're looking to meander down a palm-lined white-sandy beach in front of your hotel in Miami, or you're looking to jet off to the Swiss Alps and rent a luxurious five-star villa, there's something for just about everyone.
Out of all the options available today, there are a few that really stand out for 2016. These are by far the biggest apps and Websites taking the lion's share of the global travel market. Some are known to the masses, while other, less known, digital apps and Websites exist, each of them provide an excellent avenue for booking your online travel, no matter where you're looking to go or what you're looking to do.
#1 -- Kayak
Certainly for the mass market, the Kayak travel app and Website allow you to search multiple travel options in one consolidated search, comparing and contrasting prices from different providers. It was first founded in 2004 by the same co-founder who started up Orbitz back in 1999.
In 2013, the Kayak app was crowned the winner of the Best Apps for Business Travelers list, and in 2015, the app won The People's Voice in the travel category of the Webby awards. Kayak will continue to be one of the most popular go-to apps and Websites on the market for comparing and contrasting travel across multiple channels and providers.
One of the features that are really useful on Kayak is the ability to see the pricing trends for things like flights. They can also help estimate whether a particular trip is going to drop in price or go higher in the near future. You can also setup alerts that will email you when deals become available for the particular trip you're looking to take. Definitely a huge benefit when booking travel.
#2 -- Orbitz
The Orbitz platform launched in 1999, and provides an effective method for booking flights, hotels, car rentals, and even cruises. It's certainly one of the staple providers for booking travel, and should be a part of anyone's digital travel planning arsenal. One of the best parts about Orbitz is also their rewards program.
On Orbitz, you can earn one "Orbuck" for every dollar spent. You can earn them instantly and don't have to rack up a certain number of points to spend those "Orbucks" on subsequent travel plans booked on their platform. Definitely a big draw for the frequent traveler, but then again, you'll find reward programs at some other providers as well.
#3 -- Skyscanner
If you're a budget-minded traveler, and you don't mind making some sacrifices when it comes to no-frills travel, then Skyscanner is definitely one of the best sources for booking travel in 2016. One of the biggest benefits about Skyscanner that I truly love is the fact that you can use your originating destination to search all of the best prices to destinations around the world, without having to select each one individually.
This isn't a feature that you'll find on many of the major bellwether providers in booking online travel. However, some of the newcomers, who certainly know that this is a feature many people look for, have answered the call. And Skyscanner is one such app and Website that can do just that by literally scanning the skies for the lowest prices for travel in any given region.
#4 -- Expedia
Most people are familiar with the Expedia website and app. But, did you know that Expedia, the parent company, owns many of the popular travel portals on the Web today? Orbitz, Travelocity, Venere, and even Homeaway are now part of the Expedia family. And, the app and Website are still amongst one of the most popular and heavily-trafficked ones out there.
Originally, Expedia was formed as a division of Microsoft back in 1996 but was spun off just 3 years later in 1999. Whatever type of travel you're looking to conduct, you can definitely source it through Expedia. You can also find a number of deals for air travel, hotels, and car rentals here on a frequent basis.
#5 -- FlyerTalk Forums
This is one of the lesser-known Websites for booking travel on the Web today, but definitely a place that you can score some deals. The FlyerTalk Forums are a place where frequent flyers and self-proclaimed travel hobbyists converge to share their wide array of knowledge about the travel industry. You can find a number of deals by scouring some of the more popular discussion topics and threads.
However, this isn't for the individual that doesn't like to do a deep-mining of data out there. But, if you're persistent enough, you can find some of the best travel deals that you've ever scored before in your life. Some people only swear by sourcing their travel through the FlyerTalk Forums and there's definitely a reason for that. It's worth checking out at least.
#6 -- Vacation Rentals
For those that are looking for a more home away from home experience, there's always vacation rentals. The vacation rental industry has been on the rise since the late 90's, and the Internet has helped to provide a global reach to home owners looking to rent out their properties. Services like AirBnB, VRBO, and HomeAway have capitalized on that and have aggregated the listing marketplace.
However, for those who can afford it, a crop of specialized villa rental companies have sprung up on the Web, promising to deliver a high-class experience to the luxury segment of the marketplace. Luxury Retreats, a villa rental company that's had a strong grip on the marketplace, presently has over 2,700 villas in 50 destinations around the world.
But, other startups like eliteLYFE, have taken the experience to a whole new level, offering added services like yachts, jets, and exotic cars with your villa rental. Certainly, for those who can afford it, this is by far the best route to go, especially when traveling with a larger group. If you're used to the high-life, then a luxury vacation rental or villa from the right company is definitely the best way to ensure a luxury experience through-and-through.
#7 -- Hotels dot com
If you're looking to just book a hotel room, Hotels dot com is another provider that's been around since the dawn of the Web. Launched in 1991, today the company has 85 websites in 34 languages, and also lists approximately 325,000 hotels, according to Wikipedia. With over 19,000 locations, there's sure to be something for just about everyone looking to book a room for a day, week, or even longer.
One of the best parts about Hotels dot com is not only the great prices, but also their loyalty program. When you book 10 hotel nights, you get a night for free. This is definitely good for people who travel a lot and enjoy using loyalty programs such as this. Also, their app works smoothly and allows you to easily book through your smartphone or tablet without a hitch, so it's definitely worth checking out.
#8 -- Skiplagged
Skipplagged is a not-too-well-known travel app and Website that was so successful out of the gate that United Airlines actually sued the founder. Skiplagged works by helping people find low-price plane tickets by using something called hidden city fares, which involves booking a flight that has a connection, but skipping the connection and departing at the stop just before.
Hidden city fares, however, involve taking a carry-on bag and not checking your baggage. If you check your bag, it will definitely end up in the final leg of your destination, leaving you without your things during your trip. Also, the one thing to be wary about is that airlines are beginning to crack down on people who attempt to "game" the system like this. But if you're a risk taker, it's worth checking out.
#9 -- Adioso
Adioso is another alternative to booking travel online. And, many budget-minded travelers swear by the site and frequently use it in their digital arsenal of tools when sourcing travel. One of the best parts about the site is not only the fact that it's aesthetically appealing, but also functional in that it gives you the greatest flexibility in booking your travel.
After you pick your originating city, you can choose your destination based on a wide range of factors from cities and airports, to countries, entire continents, and even wanderlists that they've created with some of the best travel ideas in mind around the world. You can also be extremely flexible with your departure and return date, sourcing the best deals out there.
#10 -- Priceline
Of course, there's always Priceline.com. The name-your-own-price Website has come a long way since its initial online debut back in 1998. Priceline's system has worked by allowing travelers to name their own prices for things like flights, rental cars, and hotel rooms by indicating their exact itinerary and price that they're willing to pay, with the system only disclosing the name of the provider or place once the sale has gone through.
Priceline has always made its money through the difference of the price between the traditionally-advertised version and the rate travelers were willing to pay for a certain travel product. This worked well for travel providers by not lowering the visible price on their travel products while also helping to clear some of their perishable inventory that might otherwise go unsold.
Recently, Priceline introduced something called "Express Deals" where travelers can pick from a number of prices available immediately for their itinerary, but aren't told the name of the provider or establishment. This is yet another great digital travel app and Website to help source your travel in 2016, no matter where you're looking to go or stay.
