Hey Reader,

Hope you're having a great week! We're only 2 weeks into 2025 and Ryan and I are already counting down to our next trip - New Zealand! (in just 29 days 🥳)

I've been working on finalizing all the last little details and there are no shortage of fancy apps and tools out there to help you plan your trips. And trust me, I love tinkering with all the shiny new travel tech. But when it comes to keeping things simple and effective, there’s one resource that always rises above the rest - Google. Yup, good ole Google. Sometimes the best tools are the ones we already know!

Google has several powerful ways that can help you snag cheaper flights and organize your next adventure like a pro. It’s truly a one stop shop for travel planning.

Here are three easy hacks to get you started:

If you're flexible with where and when to go, let Google Explore inspire your next trip.

• Use the flexible dates feature to compare destinations and prices on one map view.
• Set your most important filters and pan around the map to spot the best deals in real time (see screengrab below or take a look at this video walkthrough).

Even if you already know your destination, you can still save big with Google Flights.

• Set up price alerts for your desired dates and route to get notified of fare drops. You'll need to make sure you are signed in to your Google account and slide the slider for 'Track prices' once you've entered your search details.
• Use the Date Grid feature to see price variations and shift your travel dates for maximum savings (screengrab below). This search is for a non-stop round trip Boston to Iceland, and you can see just shifting my dates by a few days could save close to $75.
• Take a look at this other video walkthrough for more specifics.

Once you’ve locked in your destination, it’s time to plan your itinerary!

• Create a new list in Google Maps and save spots you want to visit.
• From restaurants to must-see landmarks, you’ll have everything at your fingertips for quick access and navigation while traveling.
• This also helps you visually see where the hotspots are for places you want to visit and you can tailor your accommodation to be closest to those areas!

These tools are free, super easy to use, and can make a huge difference in your travel planning. Did you know Google was this handy for planning trips and saving you money?

Happy Googling and happy 2025 trip planning!

Cheers,
Michelle

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P.S. Know someone who’d love to save money on travel? Go ahead and forward them this email - sharing is caring!

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