There are hundreds of different flight search and comparison sites, but lately, Google Flights has been stepping up to the mark. Previously, Google Flights was something I only used to check the distance and length of flights, it was a quick way to get generic route information, but for the last year or so, I’ve been booking all of my flights through Google’s flight search engine.

It can be a great place to score a bargain flight, but if you make any wrong moves, you’ll send the price skyrocketing. So in this article you’ll find travel hacks that will help you find flights for the best possible price, but first, let’s take a look at why Google Flights should be your first port of call when booking your travel.

Why Use Google Flights?

Everyone’s been singing Google Flights’ praises lately, but are they right for doing so? Having used Google Flights to book over 20 trips worth of plane journeys, I can honestly say, I agree with every single compliment about Google’s travel booker.

Even though I was impressed with Google’s flight search, I wasn’t sure exactly what made it so much better than the other flight comparison sites I previously used, like Cheapflights, Skyscanner and Kayak. I mean, it’s not as if Google have ever advertised the flight section of their search engine, and it’s not as if it’s particularly targeted at budget travellers – so I wanted to know why it was a cut above the rest.

So I did some digging into other peoples’ experiences and the technology behind it, and put together this list of why Google Flights is so popular, and why it’s potentially one of the best places to book your flights online.

It’s super fast

Some flight search sites can take ages to load all the possible flight options. To give them credit, there are thousands of flights out there, and thousands of different companies offering different flight prices, so it’s no wonder scanning them all can take a few minutes.

But somehow, Google Flights is much faster than other sites. Within just a couple of seconds, you’ll have the best option right in front of you, and you can easily see the time of departure and landing, the operating airline, the length of the flight and the company to book through.

There are some sites that even after several moments of waiting for the results, you still have to click through for more information, but almost as fast as lightning, Google will have loaded not only the best deal, but all the information you could need about not just that flight, but all the other, more expensive options too.

It scans most airlines

We’ve all been to travel agencies, consultants and websites that state that they don’t search all possible airlines and companies. And the second you hear this you know one thing: they’re not going to include the budget airlines.

But Google Flights loads both budget and high-end airlines, so you can make sure you’re getting the best deal. You’re not going to miss out on any bargains.

It uses ITA Matrix Software

Hardcore travel hackers will know that ITA Matrix Software is THE place to look for flight prices and the LoonieOnlineCasinos.com is the place to play in online casino games. It’s the software that all the best travel agencies and websites use to find the best possible deals. It can search each airline individually in microseconds, making it the ultimate software for travel agents.

Well-known budget flight booking sites like Kayak use this software, but so does Google Flights. So it really is using the best software in the industry.

If you’re wondering why you can’t just use ITA Matrix directly, it’s because you can’t actually book through the software. The software can just show prices of different airlines, and it’s then up to you to find those prices by looking directly on airline websites. Google Flights offers the best of both worlds: the intelligent budget-friendly prices that ITA Matrix detects, and a link to the site you can book through. So there’s no searching for the deal, instead you’re taken straight there.

It’s ad-free

Ever gone to book a flight and accidentally clicked on an ad that’s taken you away from your booking page? It’s happened to the best of us. But even if it is a common issue, it doesn’t make it any less annoying.

Part of the reason Google Flights is such a dream to use is the fact that’s it’s completely ad-free.

There are no ads popping up and ruining your user experience, instead it’s just a smooth interface with no distractions.

Calendar search encourages flexibility

A lot of flight search sites have the option to tick a box that says +/- a few days, so that it can find the cheapest flight across a number of days. But Google Flights takes it to the next level with it’s calendar search option.

Of course other sites also give you the option to select your dates by using a calendar, but what makes Google Flights so special is the fact that when you bring up the calendar, you can see the dates of the individual days.

You can see prices not just for a couple of days either side of your chosen date, but for months either side.

This feature means you can be completely flexible with your dates, and easily pick a date that has the best price, rather than refreshing search results every time you want to try out a new date.

It’s completely mobile-friendly

Booking flights on your mobile can often be more of a hassle than it’s worth. You’d think that in this new age of technology, where most people are on there phones every waking hour of the day, that all businesses would make their sites mobile responsive, but that’s not always the case.

And when you’re booking flights, you want to see information quickly and clearly, without having to zoom out and in and scroll left and right.

Google Flights has got it right in that it’s perfectly responsive, and just as easy to use on your phone as it is on your PC or laptop.

The only thing to bear in mind is that once you’ve chosen your flight, you’ll obviously be directed to a different company’s booking page, which might not be as easy to use.

You can get quick flight status updates from Google

Rather than navigating your way to an airline or airport webpage to check your flight’s status, you can save a whole lot of time and get information about your flight straight through Google.

All you need to do is type your flight number into Google and you’ll get information about your flight instantly.

How To Find Cheap Flights Using Google Flights

So Google Flights is the search console to use, but just like any flight search engine, if you make the wrong moves, you’ll end up paying more than you should. So here are some travel hacks to help you find the cheapest flights on Google Flights.

Until you’re ready to book, don’t click on your actual dates

When you click on a date, you’ll be shown prices for that date, but if you then click off and return to that date later, you can bet money on the fact that the prices will have gone up.

Because of ‘demand’, flight search engines (including Google Flights) and airlines will increase prices on certain dates once someone has shown interest in them.

So if you’re just browsing to get an idea of how much a flight is going to cost you, don’t click on your actual date.

Don’t worry though, you can still check the price of your intended flight date without clicking on it. You just need to use Google’s calendar search.

To make the most of this feature, without affecting the price of your flights, search for flights to your destination on a random date (one you don’t plan on flying on). Once it’s loaded prices for that date, click on the calendar, and scroll through the days and months, looking (but not clicking on!) the date you actually plan on traveling on.

This way, you’ll get an idea of prices on your date, but you won’t increase the price by clicking on it.

Look out for price trends for your destination

When you search for flights regularly using the calendar search, you might notice a few different price trends. It’s important to keep an eye out for these, and make a mental note of them.

For example, when I was searching for flights from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh airport, I started checking the prices and the trends months before I planned on booking. By doing this, I quickly realised that last minute flights (flights that departed in less than 2 weeks), were much cheaper, sometimes half the price. So I held off booking until 2 weeks before I planned on flying, and then booked, and sure enough, I scored a much better deal than if I’d booked in advance.

You might find that for other destinations, it’s the complete opposite, in that last-minute flights are much more expensive, but if you find this to be the case, just make sure you book in advance.

Search in a private browser

You might know this one already, but it’s always worth mentioning: always book flights in a private browser! If you’re using Chrome for example, use an incognito window.

Often when you go to book flights, the prices you see will be based on the cookies in your browser. This means that flight search engines will recognise that you’ve previously looked at flights to your destination, and will show you a higher price, based again on ‘demand’.

Private browsers delete your cookies, so you’ll be searching from a clean slate.

Search multi-city flights for better deals

Sometimes flights with layovers can be cheaper, and they mean you get to explore another destination as well. But they don’t always show up when you search for a simple flight from one destination to another.

If there’s a city en-route to your destination, or a city that makes sense to layover in that you’d like to explore, even if only for a day or two, use Google Flights’ multi-city search option. This way you can also break up your flight a bit.

Just search for flights going from your city, to a half-way city, and then onto your destination. It might work out cheaper, and make long haul flights more bearable. But even if not, you haven’t lost anything by looking.

Double check for better prices with budget airlines

Whilst Google Flights is better than a lot of flight comparison sites when it comes to searching a wide range of airlines, including budget airlines, there will sometimes be times when it doesn’t search ALL the possible budget options.

So before you book, do a quick search on a budget airline in your area, just to check there are no better offers.

Asthma is something I’ve struggled with since I was five years old, but until last year I had never had an asthma attack. My first asthma attack occurred when I was in Chamonix, Mont Blanc, and being so far from home, halfway up a mountain, the experience was terrifying.

But in a weird sort of way, I’m so pleased that it happened, because I learnt so much from that trip, and from the awful experience of the asthma attack.

Before that, I had never really considered how my asthma might affect my ability to travel. Of course, I would always remember my medication when packing, but it never occurred to me to ask myself if my plans posed any sort of asthmatic risk.

Since that trip, I’ve been so much more careful when making travel plans, and I’ve made sure every trip has been thoroughly researched.

Below are 15 travel tips for asthmatics, to hopefully make travelling with asthma a whole lot less stressful. All of these tips are based on my own travel experiences, and shouldn’t be considered as medical advice.

(If like me, you suffer from both asthma and eczema, you can check out my list of tips for travelling with eczema here.)

1: Visit your GP before you go

As with most medical conditions, you should always visit your GP before going on a big trip.

Your GP can help you identify your triggers, warn you of any potential triggers at your destination, and help you put an asthma plan in place. This way you’ll be well prepared for your travels, and you’ll know exactly what to do if your asthma worsens.

Plus, your GP can make sure you have enough of all of your prescription medications to last your entire trip.

2: Have an asthma plan in place

Having an asthma plan in place means you’ll know what to do if you notice you’re struggling to breathe more than usual.

Your plan should involve different stages, according to peak flow readings, and different situations to help you get your asthma back under control.

3: Research your destination

Most triggers will be environmental, so do some research into your destination so that you know what to be wary of.

Extreme weather conditions, whether they be too hot or too cold, can cause bad asthma, so make sure you know how to keep warm/cool. If hot temperatures can cause your asthma to worsen, try to book accommodation with air conditioning. If cold temperatures are an issue, make sure you pack plenty of layers, keep your chest warm, and always wear a scarf.

Altitude, as well as weather conditions, can cause asthmatics to struggle, so if you’re heading to any mountainside locations, you’ll need to be wary of this.

Another thing to consider is air pollution. Some destinations have such bad air pollution that even those without asthma can experience difficulties breathing. So it could be worth steering clear of places that have notoriously bad air pollution.

4: Always book non-smoking rooms

Whilst in a lot of countries smoking inside is illegal anyway, there are some places that still offer smoking and non-smoking rooms.

Check before booking that your room is a non-smoking one, as the remaining smell of smoke can be a trigger.

5: Call ahead and forewarn your accommodation about your asthma

It can be worth calling your hotel/hostel/Airbnb before setting off, and just forewarning them about your asthma.

If things like dust or pet hair can be triggers for your asthma, let them know, and they’ll be able to make sure your room is thoroughly cleaned before your arrival and kept pet-free.

6: Try to book completely pet-free accommodation

Like many asthmatics, I’m super allergic to pet hairs, and several times I’ve booked accommodation that has previously had pets in and spent the entire trip puffy-faced and wheezy.

When you’re booking accommodation for your travels, especially if you’re booking an Airbnb, just check whether or not the listing says ‘pet-friendly’. If pet hairs cause your asthma to worsen, it’s best to avoid ‘pet-friendly’ accommodation if possible, just in case the place hasn’t been cleaned thoroughly.

7: Know where the nearest medical facilities are

When booking your accommodation, think about where the nearest medical facilities are. You never know when you might need medical help for your asthma.

When your asthma gets really bad, it can cause you to panic, and when you’re panicking you’re not thinking clearly.

So research where the nearest medical facilities in advance and you’ll know what to do if the worst happens, and if nothing else, you’ll have peace of mind.

8: Pack all of your asthma essentials

Whether you just have an inhaler, or you have nightly pills, antihistamines, or even steroids, bring everything asthma-related that your doctor has prescribed. It’s better to have these things and not need them than need them and not have them.

9: Carry all of your asthma medication in your carry-on luggage

Lost luggage may be a rare occurrence, but you never know when it might happen to you. So just in case, carry all of your asthma medication in your on-board luggage. This way, you’ll also have everything with you in case your asthma starts to worsen on the plane, which can often happen as a result of air conditioning.

10: Consider Natural Remedies For Your Asthma

As well as taking your medication, it can be a good idea to consider natural remedies for your asthma. There are lots of anti-inflammatory natural products that can reduce airway irritation.

I used to be fairly sceptical about natural remedies until I actually gave some of them a chance. I’ve managed to use deep breathing exercises to control my asthma and have often found steam baths can ease my wheezing.

But recently I’ve tried natural products too. Eucalyptus oil has helped me overcome many bouts of asthma and now I wouldn’t travel without it.

Certain herbs have also been shown to offer asthma relief. For example, ginger and garlic both have anti-inflammatory properties, and turmeric can behave like an antihistamine in the body.

While natural remedies should in no way be a replacement for your medication, they make good add-ons and if they can help you control your breathing, they’re worth considering. Natural remedies can be particularly useful when travelling as it can be easy to find natural products in stores around the world.

11: Carry an asthma attack card

Asthma affects millions, but still, people don’t always recognise an asthma attack. Carry an asthma attack card with you, so that if the worst happens, you can either show someone your card, or they can find it in your purse/wallet.

12: Take a copy of your prescriptions with your name on

In case you lose your asthma medications, take a copy of your prescription with you, with your name on. This way, you can always get more prescription items from a medical facility at your destination.

13: Make sure you have travel insurance

As an asthmatic, it’s much more likely that you’ll need medical assistance whilst travelling, and you don’t want to have a huge medical bill to pay after seeking help.

Make sure you’ve got travel insurance so that any medical expenses are covered.

14: Take your own pillows

If certain types of pillows, or dust, can cause you to need your inhaler, it can be worth taking your own pillows. You never know what types of pillow will be at your accommodation, or how old they are, and by taking your own pillows you’ll eliminate the risk of waking up throughout the night to do your inhaler.

15: Only book excursions that are suited to your fitness level

When travelling you probably want to make the most of your time, and fit in as many adventures as possible. But when booking excursions or days out, try not to push yourself too much physically.

Physical activity can be an asthma trigger, and if you’re out on an excursion that causes your asthma to worsen, you never know how easy it will be to find medical assistance.

So to sum up…

Travelling with asthma does require a bit more planning, and you have to be a bit more cautious, but really it’s just about being smart.

When possible, avoid any triggers, and have a plan in place so that you know what to do in case of an emergency. As long as you’re smart about planning your trips, there’s no reason why you can’t see the world and make the most of every destination.

And if you suffer from eczema as well as asthma (the two often go hand-in-hand) you can click here to find out more about travelling with eczema. 

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This is a post I’ve wanted to write for a while, because traveling with eczema is something I’ve struggled with myself, and something that I like to think I’ve become pretty good at making less stressful. 

Anyone who suffers from eczema will know how bad flare ups can get after just a day or two of not looking after your skin properly, so it’s no surprise that it can be hard to keep eczema under control whilst traveling. 

But that’s not to say that having eczema should hold you back from seeing the world and living adventures! Here are some hopefully handy tips to help you make traveling with eczema stress free. Because this is such a personal article, I’d love to know what you think, so feel free to let me know any thoughts or feedback at contact@travellifestylemagazine.com.

And if you think this article could help anyone else, please don’t forget to share!

Making your environment eczema friendly

Visit your doctor or dermatologist before traveling

So you’ve got a trip planned, but you’re not sure how the climate, food, or different environment will affect your eczema. The very first thing you should do, before you’ve even started packing, is visit your doctor or dermatologist!

They’ll be able to remind you what triggers to avoid, give you advice on how to avoid flare ups and what to do if they occur, and they’ll be able to prescribe you the right creams and treatments to take with you.

Always try and book rooms with air conditioning

Being too hot can trigger an eczema flare up, so if you’re traveling somewhere hot, do your best to book accommodation with air conditioning.

This way, you’ll be more comfortable throughout the night and therefore less likely to scratch in your sleep.

If you can’t get AC, make sure you can cool yourself down

Sometimes it might not be possible to book accommodation with air conditioning, if you’re traveling on a budget, or to some far off corner of the earth. But you still need to have a way to cool yourself down, especially if getting hot and sweaty causes your skin to worsen.

You can get creative with cooling down by doing things like putting your bed sheets in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes before bed.

Or one travel accessory I always take with me is an ice towel. It’s a lightweight towel that once wet, stays super cold for ages. It might sound a bit weird, and I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure it would work at first, but it’s actually quite useful for keeping cool at night. If you have a flare up in a particular area you can also lay something cool, like an ice towel, over the area to soothe it.

Make sure you have access to a shower or bath

Most accommodation options will have a shower or bath anyway, but just double check before booking.

You don’t need a luxury bathroom at your disposal, if you’re camping or in budget accommodation you’ll have to make do with what you’ve got. But as long as you’ve got access to running water, you’ll be able to wash.

Washing regularly is really important if you want to keep your eczema under control, and having a shower or bath to use whenever you want is going to make traveling with eczema a whole lot easier.

Bring your own pillow cases and/or bed sheets

Detergent can often be a trigger for flare ups, so you might find that when you stay somewhere new, the bed sheets cause you to start itching.

A simple solution to avoid this is to take your own bed sheets and pillow cases. You’ll be able to sleep easy knowing that the bed sheets won’t irritate your skin, and you’ll feel just as comfortable as you do at home.

Know where the nearest medical facility or pharmacy is

If you have a severe eczema flare up, or if you run out of your prescription creams and treatments, you might need to visit a medical facility, or pharmacy.

Even if you don’t think it likely to happen, it’s worth checking what medical facilities there are at your destination, so that you can easily find your way to them if need be.

Make sure you’ve got travel insurance

If you’re traveling with eczema, it’s really important that you make sure you’ve got valid travel insurance. If you do end up visiting a medical facility, the last thing you want is to receive a huge medical bill.

Avoid food that might trigger a flare up

Trying new foods is part of the travel experience, but if you know there are some foods, like dairy for example, that act as eczema triggers, it’s best just to steer clear of them.

Use Google Translate to find out how to ask for dishes without certain foods or ingredients, and this way you’ll still be able to try new things, without the risk of flaring up as a result.

Packing the right stuff

Pack loose cotton clothing

Packing the right clothes can make traveling with eczema so much less stressful. Loose cotton clothing can keep you cool, and won’t irritate your skin.

In fact, sometimes wearing long sleeved or long legged loose cotton clothing can be more soothing for your skin than exposing your skin to the sun.

If you’re traveling somewhere cold, pack plenty of layers

It’s not just hot weather that can irritate your skin and cause flare ups, cold weather can do the same.

So if you’re traveling in the winter months, or to a particularly cold destination, pack plenty of layers so that you can keep warm. And remember to make sure your layers aren’t made from irritable material!

Bring all of your prescription medications

If you have prescription medication to help you manage your eczema, take it with you! Make sure you’ve got enough to last the duration of your trip, and keep the original labels with your name and the medication details on. This way if you run out of anything, you can take the label to a medical facility you may be able to get a top up.

Pack your favourite moisturisers, shampoos and conditioners

If you have moisturisers, shampoos, conditioners or any other products that you’re comfortable with and that you know won’t cause an eczema break out, take them with you!

You can pack liquids in your check in luggage, and whilst it’s going to add a bit of extra weight, it’s worth it. You don’t want to have to find products that are eczema friendly in a new destination, especially not if there’s a language barrier.

Bring travel sized moisturisers for the plane journey

As well as bringing moisturisers and products in your check-in luggage, pack travel sized moisturisers in your carry-on bag.

The air conditioning in planes can really dry your skin out, so keep a moisturiser on you, and keep your skin hydrated!

Find some natural home remedies

If you’re traveling anywhere obscure, you might not be able to find medicines so it’s a good idea to know how you can soothe eczema without medication. There are plenty of natural home remedies you could try that will soothe sore skin, using easy-to-find ingredients.

Pack eczema friendly sunscreen

Sunscreen is something you definitely don’t want to go traveling without, but it’s something that can worsen eczema, especially if it has ‘stinging’ ingredients.

Rather than buying sunscreen at your destination, do research into eczema friendly sunscreen, and try out a couple of different brands. This way, you won’t need to worry about finding the right suncream when you’re out and about on your travels.

Being smart about your daily routine

Wash as regularly as you normally would

It can be tempting to let your normal daily routine slip and skip your morning shower to head straight out on a day trip. But keeping clean and washing regularly is key to keeping your eczema under control.

I don’t know about you, but even skipping one shower can cause me to flare up, especially if it’s hot outside. After a short while traveling, I realised one of the most important things was to shower every day.

Moisturise and apply treatments as much as you would at home

Keep up your moisturising routine, and apply creams each day, or even several times each day, whatever you need (everyone is different).

Try not to forget, as this could lead to a quick decline in your skin’s health. I always moisturise after a shower, so that the two go hand-in-hand.

Drink lots of fluids, especially when flying

You want to keep your skin hydrated and to do that, you need to drink lots of fluids as well as moisturising.

When you’re flying this is particularly important, as the air in planes can really dry your skin out and dehydrate you.

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