I Love St. Martin

09/01/2024

Marigot Market

With over a hundred stalls, the market in Marigot, the capital of the French part of Saint-Martin island, is the largest open-air market of its kind in the Caribbean, selling freshly caught fish, tropical fruits and vegetables, spices, meat, “rhum arrangé” and numerous other local products.

Standing at the foot of the Saint-Louis fort along the seafront, the small open-air stalls are run by female stallholders who will welcome you warmly and with good humour, contributing to the market’s family atmosphere. A remarkable stone statue by the sculptor Martin Lynn pays homage to these market traders dressed in their traditional madras headscarves.

Just a few steps away, the craft market located around the bandstand is the perfect place in which to stroll around in search of typical gifts to take home as souvenirs, before taking a break in one of the market’s typical restaurants or “lolos”, where you will discover the flavours and subtleties of Saint-Martin’s cuisine in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Open from 7am to 3pm. Seafront, 97150 Marigot.

11/12/2023

The Airline Lost My Luggage. What Should I Do?

The last bag slides onto the airport baggage carousel—and it doesn’t look familiar. Your suitcase has gone AWOL. What should you do now?

It’s a question travelers are facing more than ever. All around the world, bags are taking unexpected vacations. As travel has surged and airports have become overwhelmed, so have reports of mishandled luggage (both delayed and lost bags).1 Here’s what you need to know about finding lost luggage and getting compensation.

What should I do when the airline loses my luggage?
First, head to your airline’s baggage counter and file a lost-luggage report. Provide your contact information and an address where the airline can deliver your bags. Make sure you get a copy of your report (you’ll need this for travel insurance claims) and a working customer service number or website for updates.

Try to be patient! You may be exhausted and out of sorts, but don’t take out your anger on the airline associate. They can’t snap their fingers and make your bag appear. Understand, too, that you may not get your baggage back quickly. “Before the pandemic, travelers could expect about a 24-hour turnaround,” The Washington Post reports. Now, it can take multiple days or even weeks to reunite you with your lost bags.2

How do I get lost baggage compensation from the airline?
Here’s the good news: U.S. airlines are required to compensate passengers when your bag is damaged or lost by the airline. They’re also required to compensate passengers for “reasonable, verifiable, and actual incidental expenses that they may incur while their bags are delayed” (up to maximum liability limits).3 Typically, you’ll file a claim online.

The process can be complicated, however. Some airlines require original purchase receipts for lost-baggage claims over a certain amount. Airlines typically exclude certain categories of items from compensation claims. And they don’t necessarily define “reasonable” expenses for items you buy during a baggage delay. A toothbrush and a T-shirt might be fine, but what about an electric razor, makeup or new shoes?

The worst part is the wait. Let’s say an airline misplaces your suitcase for the first five days of your fall trip to Edinburgh. You’ll have to spend hundreds of pounds to buy everything you need: toiletries, clothes, walking shoes, underwear and outerwear. Then, you might wait weeks or even months for the airline to reimburse you.

Does travel insurance provide compensation for lost baggage?
Yes—and, as Elliott Advocacy notes, “the claims process for lost luggage is significantly easier than an airline’s process.” Your baggage loss/damage benefit can reimburse you for the actual price, actual cash value, repair or replacement (whichever is less) of your missing or damaged items, up to the limit in your plan. Your baggage delay benefit can reimburse you for the purchase of reasonable essential items, up to your plan limit, until your baggage arrives.

Read your plan documents so you understand what’s covered. File a claim online and check your claim status anytime.

If you file a claim with the airline first and you don’t get the full value of your lost or damaged possessions, you can file a travel insurance claim for the difference. When you’re filing the claim, send us the determination from the airline that shows how much of your loss they reimbursed. Then, we can review the difference for potential reimbursement.

If you have an Allianz Travel Insurance plan that includes SmartBenefits®, you have the option of filing a simple, no-receipts claim for covered baggage delays. All you need to do is submit proof of a covered baggage delay to receive a fixed-amount inconvenience payment of $100 per insured person, per day. No receipts needed!

What are the chances of finding my lost luggage?
The odds are good that you’ll get your stuff back. Airlines find 97 percent of misplaced bags, according to Elliott Advocacy.4

To improve the chances of a suitcase reunion, pack a luggage tracker. This is a tracking device in the suitcase that works with Bluetooth or other technology to show the location of your bag. Just be aware of the limitations of luggage trackers. They can help you communicate with the airline (“Um, you said my bag was in Cleveland, but it looks like it’s actually in Kinshasa?”), but you probably won’t be able to pinpoint and grab your bag yourself.

How can I prevent my bags from getting lost?
Here are a few pointers for reducing your chances of luggage loss and protecting your possessions:

Before you pack your suitcase, arrange everything you’re bringing on the bed and take some photos. Take another pic or two of the packed bags before you close them up. This will help you prove what you lost, in the event that you have to file a claim.

Take pictures of the exterior of your bags as well. This may help the airline locate them, if they get misplaced.

Make your luggage stand out. When you have a basic black suitcase, you run the risk of another traveler grabbing it by mistake. Distinguish your stuff with an extra-large luggage tag, colorful ribbons tied to the handle, or a bright luggage belt. You could even stencil your initials or a pattern on the outside.

Remove old tags and labels. Are the bar-code tags and stickers from your last trip still attached to your suitcase? Rip them off now, so you don’t risk confusing the baggage-handling system.

If you’re buying anything new for the trip, save the receipts! Take pictures of physical receipts, and save emails from online shopping. With a receipt, lost items can be reimbursed for their cash value. Without a receipt, your baggage loss/damage benefits can cover up to 75 percent of the actual cash value of your possessions.)

Never, ever put anything in a checked bag that’s irreplaceable. Family photos, your handwritten novel manuscript, your grandmother’s engagement ring, your toddler’s beloved blanket…

All these need to be stashed securely in your carry-on.
Other items you should never pack in checked baggage include passports and travel documents, electronics, cameras (camera film, including Polaroid film, should be hand-checked by TSA agents so it doesn’t go through the X-ray machine), jewelry and other valuable items, prescription medications, and any medical or personal items that are difficult to replace.

My lost luggage held something crucial. Can travel insurance help?
If you’re dealing with a lost-luggage emergency, don’t panic: Contact 24-hour assistance and explain the situation.

If your lost bag contained crucial travel documents or passports, for instance, we can work with the local embassy to expedite their replacement. If your bag held vital prescription medication, we can help you replace that, too. The same goes for other, specialty items: Whether a tuxedo for your best friend’s destination wedding or binoculars for your Amazon bird watching expedition, we can connect you with local suppliers to get you what you need.

Don’t yet have travel insurance for your next trip? What are you waiting for? Get a quote right now.

11/12/2023

5 Reasons Your Trip Cancellation Insurance Won't Cover You:

Travel insurance with trip cancellation benefits is designed to reimburse you for your prepaid, non-refundable expenses in case you have to cancel your trip for a covered reason. But it's not a cure-all. While we understand that everyone's circumstances are unique, here's a look at some of the most common reasons trip cancellation insurance claims are denied.

1. You didn't see a doctor before canceling your trip because of illness.
Anna has packed her suitcases to fly to Costa Rica for a week-long vacation. The day before she's set to leave, she comes down with a bad case of the flu. Feeling wretched, Anna decides to stay home. She submits a trip cancellation insurance claim, but it's denied.

If you or your traveling companion suffers an illness, injury or medical condition that's disabling enough to make a reasonable person cancel a trip, Allianz Global Assistance considers that a covered reason for trip cancellation. However, a doctor must examine you or your traveling companion and advise that person to cancel the trip — before the decision to cancel is made. If that isn’t possible, a doctor must examine you within 72 hours of your trip cancellation.

2. You didn't provide documentation for your trip cancellation reasons and expenses.
Days before he's set to leave for a two-week tour of Cambodia and Vietnam, Javier is dismayed to hear that his tour operator has gone out of business. He submits a trip cancellation insurance claim with the original invoice from the tour operator, but his claim is denied.

It's not enough to send a credit card receipt or a single invoice. You need to thoroughly document all of your trip costs, your reason for cancellation and any refunds you may have received. The list of documentation Allianz Global Assistance requests includes:

Receipts and itemized bills for all expenses.

Original of any refunds or expense allowances received from your tour operator, travel agency, common carrier, resort, property management company, or other entity.

Copy of resort invoice/vacation rental contract or confirmation.
Trip cancellation/interruption claims.

Any appropriate documentation that officially explains the cause of your trip cancellation or interruption

Any explanation of diagnosis along with your original itemized bills, receipts, and proof of other insurance payments.

Original unused tickets, copies of invoices, proof of payments, and other documents that substantiate the cost or occurrence of the trip cancellation or interruption.

Documentation of refunds received from the travel supplier(s) and/or common carriers.

Copy of the supplier's literature that describes penalties.
A letter from the tour operator or an itemized bill from the travel agent stating the non-refundable amounts of the trip costs.

In short, send everything you can find that relates to your trip cancellation reasons and costs. This may sound like a lot, but don't get overwhelmed. For help, you can call Allianz Global Assistance claim representatives 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-888-497-6992.

3. You purchased travel insurance when a big storm was already on the horizon.

Kelly and Gus have been looking forward to their 10th anniversary trip to St. Barts for months. A few days before they're supposed to leave, the Weather Channel reports that Tropical Storm Teresa is churning toward the island. "Uh-oh," Kelly thinks. "I’d better get travel insurance." They end up cancelling their vacation because of the storm — but their insurance claim is denied.

Allianz Global Assistance names several covered reasons for canceling a trip that can be related to severe weather. For instance:

Your travel carrier cannot get you to your original itinerary’s destination for at least 24 consecutive hours from the originally scheduled arrival time due to severe weather (or another covered reason)

Your tour operator cancels your multi-day tour that was purchased prior to your departure date due to severe weather (or another covered reason)

Your destination is uninhabitable
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) or foreign equivalent has issued a cyclone, hurricane, or typhoon warning at your destination that is in effect within 24 hours prior to your departure date (available only with )

Government authorities order a mandatory evacuation at your destination that is in effect within 24 hours prior to your departure date.

However, travel insurance is meant to protect travelers against sudden and unforeseen events — not threats that are already on the horizon when the insurance is purchased. If you buy travel insurance after a winter or tropical storm has been named, or after the NOAA or a similar agency has issued a warning, your plan won't provide coverage for claims related to that event. Make sure you buy trip cancellation insurance well in advance of your departure.

4. You gave up on your trip too soon.
The day of Keith's scheduled flight to France, a surprise winter storm grounds his connecting flight. After sitting in the airport for 12 hours, he gets furious and decides to cancel the whole trip. However, his trip cancellation insurance claim is denied.

We know trip delays are aggravating. But don't cancel your entire trip because of a short delay! To make a trip cancellation claim, your travel carrier must have been unable to get you to your original itinerary’s destination for at least 24 consecutive hours from the originally scheduled arrival time.

Keep in mind that your trip cancellation benefits can also help you get to your original destination another way! You can be reimbursed (up to your policy’s Trip Cancellation Coverage maximum benefit) for the reasonable cost of alternate transportation, less available refunds; and the cost of any lost prepaid accommodations caused by your covered delayed arrival, less available refunds.

You may also be able to file a trip interruption claim if you miss at least 50% of the length of your trip due to a travel carrier delay or other covered reason.

5. You didn't read the terms, conditions, and exclusions for your trip cancellation insurance policy.
Shortly before a planned couples cruise to Cozumel, Michelle has a huge fight with her fiancé. She calls off the engagement — and the cruise. But travel insurance won't cover her trip cancellation.

With a wide array of covered reasons for canceling a trip, travel insurance from Allianz Global Assistance is designed to protect you in case of many common travel mishaps. However, it's not "cancel for any reason" travel insurance, and that's why it's essential to read all the terms and conditions when you buy your plan. For instance, legal separation or divorce can be a covered reason for trip cancellation, but a breakup is not. The death of a family member can be a covered reason, but the death of a pet is not.

We know that trip cancellation benefits can seem complicated. We do our best to make it as simple as possible. If you're unsure about how to submit a claim, ask! Call Allianz Global Assistance claim representatives anytime at 1-866-884-3556.

11/12/2023

Flight Cancellation Insurance: Your Questions Answered:

What is flight cancellation insurance?
Generally speaking, flight cancellation insurance reimburses you for covered, non-refundable costs related to a canceled flight.

When you’re buying travel insurance, you won’t see “flight cancellation insurance” listed as a specific benefit in your plan. That’s because several different benefits can apply to flight cancellation, depending on whether the canceled flight ends up delaying your trip, interrupting your trip, or canceling your trip altogether.

Read more: What Should I Do If My Flight Is Canceled?

How does flight cancellation insurance help when the airline cancels your flight—and you end up canceling your whole trip?
Let’s say you find yourself in the same situation I was in, when the airline cancels your flight and messes up your travel plans. In this scenario, you have to decide if you’ll accept the rescheduled flight, or if you’ll cancel the trip altogether.

If you opt not to rebook after a canceled flight, then the airline should refund your money. “A consumer is entitled to a refund if the airline canceled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel,” says the Department of Transportation. This applies even if you purchased a non-refundable ticket. However, airlines often will issue that refund in the form of a travel credit or voucher, instead of cash.

What about other pre-paid travel expenses, such as an Airbnb rental or museum tickets you’d already purchased? That’s where travel insurance comes in. If your airline can’t get you to your planned destination for at least 24 consecutive hours from the originally scheduled arrival time because of a natural disaster, severe weather; an FAA or foreign equivalent mandate; or a strike, then your trip cancellation benefits kick in. That means you can cancel your trip and file a claim for your pre-paid, nonrefundable trip costs.

If your trip has already begun, and you miss at least 50% of the length of your trip due to a travel carrier delay (e.g. a canceled flight), then your trip interruption benefits can reimburse those pre-paid, nonrefundable trip costs.

How does flight cancellation insurance help when the airline cancels your flight—and your trip is delayed?
In this scenario, the airline cancels your flight and rebooks you on a different one. You’ll still reach your destination, but later than you planned. Then, travel delay benefits become your best friend.

Did your canceled flight causes a covered travel delay, as defined in your plan? Then your trip delay benefits can reimburse you for meals, a hotel stay, transportation and other eligible expenses during the delay (up to the maximum limit for your plan). You also can be reimbursed for the portion of the trip that you miss. Voilá: your unexpected layover has turned into a mini-vacation, with your key expenses paid.

If your plan includes SmartBenefits®, you can opt to receive a fixed inconvenience payment of $100 per insured person, per day, for a covered delay. You don’t need to provide any receipts — just proof of the delay.

How does flight cancellation insurance help when the airline cancels your flight—and the rescheduled flight won’t work for you?
Your brother’s getting married abroad in Mexico on Saturday, at a gorgeous resort in San José del Cabo. Unfortunately, the demands of your job mean you can’t fly until Friday. And wouldn’t you know it? A storm cancels your flight, and the best the airline can do is put you on a plane leaving late the next evening.

That’s not going to work. You can’t miss the ceremony—you’re the best man! Can flight cancellation insurance help?

Yes. If your travel carrier can’t get you to your destination for at least 24 hours from your originally scheduled arrival time due to a covered reason (such as severe weather), your travel insurance trip interruption benefits can reimburse you for alternate transportation, less available refunds, if you can get to your original destination another way. So if you discover that another airline has an available seat on a flight leaving Friday night, go ahead and book it so you can make it to the wedding on time.

What if you need help figuring out your alternate transportation plans? Contact 24-hour assistance. While we can’t book travel on your behalf, we’ll do our best to help research the options and assist you with finding a new flight.

How does flight cancellation insurance help when you make the decision to cancel your flight?
Your trip cancellation benefits can reimburse you for a canceled flight and other pre-paid, nonrefundable trip expenses—but only when you cancel for a covered reason.

Covered reasons are specific situations and events that, when they occur, mean you may be eligible to make a claim. It’s important to know that most travel insurance plans do not cover flight cancellation for any reason.

Your plan documents will list all the covered reasons for trip cancellation, such as:

You or a traveling companion becomes seriously ill or injured, or develops a medical condition
A family member who is not traveling with you becomes seriously ill or injured, or develops a medical condition
A traveling companion or family member dies
You need to attend the birth of a family member’s child
Your primary residence is uninhabitable
Your destination is uninhabitable
Flight cancellation insurance can’t reimburse you if you cover for a non-covered reason, such as:

You oversleep and miss your flight
You change your mind at the last minute and decide not to go
Your dog gets sick
You leave your passport at home, and the airline won’t let you board
Have questions about what can and can’t be covered? Contact us! We’re always here to help.

Is flight cancellation insurance worth it?
With airline cancellations and delays on the rise, it’s always smart to defend yourself with travel protection you can trust. When you get flight insurance as part of a complete travel insurance plan, you can travel without worrying about all the things that could go wrong. If cost is an issue, consider an affordable travel insurance plan such as OneTrip Basic or OneTrip Cancellation Plus.

Find the right travel insurance for your next trip.

Get a quote, compare plans and buy Allianz travel insurance online. Trip protection for cancellations, emergency medical & more. Over 70M policies sold.

04/09/2023

HOW TO FIND YOUR PERFECT ST MARTIN VILLA

There are many websites and agencies that can help you find a villa in St. Martin. Many websites charge extra booking fees. Here are a few of the most popular:

• VRBO: VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) is a popular website for finding vacation rentals of all types, including villas. You can search by location, price, number of bedrooms, and other criteria.

• HomeAway: HomeAway is another popular website for vacation rentals. It offers a similar search function to VRBO.

• TUI Villas: TUI Villas is a subsidiary of TUI Group, a major European travel company. They offer a wide selection of villas in St. Martin, as well as other destinations around the world.

• Jet Set Vacations: Jet Set Vacations is a luxury travel agency that specializes in villas. They offer a variety of villas in St. Martin, including beachfront villas, villas with infinity pools, and villas with private chefs.

• Airbnb: Airbnb is a popular website for finding short-term rentals, including villas. You can search by location, price, and other criteria.

St Martin Reservation Center offers more than 300 St Martin villas & condos. There are no booking fees, and these are the same properties offered on the most popular St Martin web sites.
When choosing a villa in St. Martin, you will need to consider the following factors:

• Location: Where do you want to be located? Some popular areas include Terres Basses, Simpson Bay, Oyster Pond and Orient Bay.

• Price: How much are you willing to spend? Villa prices in St. Martin vary greatly, so it is important to set a reasonable budget before you start your search.

• Number of bedrooms and bathrooms: How many people will be staying in the villa? Most villas accommodate two persons per bedroom.

• Amenities: What amenities are important to you? Most villas have pools, and some offer private tennis courts, chef service, hot tubs, and private beaches at a higher price point.

• Pets: Are you bringing your pets? Some villas are pet friendly. If bringing your pet be sure to follow the government requirements.

Once you have considered these factors, you can start your search for a villa in St. Martin. The most efficient way to proceed is to call a company with local St Martin knowledge and let them do the search for you.

Here are some additional tips for finding a villa in St. Martin:

• Book your villa early, especially if you are traveling during peak season (December to April).

• Be flexible with your dates and travel times. You may be able to find a better deal if you are willing to travel during the shoulder season (April to June and October to mid-December).

• Consider renting hillside accommodations near the beach rather than a beach front villa. This can save you money on your rental costs.

• Ask about discounts for long-term stays. If you are planning on staying in St. Martin for more than two weeks, you may be able to get a discount on your rental price. Discounts are most likely in off season mid Apr – mid Dec.

• Buy travel insurance to cover your nonrefundable accommodation costs, due to cancellations, late arrivals and more. It is the safest way to travel in today’s environment.

We hope this helps!

25/05/2023

SUR MER... Rare 3BR beachfront condo at Coco's Beach Club on Simpson Bay!

Spacious 3 BR beachfront condo on beautiful soft white sandy beach. 2nd floor with balcony and unobstructed ocean views!

7th Night Free

DISCOUNT ​LOW SEASON | Apr 15 -​ Nov 15

2 BR I $2,900​ > 7th Night Free discount: $2,486
3 BR I $3,300​ > 7th Night Free discount: $2,829

Contact St Martin Reservation Center to Reserve
800 480 8555 /917 546 6948
EMAIL: [email protected]

25/05/2023

The Dream At Los Arenas
2 BR PH Condo on Simpson Bay Beach
Dutch St Maarten

A modern penthouse 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo located directly on beautiful Simpson Bay beach.

This is a lovely, gated community with fabulous beachfront community pool, elevator, and secured parking. This condo is perfect for 2 couples to share or small family.

7th Night Free

DISCOUNT ​LOW SEASON | Apr 15 -​ Nov 15
Weekly 2 BR I $3,370​ > 7th Night free discount: $2,889

CLICK HERE - DESCRIPTION, RATES, MAP LOCATION, AMENITIES, CALENDAR, MORE
www.stmartinluxuryvacationhomes.com/40396

Contact St Martin Reservation Center
800 480 8555 / 917 546 6948
EMAIL: [email protected]

25/05/2023

Villa Francais, Pelican Key, St Maarten

A spacious, fully air-conditioned hill side villa in Pelican Key with stunning unobstructed ocean and sunset views.

This family villa offers 5 bedrooms, a huge open living, dining, and kitchen concept with expansive terrace and large private pool. Close to a plethora of restaurants, shops, casinos and bars!

7th Night Free

DISCOUNT ​LOW SEASON | Apr 15 -​ Nov 15
Weekly 4 BR I $5,400​ > 7th Night free discount: $4,229
Weekly 5 BR I $6,000​ > 7th Night free discount: $5,143

CLICK HERE - DESCRIPTION, RATES, MAP LOCATION, AMENITIES, CALENDAR, MORE

www.stmartinluxuryvacationhomes.com/40459

19/05/2023

Don’t Buy Airline Tickets on This Day of the Week
Story by Jacob Wade


Summer travel season is approaching, and you might just be getting to booking your flights. While summer is typically more expensive for travel, you might be able to save some money by avoiding purchasing flights on the wrong day of the week.

There are some long-standing myths in the travel industry about the best day to search for flight deals, but less know that there are days where flights may be more expensive.

We’ve reviewed data from Google Flights and a study from Expedia to find out if there really are worse days to buy tickets than others. Here’s what we’ve found.

Best Day To Buy Airline Tickets: Sunday

Expedia analyzed millions of flights and airfare data and found that booking a flight on a Sunday could save you up to 15% on your total airfare. The data showed that booking on a Sunday versus a Friday yielded 5% cheaper airfare on domestic flights, and 15% savings on international flights.

And while waiting to book could yield you some savings, you might be better off searching your route on Google Flights, Kayak, Hopper, or another travel service, and setting an alert to track prices for those dates. This ensures that you receive a message if the price rises or drops, and if it drops, you can quickly book it to lock in a low fare.

In addition, there are no guarantees that you will get a lower price when booking on Sunday versus any other day of the week. Airline ticket prices are far more fluid and can even change by the hour. Your best bet is to start searching early to find better deals, no matter the day of the week.

Don’t Buy Tickets on Friday

While cheaper flights can be found by booking at the end of the weekend, shopping for flights on a Friday could end up costing you more. You might pay 5% – 15% more, depending on the flight.
Friday is notorious for last-minute travel bookings for an upcoming weekend. And business travelers are getting their flights booked for the next week as well. This increase in demand may be the reason for the increase in airfare prices.

If you happen to be booking airfare on a Friday, try to avoid booking unless your flights are at least days away, as Expedia’s study shows that airfare is lower for flights booked at least a month out.

More Ways To Save on Airline Tickets

While booking flights on Sunday can be an easy way to save a few bucks, there are some other ways to save big money on your next airfare purchase:

• Fly on Wednesday. According to the Expedia study, scheduling your departing flight on a Wednesday versus a Sunday or Monday can save you up to 15% on domestic travel, and up to 10% on international flights.

• Book at least one month out (domestic flights). If you are booking a flight within the U.S., book at least one month out to save on airfare. According to the study, the “sweet spot” for booking domestic flights is from 28 – 35 days out. And booking between 3.5 months and 6 months in advance will actually cost you more.

• Book at least six months out (international flights). International flights require booking much further in advance, and those who book about six months out can save around 10% versus those who book within two months of departure.

• Travel during “off-peak” dates. Booking a summer vacation to Disney or winter getaway to Hawaii is guaranteed to cost you more. If you can travel during “off-peak” season to your destination, you could save hundreds of dollars on airfare. Some airlines even have set dates for “off-peak” travel to certain destinations.

• Be flexible with your dates. If you can be flexible with your travel dates, you might be able to save a LOT on airline tickets. A simple look at Google Flights lets you view an airfare calendar, and you can quickly see that departing a few days earlier, or arriving a few days later can save big money. If you are flexible, you will have the best chance for cheaper airline tickets.

• Use a travel alert. Apps like Google Flights, Expedia, Hopper, and Kayak allow you to set travel alerts for your travel dates and destinations, letting you track the airfare prices for your trip. This can alert you when a screaming deal pops up, letting you quickly book a cheaper flight.

• Use points and miles. If you want to avoid most of the cost of airfare altogether, consider using airline miles or credit card points to book flights. Many credit cards offer generous sign-up bonuses that can net you tens of thousands of airline miles or points, which can be used to book flights. This can save you hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars, but you do need to know how the points work to get the best value.

Bottom Line

Booking on Friday will cost you more, and booking on Sunday can save you up to 15% on your airline tickets. But there are tons of ways to save even more on airline tickets instead of just waiting until Sunday to book your flights.

While statistically, prices are lower when you avoid booking flights on Friday, it doesn’t guarantee it will work for you. Your best bet for cheap flights is to avoid booking last-minute, set travel alerts, and fly mid-week for the best deals.