Airbnb.com -- Best for living like a local
Users can rent private rooms in people's homes or entire homes. With more than a half million listings (inlcuding 600 castles) in 34,000 cities, it can save you from a bland hotel. Safety tip: Opt for hosts with a verified ID badge -- they provide proof of identity, which gives you an extra layer of security.
Booking.com -- Best for finding a hotel room
Search every hotel in a city and book your favorite (you don't pay until you show up). There's also free cancellation on most rooms. The Best Price Guarantee means if you see a cheaper price, the site will match it.
GetGoing.com -- Best for nice surprises
With GetGoing's Pick Two, Get One program, you enter your preferred travel dates and the experience you want (beach vacation, outdoor adventure, etc.) and the website finds flights to different cities at up to 40 percent off. Review your choices, then narrow your destinations down to two. Here's the kicker -- the site makes the final decision for you. After you enter your credit card information, you find out where you're going.
Travefy.com -- Best for group travel
This site allows everyone in a group to vote on a location, book flights and accommodations, agree on an itinerary, and even split costs. There's also a rewards program to earn points for everything you do and even tweeting about your experience.
Free apps to download:
Book unsold same-day hotel rooms at cut-rate prices. The rates are guaranteed to be the lowest available.
Long layover or delayed flight? Discover the best airport lounges and how to get in them, some for free!
Superfly Hotels (iPhone only)
Tracks air, car rental, and hotel rewards; suggests and even books rooms, then gives you up to 10 percent cash back.
Skip car reservations and the taxi line at the airport. Use this app to get a quick pickup -- and to pay.
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