Your Ultimate Guide to Finding Amazing Travel Deals on Amazon
Thanks for checking out this article on discovering great travel deals from Amazon! As an avid traveler myself, I know the struggle of balancing an adventurous spirit with a limited budget. Over the years, I’ve relied on Amazon to source everything from plane tickets to souvenirs at prices that won’t break the bank. In this guide, I’ll reveal my top tips for using Amazon to plan an affordable getaway.
Set up Deal Alerts for Flights
One of the best ways to save on airfare is by setting up deal alerts on Amazon. From my experience, flight prices fluctuate constantly based on availability and demand. By monitoring fare trends, Amazon can notify you via email or text when cheaper tickets become available. To do this, simply search for your desired destination and dates, then click the “Watch this Deal” button. You’ll receive an alert as soon as fares dip below your target price. It basically does the legwork of searching constantly so you don’t have to.
Book Hotels through Amazon Travel
In addition to flights, Amazon also offers discounted hotel rates through their Amazon Travel platform. Similar to how they undercut competitors on other products, Amazon basically acts as a hotel booking middleman by securing rooms in bulk at reduced prices. This allows them to pass the savings directly to customers. When searching for accommodations, be sure to filter results by “Amazon Travel” to see exclusively these cheaper options. I was able to find 4-star hotels in major cities for 30-50% less than prices on other travel sites!
Stock Up on Travel Essentials
Once you’ve scored deals on transportation and lodging, don’t forget to load up on all the other items needed for flawless travels. From my experience, you never know what gadgets or last-minute supplies may come in handy. Some travel essentials I always stock up on via Amazon include:
- Packing cubes and compression sacks to maximize suitcase space
- International adapters and chargers for all devices
- Power banks for keeping electronics juiced up away from outlets
- Toiletries like sunscreen, bug spray, toilet paper (TMI, I know!)
- Snacks that don’t need refrigeration like protein bars, trail mix
Buying these necessities ahead of time on Amazon ensures you don’t pay inflated “I forgot it!” prices at your destination. Thanks to Prime shipping, items can be conveniently shipped to your home or final travel spot.
Browse Souvenirs from Around the World
While traveling internationally, budget-friendly souvenirs from local artisans make for great keepsakes and gifts. However, the selection at tourist traps is limited and prices marked up. Instead, consider perusing Amazon’s huge global marketplace for authentic handicrafts before your trip. As an added perk, items can be shipped to your address at home to avoid baggage weight restrictions. From bookmarks from India to Hungarian nesting dolls, I’ve found so many unique souvenirs at prices way below what I’d pay in person.
Save on Travel Books, Guides, and Gear
To research destinations and plan adventures, travel guides are super valuable – but new ones come at a steep cost. In these situations, I basically can’t recommend Amazon enough to bargain hunt for used and rental options. Through the Amazon Warehouse, you may find like-new travel books, especially ethnographic or historical ones, at a fraction of the list price. Prime Reading also grants access to Kindle editions of countless guidebooks at no extra charge. You can also rent specialized outdoor gear like tents, hammocks, and camp stoves from third-party sellers to avoid buying stuff you’ll only use once.
Sign Up for Prime Student (If Applicable)
Finally, another amazing way to save money on travel planning and all shopping is by signing up for Amazon Prime Student – which provides the same Prime benefits as a regular membership like free two-day/one-day shipping and access to Prime Video – but at half the price! Eligibility is limited to current college students but the savings can really add up, as evidenced by my own backpack through Europe and Asia during grad school. Thanks to streaming movies on long train rides and lightning-quick delivery of last-minute needs before big departures, it basically felt like I had my own personal travel assistant in Jeff Bezos.
Tips for Maximizing Amazon Travel Deals
Hope this guide has inspired some great ideas for using Amazon to plan more affordable getaways. With a little patience and strategy, you totally don’t have to compromise on adventure just because money is tight. Here are a few additional tips courtesy of my travel experience:
- Sign up for Amazon Prime: Prime members get access to exclusive Lightning Deals plus unlimited photo storage from traveling. The membership easily pays for itself.
- Set up multiple address book entries: Make separate addresses for your home, office, Airbnb, family, etc. so items can be routed seamlessly wherever you end up being.
- Watch price histories: Camelcamelcamel and Keepa track cost changes over time so you know the best moment to pull the trigger on deals.
- Set lowish budgets as goals: This prevents overspending in your excitement but leaves room to splurge a little if finances allow.
- Beware hidden costs and taxes: Amazon may not always factor in additional fees depending on your location.
Hopefully implementing some of these strategies will help satisfy your travel wanderlust without draining your wallet. Exploring new places is what life is all about, so don’t let money hold you back from creating lifelong memories. With a little patience and savvy shopping on Amazon, affordable adventures are totally within reach. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Amazon Travel Finds Under $25
| Product | Price | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Versatile Travel Case | $19.99 | 18x13x6 in | Hard shell case for clothing,electronics,toiletries. Wheels for easy transport. |
| Travel Pillow | .49 | One Size | Plush memory foam pillow perfect for long flights or train rides. Fits around neck for comfort. |
| Packing Cubes | $16.95 | Set of 6 | Compression bags for organized packing. Clear top makes items easy to see. Great for maximizing suitcase space. |
| Portable charger | $22.99 | 5×3 in | Keep devices charged while traveling. charges phones multiple times on a single charge. Comes with microUSB cable. |
| Travel Journal | $7.99 | 5×8 in | Hard cover journal to document your travels. Prompts for reflections and memories. Fun way to remember trip details. |
FAQ
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What kind of stuff can I find on Amazon for travel?
Basically, Amazon has a ton of awesome products for travelers. You can get everything from luggage and backpacks to electronics, adaptors, travel books, and more. It’s like a one-stop shop for your trip!
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Is Amazon a good place to buy luggage?
For sure, Amazon actually has some pretty good deals on top luggage brands. You might could find the same bag cheaper somewhere else if you look around, but on Amazon the returned policies make it less risky than buying from another site. Just be sure to read reviews to avoid any bags with quality issues.
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Do they have travel guide books?
Heck yeah, Amazon has an amazing selection of guide books for pretty much any location you can imagine. I’d recommend checking out books specific to your interests too, like guides for hiking trails, food, art, history and such. Lonely Planet books seem kinda reliable from what I’ve heard, if not a little boring maybe.
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What about adapters and chargers?
Adapters and chargers are definitely worth getting on Amazon. The prices are often better, and the reviews really help weigh things like durability. I once purchased this super compact and portable USB-C charger that basically saved my life on a trip – needless to say it got five stars! Double check the voltages match your devices though.
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Any recommendations for other travel gear?
Apart from the typical luggage and electronics, Amazon has loads of potentially life-saving little gadgets. Water bottles, power banks, converter plugs, travel pillows, packing cubes – just type in what you’re looking for and prepare to be overwhelmed by options! Even minor choices like earplugs or a notebook seem kind of important once you’re on the road.
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Is it safer than other sites?
When it comes to big purchases, Amazon generally appears pretty ris-free due to their robust return policy. If something arrives broken or not as described, they make refunds basically simple as can be. Sure, other stores sometimes could offer lower prices, but is that worth the risk of getting stuck with something subpar? I’d say Amazon earns their premium prices with reliability.
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Any cons to shopping there?
While Amazon excels at selection and returns, their travel deals aren’t always the very best out there. You do got to search around some more to compare rates sometimes. Also, it’s not like you can see certain items in person the way you could at a regular store. And shipping times may be slower than instant for last minute trips. However, the positives usually seem to outweigh those downsides if ask me.