From anywhere to Dream Destination

How I Find Hotel + Flight Deals With Discounts Up to 80%

People often ask me the same question when I share a cheap flight or hotel deal: “How did you even find this?”

The short answer is that I rarely find a great travel deal from just one website. I usually find it by comparing prices, changing dates, checking package offers, looking at member-only rates, and spending a little more time verifying whether the discount is actually real.

Over time, I have learned that some of the best travel deals are not necessarily hidden. They are simply easy to miss if you search the same way every time. That is especially true when looking for hotel and flight discounts advertised at up to 80% off.

These offers do exist, but they are usually attached to certain destinations, specific travel dates, limited hotel inventory, package combinations, or temporary promotions. I never assume that an “80% off” banner automatically means I am getting the best price. Instead, I treat it as a starting point.

Here is exactly how I usually search.

I start with the destination, not the hotel

My first mistake years ago was being too specific. I would decide exactly where I wanted to stay, exactly what date I wanted to fly, and sometimes even which airline I wanted to use. Then I would search. That is probably one of the easiest ways to overpay.

Now, I usually start with something much broader. For example, instead of saying “I want to fly to Tokyo on October 10 and stay at this particular hotel,” I might start with “I want to visit Tokyo sometime in October.” That small difference gives me much more room to find a deal.

I check several possible departure dates and several return dates. Sometimes moving the trip forward or backward by one or two days changes the flight price dramatically. The same thing happens with hotels. A room that costs $220 per night on Saturday might cost $145 on Sunday.

Once I started searching this way, I realized that flexibility was often worth more than any coupon code.

Then I check what a “normal” price looks like

Before I get excited about a discount, I want to know what the trip normally costs. This is important because a huge discount percentage can be misleading if the original price is unusually high.

That looks incredible. But if three other booking sites are selling the same room for around $95, then the deal is still good, but it may not really represent a 70% saving compared with the actual market price.

So I compare. I usually open several tabs and search for the exact same dates, room type, and number of guests. For flights, I do the same thing. I compare the route across different booking platforms and then check the airline directly. This gives me a rough baseline. Only after that do I decide whether the deal is genuinely attractive.

I always search the flight first

When I am booking a complete trip, flights are usually the first thing I investigate. The reason is simple: airfare can change very quickly. Hotel inventory can also change, but flights often have much sharper price differences between dates.

I start by looking at a flexible calendar. Instead of searching only one departure date, I compare a few days around it. Sometimes the difference surprises me. I have seen situations where leaving one day earlier makes the flight $80 or $100 cheaper.

Once I find the cheapest reasonable flight dates, I use those dates to search for accommodation. This has become one of my most reliable methods. Instead of forcing the flight to fit my hotel dates, I often let the flight price determine the best travel window.

After that, I search hotels separately

Once I have a few good flight options, I move on to accommodation. This is where some of the largest discounts can appear. Hotels have unsold rooms, and an unsold room tonight cannot be sold tomorrow. That gives hotels a reason to reduce prices when occupancy is low.

I check several hotel platforms and pay attention to more than just the first number displayed. I look at:

• Room type
• Cancellation policy
• Breakfast
• Taxes
• Resort or service fees
• Location
• Member discounts
• Mobile-app prices

Sometimes the “cheapest” hotel option becomes more expensive after taxes and fees are added. Other times, a slightly more expensive room includes breakfast and free cancellation, making it better value overall. I have learned to compare the whole booking, not just the headline rate.

Then I check the flight + hotel package

This is one of the steps people skip most often. After I find the separate flight and hotel prices, I check whether a travel provider offers them together as a package. Sometimes there is no meaningful difference. But sometimes the package is clearly cheaper.

For example, imagine I find a flight at $250 and a hotel at $250 — a total of $500 if booked separately. Then I see the same trip offered as a flight + hotel package for $390. That immediately gets my attention because I already know the separate booking would cost around $500. In this case, the package would save me about $110, or roughly 22%.

The important part is that I already know what the separate booking costs. Without that baseline, I would have no idea whether the package is actually a good deal.

This is also where some of the larger percentage discounts can appear. The provider may be able to offer a lower hotel rate when it is bundled with a flight, or it may have access to package inventory that is not displayed in the normal hotel search.

I check member rates before I pay

This is another small habit that has saved me money. Before booking a hotel, I check whether creating a free account changes the price. Many travel platforms offer member prices. Sometimes the discount is small. Sometimes it is surprisingly good.

I also check the mobile app. Certain booking companies provide app-only prices that do not appear on the normal desktop version. So before paying, I may compare the desktop public price, the logged-in member price, and the mobile-app price.

It sounds excessive, but it only takes a few minutes. If the booking is expensive, even a 5% or 10% difference can be worth checking. On a $1,000 trip, that could mean saving another $50 to $100.

I look for deals during quieter travel periods

I rarely expect the biggest discounts during the busiest week of the year. If everyone wants the same flight and the same hotel, there is less reason for airlines or hotels to lower their prices.

That is why I like traveling during what is often called the shoulder season — the period just before or just after peak season. You may still get good weather, but prices can be much lower.

I also check whether there are major events, festivals, school holidays, or public holidays happening at the destination. A hotel can be $120 per night for most of the month and suddenly jump to $280 for one weekend because of a concert, conference, or local event. Knowing this helps me avoid expensive dates.

I check nearby airports too

This trick is especially useful for cities served by several airports. I do not automatically assume the main airport is the cheapest. Sometimes a budget airline flies into a smaller airport nearby. That can result in a much lower fare.

But I always calculate the transportation cost afterward. There is no point saving $50 on a flight if getting from the airport to the city costs another $70. This is something I learned the hard way: the cheapest airfare does not always mean the cheapest journey. I now compare the total cost from departure to destination.

I never ignore the final checkout price

This may be the most important rule I follow. I do not consider a deal real until I see the final price. A flight might initially look extremely cheap. Then I add checked baggage, seat selection, payment fees, and taxes. Suddenly the difference is much smaller.

For example, a flight advertised at $89 may end up costing $145 once baggage and other charges are included. Hotels can do something similar. The first price may exclude taxes, service fees, cleaning fees, or resort charges.

That is why I always go far enough into the booking process to see the total amount before payment. I compare that number. Not the promotional banner. Not the percentage discount. Not the “from” price. The final number.

I also check the airline or hotel directly

Even when I find the deal through a booking platform, I usually check the airline or hotel’s official website before I book. Sometimes the direct price is cheaper. Sometimes it is the same. And sometimes the price is slightly higher, but the direct booking includes something extra.

A hotel might include:

• Free breakfast
• Late checkout
• Better cancellation terms
• Room upgrades
• Loyalty points

An airline may make it easier to manage baggage, seats, schedule changes, and cancellations. I do not automatically assume direct booking is better, but I always check.

I use price alerts when I have time

If the trip is still several weeks or months away, I often avoid booking immediately. Instead, I monitor the fare. Price alerts make this easier — they allow me to track a route and see when the price changes.

I especially like using them when I have flexible dates. Sometimes I will monitor two or three destinations at the same time. That way, instead of forcing myself to go somewhere expensive, I can follow whichever destination becomes cheaper.

This is probably one of the biggest differences between how I used to travel and how I search today. I used to choose the destination first and accept the price. Now I sometimes let the deal help choose the destination.

What about those “up to 80% off” deals?

This is where I stay careful. I have seen very large travel discounts, especially for hotels, flash sales, package bookings, and off-season promotions. But “up to 80% off” does not mean every booking will be 80% cheaper. Usually, the maximum discount applies only to selected inventory.

It may be limited by:

• Destination
• Hotel
• Travel date
• Room type
• Booking period
• Coupon
• Payment method
• Membership level

So when I see a big discount, I check the conditions. Then I compare it with other available prices. If a room normally sells around $250 and I can genuinely book it for $75, that is the kind of deal that gets my attention. If the supposed original price is $500 but every other website is already selling it for $100, then I treat the discount percentage much more cautiously. The final market price matters more than the headline.

My simple deal-finding routine

After doing this repeatedly, my process has become fairly simple. I start with flexible travel dates. Then I check the flight price. Once I find a cheap travel window, I compare hotels. After that, I check flight + hotel packages. Then I compare member prices, mobile prices, and direct booking prices. Finally, I check the total amount after taxes and fees.

That is really it. There is no single secret website. The advantage comes from comparing enough options before booking.

What I have learned after searching for travel deals

The biggest lesson I have learned is that a good deal is rarely about finding the biggest percentage written on the screen. It is about understanding the actual value.

A 20% discount on an already cheap hotel can sometimes be better than a supposed 70% discount on an inflated rate. A slightly more expensive flight with baggage included may be better than a cheaper fare with several additional charges. And a hotel + flight package may sometimes beat both.

That is why I focus on the final trip cost. When I find discounts approaching 50%, 60%, or even 80%, I still verify everything before booking. The deal has to make sense after all charges are included.

Frequently asked questions

Can you really find hotel and flight discounts of up to 80%?

Yes, large discounts can occasionally be available, particularly on hotels, flash sales, seasonal promotions, and package deals. However, the maximum discount normally applies to selected dates or inventory and is not guaranteed for every booking.

Where do I usually find the biggest travel discounts?

In my experience, the biggest differences tend to appear when I combine flexible dates, hotel member rates, off-season travel, package deals, and promotional campaigns.

Is booking a flight and hotel together always cheaper?

No. Sometimes a package is cheaper, but sometimes booking separately gives you a better total price. I always calculate both before deciding.

Do I book immediately when I find a cheap deal?

Only after checking the final cost, cancellation rules, baggage conditions, hotel fees, and the legitimacy of the booking provider.

How do I know whether a discount is genuine?

I compare the discounted price with the same flight or hotel across several reputable providers. If the final price is still clearly lower after fees and conditions are considered, I treat it as a genuine saving.

Final thoughts

Whenever someone asks me how I find these hotel and flight deals, they usually expect me to reveal one hidden website or a secret booking trick. There really is not one.

The biggest advantage comes from how I search. I stay flexible. I compare. I check packages. I look at member rates. I verify the final price. And I do not get distracted by a huge discount percentage until I know what the booking actually costs.

That process has helped me find some genuinely great travel prices. And when a hotel, flight, or package really does appear at a major discount, I know I am looking at the numbers properly rather than simply trusting the advertisement.