Travel Assistant Skill
Expert guidance for researching flights and hotels using popular online travel tools.
Capabilities
This skill helps you:
- Search for flights using Google Flights, Skyscanner, Kayak
- Find and compare hotel options using Booking.com, Hotels.com, Expedia
- Build optimized search URLs for travel sites
- Compare prices across multiple platforms
- Find the best travel deals and timing
Flight Search Workflow
1) Gather Trip Details
Before searching, collect:
- Origin: Departure city/airport (use IATA codes when possible, e.g., LAX, JFK, LHR)
- Destination: Arrival city/airport
- Dates: Departure date and return date (if round trip)
- Passengers: Number of travelers, any children
- Class: Economy, Premium Economy, Business, First
- Flexibility: Exact dates or flexible (+/- days)
2) Search Flight Aggregators
Google Flights (Recommended first stop)
- URL: https://www.google.com/travel/flights
- Features: Price tracking, date grid, "Explore" for flexible destinations
- Tip: Use "Track prices" to get alerts for price drops
Skyscanner
- URL: https://www.skyscanner.com
- Features: "Everywhere" search, whole month view, price alerts
- Best for: Finding cheapest dates, budget airlines
Kayak
- URL: https://www.kayak.com/flights
- Features: Price forecast, fare comparison, hacker fares
- Best for: Mixing airlines for better prices
3) Build Direct Search URLs
Google Flights URL format:
https://www.google.com/travel/flights?q=Flights%20to%20{DESTINATION}%20from%20{ORIGIN}%20on%20{DATE}Skyscanner URL format:
https://www.skyscanner.com/transport/flights/{ORIGIN}/{DESTINATION}/{YYMMDD}/{YYMMDD}/Example: https://www.skyscanner.com/transport/flights/lax/cdg/250315/250322/
4) Flight Search Tips
- Best booking window: Domestic 1-3 months ahead, International 2-8 months ahead
- Cheapest days to fly: Typically Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday
- Use incognito mode: Prevents potential price tracking cookies
- Check airline sites directly: Sometimes have exclusive deals
- Consider nearby airports: Can save significantly
- Set price alerts: On Google Flights or Skyscanner
Hotel Search Workflow
1) Gather Stay Details
Before searching, collect:
- Location: City, neighborhood, or specific address/landmark
- Check-in/Check-out dates
- Guests: Number of adults, children, rooms needed
- Budget: Price range per night
- Preferences: Star rating, amenities (pool, gym, breakfast, parking, WiFi)
2) Search Hotel Aggregators
Booking.com
- URL: https://www.booking.com
- Features: Free cancellation filters, Genius discounts, verified reviews
- Best for: Wide selection, flexible cancellation
Hotels.com
- URL: https://www.hotels.com
- Features: Rewards program (stay 10 nights, get 1 free)
- Best for: Loyalty rewards
Expedia
- URL: https://www.expedia.com/Hotels
- Features: Bundle deals (flight + hotel), member prices
- Best for: Package deals
Google Hotels
- URL: https://www.google.com/travel/hotels
- Features: Price comparison across sites, map view
- Best for: Quick comparison, seeing all options
Kayak Hotels
- URL: https://www.kayak.com/hotels
- Features: Price forecast, deal ratings
- Best for: Finding underpriced hotels
3) Build Direct Search URLs
Booking.com URL format:
https://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?ss={LOCATION}&checkin={YYYY-MM-DD}&checkout={YYYY-MM-DD}&group_adults={N}Google Hotels URL format:
https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/{LOCATION}?q={LOCATION}%20hotels4) Hotel Search Tips
- Check multiple sites: Prices vary significantly between aggregators
- Look for member/loyalty prices: Often 10-20% off
- Read recent reviews: Focus on reviews from last 6 months
- Check location on map: Proximity to attractions matters
- Look for free cancellation: Book early, cancel if you find better
- Contact hotel directly: Sometimes match or beat online prices
- Check for hidden fees: Resort fees, parking, WiFi charges
Price Comparison Strategy
For the best deals, follow this order:
Flights
- Google Flights - Get baseline prices and explore dates
- Skyscanner - Check budget airlines and alternative routes
- Kayak - Look for hacker fares (mixed airlines)
- Airline websites - Check for exclusive web fares
- Set alerts - Track prices for 1-2 weeks if flexible
Hotels
- Google Hotels - Quick price comparison across all sites
- Booking.com - Wide selection, good cancellation
- Hotel website directly - Check for best rate guarantee
- Bundle options - Expedia/Kayak for flight+hotel
Using WebFetch for Travel Research
When I need to look up specific travel information, I can use WebFetch to:
- Check current prices on travel sites
- Verify flight availability
- Look up hotel amenities and reviews
- Get real-time travel advisories
Example prompts for WebFetch:
- "What are the current flight prices shown on this page?"
- "What hotels are listed and at what prices?"
- "What are the check-in times and amenities for this hotel?"
Sample Queries I Can Help With
- "Find flights from San Francisco to Tokyo in March"
- "What's the cheapest time to fly to Europe from NYC?"
- "Search for hotels near the Eiffel Tower under $200/night"
- "Compare flight prices to London for next month"
- "Find pet-friendly hotels in Seattle"
- "What airlines fly direct from LAX to Barcelona?"
Travel Planning Checklist
When planning a trip, consider:
- Flights: Book 2-3 months ahead for best prices
- Hotels: Compare at least 3 aggregators
- Visa requirements: Check destination country requirements
- Travel insurance: Consider for international trips
- Local transportation: Airport transfers, car rental needs
- Currency: Check exchange rates, notify bank of travel
- Weather: Pack appropriately for season
- Health: Vaccinations, medications, travel advisories
Airport Code Reference
Common IATA codes for quick searches:
US Major Hubs
- LAX (Los Angeles), SFO (San Francisco), JFK/LGA/EWR (New York area)
- ORD (Chicago O'Hare), ATL (Atlanta), DFW (Dallas), MIA (Miami)
- SEA (Seattle), DEN (Denver), BOS (Boston), IAD/DCA (Washington DC)
International Hubs
- LHR (London Heathrow), CDG (Paris), FRA (Frankfurt), AMS (Amsterdam)
- NRT/HND (Tokyo), HKG (Hong Kong), SIN (Singapore), DXB (Dubai)
- SYD (Sydney), MEX (Mexico City), GRU (Sao Paulo), YYZ (Toronto)