Travel – as a military family this is a regular part of our lives. Trips home, to visit friends, weddings, TDY, etc. We’re constantly on the move in some form or fashion but that gets expensive.

My eyes literally almost popped out of my head when I saw the price for a family of 3 to fly home to Virginia from Hawaii! OMG!

As a virtual assistant, I’ve come across some pretty awesome tools to find the best bang for your travel buck.

• Skiplagged app – I helped a friend save $500 on her flight to North Carolina from Hawaii using this app. And when I mean save $500, I mean $500 less than every other “deal” site.
• Skyscanner.com – Similar to Skiplagged but a more traditional site.
• American Express Platinum – FREE for military!! This card is normally $600/year and the bonuses and extras are more than worth it.

Also, there are a few industry tricks when it comes to getting the best bang for your buck.

• Always book AND fly on a Tuesday for the best deal
• Never buy a flight 6 months to a year out. Prices WILL drop and you’ll be locked in
• You have 24 hours to cancel or change a flight with every airline for no fee. Make sure that your flight is exactly the one you want ahead of time
• Also – don’t forget – you need a night out without kiddos wherever you go. Don’t forget to book a highly recommended sitter near you!