If you’ve ever tried booking a flight or hotel only to realize the price dropped days later, you understand how frustrating travel planning can be. The truth is, airline and hotel rates don’t stay still — they rise and fall like the stock market. One minute a flight is $320, the next it’s $198. Hotels can do the same thing based on demand, availability, and even browsing behavior.

But here’s the good news: you don’t need to manually check prices every single day or refresh your browser endlessly. Travelers who consistently book cheap trips use one simple strategy — price alerts. These alerts do the heavy lifting for you by tracking price changes in real time and notifying you the moment a deal becomes available.

If you want to save hundreds of dollars on travel, learning how to set and use price alerts is one of the smartest things you can do. This guide walks you through everything: the tools to use, how to set alerts the right way, and the techniques smart travelers use to catch flight and hotel deals before they disappear.

Why Price Alerts Are a Game-Changer for Budget Travelers

Price alerts take unpredictable travel pricing and make it predictable. Instead of guessing whether you should book now or wait, alerts give you data-backed guidance on the best time to lock in your rate.

Here’s why they’re so powerful:

They track price drops instantly — even while you sleep.
They prevent overpaying by notifying you when demand dips.
They identify hidden discounts airlines and hotels never openly advertise.
They eliminate the stress of constantly checking booking websites.
They help you book flights at their lowest predicted price.

In other words, price alerts give you an unfair advantage over the average traveler.

Best Tools for Setting Price Alerts on Flights and Hotels

There are dozens of apps and websites that offer price alerts, but a few stand out because of their accuracy, prediction tools, and ease of use.

Below are the top platforms you should be using:

1. Google Flights – Fastest and Most Accurate Alerts

Google Flights is the go-to tool for anyone serious about saving money. Its alert system is extremely accurate, and its price-tracking algorithms are among the best in the travel industry.

2. Skyscanner – Great for Flexible Travelers

Skyscanner pulls fares from hundreds of airlines and travel agencies. It’s perfect if you’re open to different dates or want to track multiple routes.

3. Hopper – Best for Price Predictions

Hopper predicts flight and hotel price drops using billions of historical data points. It tells you whether to book now or wait, making it incredibly useful.

4. Kayak – Ideal for Comparing Multiple Booking Sites

Kayak sends price alerts across several booking platforms, giving you broad visibility into competing prices.

5. Booking.com – Best for Hotel Alerts

Booking.com’s “Price Alert” feature is dependable for hotel monitoring, especially for properties with prepaid or refundable rates.

6. Expedia – Great for Package Alerts

If you prefer flight + hotel bundles, Expedia notifications help you lock in discounted packages early.

How to Set Price Alerts on Google Flights

Google Flights is one of the best alert systems because of its speed and convenience. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Visit Google Flights

Go to: https://www.google.com/travel/flights

Step 2: Enter Your Flight Details

Add your:

Departure airport
Destination
Preferred travel dates

You can also choose flexible dates (e.g., “1 week in May”).

Step 3: Toggle On “Track Prices”

Right above the flight results, you’ll see a switch labeled “Track Prices.” Tap or click it.

Step 4: Sign Into Your Gmail

Google sends alerts directly to your email or the Google Travel dashboard.

Step 5: Monitor Your Alerts

You’ll receive:

Price drops
Price spikes
Historical price trends
Travel date recommendations

This makes the process hands-off and highly efficient.

How to Set Price Alerts on Skyscanner

Skyscanner is perfect if you want global flexibility.

Step 1: Search for Your Route

Enter your origin and destination.
If you’re flexible, choose “Everywhere” as your destination.

Step 2: Choose Your Dates

Select specific dates or flexible monthly searches.

Step 3: Tap “Get Price Alerts”

Skyscanner is especially useful for long-haul flights, where savings can reach hundreds of dollars.

How to Set Price Alerts on Hopper

Hopper adds value by predicting future prices.

Step 1: Download the Hopper App

It’s available on Android and iOS.

Step 2: Search for a Flight or Hotel

Enter your details.

Step 3: Tap “Watch This Trip”

Hopper will then send:

Color-coded price predictions
Alerts when prices drop
Advice on whether to book now or wait

Hopper is ideal if you want data-driven insights, not just alerts.

How to Set Price Alerts for Hotels on Booking.com

Hotels fluctuate almost as much as flights, so alerts matter.

Step 1: Search for a Hotel

Enter your city, check-in date, and check-out date.

Step 2: Select a Property

Open the listing you want to monitor.

Step 3: Click or Tap “Set Price Alert”

Booking.com will notify you when:

The room rate drops
A promotion becomes available
Free cancellation options open
A deal is about to expire

Pro Tips to Make Price Alerts Work Even Better

Setting price alerts is good — but setting them strategically is even better. Here’s how to maximize your savings:

1. Set Alerts Early — Even 4–6 Months in Advance

Cheap fares show up early. The earlier you start tracking, the better your chance of catching seasonal dips.

2. Track Multiple Dates, Not Just One

Flight prices can drop dramatically one or two days before or after your target date.

Use:

Flexible date calendars
Weekend-only searches
“Cheapest month” options

3. Track Alternative Airports

For example:

Flying into Fort Lauderdale instead of Miami
Using JFK instead of LaGuardia
Choosing Brussels instead of Paris

Nearby airports often have much cheaper deals.

4. Track Multiple Routes and Airlines

Don’t limit yourself to one version of the trip. Set alerts for:

One-way flights
Return flights separately
Multi-city routes
Budget airlines

You’d be shocked how often splitting your trip can save 30–40%.

5. Don’t Ignore Hotel Alerts

Travelers tend to focus on flights, but hotel prices fluctuate even more. Alerts help catch:

Flash sales
Seasonal discounts
Extended-stay promotions
App-only discounts

A single night’s discount can save you more than a flight drop.

6. Set Alerts for Packages Too

Expedia, Priceline, and Travelocity offer price drops on bundles that you won’t see if you search flights and hotels separately.

7. Avoid Searching the Same Route Repeatedly

Some sites show higher prices after repeated searches.

Using alerts reduces the need to manually refresh searches, helping avoid algorithm-triggered price hikes.

8. Take Advantage of Browser Tools

Extensions like Honey and Capital One Shopping can also track hotel prices and apply coupons automatically.

9. Use Multiple Apps for Cross-Checking

For example, a deal that appears on Hopper may not show up on Google Flights, and vice versa.

Smart travelers use at least three alert tools.

10. Be Ready to Book When Alerts Hit

The best deals don’t last long. When you get a notification:

Confirm the dates
Check restrictions
Book quickly

Deals disappear fast — sometimes within hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are price alerts always accurate?

Price alerts are based on real-time changes from airlines and hotels, so they’re highly accurate. However, predicted price drops (like on Hopper) are based on historical trends and not guaranteed. Still, alerts dramatically increase your chances of catching true discounts.

2. How early should I set price alerts?

For flights: 3–6 months ahead for international trips, and 1–3 months for domestic ones.
For hotels: as early as possible, because early alerts catch flash sales and cancellation-based price drops.