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}%20hotels

4) 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

1. Google Flights - Get baseline prices and explore dates
2. Skyscanner - Check budget airlines and alternative routes
3. Kayak - Look for hacker fares (mixed airlines)
4. Airline websites - Check for exclusive web fares
5. Set alerts - Track prices for 1-2 weeks if flexible

Hotels

1. Google Hotels - Quick price comparison across all sites
2. Booking.com - Wide selection, good cancellation
3. Hotel website directly - Check for best rate guarantee
4. 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)