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

• 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)