miles travel

9 things to know before visiting Barcelona

Y’all have heard me talk about how much I love Spain, and this post is dedicated to all things Barcelona. My little sister wrote this list during…

Oak + Odyssey vs. Kayak

puertorico

#CheapTravelChallenge

It’s time for another #cheaptravelchallenge! The purpose of this challenge is to show you how travel search engines don’t always find the cheapest route. They definitely do a great job if you have zero flexibility in your travel plans. But if you’re willing to budge on dates a bit or fly into a different airport, then the customization that Oak + Odyssey provides is the way to go :) Let’s get started!

The Challenge: Find the cheapest flights from Springfield, MO to Puerto Rico in October 2017.

The Competition: Kayak

The Results: The search on Kayak resulted in a $535 round-trip ticket from SGF to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Using Oak + Odyssey, I found a way to get from SGF to San Juan for a total of $355. 
By using Oak + Odyssey, you would save a total of $180. That's six tanks of gas, a pair of Ray-bans, or another weekend getaway! 

*Side note: Kayak is a great tool to use, however, this challenge is meant to show you that there are many workarounds and customizations that aren't picked up by search engines like Kayak. 

See the two flight itinerary comparisons below and be sure to book your next trip with Oak + Odyssey.

Happy Traveling

Kansas City → New Delhi $634 RT

india

Tombs, temples and the Taj Mahal. Take a trip to the 7th largest country in the world for only $634 roundtrip. Right now, we're seeing these flights from Kansas City to New Delhi, India at the end of September. The first flight is from KC to LA on Spirit Airlines for $144 RT. The second flight is from LA to New Delhi on China Eastern for $493 RT. 

See flight itinerary below: 

Happy Traveling

How I flew from KC to Europe for $490 Roundtrip

Traveling international tends to be more expensive when you live in the midwest. On average, a flight from Kansas City to Europe ranges between…

78 Hour Summer Sale

PC: Air New Zealand

PC: Air New Zealand

You don't want to miss Air New Zealand's 78 hour summer sale going on right now! Save up to $500 on flights to Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands. Currently, our favorite fare is from LAX to the Cook Islands (Rarotonga). Normally a roundtrip flight to the Cook Islands would cost $1,500. However, due to this sale, we have found multiple flights for as low as $552 roundtrip. See sample flight itinerary below:

airnewzealand

The Cook Islands are in French Polynesia, which is also where Bora Bora and Tahiti are located. Sale ends on Thursday, July 13, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.

These flights are selling out quick! Book below or visit airnewzealand.com

Oak + Odyssey vs. Expedia

indonesiawaterfall

#CheapTravelChallenge

It’s time for another #cheaptravelchallenge! The purpose of this challenge is to show you how travel search engines don’t always find the cheapest route. They definitely do a great job if you have zero flexibility in your travel plans. But if you’re willing to budge on dates a bit or fly into a different airport, then the customization that Oak + Odyssey provides is the way to go :) Let’s get started!

The Challenge: Find the cheapest flights from St. Louis to Bali in September 2017.

The Competition: Expedia

The Results: The Expedia search found me a $1,521 round-trip ticket from STL to Bali. Using Oak + Odyssey I found a round-trip ticket from STL to Bali for $893. 
By using Oak + Odyssey, you would save a total of $628. That's a months' worth of rent (depending on where you live),  185 Taco Bell crunch wrap supremes, or a flight to Europe and back.

*Side note: Expedia is a great tool to use, however, this challenge is meant to show you that there are many workarounds and customizations that aren't picked up by search engines like Expedia. 

See the two flight itinerary comparisons below and be sure to book your next trip with Oak + Odyssey.

Happy Traveling

Oak + Odyssey vs. Google Flights

airplane3.jpeg

#CheapTravelChallenge

I get a lot of questions on how Oak + Odyssey is different than someone just going onto Kayak or Travelocity and searching for a flight. I decided this would be a great way to show y’all how we differ and how you can save even more money by using Oak + Odyssey.

Tavel search engines don’t always find the cheapest route. They definitely do a great job if you have zero flexibility in your travel plans. But if you’re willing to budge on dates a bit or fly into a different airport, then the customization that Oak + Odyssey provides is the way to go :) Let’s get started!

The Challenge: Find the cheapest flights from Kansas City to London in 2017.

The Competition: Google Flights

The Results: Using Google Flights, the cheapest round-trip tickets I could find were in November for $910. Using Oak + Odyssey, the cheapest tickets we were able to find were in September for $569. *Drumroll please* By using Oak + Odyssey, you would save a total of $341. That's 341 small fries at McDonalds, a three year subscription to Netflix or your next weekend getaway.

*Side note: Google Flights is an amazing tool that I use all the time, however, this challenge is meant to show you that there are many workarounds and customizations that aren't picked up by search engines like Google Flights. 

See the two flight itinerary comparisons below and be sure to book your next trip with Oak + Odyssey.


Flights to Amsterdam Starting at $547 Roundtrip

Fly from Kansas City, MO to Amsterdam, Netherlands in October, on Delta Airlines for $547 roundtrip. Delta is a full-service carrier, which means you will not pay extra for bags or in-flight meals. Enjoy 200 paintings by Vincent van Gogh at the Van Gogh museum before heading off to see one of the world's largest flower gardens, Keukenhof Gardens. Cruise through the streets of Amsterdam on a bicycle and be sure to stop for the perfect photo opp on one of the 1,500 bridges overlooking the canals. 

See flight itinerary below:

kctoamsterdam

Happy Traveling

How to Travel More (and afford it)

Traveling can be expensive and usually requires taking time off. I get asked a lot how I can afford to travel so much. Below is a list of tips on…

Review on Norwegian Air

For a while, I had read and heard all about Norwegian Air's 787 Dreamliner. Norwegian promotes this new long-haul carrier as a "more jet, less lag" aircraft. About three...

Atlanta → Lima, Peru $370

The Amazon rainforest, ancient ruins, Machu Picchu and more.

The Amazon rainforest, ancient ruins, Machu Picchu and more.

Fly from Atlanta, GA to Lima, Peru for $370 roundtrip. Right now, we're seeing these flights in May on Spirit Airlines. Take a step back in time and experience the most ancient city in America. Visit the Sacred Valley filled with fertile farmland and Spanish colonial villages. Hike to Machu Picchu to see the heart of the Incan Empire.  

See flight itinerary below: 

spiritflightitenerary

*Spirit is a budget airline, which means nothing is included except a small personal item. However, you can easily add a bag for an additional cost. 

San Francisco → Thailand $440 Roundtrip

Elephants, beaches, boat-filled rivers and more.

Elephants, beaches, boat-filled rivers and more.

Fly from San Francisco, California to Bangkok, Thailand for $440 roundtrip. Right now, we're seeing these prices for flights in November on China Southern.

Thailand is an extraordinary country filled with adventure and extreme wanderlust. It is also very cheap, which means you can eat, drink and explore without breaking the bank. Shop the city of Bangkok and try the local food. Then hop on a $58 flight to Phuket, a mountainous island in the Andaman sea.

See flight price and itinerary below: 

chinasouthern
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$109 Summer Bargain to Bergen

Bergen, Norway

Photo Credit: Azamara Club Cruises

Photo Credit: Azamara Club Cruises

Fly to Norway in July for $109 one-way or $330 roundtrip on Norwegian Air. Bergen, Norway is surrounded by mountains and fjords, including the longest the fjord in the country - Sognefjord. This city is the second largest in Norway, but keeps a small town charm with it's colorful wooden houses and laid-back culture. 

Happy Traveling

Kansas City → Orlando $56 Roundtrip

 
disneyworld
 

Get to the most magical place on earth for only $56 roundtrip. We're seeing these low prices in April with flights out of Kansas City on Frontier Airlines. See a sample flight itinerary below:

kctoorlando

Looking for a beach vacation? Fear not - there are many close by: 

  1. Miami - 3 1/2 hours

  2. Tampa - 1.5 hours

  3. Daytona Beach - 50 minutes

  4. Marco Island - 4 hours

  5. Palm Bay - 1.5 hours

  6. Fort Myers - 3.5 hours

Happy Traveling

Denver → Paris $436 Roundtrip

Colorful macarons, world-renowned cuisine and high fashion.

Colorful macarons, world-renowned cuisine and high fashion.

Imagine yourself sipping café crème while reading a romance novel next to the Eiffel Tower. This could be you next month for only $436. We're seeing flights from Denver to Paris for as low as $436 on Delta Airlines. See a sample flight itinerary below: 

denvertoparis

While you're there, take a $63 day trip to Brussels, Belgium via train, and indulge on a variety of delicious waffles.

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parisbike

Happy Traveling