✨ Thanks to Unbound Merino for sponsoring this video. Use NORA10 for 10% off, and click here to start shopping! shrsl.com/40u23 Purchasing via my affiliate link above costs you nothing, and helps to support my channel, so thank you in advance! 👉🏻 Here's some more info about Merino Wool: Merino Wool terminology and benefits, including how to choose the best type for your needs: czcams.com/video/4sXODXEeURY/video.htmlsi=BImh1NPs7iIVD7-d 📖 Prefer to read? Here you go: www.theprofessionalhobo.com/merino-wool-clothing-for-travel-a-guide-to-choosing-the-best-brands/ 📺RELATED VIDEOS 📺 ✈Travel Hacking 101 | Leveraging Frequent Flyer Miles - czcams.com/video/bsOtsTCzomg/video.htmlsi=7HlRPUJxqLvWCrpZ 🛬15 Layover Do's and Don'ts | Watch This Before Booking Your Next Flight! - czcams.com/video/6HMHimRg63U/video.htmlsi=Xd8E4Rmrrp4bA6Bx 🚫Top 10 Flight Booking Mistakes & How to Solve Them | 2024 Travel Guide - czcams.com/video/Y4MXpCNB-xI/video.htmlsi=b8dLumMmyaz9iWd- 🛫How to Book CHEAP FLIGHTS! Top 8 Tips - czcams.com/video/_aRVQ2ekIZk/video.htmlsi=wHLR4A95YxcRDqax 🤫Travel Secrets: Unlock Flight Comfort with Genius Carry-On Hacks - czcams.com/video/gdwN8GG2Cyk/video.htmlsi=5AWMFIN26mKgtmcg
Wow, I feel like a total neophyte after watching this. I don't think I've ever watched something so useful and well thought out without, not even once, thinking "come on, get to the point!" You're very easy to listen to, and so helpful!
❤ your Google Flight tips. Prior to the pandemic, I traveled 48 out of 52 weeks in a year. I also planned all of our leisure travel, so I thought I knew a lot about booking flights for the best value for biz or economy. Your advice was so priceless that I had to subscribe.
I fly for free with my airline because I’ve been there for 34 years now. I can also fly on the other airlines with a 90% discount. The only catch is that it’s all space available standby. If you are willing to fly at odd hours, during midweek and during off peak season, you can do it no problem. My wife and I currently buy our tickets full fare because of time restraints. We do get a 20% discount with our airline for a confirmed seat. When we retire, we will then have the time to miss flights without it being a big deal. Until then, we will continue to purchase our tickets. This info will be of good use to us. Thanks Nora!
But don’t forget, if you live west of NYC (in NJ) yes, it’s always cheaper to fly from JFK but it also costs $100 to GET to JFK (and another $100 back, not to mention the additional time spent getting there). I refuse to fly out of JFK. It’s always easily worth the extra $100 or so to fly out of Newark.
Good point about the cost and time to get to the repositioning airport. Neward has some good international options, which is lucky. Many smaller airports don't.
Another feature that I wish these apps had is alerts about a given destination that might make you reconsider your plans in terms of dates or destinations, that might not occur to you, like a national holiday that shuts everything down when you're there, popular sights being closed for repairs or renovations, a major sporting event that will make hotel rooms expensive and transit crowded, or political unrest and the like. I.e. a comprehensive vacation planner and not just separate flight, hotel and car rental reservation pages.
Not a bad video Nora. You should mention the date graph too, that is INCREDIBLY helpful for finessing dates for a cheaper trip as long as you're not too picky on what date you leave and come back on -good for planning out trips far not in the near future
Can confirm: As a male I typically don't care for BB's, but my favorite under garments are my base layer merino wool leggings for snowboarding. If they have merino wool boxer-briefs I would probably wear those on the daily. They're also great for running/jogging which can prevent chaffing between the male bits and legs. Not surprised he's a fan!
Thank you for all the great tips. I hope one say you're able to find a retailer to partner with that does not exploit others, but I understand we all need to make a living in this world. I wish you well and continued happy travels!
Glad to have found your channel. I used to travel monthly for business and now only for personal use. But learned a lot through this video. Some of the tricks you mention I had already been doing on my own, but the Google site seems to simplify my search method by having it all in one place. Will be giving it a shot for the next trip. Many thanks!
I insist on an absolute minimum layover time of 4 hours just in case of delays, I would rather have to kill time at an airport waiting for a connecting flight than risk being late for it.
I wouldn't ever fully discount the multi-city option. I recently used it to book a flight going from where I live to Finland after Christmas, and then going back to college from there, and it was half as expensive as either one way on its own
I always go to my local library for preliminary searches because if I search from my home computer, the next time I go to look the prices almost always are higher. This way I can document the flight into in the library and then go home to book it.
Really? I researched this in depth for a video last year and I concluded it was a myth that airlines track IP addresses and raise the prices with subsequent searches. Interesting that you've found that to be true. Another solution that doesn't involve the library would be to use a VPN. That would solve the problem.
Just booked tix for my family R/T Bangkok to Chicago in October on Cathay Pacific. The tickets were reasonably priced, but they wanted almost $600 additional for our family of 3 to sit together. My daughter is 12. I assumed they would at least reserve a seat for her to sit next to one parent without additional costs. I called them. They suggested I should roll the dice and hope something favorable shows up. I'm starting to hate airlines as much as I hate car rentals. Money grubbing imbeciles.
Sorry that's happening. But indeed, at check-in you will be assigned seats and most airlines allow you to change the seats for free at that time. I can't imagine there won't be two seats together at that time.
I like ANA/United from Chicago (ORD) to Bangkok. I checked on google. The price is still reasonable in October. I never have to pay for choosing a seat.
@@jumpiam8477 Yeah, I had been checking for about two months before I bought my tickets. They don't reveal the additional costs to sit next to your family until AFTER you commit to the purchase. Snaky shit. Never again, Cathay. Should have gone with ANA or United.
Great…….. Al my flight out of the bag. Every single one you mention is what I’ve been doing and helping family and friends get good deals.. guess they won’t need me as much lol
Thanks for the tips. I've never used this Google tool before. Amazing. I really liked the options available to plan a trip to an open destination and find deals to take advantage of.
Thank you for the video! I've used Google flight pretty often but still could learn couple things. The funny thing is I was search for ticket to go to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, and you were pretty much doing the same thing. I hope you could make the trip to Vietnam and did have good time there.😀
I’ve personally given this feedback to Unbound Merino, and they’re well aware of the need to offer larger sizes. The challenge according to them, is that they don’t just want to take the same pattern/dimensions of smaller sizes and make that larger, because that’s not how larger people are shaped. They want to make something that will be flattering and fit properly. And for that, I respect their approach. It just means it’s taking them longer to get the right designs in place and manufactured.
Or much choice! They have 2 dresses. One for skinny gals only and one too fancy. Why not start with a basic trapeze dress? That’s why I appreciate Wool&. They show every item on a range of body types.
Thank you for your time and posting. Great information. Off to Vietnam in three months. :) I'll be deselecting all US carriers for the flight from the West Coast of the US to VN. Very interesting mosaic on the wall behind you. Have a great time in Bulgaria.
Good stuff. I use google flights as a starting point. But I find prices for flights to Buenos Aires from Florida are frequently wrong, esp using a non US carrier. And domestic flights in Argentina almost always have the wrong price. ITA travel matrix seemed more accurate in the past although I have not used it lately as I usually go straight to the airlines website.
I've also noticed flights to Buenos Aires can be super expensive! ITA travel matrix has some super advanced search options - I occasionally use it if I need to search for flights with a specific code.
@@NoraDunn Yes the OTA's and google flights often use the "official" exchange rate which is worse than the MEP (credit card) rate. But the carriers use MEP and will display the correct price. These outlier situations also happen in other countries with multiple exchange rates like Cuba.
I want to thank you for these great tips. A word of caution. Changing payment currency also means that in case of cancellation, a refund is in that currency too. You may lose $ because of the currency exchange rate fluctuation. It cost me one time $600. However, i also made a few $ too when the rate was in my favor.
I have that very pair of travel pants and took them and other merino wool clothing to Norway last month. I really am a convert, but I wish they would make women’s pants that look like the men’s travel pants. I’ve never used Google flights, but I will try that the next time I’m booking.
Love the content and the delivery Nora! I am a traveling nut. I have built miles enough that I never need to buy a ticket if I don't want to. I still find this episode very enlightening. I'd really like to chat with you if that is possible. Reply and I will answer and again congratulations on your vlog's success.
I've learned most of the Google flight tricks you mentioned, and you confirmed things about the trickier things that are possible that I'd wondered about. My dilemma is, how can I book directly with the airlines while trying to use credit card travel miles? Is that possible? Btw, I've really been enjoying the airport lounges that are included with my credit card. It's great to get free food and drinks (including alcohol) in a cheerful atmosphere during layovers. We also recently enrolled in Global Entry so we won't have to endure the long lines at security. Those lines can be quite frustrating and tiring. Thanks for the great videos. 👍
Yes, you can book directly with the airline using miles if the credit card allows you to transfer the miles to that airline (or to another airline within the alliance that has "codeshare" flights with the one you wish to fly on).
Thanks for this great video. Interestingly, when I select bags drop down in the filters, I only get one option, which is for carry on bags. This is really annoying, because, even though I am a minimalist traveller and only travel with a carryon bag and one backpack, because in live in Australia, I have to check my bag as we can only carry on bags that are 7 kg and under, which is difficult to stick to.
5:30 I live in Las Vegas. I've found that sometimes it is cheaper to fly out of Los Angeles, and sometimes it is cheaper to fly out of Las Vegas. I think it has to do with low-cost legs into/out of Las Vegas as part of the trip. Is there some way to check on this?
Sure - when flying out of LA/Las Vegas, enter both airports into the "from" field! I go through this in the video - it's a little known secret and an awesome feature!
I use NordVPN, and would be really interested to hear from experienced searchers whether or not there is a benefit to change my VPN country to search in Google Flights or airline sites.
Yes! Just a week ago I used a vpn on a whim to see if I could find cheaper flights for a family trip from USA to Southern Africa. I followed instructions I found online to clear my cookies and browser history then select vpn country. Couldve been a fluke, but i saved hundreds per ticket over US prices and even got more direct flights.
Thank you for this video, Nora. What advice for clothing do you have for those of us who are sensitivities to wool? I’m asking for myself. Most wools (any type) typically make me itch. I typically wear cotton undies, shirts, and sweaters. Socks too. I’m also a guy. I’m Andrew.
First time viewer, subscribed. You sure are getting a lot of clueless/hateful comments about the wood ad within the video. Do people really just watch and get angry, rather than skipping over it? I guess they do. A lot of "trust fund" comments from people who don't understand remote work, business travel, or nomadic living. Maybe they have never left a 100 mile radius of where they were born, or maybe only have flown a few times to tourist vacation spots.
Ha ha - thanks for your support, and also your other comments helping out other viewers! Indeed, some people love to "express themselves" negatively from safe anonymity of behind a screen. To each their own, I guess! But also, you seem to inherently understand that as a content creator I'm producing content and offering it for free; sponsorships allow me to continue to do it while affording to live - and it also allows me to authentically endorse products and services that I love.
Have you tried kiwi? I find it’s even more powerful than google flights. Gives you a lot of flexibility for dates ranges and regions. Also includes lots of repositioning, skiplagging, and other advanced tricks that an experienced traveler might use.
I still do not like that Google Flights does not let you search by Basic Economy and Economy. It almost always lists the Basic Economy fare as Economy. You'll see regular Economy once you select flights, but only then do you see that cost. It's annoying.
Thank you for sharing this. I was only vaguely aware of Google Flights. Question: Is there a way to make the duration of the trip something like 6 weeks?
Hello. I have a question. I want to have ticket from Canada to Egypt 1 week then to srilanka 3 month .return to Canada How I do that on Google flights Thank you so much for your help. David
Hi David, I'm sorry I can't do your search for you. If this video isn't clear enough to help you do your search, then I suggest you use a travel agent. Good luck - and have a great trip!
Of course the answer varies by airline, and maybe even by the status level of the person whose miles you are using. It more often would be in the form of them booking you a ticket, than you buying miles that get added to your own miles account. The less the airline knows about what's going on transactionally, the better. I'd only do such a transaction with someone I trusted, not for instance someone on Craigslist, more likely someone at work.
@@NoraDunnnot great since I’m been an outdoor educator, camper, snowshoer, backpacker, etc. I’ve had to wear synthetics and now with everything coming out about microplastics and PFASs. UGH!
I was skeptical about merino wool too because I have a sensitively to lanolin but it turned out amazing for me. I started with one T-shirt to try it out and now I have a whole travel wardrobe. I think the merino sheep lanolin is different than the regular wool sheep. Edit: I googled this. Merino sheep actually have MORE lanolin than other sheep (I couldn’t find out if it is chemically the same) but the wool is specially refined up to five times to remove it. I guess that is why merino wool is more gentle!!
Just watched your channel for the first time, great info. You're a great spokesperson! I know you love your wall background, but I would suggest something less busy. It detracts the attention away from you. Looking forward to the next one.
Do you edit videos yourself or have you hired someone? I’m an editor and would love to discuss if you'd like to make your videos with high-quality edits.
Don't you ever feel bad for flying this much considering the state of the planet? I enjoy your packing videos and travel tips a lot, but do wonder how you can balance that, mentally...
It's a good question. I don't own a car, or a house, nor do I have kids. I don't generate single-use waste. In the grander scheme of things, even with my flights I'm pretty sure my carbon footprint is less than for most people.
@@NoraDunn Thanks for answering. I did a check of my footprint a few months ago (barely flying, once a year max, no new clothes, tiny apartment, no kids and vegan), and still the flying sent my footprint well above world-average, although below the dutch average, but still too high for the planet to be able to sustain. Might I request a video on low-footprint travelling if you ever find yourself interested in the subject? I'd be super curious about your findings!
I've used Google flights. I don't find it to be very helpful at all. What I choose is kayak, kayak allows me to get the lowest priced round-trip multi city or one way. With Google flights there's no difference in the price. Living in the Baltimore area I only have one airport to choose from so the option of choosing for example Washington DC is a no go as Dulles airport is an hour and a half to two hours away due to DC traffic. I've also used kayak to save thousands on multi city flights overseas. For example, I am about to take a flight this January 2025 Baltimore to Auckland, Sydney to Fort Myers and I saved $4000 off of the airline price.
@@NoraDunn it works by connecting me with the lowest fare, usually booked through AaronGrant. I've used them twice without issue. For example, my flight in January Business Class multiple stop Baltimore to Auckland, New Zealand January 1st , return January 21st Sydney, Australia, to Fort Myers I paid 8300 a ticket Business Class, the airlines were anywhere between &11,700 to $12,700. Delta was as high as 16,500 round-trip.
@@mbvmanagement3716 i've never had a problem at all… I've had flight changes, (AaronGrant contacted the airline and fixed my itinerary. (No problem free ) I had a same-day flight cancellation, contacted the airlines directly, and they rebooked me, No hassle
Alpaca is better than Merino wool the only problem is that there is not as much clothing available as with Merino wool products. Heavy marketing would explain that.
Yes, I always book directly with the airline. I don't like using OTCs like Expedia, because if something goes wrong at the airport, some airline desks won't/can't help you - you have to call Expedia. And if it's an awkward time of day/night, or you don't have calling credits or power on your phone, it can be problematic.
Hi. I’ve watched several of your tips videos, but didn’t think you’re a solo traveler. Are you? (I thought your husband was a pilot.) I’ve traveled twice a year for seven years and almost done all of Europe. I’m ready to expand out. Have you been to Bangkok solo, and is so, is it safe for an experienced female solo traveler? Thank you.
You're thinking of Laurie from Travel Tips With Laurie - her hubby is a pilot! Yes, I've traveled the world mostly solo for the last 18 years. :-) I was in Bangkok many years ago; I personally prefer Chiang Mai, but yes I could consider Bangkok safe if you are experienced, street-savvy, and aware of the local scams (which you can be with a bit of research).
I couldn’t care less about carbon footprint info. In fact I want my flight to put the afterburners on and generate as much carbon as possible to get me to my destination pronto.
Airliners these days pretty much all go the same speed. Some just get more "seat miles per gallon". If you truly prefer burning more fuel for no reason, you might want to Google the word sociopath.
If you don't do the extra work, you don't get the extra savings. You can always walk up to an airline counter and just pay whatever they ask for the flight you want. Nobody says that you have to get the best deal. This video is for people who DO want the best deal. If that's not you, it was a mistake to even watch it.
Pressing the L key skips you ahead 10 seconds. LLLLLL and you're a minute ahead and can tell in 1 second whether you're in ad or content. Maybe learn to use CZcams rather than complain about how the people giving you free content choose to use it.
Otherwise you will be paying for watching the channel. This is how CZcamsrs get paid. If you like the content and want them to continue for free, let commercials play for 60% of its time.
✨ Thanks to Unbound Merino for sponsoring this video. Use NORA10 for 10% off, and click here to start shopping! shrsl.com/40u23
Purchasing via my affiliate link above costs you nothing, and helps to support my channel, so thank you in advance!
👉🏻 Here's some more info about Merino Wool:
Merino Wool terminology and benefits, including how to choose the best type for your needs: czcams.com/video/4sXODXEeURY/video.htmlsi=BImh1NPs7iIVD7-d
📖 Prefer to read? Here you go: www.theprofessionalhobo.com/merino-wool-clothing-for-travel-a-guide-to-choosing-the-best-brands/
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I usually don't watch the ads in videos, but found yours interesting. I just can't afford $100 t-shirts or $250 pants.
@@MikeS29 Thanks for watching! Indeed, these clothing items are an investment. I've accumulated mine over the course of years.
@@NoraDunn - great video, I should have led with that! 😅
@@MikeS29 Ha - thank you!
I invest in wool clothing when I can find my size. Large people travel too.
Wow, I feel like a total neophyte after watching this. I don't think I've ever watched something so useful and well thought out without, not even once, thinking "come on, get to the point!" You're very easy to listen to, and so helpful!
Awesome - thank you so much, Larry! Made my day.
❤ your Google Flight tips. Prior to the pandemic, I traveled 48 out of 52 weeks in a year. I also planned all of our leisure travel, so I thought I knew a lot about booking flights for the best value for biz or economy. Your advice was so priceless that I had to subscribe.
Thank you so much!
You are amazing Nora. The effort you put into your videos deserves a million subs.
Wow, thank you!
Solid tips using many options, I agree with booking with airline in case stuff happens.
Thanks Dave!
I fly for free with my airline because I’ve been there for 34 years now. I can also fly on the other airlines with a 90% discount. The only catch is that it’s all space available standby. If you are willing to fly at odd hours, during midweek and during off peak season, you can do it no problem. My wife and I currently buy our tickets full fare because of time restraints. We do get a 20% discount with our airline for a confirmed seat. When we retire, we will then have the time to miss flights without it being a big deal. Until then, we will continue to purchase our tickets. This info will be of good use to us. Thanks Nora!
Thanks Steve!
But don’t forget, if you live west of NYC (in NJ) yes, it’s always cheaper to fly from JFK but it also costs $100 to GET to JFK (and another $100 back, not to mention the additional time spent getting there). I refuse to fly out of JFK. It’s always easily worth the extra $100 or so to fly out of Newark.
I refuse to fly from NWK though I see many flights are cheaper in NWK.
@@enzhus why?
Good point about the cost and time to get to the repositioning airport. Neward has some good international options, which is lucky. Many smaller airports don't.
@@NoraDunn newark is not a small airport though!!
@@vtcs1963 I live in Westchester county, it's easier and cheaper for me to get to JFK than NWK.
Another feature that I wish these apps had is alerts about a given destination that might make you reconsider your plans in terms of dates or destinations, that might not occur to you, like a national holiday that shuts everything down when you're there, popular sights being closed for repairs or renovations, a major sporting event that will make hotel rooms expensive and transit crowded, or political unrest and the like. I.e. a comprehensive vacation planner and not just separate flight, hotel and car rental reservation pages.
Ooh - interesting! I like this idea, though it would be difficult to put into practice.
Not a bad video Nora. You should mention the date graph too, that is INCREDIBLY helpful for finessing dates for a cheaper trip as long as you're not too picky on what date you leave and come back on -good for planning out trips far not in the near future
I did mention the date graph, and yes - it's one of my fav features!
@@NoraDunn I meant grid* oops I see that you covered it now! I must've zoned out during that part; it was short so forgive me! xD
@@adamromo7307 No worries!
Can confirm: As a male I typically don't care for BB's, but my favorite under garments are my base layer merino wool leggings for snowboarding. If they have merino wool boxer-briefs I would probably wear those on the daily. They're also great for running/jogging which can prevent chaffing between the male bits and legs. Not surprised he's a fan!
Ha! Great minds run/jog/snowboard/etc alike! ;-)
I knew you were in Bulgaria!!!!!! The painting behind you! I hope you are enjoying your stay there!!!!
Thanks Eva!
Thank you for all the great tips. I hope one say you're able to find a retailer to partner with that does not exploit others, but I understand we all need to make a living in this world. I wish you well and continued happy travels!
it's really cool how the picture behind you blends into the wall design
Thanks! I love using this wall as a backdrop.
Glad to have found your channel. I used to travel monthly for business and now only for personal use. But learned a lot through this video. Some of the tricks you mention I had already been doing on my own, but the Google site seems to simplify my search method by having it all in one place. Will be giving it a shot for the next trip. Many thanks!
Awesome - thanks! Happy travels!
I insist on an absolute minimum layover time of 4 hours just in case of delays, I would rather have to kill time at an airport waiting for a connecting flight than risk being late for it.
Agreed! Here's a video I created about layover strategies and mistakes: czcams.com/video/6HMHimRg63U/video.htmlsi=D35XXEJ93NPAGkXr
Thanks Nora, you always share useful content. As a seasoned traveller, I aways learn a lot from you.
Thank you!
I wouldn't ever fully discount the multi-city option. I recently used it to book a flight going from where I live to Finland after Christmas, and then going back to college from there, and it was half as expensive as either one way on its own
Wow - interesting! Thanks for the intel.
I use it all the time
Thank you, I just learned so much. I liked the feature to add multiple airports to the search.
I'm so glad it was helpful!
Nora, as usual tons of really useful info. Many thanks.
You're very welcome!
I always go to my local library for preliminary searches because if I search from my home computer, the next time I go to look the prices almost always are higher. This way I can document the flight into in the library and then go home to book it.
Really? I researched this in depth for a video last year and I concluded it was a myth that airlines track IP addresses and raise the prices with subsequent searches. Interesting that you've found that to be true.
Another solution that doesn't involve the library would be to use a VPN. That would solve the problem.
It might be a cookie not the IP adress
I love the dog sound effects. Nice touch!
Ha ha! Pure uncensored ambiance from my travel destination!
Great video, thanks for sharing these tips
Thanks for watching!
Just booked tix for my family R/T Bangkok to Chicago in October on Cathay Pacific. The tickets were reasonably priced, but they wanted almost $600 additional for our family of 3 to sit together. My daughter is 12. I assumed they would at least reserve a seat for her to sit next to one parent without additional costs. I called them. They suggested I should roll the dice and hope something favorable shows up. I'm starting to hate airlines as much as I hate car rentals. Money grubbing imbeciles.
Sorry that's happening. But indeed, at check-in you will be assigned seats and most airlines allow you to change the seats for free at that time. I can't imagine there won't be two seats together at that time.
I like ANA/United from Chicago (ORD) to Bangkok. I checked on google. The price is still reasonable in October. I never have to pay for choosing a seat.
@@jumpiam8477 Yeah, I had been checking for about two months before I bought my tickets. They don't reveal the additional costs to sit next to your family until AFTER you commit to the purchase. Snaky shit. Never again, Cathay. Should have gone with ANA or United.
Great…….. Al my flight out of the bag. Every single one you mention is what I’ve been doing and helping family and friends get good deals.. guess they won’t need me as much lol
Ha ha!
Your hair looks great!!
Thank you so much!
I look forward to seeing more for women. I like sleeves and v necks so options seem limited. Will keep an eye
I LOVE their v-neck tee-shirt, and I like the look of their long-sleeved v-neck.
Nora! Yet another helpful video! Thanks for all the info you provide.
You are so welcome!
Very timely. I have been struggling trying research options to get to an area
Don’t forget! One-way trip means you need to collect your luggage before going to your ‘connection’.
Good to know!
Yep! It's risky if you don't know that airport well. My husband and I had a hard time changing the terminal in LAX. Not fun! 😅
depending on the airlines you can request they check your luggage through for you.
Thanks for the tips. I've never used this Google tool before. Amazing. I really liked the options available to plan a trip to an open destination and find deals to take advantage of.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for the video! I've used Google flight pretty often but still could learn couple things. The funny thing is I was search for ticket to go to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, and you were pretty much doing the same thing. I hope you could make the trip to Vietnam and did have good time there.😀
Ha ha! The Ho Chi Minh was just for illustration purposes, but I have been there before and I adore Vietnam.
I love wool clothes for everyday and travel. It’s unfortunate that Unbound Merino doesn’t offer extended sizes for women.
I’ve personally given this feedback to Unbound Merino, and they’re well aware of the need to offer larger sizes.
The challenge according to them, is that they don’t just want to take the same pattern/dimensions of smaller sizes and make that larger, because that’s not how larger people are shaped. They want to make something that will be flattering and fit properly. And for that, I respect their approach. It just means it’s taking them longer to get the right designs in place and manufactured.
Some brands just want to keep their image up. How terrible of them.
@@Xalta_Sailorit’s disappointing to think because I wear a size 16/18 that I would t be able to be considered stylish.
Or much choice! They have 2 dresses. One for skinny gals only and one too fancy. Why not start with a basic trapeze dress? That’s why I appreciate Wool&. They show every item on a range of body types.
Woolx does. I’ve ordered their pieces and they fit great. I’m a US 18/20.
Thank you for your time and posting. Great information. Off to Vietnam in three months. :) I'll be deselecting all US carriers for the flight from the West Coast of the US to VN. Very interesting mosaic on the wall behind you. Have a great time in Bulgaria.
Thanks David! Happy travels!
Good stuff. I use google flights as a starting point. But I find prices for flights to Buenos Aires from Florida are frequently wrong, esp using a non US carrier. And domestic flights in Argentina almost always have the wrong price. ITA travel matrix seemed more accurate in the past although I have not used it lately as I usually go straight to the airlines website.
I've also noticed flights to Buenos Aires can be super expensive!
ITA travel matrix has some super advanced search options - I occasionally use it if I need to search for flights with a specific code.
@@NoraDunn Yes the OTA's and google flights often use the "official" exchange rate which is worse than the MEP (credit card) rate. But the carriers use MEP and will display the correct price. These outlier situations also happen in other countries with multiple exchange rates like Cuba.
@@DaveG-qd6ug Ooh - thanks for explaining!
Great video. I've shared it several times! TY👍🌟👏
Awesome - thanks!
I want to thank you for these great tips. A word of caution. Changing payment currency also means that in case of cancellation, a refund is in that currency too. You may lose $ because of the currency exchange rate fluctuation. It cost me one time $600. However, i also made a few $ too when the rate was in my favor.
I never thought to use this. Thank you.
Awesome! You're welcome.
I have that very pair of travel pants and took them and other merino wool clothing to Norway last month. I really am a convert, but I wish they would make women’s pants that look like the men’s travel pants. I’ve never used Google flights, but I will try that the next time I’m booking.
Glad you like the Unbound Merino travel pants! I agree; a similar style to the men's travel pants would be a great addition.
Great tips! Will definitely watch more of your videos
Thanks!
Great tips, Nora! ❤
Love the content and the delivery Nora! I am a traveling nut. I have built miles enough that I never need to buy a ticket if I don't want to. I still find this episode very enlightening. I'd really like to chat with you if that is possible. Reply and I will answer and again congratulations on your vlog's success.
Thank you so much for your support and kudos! I'm currently on a sabbatical so unavailable for chats.
@@NoraDunn Be safe sister
Very informative and to the point . Nice video
Glad it was helpful!
Very interesting, I might put away my disdain for google
Ha ha!
This was very helpful. Thank you!
Thanks!
really dig yer new do!
Thanks!
Great info! I also love your necklace! ❤
Thanks!
How about Airlines stop playing games with us and just offer a consistently reasonable fare. They CAN do this even in peak travel season.
Agreed.
Good video, Nora. One that I'll view again.
Awesome! Thanks!
Thanks, Nora, good info.
My pleasure!
I've learned most of the Google flight tricks you mentioned, and you confirmed things about the trickier things that are possible that I'd wondered about.
My dilemma is, how can I book directly with the airlines while trying to use credit card travel miles? Is that possible?
Btw, I've really been enjoying the airport lounges that are included with my credit card. It's great to get free food and drinks (including alcohol) in a cheerful atmosphere during layovers. We also recently enrolled in Global Entry so we won't have to endure the long lines at security. Those lines can be quite frustrating and tiring.
Thanks for the great videos. 👍
Yes, you can book directly with the airline using miles if the credit card allows you to transfer the miles to that airline (or to another airline within the alliance that has "codeshare" flights with the one you wish to fly on).
Thanks for this great video. Interestingly, when I select bags drop down in the filters, I only get one option, which is for carry on bags. This is really annoying, because, even though I am a minimalist traveller and only travel with a carryon bag and one backpack, because in live in Australia, I have to check my bag as we can only carry on bags that are 7 kg and under, which is difficult to stick to.
It's funny because some searches also allow to filter/add checked bags too.
Thanks great tips
Glad it was helpful!
5:30 I live in Las Vegas. I've found that sometimes it is cheaper to fly out of Los Angeles, and sometimes it is cheaper to fly out of Las Vegas. I think it has to do with low-cost legs into/out of Las Vegas as part of the trip. Is there some way to check on this?
Sure - when flying out of LA/Las Vegas, enter both airports into the "from" field! I go through this in the video - it's a little known secret and an awesome feature!
I use NordVPN, and would be really interested to hear from experienced searchers whether or not there is a benefit to change my VPN country to search in Google Flights or airline sites.
Me too! I'm hoping for some people to weigh in on this.
Yes! Just a week ago I used a vpn on a whim to see if I could find cheaper flights for a family trip from USA to Southern Africa. I followed instructions I found online to clear my cookies and browser history then select vpn country. Couldve been a fluke, but i saved hundreds per ticket over US prices and even got more direct flights.
Fabulous tips 👌 😊
Thanks!
Which detergent do you use for your merino when traveling? Thank you!!!!
I actually use normal detergent, but if I'm staying somewhere for a while, I'll buy a small bottle of Woolite (or similar) at the local grocery store.
Thank you !
Welcome!
I wanna be like you. I have been traveling part time 3-4 months a year since 2010. ;-)
That's fantastic! What a great life!
Great channel. Come back soon.
Thanks David! And thanks for your support :-)
Thank you for this video, Nora. What advice for clothing do you have for those of us who are sensitivities to wool? I’m asking for myself. Most wools (any type) typically make me itch. I typically wear cotton undies, shirts, and sweaters. Socks too. I’m also a guy. I’m Andrew.
Hi Andrew! Bamboo and eucalyptus (tencel) are good alternatives, and they have antibacterial (etc) properties too.
Like umm, WOW, I had no idea ! LOL
First time viewer, subscribed. You sure are getting a lot of clueless/hateful comments about the wood ad within the video. Do people really just watch and get angry, rather than skipping over it? I guess they do. A lot of "trust fund" comments from people who don't understand remote work, business travel, or nomadic living. Maybe they have never left a 100 mile radius of where they were born, or maybe only have flown a few times to tourist vacation spots.
Ha ha - thanks for your support, and also your other comments helping out other viewers! Indeed, some people love to "express themselves" negatively from safe anonymity of behind a screen. To each their own, I guess!
But also, you seem to inherently understand that as a content creator I'm producing content and offering it for free; sponsorships allow me to continue to do it while affording to live - and it also allows me to authentically endorse products and services that I love.
We have never seen a difference in prices using a VPN. 😭
It's a bit hit-and-miss.
Have you tried kiwi? I find it’s even more powerful than google flights. Gives you a lot of flexibility for dates ranges and regions. Also includes lots of repositioning, skiplagging, and other advanced tricks that an experienced traveler might use.
I have tried GF and it was always more than Expedia. Thanks.
Thanks for the tip!
I still do not like that Google Flights does not let you search by Basic Economy and Economy. It almost always lists the Basic Economy fare as Economy. You'll see regular Economy once you select flights, but only then do you see that cost. It's annoying.
True.
Thank you for sharing this. I was only vaguely aware of Google Flights. Question: Is there a way to make the duration of the trip something like 6 weeks?
Absolutely! Just enter in a 6-week time frame, then play around with the Date Grid to get the best exact dates.
@@NoraDunn Thanks Nora. Your videos really are helping us plan our traveling future. We plan to check out Unbound Merino this coming weekend.
@@garys2187 Woohoo! Thanks Gary.
Hello. I have a question.
I want to have ticket from Canada to Egypt 1 week then to srilanka 3 month .return to Canada
How I do that on Google flights
Thank you so much for your help. David
Hi David,
I'm sorry I can't do your search for you. If this video isn't clear enough to help you do your search, then I suggest you use a travel agent. Good luck - and have a great trip!
Great video, but the volume seemed very low.
Sorry about that - that's odd!
Nice ... just to confirm, no kickbacks from Google, right?
Nope! Ha ha
Subscribed.
Thank you!
Can you still buy other peoples airline miles and use them to book flights?
Of course the answer varies by airline, and maybe even by the status level of the person whose miles you are using. It more often would be in the form of them booking you a ticket, than you buying miles that get added to your own miles account. The less the airline knows about what's going on transactionally, the better. I'd only do such a transaction with someone I trusted, not for instance someone on Craigslist, more likely someone at work.
Great answer, EfficientRVer! Thanks :-)
I am unfortunately allergic to wool due to the natural lanolin in the wool.
Oh, boo. Lanolin is wool's magic ingredient!
@@NoraDunnnot great since I’m been an outdoor educator, camper, snowshoer, backpacker, etc. I’ve had to wear synthetics and now with everything coming out about microplastics and PFASs. UGH!
I was skeptical about merino wool too because I have a sensitively to lanolin but it turned out amazing for me. I started with one T-shirt to try it out and now I have a whole travel wardrobe. I think the merino sheep lanolin is different than the regular wool sheep.
Edit: I googled this. Merino sheep actually have MORE lanolin than other sheep (I couldn’t find out if it is chemically the same) but the wool is specially refined up to five times to remove it. I guess that is why merino wool is more gentle!!
@@vtcs1963 Wow this is really good to know! Thanks for sharing!
you are the bestest
Thanks!
Just watched your channel for the first time, great info. You're a great spokesperson! I know you love your wall background, but I would suggest something less busy. It detracts the attention away from you. Looking forward to the next one.
Thanks for the tip.
Do you edit videos yourself or have you hired someone? I’m an editor and would love to discuss if you'd like to make your videos with high-quality edits.
Thank you for your offer! I have an editor and I'm happy.
@@NoraDunn I appreciate your prompt response
Oh, and, gotta ask, are you planning a trip to Wakanda? 🤣
Is google flights better than kayak?
I prefer Google Flights, but Kayak is also a solid option. I know people who prefer Kayak. To each their own!
You may have thought those pants didn't smell after wearing for 3 weeks, but ...
😂
Tried to book a flight as though I was in Mexico, but the airline site defaulted to Spanish.
If you’re on Google there is big A little A on the left in the search bar. If you click it it will give you the option to translate to English.
Thanks for the tip, Susan!
Don't you ever feel bad for flying this much considering the state of the planet? I enjoy your packing videos and travel tips a lot, but do wonder how you can balance that, mentally...
It's a good question. I don't own a car, or a house, nor do I have kids. I don't generate single-use waste. In the grander scheme of things, even with my flights I'm pretty sure my carbon footprint is less than for most people.
@@NoraDunn Thanks for answering. I did a check of my footprint a few months ago (barely flying, once a year max, no new clothes, tiny apartment, no kids and vegan), and still the flying sent my footprint well above world-average, although below the dutch average, but still too high for the planet to be able to sustain. Might I request a video on low-footprint travelling if you ever find yourself interested in the subject? I'd be super curious about your findings!
@@Anna-wc4cz Thanks for the suggestion, Anna! I'll take it to heart.
How did you travel ince 2006 dull time? Trust fund??
How did you travel ft since 2006? Trust Fund?
LOL! No. I work online. Learn more at www.theprofessionalhobo.com
I've used Google flights. I don't find it to be very helpful at all. What I choose is kayak, kayak allows me to get the lowest priced round-trip multi city or one way. With Google flights there's no difference in the price. Living in the Baltimore area I only have one airport to choose from so the option of choosing for example Washington DC is a no go as Dulles airport is an hour and a half to two hours away due to DC traffic. I've also used kayak to save thousands on multi city flights overseas. For example, I am about to take a flight this January 2025 Baltimore to Auckland, Sydney to Fort Myers and I saved $4000 off of the airline price.
Interesting! How does Kayak save you money? I'd love to know.
@@NoraDunn it works by connecting me with the lowest fare, usually booked through AaronGrant. I've used them twice without issue. For example, my flight in January Business Class multiple stop Baltimore to Auckland, New Zealand January 1st , return January 21st Sydney, Australia, to Fort Myers I paid 8300 a ticket Business Class, the airlines were anywhere between &11,700 to $12,700. Delta was as high as 16,500 round-trip.
@@Retiredtraveler1961 Thanks for the intel! I appreciate it. Happy travels!
Wait till you do have a problem w your flight and need to resolve it. Airlines will just refer you to that 3rd party that originated the fair.
@@mbvmanagement3716 i've never had a problem at all… I've had flight changes, (AaronGrant contacted the airline and fixed my itinerary. (No problem free ) I had a same-day flight cancellation, contacted the airlines directly, and they rebooked me, No hassle
Alpaca is better than Merino wool the only problem is that there is not as much clothing available as with Merino wool products. Heavy marketing would explain that.
Paka is a great alpaca alternative. I have their signature hoodie and their lightweight puffer (which is amazing) alnk.to/d3BY9jf
@@NoraDunn agreed. I have the hoodie and the socks from Paka and socks from Pacas. Excellent products. Thanks for the response.
Do you always book directly with the airline? I usually use Expedia but I have booked directly with airlines before. Thanks.
Yes, I always book directly with the airline. I don't like using OTCs like Expedia, because if something goes wrong at the airport, some airline desks won't/can't help you - you have to call Expedia. And if it's an awkward time of day/night, or you don't have calling credits or power on your phone, it can be problematic.
Hi. I’ve watched several of your tips videos, but didn’t think you’re a solo traveler. Are you? (I thought your husband was a pilot.) I’ve traveled twice a year for seven years and almost done all of Europe. I’m ready to expand out. Have you been to Bangkok solo, and is so, is it safe for an experienced female solo traveler? Thank you.
You're thinking of Laurie from Travel Tips With Laurie - her hubby is a pilot!
Yes, I've traveled the world mostly solo for the last 18 years. :-)
I was in Bangkok many years ago; I personally prefer Chiang Mai, but yes I could consider Bangkok safe if you are experienced, street-savvy, and aware of the local scams (which you can be with a bit of research).
Thank you so much for your reply. 😊
Can I travel with you?
😂
$100 t shirts? Yeah, be good to save on airfare then.
LOL yes, it's an investment. Good thing the shirt lasts much longer than the flight.
Carbon footprint...LOL....screw that lie
And everybody asking why she have so many cats walking behind her
👍💯❤️😃
I couldn’t care less about carbon footprint info. In fact I want my flight to put the afterburners on and generate as much carbon as possible to get me to my destination pronto.
😂
Airliners these days pretty much all go the same speed. Some just get more "seat miles per gallon". If you truly prefer burning more fuel for no reason, you might want to Google the word sociopath.
You’ve got to be kidding. Can this be any more convoluted? I’ll walk? Thank you.
If you don't do the extra work, you don't get the extra savings. You can always walk up to an airline counter and just pay whatever they ask for the flight you want. Nobody says that you have to get the best deal. This video is for people who DO want the best deal. If that's not you, it was a mistake to even watch it.
Thank you :-)
This is advertising
Not interested in Unbound Merino or the excessive ads. Thanks.
What do you do for money? Trust fund baby?
LOL no. I've been a digital nomad since 2006. I work online as a writer, publisher, content creator.
Of course they don't have plus size
I never subscribe to channels that have an ad a minute and some seconds into their videos.
Pressing the L key skips you ahead 10 seconds. LLLLLL and you're a minute ahead and can tell in 1 second whether you're in ad or content. Maybe learn to use CZcams rather than complain about how the people giving you free content choose to use it.
;-)
Otherwise you will be paying for watching the channel. This is how CZcamsrs get paid. If you like the content and want them to continue for free, let commercials play for 60% of its time.
Take a Bus to another Airport???? Really Lady!
I don't see why that's so absurd a concept, if you could save hundreds of dollars on a long-haul flight.
F the merino wool ad.