Best Travel Search Engines on the Web

One of the questions I had asked myself while creating another hub was where on earth were the cheapest travel deals on the Internet located? I knew several websites that could be of use - but which ones actually have the best deals?

As a result, I decided to conduct a small test comparing some of the most popular tourists spots- Las Vegas -with all of the major search engine websites. All of my searches included airfare from JFK and a hotel stay for seven days, six nights from Sunday October 12^th, 2008 to Saturday, October 18^th, 2008. The trips were planned for two people and one room. I then divided up my results by "Most Popular" and "Lowest Price." The results were rather interesting.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

Most Popular Picks

Priceline.com: The Venetian - $1,050 (5 Stars)

Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino - $1,173 per person (5 Stars)

Trump International Hotel and Tower - $1,053 per person (5 Stars)

Travelocity.com: Bellagio - $1,245 per person (5 Stars)

Venetian Resort Hotel Casino - $1,113 per person (5 Stars)

Caesars Palace Las Vegas - $1,000 per person (4 Stars)

Expedia.com: Bellagio - $1,216 per person (5 Stars)

Wynn Las Vegas - $1,332 per person (5 Stars)

Trump International Hotel and Tower - $1,006 per person (5 Stars)

Price Winner for Top Resorts: Priceline & Expedia

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

Cheapest Price

Priceline.com: Lodge on the River - $407 per person (1 Star)

Harrahs Laughlin - $431 per person (3 Stars)

America's Best Value Inn - $441 per person (1 Star)

Travelocity.com: Whiskey Pete's Hotel & Casino - $426 per person (2 Stars)

Buffalo Bill's Resort & Casino - $436 per person (3 Stars)

Fiesta Henderson Station Casino - $454 per person (3 Stars)

Expedia.com: Arizona Charlie's Decatur - Casino Hotel & Suites - $451 (2 Stars)

Arizona Charlie's Boulder - Casino Hotel & RV Park - $459 (2 Stars)

Aruba Hotel & Spa - $460 (1 Star)

Price Winner for Cheapest Hotels: Priceline

Of course, a better test would encompass several other traveler-magnet cities, but this one example shows you both extremely competitive prices for discount and quality are found on Priceline.

As far as user friendliness goes, you would be hard pressed to find a site as simple to navigate as Priceline, which has revamped its site gradually over the years to meet users' needs. Their discount packages - especially last minute trips - are some of the most competitive in the industry. Their cruise deals are mediocre, but a good place to compare rates from better sites tailored to that section of the industry. My favorite feature with Priceline, however, is their last minute "PriceBreakers". PriceBreakers are selected by Priceline's "travel deal experts" for their exceptional value. They actually have some pretty great deals here.

Expedia is still holding on to its competitiveness in the travel search engine marketplace, although it has been largely overshadowed by Priceline in the past few months. I would compare rates to here, as great hidden deals are snuck in-between the pages of the Expedia site. They particularly have an "in" with the more luxurious resorts of the world, and still is one of the most competitive sites when it comes to travel outside of the United States.

Travelocity is hanging in there, although not by much. I like how they have weather alerts posted on their main pages for travelers, but their deals have not been as great when compared to the other search engines.

Essentially, the price just seems right with Priceline!