The TRAVEL DISPATCH – August/September 2025

THE NEWSLETTER OF TRIPSWITHJAMES.COM

WELCOME! We Are CELEBRATING! We just had our biggest month ever in the history of this blog. We had 972 visits that saw over 1200 pages of travel information, while adding another 200+ subscribers to our site. Thank you so much. We are very excited for the future.

We are also adding more features and opportunities to the site as well. This month we are adding a travel advice section to the newsletter to help give some basic knowledge or information to our travelers whether you are super experienced or just beginning. This month we are focusing on how to find really great flights for cheap without having to go to dozens of sites to compare the best deals.

Plus we also have a perk for our subscribers to check out for free. And our usual fare of new posts that are coming – San Luis Obispo, Galway, Ireland, Belfast, Northern Ireland, newest ones just posted and one from the archives. So hang on as we dive in.

HOW TO LOOK FOR CHEAPEST FLIGHTS

This is how I find my most convenient and cheapest flights, so this is a personal recommendation. You may already know how Google Flights and Kayak work, but you may not know about some of their “secret’ features. Google Flights and Kayak are so effective because they each bring distinct strengths to the table — and when used together, they can help uncover exceptional flight deals. Here’s a breakdown of why they stand out:

✈️ Why Google Flights Works So Well

⚡ Speed & Simplicity
Google Flights is lightning-fast. You can search multiple dates and destinations in seconds, with real-time updates as you scroll through the calendar.
📅 Flexible Date Search
Its calendar view shows the cheapest fares across a range of dates, making it ideal for travelers with flexible schedules.
🌍 Multi-Airport & Region Search
You can search up to seven origin and destination airports at once — or even entire regions like “Europe” — to find the best deals.
📈 Deal Indicators
Google Flights now shows whether a fare is a good deal based on historical pricing, helping you make smarter decisions.
💻 Clean Interface
It’s intuitive and doesn’t push third-party booking sites. You’re usually directed straight to the airline’s site to book.

Limitations:
Google Flights doesn’t include smaller online travel agencies (OTAs), so it might miss ultra-low fares or mistake fares that only show up elsewhere.

🧭 Why Kayak Is So Good

🔍 Searches More Sources
Kayak includes smaller OTAs that Google Flights skips, which means it can sometimes find lower prices for the same flights.
📊 Price Forecasting
Kayak uses historical data to advise whether you should book now or wait, based on trends in fare changes.
💼 Extra Info
It often shows details like baggage fees, seat selection rules, and fare class breakdowns — helpful for comparing options.

Limitations:
Kayak can be slower than Google Flights and may push users toward third-party booking sites, which aren’t always reliable.

🔄 Pro Tip: Use Both

Start with Google Flights to find the best dates and destinations.
Then check Kayak for those same dates to see if a cheaper fare pops up from a smaller OTA.

✈️ Flight Deals That Your Vacations Plan Themselves

Most travelers know about Kayak and Google Flights. But what they don’t know is that both platforms have subtle, powerful features that unlock travel possibilities most people never realize are possible.

🌍 Google Flights “Anywhere” Feature

This is where the magic happens. Google Flights has an “Anywhere” or “Explore” feature that lets you discover destinations based on price, not just preference.

✅ How to Use It

Step 1: Go to Google Flights

Step 2: Access the “Anywhere” Feature
You can do this in two ways:

Option A: Enter your departure airport, leave the “Where to?” field blank, and hit Search
Option B: Click the Explore button on the left-hand menu

Step 3: Select Flexible Dates
Instead of locking in specific dates, choose:

Duration: Weekend, 1-week, or 2-week
Timing: Pick a month or search across all 6 months for the best fares

Step 4: Customize Your Filters
Fine-tune your search by adjusting:

Trip Type: Round Trip or One Way
Number of Travelers
Cabin Class: Economy, Premium Economy, Business, or First-Class

💡 Pro Tip

Using this feature, it’s almost impossible not to find an amazing deal. The flexibility it offers turns travel into a game of opportunity — and you’re always winning.

🧭 Use Kayak’s “Explore” Feature to Find Unbeatable Flight Deals

If Google Flights is powerful, Kayak’s Explore feature is its secret weapon. It searches a wider range of booking sites and lets you visually scan the globe for the best deals — often surfacing fares Google misses.

✨ Step-by-Step Guide to Kayak Explore

Step 1: Go to Kayak Explore

Enter your departure airport
Leave the destination field blank
Choose your date range:
- Leave it as “Anytime, Any Duration”
- Or select a specific month and trip length
Adjust your budget on the left-hand panel to filter flights under a certain price

Step 2: Browse the Map for Deals

Kayak will show deals across your home country by default
Drag the map to Europe, Asia, or anywhere else — and instantly see the top 1% of flight prices to destinations worldwide
You’ll see real-time prices for round-trip flights, often without needing points or miles

💡 Pro Tips

Search by Month:
You can search for an entire month to find flexible deals. While not as rock-bottom as “Anytime,” they’re still far better than locking in specific dates.
Great for Families:
If you’re planning around school breaks, this strategy is ideal. You’ll find affordable options during peak travel periods — without the usual sticker shock.
Plan Around the Deal:
Find just one exceptional fare a year, and build your vacation around it. You’ll spend less than nearly any trip you’ve taken before — no points required.

TRIPS WITH JAMES SITE PERK

For readers who have been with me a while (since 2016), you know this blog started out as a personal blog about my life and travel. Places I went, people I met, personal ambitions about my career as a director and filmmaker, and unusual adventures like my Zimbabwe stories (The Road of Death, and Tom Cruise of KweKwe articles). However, as I tried to grow the site, it became more about travel and less about personal stories. I found that most visitors did not care about a movie review or how my new movie either as an actor or director was doing. They want travel information about a specific place or subject. So we evolved.

Yet, I still write that stuff and really have no place for it. The older stories still exist on the site, but no new ones. So I am starting a new blog on Substack.com which will offer me the opportunity to continue writing my personal stories and features.

The perk is I am offering free subscriptions for the first 50 people from Tripswithjames.com to my new site. This will be the new address for James’s Substack which will feature stories from around the world (not just travel related), news on my films and books, short stories and podcasts. So join me here to get started and subscribe for free. https://careyonllc.substack.com/

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ONE FROM THE ARCHIVES

How I Became Tom Cruise of KweKwe – Zimbabwe 2012

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

About the Author –

James Carey is an avid world traveler, blogger, writer and award-winning theater and film director based in Atlanta GA. He writes about travel worldwide, entertainment, and lifestyles. You can find out more about him at his personal websites listed below.

PERSONAL SITE – http://www.jamesrcarey.com

AMAZON SITE –http://amazon.com/author/jrc.128

LINKEDIN.COM – https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-carey-74581a3/

YOUTUBE CHANNEL – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9C0KPdL3tN1Q00FIz_m-zQ