Top 5 Tips: Read This Before Booking That Vacation!

Become your very own travel agent and book your trips online like a pro. Just use these tips and strategies and you will be on your way in no time.

Refinery29 compiled five things before booking online that will surely ease your transaction.

1. Use Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees

When paying for international bookings, it is advisable to use credit cards that waives foreign transaction fees. Scott Keyes, founder of Scott's Cheap Flights said, "For instance, if you want to book a flight from Singapore to Hong Kong on Tigerair, with many cards you'll have to pay 3 percent on top of whatever the price of the flight is. Be sure to not only buy your foreign flights with that card, but also use it while you're abroad!," the site reports.

2. Participate in Frequent Flyer Miles

Always research before signing-up for credit cards with miles bonus. According to Keyes, "For example, American Airlines frequently promotes this card with a 30,000-mile signup bonus. It's a good offer, but if you quickly Google 'American Airlines 50,000 miles credit card' you'll find this link for the exact same card, but a 50,000-mile signup bonus." It doesn't hurt to do some research first before diving in.

3. Go Straight to the Source

It is best to check the airline site beforehand, rather than booking straight with a third party company. Leigh Barnes of Intrepid Travel said, "We're all about clicking around, but ultimately, for experiential trips such as ours, it's best to go where all the information lies for the clearest path to planning." It pays off to go straight to source because often times, they have offerings and discounts not posted on travel sites.

4. Flexibility is Key

Not being stiff can sometimes save you tons of money. Some people tend to book flight and hotels weeks or even months before their departure, but one advise is to be flexible with these and just book a few days away instead. Also, keep in mind if there are any major events the same time you are arriving which might skyrocket the prices. Lastly, consider taking vacations during shoulder season. You'll notice that it's less costly and less crowded.

5. Find the Best Deal

Aggregator sites don't post the same offerings and sometimes don't even have a complete hotel inventory. So, be sure to compare sites to save every buck that you can.