The fight: Flight aggregators
Tools that pull from hundreds of booking sites simplify flight search. Which aggregator will get you to the beach first?
STRENGTHS
Kayak: Offers fare alerts and historical price charts. Shows fares that combine different carriers. More international options.
Google Flight Search: Lightning-fast search results. Flight Explorer feature lets you enter a date range and see the lowest fares for multiple destinations.
DOWNSIDES
Kayak: Comparatively slow search results.
Google Flight Search: No mobile app or ability to set fare alerts. Only fares that include one domestic leg.
THE WINNER
Kayak: The original triumphs. Remember, though, airline sites may have offers that don't show up on either, says George Hobica of Airfarewatchdog.com.
Availability: Both sites are available on their individual websites. Kayak is also available on the iPhone, Android and Windows Phone. Both apps are free.
Despite rising prices and mortgage rates that are edging upward, buying a home is still cheaper than renting in the majority of the top 100 markets.
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