Glossary

AAA American Automobile Association is a membership-based service that includes a wide range of services for travelers, including an online travel website that offers discounts on flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and vacation packages, as well as discounts on admission to museums and tourist attractions.

AARP Travel Center This is an online travel service for AARP members that operates in partnership with Expedia.com. From here, you can find and book discounted flights, accommodations, rental cars, cruises, and vacation packages, plus use a handful of tools to research vacation opportunities and save money on other aspects of your travel.

Airbnb Offered as a lower-cost alternative to traditional hotels and motels, Airbnb is a service that matches travelers with local hosts who charge a nightly fee for guests to stay in their home, condo, or apartment.

airline website This is a website operated by a specific airline. You can use the website to research, book, and manage your flights. When you visit an airline-specific website, you can find and book flights only with that airline (or that airline’s partners). When you use an online travel service, you can compare flight options and rates across many airlines simultaneously.

app store An online store where you can find, acquire, and, when applicable, purchase apps. For iOS mobile devices, Apple operates the App Store. For Android mobile devices, Google operates the Google Play Store. If you’re a Windows PC user, you can get software from the Windows Store, and Mac users can acquire software from the Mac App Store. An Internet connection is required.

Camera app The app that’s built in to every smartphone or tablet that enables users to take pictures using the mobile device’s front- or rear-facing camera.

carry-on baggage The luggage you carry onto an airplane; you store it in the overhead bin above your seat or under the seat in front of you. Every airline has size and weight limitations for carry-on luggage. Typically, in addition to one carry-on bag, a passenger can bring one personal item onto the aircraft, such as a purse, briefcase, messenger bag, laptop computer case, or backpack.

cellular Internet connection All smartphones and some tablets use a cellular Internet connection, which is operated by cellular service providers. It enables mobile devices to access cell towers to access the Internet, make/receive calls, and send/receive text messages. 3G, 4G, and LTE refer to the speed of a cellular Internet connection.

checked baggage Luggage that is checked with the airline and placed in the baggage compartment of an aircraft during a flight. On domestic flights, a checked bag can be up to 50 pounds, and it must meet specific size requirements or the airline charges additional fees. Most airlines now charge for all checked baggage.

confirmation number or booking number When you make an online reservation for a flight, accommodations, rental car, or tour, you will receive a confirmation number or booking number that serves as proof that you paid for the reservation and that your payment has been accepted by the travel provider.

departure city The city from which you’re departing. When using an online travel service, instead of typing the name of a city or airport, you can typically type in an airport code. For example, SFO represents San Francisco International Airport and LGA represents LaGuardia International Airport (in New York).

destination city The city to which you’re traveling. When using an online travel service, instead of typing the name of a city or airport, you can typically type in an airport code. For example, BOS represents Boston and LAX represents Los Angeles International Airport.

hotel booking service An online travel service that focuses exclusively on allowing users to find, compare, and book accommodations, often at a discount. Booking.com, GetARoom.com, and Hotels.com are popular examples of these services. Using one of these services, you can find available rooms and compare rates across many hotel and motel chains in the city to which you’ll be traveling.

interactive travel guide This can be a mobile app or website that offers interactive tools for helping travelers learn about and navigate their way around a popular tourist destination or city.

Internet-enabled This refers to a computer, smartphone, or tablet that can connect to the Internet. A smartphone, for example, can use a Wi-Fi or cellular-based Internet connection.

mobile app A standalone application that runs on a smartphone or tablet and that gives that mobile device additional features or functions.

mobile device A smartphone (cellular phone) or tablet is considered a mobile device. These are battery-powered gadgets that, like a computer, have a microprocessor and internal storage, run an operating system, and run apps for added functionality. They also connect to the Internet via a Wi-Fi and/or cellular connection and have their own full-color (touchscreen) display.

online travel service An online service that enables you to research travel destinations, compare rates for flights, accommodations, rental cars, cruises, travel packages, or travel bundles, and then book and pay for reservations (and often receive a discount). AAA Travel, AARP Travel Center, Expedia.com, Orbitz.com, Priceline.com, and Travelocity.com are examples of popular travel services.

personal Wi-Fi hotspot Using a small, battery-powered device that connects to a local cellular data service wherever you happen to be, you’re able to create a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot from which you can connect your computer(s) and mobile device(s) to the Internet.

Photos app The app that comes preinstalled on smartphones and tablets that’s used to view, organize, edit, enhance, print, and share digital images.

proprietary mobile app A mobile app created by a specific company or service, such as an airline, hotel chain, rental car company, or cruise line.

rental car booking service An online travel service that specializes in helping users find available rental cars and compare rates between multiple rental car companies. CarRentals.com, Rentalcars.com, and Silvercar.com enable visitors to find and rent a vehicle online.

shore excursion An optional (paid) tour, activity, or adventure that cruise ship passengers experience on land when the ship stops at a port of call.

social media service A service that enables people to communicate with each other and exchange information in a variety of ways. Social media can be used to share digital photos or to communicate with online friends via text messages, audio calls, or video calls, for example. Facebook is the world’s most popular social media service, with more than 1 billion active users.

travel bundle A travel package that saves you money because you book flights, accommodations, and/or a rental car at the same time and from the same online travel service or travel provider.

travel insurance Insurance that covers a wide range of things that can go wrong before and during a trip. Travel insurance covers things like emergency medical expenses, financial loss due to lost or delayed baggage, or financial loss as a result of a missed, delayed, or cancelled flight. Especially when traveling abroad, having optional travel insurance is highly recommended.

travel itinerary A detailed schedule of your travel plans, including details about flight, hotel, and rental car reservations, for example. Many people use a mobile app or online service to help them create and manage their travel itineraries.

travel or vacation package Created by a travel provider, this is a discounted package that typically includes flights, accommodations, and other aspects of a trip (such as ground transportation, admission to attractions, and/or a meal plan).

Travelzoo.com An online service that continuously searches the Internet for the very best travel and vacation package deals and then publishes its findings online and in its mobile app.

TripAdvisor.com An online service with the world’s largest collection of ratings and reviews for travel-related concerns, such as hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, and tour operators. It’s a free, powerful, and informative tool that aids in researching potential trips. It offers a public forum for travelers to share their advice, tips, ratings, and reviews, based on their firsthand travel experiences.

Uber A lower-cost alternative to using a licensed taxi or limousine service, Uber is an app-based service that enables you to find a ride that’s provided by a private individual using his or her personal vehicle.

vacation rental An alternative to a hotel or motel where travelers rent an entire home, condo, or apartment when they travel.

web browser The specialized software used to surf the Internet from a PC or Mac computer. Smartphones and tablets also have built-in web browsers.

Wi-Fi hotspot A way to connect to the Internet using your computer or mobile device, from a hotel, airport, airplane, restaurant, cafe, tourist attraction, library, or any other business that offers a Wi-Fi hotspot. A Wi-Fi hotspot has a limited signal radius within which you must stay to maintain the Internet connection.