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Once an obscure concept only known to internet aficionados, VPNs are now a mainstream security solution amongst casual browsers. They can be used for a number of casual and serious pursuits, from streaming shows in other countries and getting around regionally blacked-out sports games, to inputting your banking information while on public WiFi or protecting your data from the government's spying eyes.

Many people (and VPN companies) claim that using a VPN can save you money when booking flights, hotels, rental cars, and more. And with the cost of life these days, a chance to save money on travel is certainly music to our ears. We had to do some deep diving for ourselves to find out whether using a VPN to book flights and other travel expenses is worth it. Here's what you need to know.

First of all, what is a VPN?

VPN, for the uninitiated, stands for virtual private network. When you use a VPN on your device, it creates an encrypted tunnel (aka a private network) for your online activity, hiding your IP address and protecting your virtual identity. As Mashable shopping reporter Haley Henschel puts it, "If browsing the web like normal is like taking a naked Jeep out on the highway (where anyone can see who you are, where you're going, and what you've got in the backseat), using a VPN is like driving an armored, tinted Humvee through a secret underground tunnel."

Can a VPN help you save money on flights?

Booking flights can often feel like a losing game. There are so many factors that go into flight pricing — the day of the week, time of day, location, the economy of the country, current fluctuations, company locations, demand, current availability, and more. There are no set rules to follow because things are constantly changing. With that being said, some people claim that using a VPN to book your flight can give you a leg up on the system by spoofing your location.

"Airlines are known to adjust pricing on flights based on the buyer's location," according to ExpressVPN. "Start your search from smaller or less affluent countries and work your way up."

Sorry, y'all: While I hate to be the bearer of bad news, I put the theory to the test and found no major pricing changes for my hypothetical flights.

When searching for a flight from Nashville, TN to Lisbon, Portugal, I managed to save a whole $4 when connected to a VPN server in Chile versus the U.S. And that was only after I searched for the same flight on four other VPN servers (Mexico, India, Costa Rica, and Canada). I actually found the whole process to be pretty tiresome. It took much longer than I expected and I constantly had to prove that I wasn't a robot in order to search for flight deals. Overall, the $4 I could save on a flight hardly seems worth the amount of work I put in.

Your experience could be more successful than mine and there's a chance you'll be rewarded for your efforts with a cheaper flight. Just remember, there's no guarantee that switching up your location using a VPN will save you any money at all. And there's no refund for your time.

Does a VPN help you save money on hotels?

While booking a flight through a VPN definitely let me down, I had a little more luck on the hotel front. I specifically tested the website Trivago to book a hypothetical stay at a hotel in Lisbon, Portugal for seven days (I might be manifesting this trip, TBH). First, I checked prices while connected to a VPN server in Portugal and found that the Ramada by Wyndham Lisbon cost $130 per night. Then I switched the VPN server location back to the U.S. and searched the exact same hotel and nights and the price dropped immediately to $123 per night. And this was on the first try!

To make sure it wasn't a fluke, I tried the same steps with a totally different hypothetical trip — a hotel in Mexico City for seven nights. The results were even more drastic. When booking from a VPN server in Mexico, it would cost $319 per night. When booking the exact same dates from a VPN server in the U.S., it costs just $213 per night. That's the savings we were hoping for!

I am pleased to announce that booking a hotel with a VPN can save you significant dough. Play around with the server location and be patient — the results are actually worth your effort in this case.

Tips for booking flights and hotels with a VPN

If you want to put the VPN theory to the test when booking your next trip, there are a couple of things you should know. And these rules apply to both flights and hotels.

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1. Clear your cookies. Each time you go to a new airline or hotel website, you'll want to make sure you clear out the cookies to clear the slate. When reading about other people's experiences on Reddit, this was the number one takeaway.

2. Always start your search in a new incognito tab (Command+Shift+N). This allows you to search without as many cookies tracking your activity.

3. Switch your server location a few different times. If the first location doesn't deliver any significant price differences, try another.

4. Try different booking sites. I had some luck using Trivago, but don't be afraid to jump around to different sites to check prices — there are tons out there.

5. If you do manage to find a deal you want to book while connected to an international server, use a virtual debit card (like those prepaid ones from Visa) to get around the local billing address requirement.

What are the best VPNs to use for travel booking?

Best overall: ExpressVPN (1 year + 3 months)

Our favorite full-featured VPN on the market, ExpressVPN is currently offering a 15-month plan for 49% off — just $6.67/month. It offers a massive network, a user-friendly app, a strong commitment to data protection, and is our top pick for streaming abroad. Plus, as Mashable shopping reporter Haley Henschel noted, it "can be set up at the router level so you can stream your favorite shows and movies on all sorts of different devices without having to install separate apps."

Best features: NordVPN Standard (2 years)

If reliability and features are what you're after, NordVPN consistently tops our lists of VPNs. It boasts an unrivaled suite of top-notch security features, a Threat Protection feature, over 5,000 obfuscated servers in nearly 60 countries around the globe, and makes watching Netflix abroad a breeze. Plus, it doesn't hurt that it offers a 24-month introductory offer for only $3.99/month. It's not the best choice for VPN newbies, but it's a powerful, full-featured option with a good reputation and transparency that backs it up.

Most affordable: CyberGhost VPN (2 years + 2 months)

Three words: dedicated streaming servers. CyberGhost VPN offers servers that are specifically optimized for speed, reliability, and location to unblock Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, BBC One, etc. It's also a solid choice for beginners, thanks to its user-friendly app, unlimited bandwidth, DNS and IP leak protection, and its super affordable introductory rate of just $2.19/month for 26 months.

Best for security: Proton VPN Plus (2 years)

If privacy is your biggest concern, Proton VPN deserves a shout-out. It may not be the biggest or most well-rounded option on the list, but its commitment to consumer privacy is admirable. "It's stashed its critical infrastructure inside a high-security Swiss datacenter that requires biometric access, and it maintains open-source apps," as Mashable shopping reporter Haley Henschel notes. You can currently secure a two-year subscription for just $4.99/month — that's 57% in savings.

Best for newbies: TunnelBear VPN (3 years)

For those who had never heard the term "VPN" before reading this article, TunnelBear is the best option for you. It's not perfect, but "it can serve a purpose as a short-term solution if you're someone who wants to see if a VPN is right for them," says Henschel. In other words, if you want to test the waters and see if you can find cheaper flights and hotels using a VPN, it's a solid — and simple — choice. Plus, it's on sale for just $3.33/month for three years.

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