Compare trips based upon price

[tylerdurdan]

Im writting an algorithm to compare travel trips. A trip is a combination of a 1) flight and 2) an accommodation. For now I´m only looking at the prices. I want to find the "best" trip based upon the price. The problem is that the flight price is a static value which doesn´t increase by the amount of nights you spend. Vise versa the accommodation price does increases each time the amount of nights increases.

View attachment 8985

Obviously formulas like those might solve the question but they dont:

q = flight_price+accommodation_price --> short trips are favored
q = (flight_price+accommodation_price)/nights ---> long trips are favored

So what would be an appropriate indicator to say that a trip is "better"? This indicator doesn´t need to provide a "real" price. It should rather give a value to compare the trips and put them in relation. Thank you.

 

[jvicens]

Hi there,

Thank you for sharing your algorithm and question with the forum. It seems like you have identified an important issue in trying to compare travel trips based on price. As you mentioned, using a simple formula like adding the flight and accommodation prices may favor shorter trips, while dividing by the number of nights may favor longer trips.

One possible solution to this problem could be to use a cost per day metric. This would involve dividing the total cost of the trip (flight + accommodation) by the number of nights in the trip. This way, both the flight and accommodation costs are taken into account, but the length of the trip is also factored in. This metric could then be used to compare trips and determine which one is "better" in terms of cost.

Another option could be to use a cost per distance metric. This would involve dividing the total cost of the trip by the distance traveled (in miles or kilometers). This could be a useful metric for comparing trips that involve different modes of transportation, such as flights, trains, or car rentals. However, this metric may not be as relevant for comparing trips that involve only a flight and accommodation.

Ultimately, the best indicator for determining the "best" trip may depend on the specific goals and preferences of the traveler. For example, some travelers may prioritize finding the lowest overall cost, while others may be willing to pay more for a shorter or more convenient trip. It may be helpful to consider a combination of metrics and factors, such as cost, distance, duration, and convenience, to determine the best trip for a given individual.

I hope this provides some helpful insights for your algorithm. Best of luck in your research!