Sue's Travel Tips and Tidbits: Money-Saving Tips

GENERAL TIPS FOR SAVING MONEY ON TRAVEL:

Opt for off-season or off-peak stays.
Book early (at least 14 days in advance/domestic or 21 days in advance/international) and lock in prices.
Take advantage of last-minute deals.
Book airfare, car rental and hotel together.
Consider an all-inclusive vacation package.
Bring snacks from home vs. buying snacks at convenience stores or in airports.
Plan a weekend getaway around a scheduled company-paid business trip (sometimes hotels will honor conference rates for a few days prior to and following the event).

HOW TO GET THE BEST DEAL ON AIRFARE:

Ask your travel agent about bundling your air and hotel to get a better rate.
For do-it-yourselfers, If your dates are flexible, search for deals on websites that will let you compare rates leaving a day earlier or returning a day later.
Make your reservation early (book domestic airfare 14 days in advance/international airfare 21 days in advance) -- book even earlier for popular travel dates such as Spring Break, holidays and peak seasons.
Set up an online travel alert. TripAdvisor.com will notify you via e-mail when prices go down for airfare from your home airport to a selected destination.
Check the difference between flying on a week day vs. the weekend, as flights departing on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are generally cheaper. Saturday flights sometimes have discount fares, but as a general rule, it is more expensive to fly on a weekend than a week day.
Consider an airport in the surrounding area. For example, if you're traveling to Miami (MIA), it might cost less to fly in to Fort Lauderdale (FLL).
Pack light (many airlines charge for extra bags and overweight/oversized bags).
Become a fan of several of the major airlines' fan pages, to stay informed about last-minute deals and specials.
If the difference in price for one airline vs. another is $20 or less, choose the airline that doesn't charge you for your first bag (save approximately $25).

HOW TO GET THE BEST DEAL ON HOTEL STAYS:

Ask your travel agent for recommendations, as they usually have inside information on current specials.
For do-it-yourselfers, when checking on the price of your hotel, make sure you compare the full rate, including taxes and fees, which can vary by city (it might be cheaper to book reservations at a hotel 5 miles down the road).
Don’t book a luxury hotel room if all you need is a place to sleep.
Look for rooms with kitchens, complimentary breakfasts and free happy hour buffets.
Check the price for extended-stay hotels -- most have weekly rental rates that can save you as much as 45% off the cost of nightly rates.
Travel with friends or family and share costs.
If you’re traveling with pets, find a pet-friendly hotel that doesn’t charge extra for Fido at www.officialpethotels.com (LaQuinta is my family’s favorite pet-friendly hotel).
Consider staying at a KOA campground.

HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON CAR RENTALS:

Pick up and drop off your rental car at the same location, if possible.
Check the price of booking your car rental at a location other than the airport.
Read the fine print on your car rental agreement and ask about fees for fuel, insurance, additional driver fees, mileage fees, licensing fees, airport fees, and taxes.
Fill up the tank before you return your rental (or purchase a full tank in advance and bring the rental back as close to empty as possible).
Pick up and drop off your rental car at the times scheduled on the reservation (Many car rental companies will charge you $10 - $15 per day for early returns; plus, you may also have to pay a hefty rate difference as well, particularly if your shortened rental period means you no longer qualify for a weekly rate. At that point you'll be charged the default daily rate, which could cost you hundreds.

HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON FOOD AND DRINKS:

Check local tourist information centers -- most have coupons for local restaurants.
Take a cooler stocked with food and drinks for a day trip.
If your hotel has a small refrigerator, buy a six-pack of your favorite drink (and snacks) for your room, to avoid using the vending machines.
Avoid downtown dining and explore cheaper eating in other neighborhoods.
BYOW - Some restaurants will allow you to bring your own bottle of wine.
If you’re traveling with small children, map out the restaurants where kids eat free.
Eat a big breakfast before you head off to the theme park or area attractions.
Get the bigger burger (or sandwich) and share.
Order water with your meal (carry one-serving flavored drink mix packets in your bag).

SAVE MONEY ON GROUND TRANSPORTATION, SIGHTSEEING AND ACTIVITIES:

Plan your road trip using the free trip planner at gasbuddy.com. You can plot your route based on the cheapest places to stpp for gas and the estimated cost of the trip is pre-calculated for you (based on the make and model of vehicle you drive!
Ask your travel agent to bundle your activities and ground transportation with a vacation package or check with the local tourist information center for discount coupons.
Look for hotels that are within walking distance of the events/activities you are planning to attend or hotels that provide free shuttles to and from area attractions.
Consider Amtrak if you are visiting several states in one region. It's cheaper than flying or renting a car.
Use the local subway service, if available.

HOW TO GET THE BEST DEAL ON A CRUISE:

Ask your travel agent about getting your room paid for by being a group leader and/or booking a total of 9 or more cabins for your group
Consider taking your cruise during the off seasons (Jan-March & Sept-December)

SAVE MONEY IN EUROPE:

TOP 10 Free European Attractions

Sue's Travel Tips and Tidbits