My 2010 Travel Tips
Posted on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
I’ve been doing quite a bit of traveling this summer and I’m proud to say that I have enjoyed a nice assortment of deals, discounts, and specials. I have four tips that I’d like to share with you that will make planning a trip or vacation much easier.
Check All Travel Options
Flying the friendly skies is getting expensive and while it is my preferred choice of travel, it’s getting harder and harder to get last-minute deals. In an effort to save money, we’ve been driving to nearby destinations and have recently discovered the convenience of the Megabus. To read about my $12 Megabus experience for three people, click here.
If you’d like to rent a car during a trip, I swear by the weekend discounts offered through Travelocity. Some of our biggest travel deals have included a rented drop-top PT Cruiser in Las Vegas and a really nice Wrangler Jeep in Hawaii for $22 per day. The best deals come when you book a car from Friday to Monday or Saturday to Tuesday.
Call Hotels Before Booking
If you have never visited a hotel before, then you most likely rely on the inviting photos and glowing descriptions given on the Internet. I learned the hard way not to trust the online fanfare of a hotel. If you have any preferences or doubts about a lodging choice, make a phone call.
For example, indoor pools are a selling point for us when we travel. We also like to frequent onsite fitness centers. We’ve gotten in the habit of calling potential hotels to ask if the pool is indoor or outdoor, how deep it is, as well as the hours of the pool and fitness center. It helps us weigh the pros and cons of a hotel according to price and location. We will pay a couple extra bucks more for an 8-foot deep pool versus a 4-foot one.
Seek Out Hotel Deals
Hotels.com is usually my go-to place to book a room when I’m traveling out of town. If you join their free rewards program, you can also earn a free night after booking 10 nights. This website usually has specials when you pay with a specific credit card, book 3 or 4 consecutive nights, and features seasonal discounts.
However, don’t get stuck in a hotel booking rut. I have found that Travelocity.com will beat a Hotels.com price on occasion. Before committing to Hotels.com, I always check other avenues. Also, it is not unheard of to find affordable deals by booking directly with the hotel of your choice – don’t forget to explore Best Available Rates, AAA Rates, and Online Specials.
Explore City Opportunities Online
For my recent New York City trip, I entered keywords such as “NYC events,” “New York City events,” “NYC comedy clubs,” and “NYC weekend events” so that I could learn what was going on during my stay. My search highlighted a comedy club event that turned out to be much more than what I expected. I wound up attending the Mixtape Comedy Show, which was celebrating actor Anthony Anderson’s birthday. He served as co-host and the show was only $15.
You can also search for sites that offer discounts on city attractions. Use keywords, such as “zoo discounts” or “museum discounts” for the destination of your choice. You may find online savings to print out or sign up for. Many cities also have discounted movie theaters that still show relatively current films. Type in the city or zip code into the theater and showtime finder on Yahoo Movies to find cheaper local movie theaters.
Save on food by applying for e-clubs that send coupons and other specials to your email address. Plan ahead and apply to e-clubs for destination-specific restaurants in hopes that you’ll receive a welcome email with a coupon – some of which include free appetizers or buy 1, get 1 free entree.
What are your money-saving travel tips?
