|
Save More, Frugal Fun The season’s jacked-up travel costs can make you feel downright Scrooge-like. Luckily, there are ways to score deals. Follow these tips. Read full article
The season’s jacked-up travel costs can make you feel downright Scrooge-like. Luckily, there are ways to score deals. Follow these tips.
By Aviva Patz
Shop at night.
Travel vendors often update their offerings after hours (between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.) so check travel web sites then to get in on new specials. Just keep in mind that some deals last a short period of time so you might have to book quickly.
Use all your memberships.
See if there are discounts available to you as a member of various organizations—AAA, discount clubs such as Costco, your health insurance company, and even alumni associations.
Be flexible.
If there’s wiggle room on your travel dates and times or if you can use an alternate airport, you open up a world of potential discounts. For example, if you’re willing to drive the extra hour from Denver to Colorado Springs instead of flying directly there, you could save $100 or more on a flight.
Hold out till the 11th hour.
As the clock starts to run out on travel specials, you can score amazing last-minute deals. Look for them on flights, hotels, and combo packages at popular online travel websites, including LastMinuteTravel, Travelocity, Expedia, TravelZoo, Orbitz, Priceline, and SmarterTravel.com.
Call directly.
Never book a hotel stay through their web site unless it’s part of a discount package you’ve just scored. Instead, call the hotel directly and ask about their unpublished deals, special rates, and upgrades.
Eat out for breakfast and lunch…
but not for dinner and you'll pay one-third less for the same quality food and still enjoy a restaurant experience. Make dinner spontaneous and fun by grabbing a sandwich or a pizza slice, hitting an outdoor farmer’s market, or sampling the ethnic fare at your destination: a gyro in New York, a sopapilla in New Mexico, or a Red Hot hot dog in Chicago.
Aviva Patz is a freelance writer based in Montclair, New Jersey. She has written for Self, Shape, Redbook, Health, Cooking Light, Parents, Parenting and more.
|
Post a Comment