Are you thinking about planning a trip? Then before you book your flight and hotel reservation, make sure you review these basic — but very useful — travel tips that savvy travelers use to help them not only save money, but a little time too.
Shop Direct
Most people today go through a price comparison website like Orbitz or Expedia when planning their travel, especially for airfare. After you’ve used a price comparison site to find the cheapest ticket available, try going direct to that airline’s website, or give them a call. Sometimes the prices accessed by price comparison websites are set previously, and they may not be updated when a sale or promotion starts. Airlines can occasionally offer 2-for-1 deals, or free hotel accommodation at the destination, which could also end up saving you money.
Watch for Last-Minute Deals
When it comes to room accommodations, there are often a wide variety of last minute deals available; and one of the best known last-minute deal sites is Priceline. These websites not only let you book the best and cheap accommodations on international level, they let you bid for preferred rooms. Don’t forget to check last-minute reservation deals that are advertised at the big hotel chain websites too.
Surf the Internet
There are a number of websites out there that offer travel deals and discount coupons, so why not make the most of them? A simple Google search will help you in your search for popular deals and coupon websites.
Consider a Condo
If you plan to stay in the same place for a long period — especially if your traveling with small children — then try booking a condo or apartment instead of hotel room. The fact that apartments and condos come with a kitchen offers the opportunity to save on your food bill. And the extra room is a big plus with larger families.
Watch Who You Follow
Speaking of large families, when you’re at airport, avoid following them whenever you’re boarding a plane or going through the security checkpoints. Instead, focus on falling in line behind business travelers; because their usually seasoned travelers they tend to move more quickly through the airport lines, saving you time — and your nerves.
Try Freeloading
Believe it or not, there are some websites such as Hospitality Club and Couch Surfing that offer the opportunity to stay with locals free of charge. Hey, while that’s not everyone’s cup of tea, it does allow adventurous globetrotters to save a lot of money on their accommodations.
Photo Credit: vox efx
I stayed with a bike messenger in geneva one time on couch surfing and it saved me $100 a night which was the hostel rate
I always try getting discounted trips and travel deals. I can save as much as half of the original price.
I’m a frequent flyer miles junkie. The card is paid in full religiously two times a month so there’s never an interest charge. All recurring bills are on the credit card, saving 47 cents per bill per month, plus envelopes. The bills are never paid late so there are no late fees, and every month there are more miles in my account. Taking a round trip to Warsaw this month which costs $94. and 60,000 miles. I don’t spend more because it is a credit card. If you don’t collect free miles (or cash back) with a credit card , you are leaving free money on the table.
Great observation, Karen. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Booking direct works well with sites like Hilton where you generally get the best rate. But I have noticed that I can generally find great deals using aggregator sites like Travelzoo or Kayak that beat direct prices.