Via Skontent
Travel, which is one of the most enlightening experiences in my opinion, teaches you a lot about yourself, sheds light on any relationship if things don’t go according to plan, opens you to new ideas and cultures, and shapes your personality if done often enough. The hard part? It also can be quite pricey. The old adage says “you get what you pay for,” but here are some tips, collected from CNN Go, tweaked by my experience, that help you get what you want, and pay less for it.
- Book a Home, Not a Hotel - I can’t speak on Home Swapping, given it’s far too invasive for my comfort levels, but two CNN Go suggested sites seem to be HomeExchange.com and HomeLink.org.A site I can highly recommend to rent out a home that is essentially run in the style of a B&B is Airbnb, which I wrote a post on that can be seen here. Affordable, easy to use, and definitely easier on the pocketbook, I can speak from experience that this is a great tool for travelers. I have never used Great Space, but apparently it’s similar to Airbnb although it seems to cater to a lesser selection of locations given the fact it’s less established.
- Strategize Your Flight Booking - this trick changed my life. Booking tickets is always cheaper on Tuesdays. Here’s a great explanation via the Wallstreet Journal.
“When’s the best time to buy? Travel experts have long said Tuesday is when sales are most often in place, which is true. An analysis of domestic fares shows that Wednesday also has good—and occasionally better—ticket prices… airline pricing actually does follow a cycle during the week. Many sales, in which some seats are discounted by 15% to 25% typically, are launched Monday night… Competitors typically match the lower prices Tuesday morning. By Thursday or Friday, many sales have already expired.
Two weeks ago, a Chicago-Atlanta round-trip ticket for April travel dates cost $209 on Tuesday and Wednesday on American and Delta, but then $301 for the next four days. When Tuesday rolled around last week, the fare dropped to $219 at both airlines for the April 8-15 itinerary. By Friday it was up to $307 at both American and Delta. Come Tuesday this week, the fare was down to $229… So a ticket can be $199 certain days and $499 other days even months ahead of a flight.”
Also, if you’re traveling as a couple, search for your tickets separately. You can always change seats when you’re checking in, that way, the system won’t search for ticket options that rule out possible better deals due to seat numbers. Instead, it will choose the individual fares, after which point you can request seats together. This said, do so quickly, and make sure you can both get on the same flight. Expedia has excellent cancellation policies if you happen to make a mistake in this process.
- Consider Alternate Destinations - Venice is undoubtedly beautiful, but the hidden Italian gems that are far less expensive and equally magical is staggering. Italian charm is really what you’re going for, and you’ll get more of it in a less likely tourist destination. Rome, Venice, and the other usual touristy locales are full of history, but have a price tag that is often completely unreasonable. The Amalfi Coast is stunning, and its picturesque little towns are far more relaxed and reflective of Italian living. Do your homework – the internet makes it so easy to track down more affordable destinations that avoid the hustle and bustle of tourist traps.
The Amalfi Coast
- Save on the “Small Stuff” - Via CNN Go. “Here are some things many travelers often overlook: insurance, phone roaming fees and a credit card’s foreign transaction fee. Insurance companies deliver discounts for careful travelers.Essential Travel’s ”Use your head” campaign for example gives skiers a 15 percent discount if they wear a helmet. Also, check with your existing credit card companies for travel perks — some such as HSBC and Citibank often offer free travel insurance if you use them to book your holiday. If you have to use a phone while you’re abroad, get a local SIM card or use free apps such as Skype or Viber, as long as the required local Wi-Fi isn’t too expensive.”
- Get the Best Price, Find Discounts - social media has opened the doors for affordable travel. Kayak is a comparative shopping tour de force, and cross checks prices all at once for you! I always find Expedia to be a reliable resource as well, and I have just discovered the app Yapta, which tracks flight price changes before you buy and checks for airline refunds after purchase.
- Be Loyal, Get Perks - Via CNN Go. “Hotels.com recently introduced a buy-10-nights-get-one-free deal.HotelPlanner.com is giving away US$500 in free hotel rooms to its loyal Facebook, Twitter and mobile app fans once a week. Booking sites like Agoda.com and Booking.com now give loyalty points to customers. They reward you with points after each purchase that you can use later on another booking.These websites also promise the best price guaranteed, meaning you can get a refund if you spot a cheaper offer after booking with them.”
- Tour With The Locals - disclaimer: be very very careful about this tip from CNN Go. I’m including it because it sounds like a nice idea, but be mindful and smart about where you use these programs. “Connecting with a local on your trip not only ensures you avoid the tourist traps, it also is a lot cheaper than using a large professional tour company. Twigmore is a new online community dedicated for travelers on Facebook. You can also book local independent tour guides directly in hundreds of cities from Localguiding.com or from one of the biggest independent tour providers in Europe – Sandemans New Europe Tours. These often offer tours for free, so it’s a nice gesture to give a tip after the tour to ensure this kind of initiative can continue for others.
- Coupon Codes Galore! - I have found this to be quite the amazing resource, which shocks most people I know because I absolutely hate coupons. The kinds I’m talking about come from supermarket flyers, but these are neat, simple to use, and online. PromotionalCodes.com has sections dedicated to flights, travel, accommodation, along with many other possibilities. Take a look, you will absolutely NOT regret it.
Via USA Today
Tags: Airbnb, airline, B&B, booking, budget, Expedia, flights, hotel, Kayak, PromotionalCodes, saving, Travel, travel advice, Yapta
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