Cutting Your Travel Costs
Updated November 24, 2007
General Tips
- Whenever you compare prices, make sure the quoted price includes the cost of taxes and all fees.
- Travel in groups. If you travel with a group of friends or family members, you may qualify for group discounts.
- Compare the cost of purchasing a package trip from a travel agent or setting up everything yourself. Sometimes you can get a great deal on a trip by purchasing a package deal from a travel agent, especially since travel agents can get deals that you simply wouldn't find can't, but other times you'll discover that it can actually be cheaper if you just organize the trip and handle all the arrangements yourself and avoiding the middle-man. Make sure you figure out how much it would cost for both, and choose the cheaper method.
- Look for last minute specials. Whether you're renting a car, buying an airline ticket, going on a cruise, or attending a major event, check the price of last minute purchases. Some companies will lower their prices or run specials to fill in those last few seats. Of course, you must be careful to not rely on last minute specials since things may get booked up before the companies ever consider running a special.
- Be proud of your age, and get a discount. Don't be ashamed to tell people your age if you can save some money by doing it. Look for senior citizen discounts, child discounts, etc.
- Always ask if you can get a discount for being a member of an organization. Whether you're booking a hotel room or just going to the movie theater, if you are a AAA member, in the military, a student, an employee of the government, AARP member, etc. ask if there are any discounts.
Transportation
- Drive instead of flying. If you're traveling across a couple of states, driving may be cheaper than flying, especially if you have lots of people going with you. Plus, you can do lots of things on the way to your destination and on the way home. If you're brave, you can try driving across the country.
- Take the bus.
- Take a train.
- Use a shuttle service instead of a taxi. Taxis charge you by the mile. Shuttles charge you by the zone. You have to put up with stopping to pick up and drop off other people, but even this can help you take a look around town. Plus, you'll get to meet some interesting people.
- Use public transportation. Purchase a pass for the entire day or multiple days. You won't have to carry around exact change, and you won't have to pay for rental cars or taxis. Plus, traveling by public transportation gives you an opportunity to really get a look around.
- Use complimentary hotel shuttles.
Airlines
- Purchase airline tickets online well in advance of the trip. Tickets get more expensive the closer you get to trip day.
- Compare roundtrip tickets with one way tickets.
- Sign up for frequent flyer miles programs. Even if you don't travel on a particular airline frequently, sign up for their frequent flyer program. You may be able to transfer points from other programs (such as rental car programs, credit card points, etc.) to the frequent flyer program to earn a free ticket or two. Also, some airlines give special discounts to frequent flyer members that you wouldn't get or hear about if you weren't in the program.
- Give up your seat on overbooked flights. If you're not in a hurry to get to your destination, and you plane is overbooked, give up your seat, and the airlines will give you a free ticket.
- Have flexible travel dates. Many flights are often cheaper if you just change the day your leave or return by just a day or two. Get quotes on leaving and returning on multiple dates.
- Be flexible about which hours you fly.
- Be flexible about which airports you use. The airport closest to you or to your destination may be the most convenient, but it could also be the most expensive. You can sometimes save money by flying in or out of an airport in a nearby city and driving the extra distance or taking a shuttle.
- Don't be loyal to only one airline. Even if you're trying to build up frequent flyer miles, look for the airlines with the best deals.
- Don't be afraid of layovers. It's often cheaper to take a flight that has a layover, and it usually doesn't take much longer. Be sure to compare prices, though, because not all layover flights are cheaper than direct flights.
- Try using a discount broker. Sites like http://www.priceline.com can get you cheaper rates than what you have found through travel agents or directly from the airline.
Rental Cars
- Reserve the smallest car at the cheapest rate. If the rental company doesn't have that vehicle, you'll get a larger car for the same price.
- Use your own insurance. Sometimes your own auto insurance will cover a rental car. If it doesn't, rent the car using a premium credit card that will insure the car automatically just by being paid for on the car.
- Compare weekly vs. daily rental rates. Sometimes it's cheaper to pay for weekly rates even if you don't plan on having the car for an entire week.
- Re-check rates frequently. Reserve your vehicle as early as possible, then check periodically to see if a better deal pops up. If one does, immediately make a new reservation and cancel the old one. (Most rental companies require that you do this at least 48 hours prior to your original reservation, or you'll be charged cancellation fees and/or lose your deposit.)
- Try using a discount broker. Sites like http://www.priceline.com can get you cheaper rates than what you have found through travel agents or directly from the rental company.
- Split the vehicle with a friend. You can sometimes save money by renting a larger vehicle with a friend or two and splitting the costs equally rather than renting a smaller vehicle for just yourself.
- Make sure there isn't a penalty for turning in your vehicle early.
Lodging
- Stay with family and friends. Most of the time, they'll let you hang around for free. Plus, if they're locals in the area, they can tell you all about the best places to go as well as the local money saving secrets.
- Rent a house or apartment. If you have many people going with you, or you'll be staying for a couple weeks or more, you might be able to get cheaper lodging by renting a house or an apartment for just one month. Most of the time they'll have refrigerators and stoves, and you'll only need to order the most basic utilities. Some landlords expect their property to be used as a vacation home and will have the utilities running non-stop and just includes their cost in the rent.
- Trade homes. The safest way to swap homes is to trade homes with your family and friends. However, if you don't know anyone in the area where you would like to stay, you can always check out a home trading organization. Check out Yahoo! for a list of organization that specialize in home exchanges.
- Stay at a hostel. A hostel usually costs only around $10.00 per night. The price is great and there are lots of hostels to choose from, but there are some drawbacks though. Hostels are usually in a dorm room setting. This means that you'll be sharing your room with other people who will probably be total stranger. There is definitely a lack of privacy. Men and women typically are separated, so you won't get to share a bed with your husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend, etc. However, if you're traveling by yourself or with a couple of friends, don't mind a lack of privacy, and are willing to meet new people, a hostel could be a great experience.
- Follow the campgrounds.
- Stay at RV parks.
- Use budget hotels.
Hotels
- Use hotels that are further away from the tourist attractions. It's often cheaper to stay at a hotel in the next city (provided that the city isn't too far away).
- Ask hotels if they have any specials or discounts. Often hotels have discounts that they won't advertise.
- Compare online hotel rates to quoted rates over the phone. Look at hotel rates online and then call the hotel to find out if they offer cheaper rates on the phone. Sometimes a hotel will offer one rate online and a different rate if you call them directly.
- Try using a discount broker. Sites like http://www.priceline.com can get you cheaper rates than what you have found through travel agents or directly from the hotel.
- Book rooms during the middle of the week. Many hotels have lower mid-week rates than weekend rates.
- Split a room with friends. Sometimes it's cheaper to book a larger room or a suite and split the cost with friends. For example, a regular hotel room for just yourself may cost $75.00/night, and a suite may cost $150.00/night. If you stay in the suite with two other friends and split the cost equally, you'll end up paying only $50.00/night instead of $75.00/night, and you'll get to stay in a better room. Plus, some hotels even extend special privileges and amenities to guests who stay in suites instead of regular rooms.
- Make sure there isn't a penalty for leaving early.
- Make sure there isn't a penalty for canceling your reservation.
- Be aware of phone use charges. Fees for long distance calls are steep, and some hotels charge to make local calls. Try to use a cell phone or use a calling card instead. (If you use a cell phone, make sure you won't be charged roaming fees, which can be pricey.) There are also services like http://www.kallback.com/ that will call you, and you won't be charged for an incoming call at most hotels.
Food
- Don't eat at hotel restaurants. They're almost always overpriced. Ask for a refrigerator and stock up on breakfast and lunch foods at the local supermarket.
- Bring sweetened Kool-Aid. If you or your kids can't stand to drink plain water, bring a reusable bottle and a canister of sweetened Kool-Aid. Just mix with water, and you'll have a drink that's cheaper than soda.
- Have a picnic.
- Don't eat at restaurants right off the freeway, by major roads used by tourists, or near major attractions.
- Ask locals about good, inexpensive restaurants.
- Take advantage of complimentary meals.
- Make food in your hotel room. Instant soup, sandwiches, etc.
- Take advantage of buffets.
- Carry around snacks.
- Make lunch your biggest meal of the day.
Destinations
- Travel to your destination during the off season. Obviously many attractions and tourist services will be cheaper if you don't travel during tourist season.
- Travel to destinations that just recovered from a disaster. Many businesses will reduce their prices to attract customers after a disaster (such as Florida after a hurricane). You'll be helping the community to rebuild itself and getting a good deal all at the same time.
- Plan what you want to do at your destination before you leave your home. Check out travel guides, such as Fodor's, from your local library or go online to find out what the must-see attractions are, and decide whether or not you plan to include them on your trip. Contact the chamber of commerce or visitors' bureau of your destination. They often have booklets and brochures of all of the major attractions, restaurants, hotels, etc. in the area, and these booklets and brochures usually have coupons and discounts inside.
- Go on a national or state park tour. The first time you go to a national or state park, purchase the best pass you can get instead of a day pass for just that park. Many passes are good for one year and will let you get free entry into multiple parks. (For about $50.00 you can get a National Parks Pass that will let you, and anyone else in your vehicle, get into any national park requiring an entry fee for free. Plus, you get a free magazine subscription and free park information, such as maps.)
- Go camping.
Entertainment
- Use free hotel amenities. Many hotels have pools, game rooms, etc. that hotel guests can use free of charge. Some even have programs for kids. Use these amenities as much as possible.
- Take a walking tour. Get a good guidebook and go for a walk to check out all of the sites.
- Do relaxing things for free. Go to the beach, play at the park, etc.
- Find out if local zoos, museums, aquariums, etc. have free or discounted times. Some places will be free one day a month or after a certain hour of the day. Other places will just offer a discount. Either way, using these facilities during these discounted times can save you a bundle.
- Check out websites for attractions to find discounts.
Souvenirs
- Collect inexpensive souvenirs. Skip the goofy hats and overpriced t-shirts. Instead, buy buttons, bookmarks, postcards, etc.
- Instead of buying souvenirs, gather items to create a scrapbook when you get home. Hold onto your ticket stubs. Take lots of pictures. Collect some leaves. Then when you get home, purchase a scrapbook and create your own souvenir. If you have kids, you can have one scrapbook for each child or one large family scrapbook that everyone can contribute to.
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