Loyalty Pays

When it comes to scoring travel deals it pays to be loyal. Reward programs offered by hotels, airlines and car rental agencies can yield amazing savings for frequent travelers. Basically, the more you patronize a company the larger the award. In some cases, you can accumulate bigger bonuses when companies partner with one another. For example, last week, Starwood Hotels and Delta Airlines announced that they’re planning to team up in order to give their top customers major money-saving perks. The new “Crossover Rewards” program will be the travel industry’s only program that allows frequent travelers to earn VIP privileges … Continue reading →

Flexibility is the Key to Saving on Family Travel

Traveling is not cheap, though there are ways to keep from blowing your entire bank account on a family escape. One of the best ways to avoid busting your budget on a vacation for the entire clan is to be flexible with your travel dates. Doing so will allow you to explore the nation’s premiere cities, such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. without going broke. Recently, Hotwire.com and USA Today teamed up to pinpoint the perfect times of year to travel to major metropolises for as cheap as possible. They found that vacationing in New York … Continue reading →

Save on Spring Break Escapes

Old Man Winter has been walloping the nation with blizzards, brutal cold and blistering winds. Consequently, it’s no surprise that so many people are looking to escape to warmer climates. If you are in search of sun-kissed shores and sizzling hot temperatures, but are worried a beach vacation will blow your budget, consider the following tips: Book early: If you want to save money on spring break travel, don’t procrastinate. Many of the best deals are available for a limited time only. Waiting for deeply discounted last-minute deals may cost you. Remember, as planes and hotels fill up super … Continue reading →

Budgeting for Spring Break

Right now, millions of Americans are looking to trade in the snow and cold for sun, sand and surf. Unfortunately, tropical escapes don’t usually come cheap. If you are seriously considering jetting off on a beach vacation this spring, consider the following money-saving tips: Travel with others: Group deals are ideal for families or friends looking to save cash on travel while enjoying each others’ company. Typically, group rates are offered to parties of six or more people; however, a number of travel companies offer deeper discounts to larger groups. For example, if you can gather a slew of extended … Continue reading →

Greyhound Helping Cash-Strapped Travelers

Given the sky-high price of gas these days, I would just as soon leave the driving to anyone else. If filling up your vehicle is emptying your wallet, you may be thinking twice about hitting the highway on a spring break getaway. Fortunately, Greyhound is lending a helping hand to cash-strapped travelers. North America’s largest bus company just announced a bonus to its companion fares. Now, three people can ride at half price with the purchase of one full-fare adult ticket, making group travel cheaper than ever. “Whether you’re a family gathering for a reunion, a baseball fan watching your … Continue reading →

SoCal Spring Break Without Breaking the Bank

Are you ready for spring break 2013? I’ve been ready since November 2012. I would do just about anything to escape the brutal cold and ever-present snow that has smothered our neck of the woods for the past four months. Are you with me? If you need a reprieve from Old Man Winter, but don’t have a ton of cash to fund a luxurious spring break getaway, consider the plethora of travel deals being offered in sunny Southern California: March 7-10, 2013: Enjoy the magic of Oz on picturesque Coronado Island. Next month, the Coronado Cultural Arts Commission is presenting … Continue reading →

In Search of Cheap Seats

A few weeks ago, Southwest Airlines added yet another fee to its ever-expanding list of ala carte charges. Now, you’ll have to fork over $40 at the gate if you want to board the plane with the first group of passengers. The discount carrier doesn’t offer assigned seats like United and American Airlines, but will bump you to the coveted group “A” boarding if you cough up the extra cash. The offer begins 45 minutes before the flight departs, though is only available if the slots are not filled by elite and business select passengers who pay upfront for the … Continue reading →

Extended Love Day Travel Deals

February is a notoriously slow period for the hotel industry. This translates into a golden opportunity for frugal travelers looking to save a bundle on a much-needed romantic escape. Just because Valentine’s Day is over, doesn’t mean you can’t sneak away with your sweetie on a luxurious weekend trip without breaking the bank. Many hotels around the country are extending their Love Day-themed deals through the end of the month, including: Coronado Island Marriott Resort and Spa: The upscale property is offering a money-saving deal dubbed the “Coronado Island Romance” package. It features deluxe accommodations in a bay view room, … Continue reading →

Budget Beach Getaways

Sure, you can save a bundle by driving a small car to the coast and spending your entire winter vacation living out of tent that you’ve pitched on the beach. However, there are a slew of other ways you can score a budget-friendly beach getaway without having to go to extremes. Beach packages are readily available to a host of sunny destinations, including Hawaii, Mexico, California and the Caribbean. The trick to saving more than a few pennies on these tropical getaways is to have social media platforms work for you. By signing up for alerts from airlines, hotels … Continue reading →

Holiday Travel: Are You Taking Off?

Despite growing economic woes and threats of fiscal cliff diving, it appears that a good deal of Americans will be spending money to travel this holiday season. According to TripAdvisor, 45% of people living in the United States plan to travel away from home between now and the first of the year; that’s an increase of three percent from 2011. TripAdvisor’s survey results also found that 63% of travels will be on the road for Christmas and 31% for New Year’s, with 61% seeing family and 23% visiting friends. In addition, 48% of survey respondents noted that they plan to … Continue reading →