The Internet is home to a myriad of travel aggregator sites, which allow you to comparison shop and hopefully walk away with a decent price on airfare, car rentals or accommodations. However, there is a lot more to finding the best price available than following the prompts on one of these mass-marketed sites. If you really want to save a bundle on travel expenses, you should follow the advice of people in the know. Travel experts often share valuable money-saving tips in an effort to help fellow vacationers stretch their dollars.
Some of the best travel-related tips I’ve received and followed over the years include:
Dates Matter
Timing is everything when you are trying to snag a good deal on airfare. It’s true that there are certain dates during the year that are cheaper to fly than others, including Thanksgiving. I read about this a few years ago and put it to the test in 2011. Last year, I flew to Hawaii on Thanksgiving Day and saved 40% on airfare. While the rest of the country is dining on turkey and pumpkin pie in front of a televised football game, airlines are carving big gashes on ticket prices. So, yes, you can save a bunch of cash by traveling on Turkey Day, but you will be hit hard if you want to fly on the Wednesday before and the Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving.
In 2009, I flew to Hawaii on Christmas Day in order to save money on flights. December 25th is a great day to travel if you are financially strapped. Airlines offer a price break for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day departures. It should also be noted that commercial carriers begin their Christmas season on December 19th by charging an additional 30% or more for the following two weeks. Use this information when you are making your holiday travel plans, so you can get the most bang for your buck.
Maximize Your Computer
With all due respect to human travel agents, you can often snag amazing savings on airfare by taking advantage of your computer. Look for flash-sale sites such as JetSetter.com and SniqueAway.com. Both feature deeply discounted rates for last-minute or extremely flexible travelers. The windows of opportunity are slim, but the savings are extraordinary. We’re talking 40 to 50% off regular rates, which can translate to hundreds of dollars in savings. You can also cash in on travel deals by visiting sites such as Groupon and LivingSocial. The savings include everything from museum admission to airport transportation, as well as reduce priced meals at popular restaurants, and car and bike rentals.
Related Articles:
A New Tool In The Battle To Find Cheap Airline Seats
Online Airfares–Finding the Best Deal
Airline Secrets Revealed: Affordable First-Class Fares