Travel and Save: Yes it is Possible
Traveling can be expensive. Sometimes there is just no other choice but to travel and it may not be something that you want to spend a lot of money on. There are some ways that you can save money while traveling and still have a comfortable and enjoyable trip.
How to save money by flying
If you have to travel remember that holidays are the best days to fly. Thanksgiving is a great day because hardly anyone will be flying that day. The day before and the day after a holiday are the worst days to travel.
These are the busiest days of the year to be on a plane. Pack light when you are traveling. Extra baggage could cost you time and money and you can save by packing a little less and you will save a lot more.
Take a train instead of flying
Trains are a great way to travel because they are usually less expensive than a plane. They are also less crowded. When you decide to take a train you will save money that can be used for other things on your vacation.
Bring your own snacks
When you are traveling either alone or with your family, bring your own snacks. This will save you time and money when you get hungry. Sometimes with the hustle of traveling we forget to get ourselves something to eat. This may cause an all of sudden sick feeling for you.
By having some snacks on hand you will save yourself the trouble of feeling sick. This will also save you money. Snacks on coach flights and sections are not free and can be expensive in some cases.
Driving in a car
When you are driving to your destination, there are some things that you can do to save yourself money. Remember to not drive too fast. Driving fast can cause your car to use more fuel. It may also get you a speeding ticket, which will cost you a lot of extra money in the end.
It is better to stay at a steady and safe speed while you are driving. Also bring your own food. Make up some sandwiches and bring along some sodas and water. This will save you money and time by not having to stop for food.
Another good piece of advice when traveling by car is to take turns driving with someone. Make sure that you have another safe driver for times when you need a break.
You can sleep while someone else drives for a while and then switch back and forth when a rest is needed. This will save you the expense of paying for a room and get you to your destination sooner.
Ten Vacations for Under $1000.00
Looking for a fun, affordable vacation? Well we have ten great ideas for entertaining vacations that cost less than $1000.00. Take a vacation you will remember forever and save money at the same time.
Check out these money-saving vacations:
1. Take a family of four camping for a week at a State Forest or National Park. Camping gear, campground fees (which usually run per night stayed) and travel fees will run you under $1000.00. Your family can bond while enjoying the great outdoors during the day and sleeping under the stars at night.
If you purchase a small grill or stove, some of which are made particularly for camping, you can bring your own food to cook and save money on meals as well.
2. The ultimate vacation for any kid is a trip to Disney World. Disney World has taken measures to make visits to the park affordable for any family.
By staying at one of Disney’s value resorts and visiting during the value portion of the season (January 1-February 16, August 28 – October 4, and November 27 – December 19) you can save a lot of money and still get one of the best vacation experiences in the country.
Room prices in value resorts often start at around $80 a night during the value season.
3. Airline tickets can be purchased and often found at cheap prices from airlines such as Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airlines, which aim at offering passengers low airfares. For an experience like no other, bring your family north up to Cochran, located in Ontario, Canada.
Here you and your family can sleep in an actual igloo. Do not expect to freeze during your stay, these modern igloos include all the charm of a real igloo but include modern amenities such as kitchenettes and sleeping for five people.
Although they are built out of ice and snow the temperature stays warm inside the igloo making for a fun, cheap, comfortable stay in the great white north.
4. Want to give your kids a history lesson and a fun family vacation all mixed into one? Try Boston, where an abundant amount of the country’s history is right at your fingertips. Lodging and airfare to Boston will be your biggest expense because most of the city’s attractions are within walking distance.
If you stay inside the city make sure you are within a reasonable distance to the Freedom Trail. This two and a half mile walk will take you through some of the city’s most historical landmarks.
5. If you do not mind sleeping in a tent but are not quite ready to rough it to the point of staying in shower-less campgrounds, consider a trip to one of many hot springs locations across the US. Hot Springs, Arkansas is one of these frequently visited areas.
Camping cuts the lodging fees but the hot springs offer days full off soaking in the soothing water.
6. For adults, consider saving money on lodging when visiting Europe through staying in local hostels. Hostels offer people a place to sleep for little to almost no money. Although the accommodations are far from a quality hotel, if you are only staying a short time then sleep hostels provide the ultimate way to enjoy a cheap vacation.
Staying in hostels also frees up more money to see the many sights of Europe. Travel across the continent, staying in a different country each night. Chances are you will be able to find a hostel in most European nations.
7. If you and your significant other are looking for a romantic getaway but are not ready to spend large amounts of money, look no further than getting a great deal on a cruise. Cruise lines such as Carnival Cruise are always offering special deals on cruises, some of which run as low as $500.
Spend a week on a beautiful boat cruising through the spectacular Caribbean and visiting some of the most exotic, tropical islands in the world. Boats often make stops to the island and offer island excursions that often do not cost much but offer a day of thrills and excitement.
8. Ever wanted to travel across the US? Try doing it with the help of a greyhound – Greyhound Bus Lines that is. Greyhound Bus Lines offer buses to destinations across the US. If you are a smart bargain hunter you should be able to find a few cheap motels for lodging along the way.
Stopping for a while in a few select cities allows you to get out and sightsee then continue on later in the day. Some buses even travel overnight, offering the opportunity to sleep onboard the bus.
9. For an island getaway at a cheap price try Dreams Cancun Resort & Spa in Cancun, Mexico. The Resort offers packages that boast cheap prices as low as $571 for flights to and from Cancun and a three-night stay at the resort. Enjoy the warm sun, soft sand and cool ocean water in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
10. If you want to travel to the Caribbean rather than Mexico, consider the Dominican Republic. Punta Cana Resort in the Dominican Republic is one of the cheapest island vacations you will find. Hotel rates begin at just over $150 and most everything else you will need while on the island is relatively cheap. Punta Cana is one of the most exquisite spots on the Dominican Republic and definitely worth the trip.
RV Rental For Travel
When you are deciding to take a trip across country, a fun and sensible choice for transportation is renting a RV or recreational vehicle. This is a vehicle usually known as a motor home or bus that has all the comforts of home. You will be able to travel with all the accommodations of home.
Comfort While Cruising
When you decide to rent a motor home for your trip whether it is a long or short journey, you will find that you will have all the comforts of home and then some. If you are driving you will feel the difference in the drivers seat.
You will feel like you are sitting in your recliner at home. The seats are more comfortable then seats in a normal vehicle. They are designed to support your body while you are driving down the road. You will not have to worry about cramps in your legs or a stiff back.
Renting your RV
You will find that it is easy to rent your recreational vehicle for your trip. There are usually dealers in almost every area that rent these vehicles for your convenience. You will be able to choose from many different models and chose the best one that is suitable for you.
The one thing that you want to make sure you do is reserve your RV in advance. These vehicles usually get reserved months in advance and you want to make sure that you do not lose out on the one that you want. How do you get charged? You will usually get charged a flat fee for just renting the vehicle.
You will probably also find that you will be charged for mileage. This simply means that you will be charged a certain amount per mile on the vehicle while you are renting it. In most cases this is like 15 to 35 cents a mile. This amount is added to your bill at the end of the contract. If you are able to find a place that eliminates this charge and only charges for the rental then you are looking at a great deal and you should not pass that one up.
Keep the RV neat
When you return the RV, it is expected to be in the same shape it was when you rented it. That means that you should keep it neat and clean and make sure that there is no damage to the RV.
Take the Insurance
If you are renting a RV for a trip with your family, make sure that you take out the insurance. This will cost you a very small amount and it is definitely worth it in the long run. This will insure that if there is any damage to the rental or if you are in an accident that you are covered with the insurance and you will probably not have to pay for any out of pocket expenses.
If you are traveling anywhere, choosing an RV is the way to go. You will be comfortable and you will not have to worry about additional miles or wear and tear on your own personal vehicle.
On the Road Again: Money Savers for Car Trips
For most people, vacations are saved up for and carefully planned. Not only do you want your vacation to be memorable and fun, but oftentimes you want to be able to see and do as much as possible. Therefore, vacations are not the time to be wasting money on unnecessary items or services.
Your best bet for vacations is to research your trip and plan to save as much money as possible. Road trip vacations are one type of vacation where saving money is possible and easy to do. Follow these simple steps and your road trip will be one of the best and cheapest you have ever taken. One of the biggest areas where money can be saved on road trips is food.
If you are traveling with kids (or adult fast food lovers), every time there is a golden arches sign on the highway you may be hearing choruses of “Stop! Stop!”. By packing snacks and maybe even a picnic meal or two, you will save money on unnecessary stops for meals and snacks. Stop at a rest stop to stretch your legs and enjoy a picnic lunch.
If you are going to make stops to eat out along your trip, keep in mind that many restaurants offer either discount prices for children (usually under the age of twelve) or deals where kids eat for free. Research this prior to the start of your trip and if you are planning on stopping at a restaurant to eat, plan your trip around these eateries.
Not only will you know that your child will eat cheap, by researching the restaurant beforehand you will also have an idea of the types of food sold and whether or not
everyone in your family, even the pickiest eater, will find something they like. If you are traveling with children chances are you are going to be challenged to keep them amused along the way.
Instead of stopping at attractions where you will have to pay an entrance fee, try to find free entertainment. Chances are there are upwards of hundreds of attractions along the way that not only will not cost you a dime to see, but will also amaze and entertain your children. However, some attractions that do cost money may be unavoidable.
Theme parks and other major attractions will not be free but many do offer discount rates for children and senior citizens. It is a good idea to look into this before leaving. By having a plan of places to stop and knowing what kind of discounts are offered, you will be able to better keep track of your road trip vacation budget.
Filling your car with gasoline can be the most costly expense of your trip. With sky-high gas prices, the gas pump is definitely the place to try to save money. The smartest thing to do when buying gas is to use a credit card that offers rebates on the amount of gas purchased.
Typically, nationwide gas station chains such as Mobil or Shell offer credit card rebates to frequent customers. Keep in mind if you are using Mobil you will have to
find and only use Mobil stations on the road in order to use your rebate. But chances are if you choose a large gas station chain you will not run into any problems.
During some longer road trips you will have to stop overnight and find a place for lodging. By researching your lodging choices online prior to your road trip, you will be able to find a quality hotel or motel that offers reasonable nightly rates. At many hotels children stay free, so if you do have children in tow, make an extra effort to find a hotel with this amenity.
It is also a good idea to try to book a room at the hotel that offers the most complimentary services. Many hotels offer complimentary continental breakfasts and some have snack bars set up as well. Hotels can also be useful in offering coupons and discount rates for local attractions and eateries.
Finally, make sure to abide by the posted speed limits along the way. Not only will driving slower help conserve expensive gasoline, it will also keep you from dropping unnecessary money on an unexpected speeding ticket.
Getting the Most Out of Your Travel Deals
The lowest and the cheapest travel deals are not always the best deal. Today, travelers could be overwhelmed by the numerous travel deals being offered. Therefore you should weigh all options before choosing the right one in order to get the most out of it.
The greatest secret to getting an affordable airfare or best travel discounts is to know your budget and what do you really want. Additionally, you should shop and compare deals until you run out of options and choose the best among them.
And importantly, always plan ahead. Nothing is too early when it comes to vacation planning. This will give you ample time to search and choose.
Whether you’re a business traveler or planning a family vacation, here are some travel
tips to save you money and choose the best deal:
1. Buy your ticket directly. Travel agents usually charge between $15 and $35 per ticket.
2. Buy your ticket all at the same time instead of buying one at a time. Booking fee may be discounted.
3. Booking for a package tour could be a wise choice for some destinations.
4. When planning a more complex trip, a travel agent can save you more time and money.
5. Compare prices online for the best deal. There are websites that help travelers to shop and compare. Some also provide travel tips and guidelines.
6. Play the seasons. Some travel destinations are cheapest at certain times or season of the year. Booking for an off-peak season also would give you the best deal.
7. Be flexible with travel dates and times. Some airlines and hotels offer substantial discounts if you book one or two days earlier.
8. Smaller airlines often have lesser fees. Additionally, small airlines don’t necessarily mean smaller airplanes.
9. Alternative airport also could provide you with substantial discounts. Ask your travel agent about it.
10. Plan ahead. The earlier you book, the better deal you will have.
11. Buy trip insurance. Insurance will not only save your life but also could save you money. If you end up being sick in foreign country, your insurance back home might not cover it. Thus you might end up using your vacation budget on hospitalization.
12. Sign up for hotel and airline awards programs. Chain hotels usually have award programs; take advantage of it especially if you are a frequent business traveler.
Finally, never stop bargaining, always explore the possibility of lower airfare, lower hotel rates. However, it is important to weigh and compare all options since not all cheap travel deals will give you the travel value you deserved. Travel will be more enjoyable if you get the most of your hard earn vacation budget.
Create Your Own Travel Discounts
Hotel and rental car owners don’t just offer you discounts at random, you have to ask for it work for it, and sometimes, these discounts aren’t even worth it, unless you’re looking to traveling during off peak season where there is at most a 50% discount. But let’s face it, we travel during peak season because this is when we actually have time to travel or when the weather is at its best.
So aside from waiting for your favorite hotel’s tirade of discounts during off peak, why not take the initiative and find your own ways to travel cheap.
Here are some suggestions:
Cheap travel destinations
Traveling can be costly and when you are able to find a deal, you should grab on to it. Anywhere you can find a discount, you should take advantage of it. There are many ways to make your travel experience cheap but not a disappointment. You can find many cheap travel destinations that you will be able to enjoy by yourself or with the family.
Ways to make your traveling less expensive
Make any of your reservations early. Many discount places require that you make your reservations at least two weeks in advance. By making your reservations early, you can save a lot of money.
Cheap flying
If you make your reservation to fly on a weekday, you will find that it usually costs less. Fares for flying are usually higher on Monday and Friday since those are usually the days that people come and go. Saturday flights occasionally have discounted fees, but it is a known fact that it is more expensive to fly on a weekend than on a weekday.
Book your flight and hotel together
When you book your flight and hotel together, sometimes you will get the advantage of special rates. You will get to be on the same flights and get to choose the same great hotels that you have always been choosing from, the only difference is that you will get a better rate.
Great packages
Sometimes if you are booking with a travel agent or from a company directly, you can get great discounts on great destinations. You will get to enjoy the same great places only at cheaper prices. Look around and do your research. Do not take the first deal that you come across because there may be a better one around the corner.
Online deals
If you look online, you may be able to get better deals there than you would by dealing with a travel agent or airline in person. They are always listing the new deals that you can take advantage of. There are many different online sites to choose from when you are looking for cheap travel destinations.
Find it, buy it
Once you find the travel deal that you want to get after you have shopped around, make sure that you print out a receipt for your confirmation. This will be your proof of purchase especially if you have already paid for your tickets online with a credit card. You will want to have this if there is a question about your purchase for any reason at all.
Here are some more money saving travel suggestions:
– Check detour flights other than the straight one you’re bound to get when you inquire. You can get cheaper overall prices if you choose to book two flights instead of one. Some people have been able to save as much as $2000 by doing this.
– It is always better to buy food at the grocery and cook it yourself rather than eating everyday at a restaurant. You won’t want to spend all of your pocket money on food. Restaurants tend to have cheap and sometimes unhealthy food, ensure your own health as well as your pockets health by cooking your own, that is, after all, the reason why there’s a stove in your hotel room.
– Travel to places which boast of natural beauty but have lower costs of living, prices here tend to be lower. Take the Philippines or Malaysia for example, both have great views and tourist spots but come without the hassle of overpricing, English speaking natives are also a plus for these countries.
– If you’re planning to stay for more than a week, call the hotel that you’d want to stay in and ask for week long stay discounts, these can range for percentages off your room price or even a “free day.”
– Package deals usually save a lot, airfare and lodgings combined into one are usually cheaper compared to paying for them separately. Some travel agencies even provide trio packages which include airfare, hotel and car rental, you can save a lot if you have the industriousness to canvass.
– Find web-only discounts or coupons which some hotels and airline owners provide especially for those willing to reserve online. You can save as much as 50% on your
travel costs by going this way.
Cheap Seats: How To Get a Great Price on Airline Tickets
Make sure you do your research when searching for cheap airline tickets. The internet can be the best tool for finding a cheap seat. There are a number of websites that
advertise their low airline fares and using one of these sites can save you hundreds of dollars on your flight.
Airlines sometimes offer discount rates for early online reservations. It is important for you to look into these possible discounts and take advantage of them if they are
available. Some airlines might offer more of a discount than others, which is something to take into consideration if you are booking online and looking to save money.
JetBlue Airlines is one airline built on the goal of creating affordable travel. JetBlue was created as a low-fare airline based out of John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City in 2000. Five years later the airline serves 32 cities throughout the United States including Boston, Las Vegas and Washington DC.
Do not think that lower air fares translate into shoddy service. JetBlue only flies new, unused airplanes and the airline’s planes actually are the newest overall in comparison to all other airlines. The airline focuses on quality service since it relies on faithful customers who value flying for low prices.
Another airline that may make it cheaper for you to fly to your vacation destination is Southwest Airlines. Serving 59 cities across the United States, Southwest Airlines offers a number of special sales and deals throughout the year. During special offers made by Southwest Airlines, passengers can find one-way tickets to destinations across the United States for as low as $39.
Booking your vacation through a travel agent can help you save money as well. Using a travel agent can provide you with a number of benefits you would otherwise miss out on if you were to plan your vacation on your own. The experience of travel agents has allowed them to create good relationships with other companies involved in travel.
They can get special deals on airline fares, hotel reservations, and any other tickets or reservations you might need such as reservations to theme parks or restaurants you plan to visit during your stay. This allows them to get better bargains for you in areas where you would be paying full price on your own.
But overall, the mere convenience of having a travel agent plan your vacation can be entirely worth it. Another way to find a cheap airline ticket is to use a frequent flier program. Frequent flyer programs are somewhat easy to understand. For each mile that frequent flyer customers travel, they earn a mile of frequent flyer miles.
The catch is that they must travel on the airline that they signed up with. For example, American Airlines frequent flyers do not earn frequent flyer miles if they travel on a Delta flight. This is why it is smartest to choose one airline and stick to it, rather than trying to accumulate frequent flyer miles with numerous airlines.
The more you travel, the more miles you accumulate and the more you are rewarded. Many airlines have levels, such as silver, gold and platinum, to signify the status of frequent fliers. The more one travels, the higher in rank they will rise. If your airline is affiliated with a hotel or rental car service, miles may translate into points, which can be used towards airline tickets, rental car prices, or hotel stays.
Once you have accumulated a certain amount of miles, you will be able to redeem them for rewards. Airlines typically have an 800 number where customers can speak with representatives who are familiar with the frequent flyer program. This provides convenience for customers who are looking to redeem frequent flyer miles or for customers who may have questions or concerns about the program.
When redeeming miles for free airline tickets, each mile accumulated is the equivalent of two cents. Therefore, in order to purchase a $200 airline ticket for free, a customer would have to have 10,000 miles accumulated, each worth two cents each. Although frequent flier programs are only worthwhile if you travel frequently, for those who do frequent flier miles can save plenty of money.
The Scoop on Discount Hotels
When you are planning your trip or vacation, you want to make sure that you leave plenty of time to make your hotel reservations. There are thousands of different hotels to choose from all over the world. Most of the higher-class hotels are very expensive and extend most people’s budgets. There are however, discount hotels that offer great service for a lower price.
How to get discounts
There are a few different ways to get the discounts for hotels. You can get discounts with coupons. Coupons for hotels can be obtained through the mail or online. All you have to do is go to the hotels website and request information or even any coupons, and they will usually send them to you. The hotels want your business and it is a competition for them and they need to compete for your business.
Triple A
You may also be able to get discounts for hotels through triple A if you are a member. They offer great discounts on hotels when you are traveling. The way to become a member of Triple A is to simply sign up for it and you will then be required to pay a yearly membership fee. The small fee is worth the entire extra bonus you get with the plan.
Certain travel times of the year
There is peak travel times and off peak travel times throughout the year. The peak travel times are when every one is traveling and there is a big need to hotel rooms.
This is when you are going to pay more for your room. The hotel companies figure you are desperate for a room so they can charge extra. Off peak times are when you are going to be able to get the discounts on the hotels. This is when there are few people traveling and less of the need for rooms.
Look for quality
Remember getting a good price is very important because traveling and taking vacations can be expensive. Just because a hotel is cheap does not mean that you should expect anything that is not suitable to you. If a hotel is too cheap then it is probably a dive and you should do more research on that hotel before you book your reservation.
Cheap Reservations without The Hassle
– Plan your vacations on off seasons, Hotel rates, even airline and car rental rates are lower during this time due to lower demand. You can get as much as a 50% discount if you book a room during off season, so try and call the hotel if they have off season discounts and ask them when the discounts will be effective.
– Some hotels give discounts to certain people like students, military contingents, Senior citizens, honeymooners etc. Ask for these discounts and what their details, you can save a lot with these.
– Ask if your kids can stay for free, if you’re with your family, sometimes hotels can allow up to two kids for a two bed room provided that the kids are within the age limit.
– If you’re not very particular with hotel locations, you can access name-your-price websites for car rentals and hotel reservations. They’ll do the haggling for you and you’re sure not to over-budget.
– Some hotels and even car rental companies, give “free days” if you use their services for more than a week. Ask about these certain perks if you’re planning a long stay.
– Make sure that the room fees are the only ones you’re paying for. Some hotels have surcharges and extra fees that aren’t mentioned in room rates and then suddenly pop-up on check-out. Before you reserve, ask about these, and if upon check-out you suddenly find yourself with fees that you didn’t know about, refuse to pay it.
– You can also exchange frequent Flier miles for hotel lodgings so if you have an expiring miles card, or a miles card that you’d just want to get rid of, ask the hotel if they honor these exchanges.
– Sometimes, hotels provide free airport pick-up you can use this as bargaining tool. Ask for a free pickup when haggling so you’ll get something extra even if you pay the full price.
– If you’re planning to travel during peak season, always call in advance, rates tend to get higher as the season approaches.
– Sometimes, weekend rates are lower than regular fees, or vice versa, ask your agent, or ask the hotel yourself if they have these, then you can schedule your trip during these times and be able to avail of the discount.
– Always ask for a confirmation number when you reserve a room, so that they can’t say that they didn’t receive your reservation.
What About Travel Insurance?
If you are someone that travels a lot, then you know about travel insurance and how important it is. If you do not travel frequently, then you need to find out what travel insurance is and what it means to you and your trip. There are so many different things to know about travel insurance before you make the decision not to get it.
Research many different companies before you choose
You can research and compare information about the different companies on the Internet. There are a wide variety of choices that range from the top of the line, total trip insurance protection that are the only way to go for expensive travel plans, to the minimum coverage for smaller vacations.
You will find that some of the coverage’s include all the products and coverages. You will have to read the fine print and know the facts before you purchase the insurance.
Travel insurance plans
There are plans for anything from cruises to flights. There are plans that you will get all that you need with all the coverage included. Check into the plans and their prices and what you will need to do before you purchase the insurance. Make sure that you read everything on the insurance and everything that is included. This will come in handy in case anything happens and you will need to make a claim.
Different kinds of coverage
There are a few different packages that you can choose from for you. There is total travel protection, which gives you the most coverage for you money. Comprehensive travel protection will provide comprehensive coverage for all parts of your trip.
Cheap travel insurance is considered the basic insurance that costs the least but also give the least amount of coverage and security. It is up to you what you choose, but make sure that you get enough insurance for what you need.
Things that you should make sure are covered
There are some definite things that you should make sure are included in your travel insurance coverage. Trip cancellation policy is good for reimbursement for non-refundable trip payments and deposits if a trip is canceled for illness, injury or even death.
Travel delay is good for accommodations and meals when your trip is delayed. Missed connection is a smart choice to cover missed flights or connecting flights. It will make up for the additional costs that are included. These are the best plans to think about for your travel needs.
