Money Saving Travel Tips
Have you seen the T.V. commercial where they show that one
passenger paid only a few hundred for his plane ticket while the
person sitting next to him paid over a thousand?
This is only one example of a truth that becomes all to apparent
every summer.
You can SERIOUSLY over-pay for travel if you aren't careful.
If you are wanting to travel this summer, or anytime, use these
four money saving tips to your advantage. You might just save
50% or more on your next trip.
1. Plan Ahead
The reason airlines love business travellers is that they travel
on short notice. A cursory look at airline fares shows you that
you will pay more, often twice as much, if you travel on short
notice or don't include a weekend in your travel plans.
Even if you can't plan many weeks in advance, take full
advantage of the time you can plan ahead. Check with airlines,
hotels, car rental agencies and more to find out when the
optimum time is to book their services.
It's amazing how much you can learn with just a few phone calls
ahead of time.
2. Use The Web
If the Internet has one great feature it's that you can find a
lot of information fast. The Web allows us to do what is perhaps
the most money-saving activity of all .... comparison shopping.
Take full advantage of the Internet using sites like Google or
Yahoo as well as travel-specific sites. Companies like AAA (the
folks who rescue you on the side of the road) give away tons of
useful information just to interest you in their memberships.
Make a simple spreadsheet sorted by category as you shop online.
When you find a great price on a car rental, hide-away cabin in
the woods or direct flight, add that information to your
spreadsheet. Soon you will have compiled a powerful database of
savings.
When you surf don't forget sites like eBay and Priceline. The
'bidding' model has become a very popular way to shop. As
always, do your homework to ensure you have chosen a reputable
vendor.
3. Join The Club
In the last few years some very interesting specialty clubs have
formed for the sole purpose of helping you save money when you
travel. Sponsored by hotels, car rental companies and more who
understand how competitive the market is, these niche clubs can
save you a boatload of money.
Membership in these clubs often consists of buying a coupon book
of savings. These clubs are often the salvation for the
traveller who can't plan ahead since their deep discounts don't
rely on advanced bookings.
Don't overlook the savings these small 'discount clubs' can
bring. You will often save 50% or more on brand-name
accommodations.
4. Ask Around
Here's the oldest savings trick in the book. Ask an experienced
traveller what they do when they travel.
People who travel often love to share 'insider secrets' with
their friends who travel less often. It makes them feel good to
help a friend and might just open up a deep discount you might
have otherwise overlooked.
The bottom line when you travel is this. With a small amount of
effort, and a little education, you can chop up to half off your
travel expenses. These savings can go straight to your pocket or
you might use them to upgrade from a 2 star hotel to a four-star
hotel.
Either way, you will find the effort more than worthwhile.
******************************************************* Ali
Moazami is an experienced traveller who helps people save huge
amounts on their travel. To get first-class car rentals, airline
tickets, hotels and more at economy prices just visit Ali at
http://www.secretwealth.net ravel.html No pressure or hyped up
claims ... just real savings that go in YOUR pocket.