Once upon a time, families vacationed at least once each year. Over the years, however, as more and more attention-grabbing activities have emerged, the family tradition seems to have fallen by the wayside. Even more importantly, prices have grown more exorbitant, making travel a luxury that many simply can't afford. The cost of basic necessities continues to rise daily, and virtually all other services have increased prices to offset their expenses. Of course, things roll downhill, and the consumer is the one left to ultimately pay the bill. It's therefore understandable that traveling for leisure is quickly pushed down the list in favor of other more pressing financial needs.
But, there are people who still manage to travel for pleasure. Is there something they know that others do not? Yes, there is. They've discovered that traveling to places of interest doesn't necessarily have to break one's bankbook in order to be enjoyable and fulfilling. What's more, you don't have to leave the kids behind, either. Families can travel together for less and still have lots of fun.
General tips
If you've been thinking about 'getting away from it all' for awhile, here are some general guidelines that will help you to find and obtain the best travel deals available. They're by no means cast in stone, but use them as a rule of thumb when planning a trip during any time of the year.
Plan early. It is a safe bet that the sooner you begin to plan your trip, the more choices you will have for travel deals. The problem that you face with last minute trips is the possibility of not finding enough accommodations for the entire party. For single travelers, it isn't usually a problem, but for a family or larger group, finding the number of hotel rooms, airplane seats, or larger rental car, can be a daunting task. Planning early doesn't mean that you can't take advantage of changes that occur before the trip departure date. In fact, because you have made reservations so far in advance changing them requires less effort than starting from scratch.
Choose your destination based on the season. Depending on the time of year, some destinations are more popular than others. Learn the difference between off and on seasons. In the off season, fewer people travel to that location. It could be due to the weather conditions or availability of accommodations. Obviously, going to Hawaii during the summer months will be costly because it's the peak season there. Everyone wants to enjoy fun in the sun in a warm place during the summer. On the other hand, traveling to Switzerland in the summer is a much less crowded trip because everyone wants to get away from the cold in summer. Opting for a traditionally winter destination at this time of year could mean deals for you and your fellow travelers. Your choice of location will affect the cost of the entire trip.
Bundle your travel accommodation. So, you're traveling out of the country for a week or two. You need to get to your destination, find a place to stay, and get around once you are there. Separately, each of these requires reservations and can cost more. For instance, the hotel may be offering a deal for Tuesday to Tuesday travel but the car rental agency is only offering favorable rates over a weekend. To find the best deal on everything, consider purchasing a travel package that includes airfare, accommodations and car rental at the destination of your choice.
Do your homework. Travel agencies and other travel brokers won't tell you how to get the best deal unless they're making money off of it. To find what you need at the best price available, you will have to ask and search. Note that this doesn't necessarily mean the cheapest price. The best price for traveling isn't always the lowest one. Sometimes you have to pay a little more for luxury, but much less than it's actually worth. Check for deals on the Internet and through friends and family members. Compare pricing to see what fits in with your financial situation.
Find out who to talk to. Everyone is not authorized to make deals on your behalf. Talk to managers and supervisors to inquire about lowering prices for accommodations, rental cars, and other travel needs. Dealing directly with the main person eliminates haggling with someone who can't make a decision on your behalf. When you get a deal worked out, ask for the terms in writing as insurance against future problems.
Choose activities before you begin your travel. One money pit on a vacation is the activities and tours that you'll be engaging in. Without advanced planning for these activities, you may find yourself shelling out more money than necessary for everything. If you plan to visit France and you want to go to the Eiffel Tower, look into the cost for the entire family. Many tours cost little or no money. You might even consider grabbing a guidebook and conducting a self-tour. With advance notice, you may be able to get a discount on group tickets for museums, adventure activities and other attractions.
Pack carefully. For airplane travel, this is crucial. Luggage has a weight limit and your bags will be left behind if they exceed the maximum weight they carrier will allow. Also, carry the necessities with you. Some people choose to wait until they reach their destination to purchase deodorant and other things. But, you can't be sure of the prices on the other end. Besides, if you have these items at home, don't waste money by buying them on the destination end. The more that you can bring with you, the less you'll need to spend unexpectedly while on vacation.
Air travel
The airline industry has kept their prices fairly stable – for the time being. Therefore, traveling by air is still more cost-effective than driving.
Use online websites for the best airfare rates. Sites such as Orbitz, Priceline and Travelocity among others typically offer great deals on travel. You can save even more money when you book airfare with a rental car or your accommodations. These websites can be checked each day for changes in price. One drawback to finding airline tickets this way is that you are encouraged to book immediately. And, for discount fares, there are usually no refunds.
Fly into smaller airports. Most people typically look to travel through the major airline hubs such as LaGuardia, JFK, O’Hare and LAX, but smaller airports nearby can often lower the cost of your airline ticket. Mark it out on a map. How much farther will you need to travel from the smaller airport to reach your destination? Flying into the smaller airfield and renting a car might cost you less than accessing the major airport. A twenty minute drive is worth saving $100, isn't it?
Book your airfare early. When booking airfare for a group, getting your airline tickets well in advance can ensure that the group will travel together. For popular destination spots, booking months in advance can garner a cheaper rate.
Book your airfare late. Yes, this too can be an option. It's rare that airplanes will be full all of the time. With the price of fuel going up, it's even less likely that they'll be at capacity. To fill the airplane and make operating it more economical, the leftover seats will often go on sale. Check travel websites several times a day before your intended date of departure to find great discounts on air travel.
Check for special discounts. Airlines offer discounts for senior citizens, children, loyalty membership clubs, and for different seasons of the year. They won't tell you about some of these discounts, so be sure to ask.
Check smaller travel websites. Lesser-known websites can offer discounts that the bigger sites may have overlooked. Just be sure you're dealing with a legitimate airline that won't force you into three layovers to reach your destination.
Be flexible. You may be able to take advantage of substantial price deals if you can leave a day earlier or a day later for airline travel. If a day can save you $75 on the cost of a ticket, it's 'found' money that you can use for other travel expenses.
Car travel
Having a car is a luxury. When you feel like going somewhere, everyone can jump in the car and head out. While statistics show that it is safer to travel by air, travel by car can be more convenient. For example, you can take everything that you can fit into the vehicle. On an airplane, the luggage that you can bring along is limited. For group vacations, car travel can be fun and provide extra family time together.
Rent a car. Instead of putting wear and tear on your own vehicle, use someone else's car. Rental-car agencies make deals all the time. Ask about what they can offer you for a larger vehicle rental. Renting over a weekend usually means deals. In addition to that, any memberships that you have with membership clubs like AAA or AARP can be used to take money off the rental price of the car.
Choose to travel during the week. Traveling from Wednesday to Wednesday could prove to be a better deal than renting on Friday. Weekend rates will apply, so check to see how this will affect your total bill.
You may not need to buy additional rental insurance. Car rental agencies usually push additional insurance coverage. They play on the fact that no one wants to end up paying for a rental car that gets damaged while they're on vacation. However, many personal car insurance policies cover rentals. But, check with your insurance agent to be sure. Even if it incurs an added cost for your car insurance policy, the price will be far less than the rental-car agency will charge you. Unless you absolutely need to, don't buy the agency's added insurance.
Save cash by using your own vehicle. Traveling by car can save money. If the destination is only a few hundred miles away, consider using your own vehicle to make the trip. At least a few weeks before the trip, have your car completely checked by your mechanic. After all, the last thing anyone needs is a car breakdown on vacation. Replace tires that are getting worn, have the oil changed, check all fluid levels and replace old wiper blades. Again, if you have AAA or another travel membership, there are deals available to you for vehicle maintenance.
Booking trips
Once upon a time, we headed off to the nearest travel agency to make reservations for a trip. Nowadays, we simply boot up the computer and head to the Internet to find out about travel to Europe, Asia and within the United States. But, the Internet is not necessarily the final, all-powerful word in travel deals. Independent travel agencies are still a viable option to find great bargains for leisure travel.
Check out online travel websites several times a day. On the major travel sites, prices are subject to change at a moment's notice. Many sites offer deals on hotels, airfare and rental car options when booked together. Be sure to read the fine print to see if there are added fees associated with bundled booking. Look at more than one site and compare prices before locking into any deal.
Talk to a travel agent. Travel agents who work closely with hotels and airlines are privy to deals that don't even show up on the Internet. They can offer their customers an even better discount for off-season and holiday travel. Knowing that a many bargain-hunters travel during these times, the agents will have done their homework to put together appealing travel packages for both popular and less well-known destinations. And, with travel agent bookings, you can change your travel arrangements if you need to before the actual start date of your trip arrives. This is generally not an option with online booking, because a deal is typically non-refundable once you purchase it.
Book your accommodations directly with the company. If you do business with the hotel or rental agency directly you may be able to find deals that these service providers have not passed on to travel agencies or online companies. Additionally, companies are more accommodating with regard to changing reservations for their personal customers as opposed to someone that used a third party.
Consider other alternatives for travel. A travel agent can find deals for travel that fall outside the category of "traditional" travel. For instance, you might consider traveling by train across the country or renting a recreational vehicle. If backpacking across Europe appeals to you, then your trip just became considerably less expensive.
Hotel reservations
The biggest expense incurred on a vacation is usually the hotel accommodations. We all need someplace to rest our heads after a day of fun and adventure. But, be careful. All hotels are not what they appear at first glance to be. Don't get taken when booking your lodging reservations.
Shop online for lodging. This can be very informative (and even fun) when conducted well in advance of your trip date. Using popular travel search sites, you can find deals on luxury rooms at less than half their normal cost. Hotels that are not booked to capacity will usually offer their empty rooms for cheaper rates.
Read reviews. On many travel sites, hotel patrons are encouraged to make their opinions known at the end of their stay. Nothing sticks out more than a bad hotel or restaurant review online. It can spread like wildfire. Check the listed hotel reviews before booking there, especially for overseas travel. You don't want to get to your destination and find that your room is not much bigger than a broom closet.
Book your hotel reservations directly with the hotel. Before booking, ask about discounts and other deals that may be available. You'll typically be directed to someone in charge that can answer all of your questions before talking to a booking agent. This way, the deals will already have been hashed out with the "right" people and all that's left is to set the dates.
Cruise reservations
Cruise ships are basically floating cities. They provide amenities ranging from full gyms to spa facilities to night clubs. They are so large that you won't even feel like you're sailing on the high seas – unless you go topside and look out over the ocean. But, cruising can be expensive, unless you take the time to shop around for the fantastic deals that are usually available.
Book with a reputable agency. Many travel agents can get you a good deal on a cruise trip. For membership clubs, you'll have to book through their agents to get their available discount. Most people do not live in the city from which the ship departs. In such cases, airfare may also be needed. Look for vacation-cruise package deals that include airfare from your home city to the ship's departure port.
Watch out for hidden fees. With cruise ship travel, there may be port fees and service charges that apply but are not mentioned in the advertised price of the trip. Be sure to inquire about such fees. They can raise your per-person rate by $50 or more. After adding in the fees, check to see if the deal is really as good as it's reported to be.
Book early for large parties. Family groups often hold reunions on cruise ships. For a certain minimum number of people in your group, the cruise line can cut you a deal on the per-room rate. This will require deposits to be made to hold the rooms and ensure the discount. Booking early allows for everyone to get their money together in time to make the trip. As the months pass, check over and over again with the travel agency or cruise line reservations for additional discounts that may become available.
Train travel
When traveling, people usually consider airplanes and rental cars immediately but neglect trains. Train travel is actually affordable if you're making your way across the United States on vacation. The scenery is breathtaking; and what's more, you don't have to concern yourself with the driving. The sleeping compartments may be a bit snug for some, but train travel can nevertheless be an enjoyable experience. Most people will appreciate the fact that they're moving faster than a bus, slower than a plane, but with more head and leg room than in a car. If airplanes are not for you, look to book passage on a train and bundle the hotel and car rental accommodations.
For foreign travel, the train system is much like subway systems in the U.S. Instead of renting a car to travel around the city, use a train pass. Pick up a travel map and give it a whirl. You'll be able to see interesting parts of the city and learn your way around.
Weekend getaways
Instead of packing up the family for a week of fun, divide the time into smaller getaways. In this way, you'll be able to see more places. Weekend getaways don't cost as much and you can still find fabulous deals on accommodations and attractions. The best perk is that weekend trips are affordable all year round. There's always something to do over the weekend without breaking the bank. Check your local newspapers for listings of bus touring companies, train trips and airline jaunts to major cities for a weekend of fun and adventure.
Over the course of the year, you'll be able to pack in more of these short trips. Give each family member an opportunity to choose a travel destination. Of course, you'll still need to budget so that your mini-vacations don't get too expensive, but the family will enjoy the experience of many more places.
Leisure traveling really doesn't have to be overly expensive if you plan well in advance and keep your options open. Economical and trouble-free travel is possible when you hunt meticulously for deals. Many people don't save because they don't ask the right questions. Travel agencies and websites may not tell you their secrets without prompting, but once you make a concerted effort to dig around a bit, a wealth of travel discounts will usually present themselves.
