May 2008
Save while traveling
You can tighten your belt and still take a vacation this year. Here are some ways to save money on your next trip.
Know when to fly. Compare prices for a variety of dates and departure times. Several travel Web sites—including Expedia, Kayak, Orbitz, and Travelocity—provide booking calendars that allow you to compare prices by altering your travel times. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are generally the least-expensive days to fly. Sundays are the most expensive for domestic travel, and Saturdays are the costliest for international travel. The time of your flight is a factor as well. On Southwest Airline’s site, we found a one-way fare from Baltimore to Chicago for just $65 for a 9:10 p.m. departure, while five hours earlier the cheapest ticket cost $153, or $88 more.
Time your theme park visit. If you’re flexible—especially if you’re traveling with either very young kids or no kids—consider visiting after the peak summer season. A three-day hotel and Park Hopper package at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., costs $1,402 during the last week of August for a family of four, but drops to $1,240 just one week later. And several Florida theme parks—including Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and SeaWorld Orlando—offer 10 percent off advanced bookings for those visiting between Sept. 3 and Dec. 20.
Contact hotels directly. Forget the toll-free reservations line. Many chains are independently owned or managed, so calling the property itself can net you savings. Even corporate-owned hotels often give on-site employees leeway to negotiate. If the hotel won’t budge on the rate, try asking for a complimentary add-on, such as breakfast or parking. And don’t forget to inquire about discounts for senior citizens, government employees, military personnel, and members of AAA or AARP.
Look for deals on rental cars. You can save by renting your vehicle at a location other than an airport, where rates usually are higher. Find out whether your insurer or credit card covers you for any damage. If so, you can decline the rental company’s collision insurance. Search online for discount coupons. Take advantage of discounts for AARP or AAA membership and deals for union members or employees of major companies. And gas up before returning the vehicle. If the rental company fills the tank, you may end up paying two to three times the price at the pump.
Know when to fly. Compare prices for a variety of dates and departure times. Several travel Web sites—including Expedia, Kayak, Orbitz, and Travelocity—provide booking calendars that allow you to compare prices by altering your travel times. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are generally the least-expensive days to fly. Sundays are the most expensive for domestic travel, and Saturdays are the costliest for international travel. The time of your flight is a factor as well. On Southwest Airline’s site, we found a one-way fare from Baltimore to Chicago for just $65 for a 9:10 p.m. departure, while five hours earlier the cheapest ticket cost $153, or $88 more.
Time your theme park visit. If you’re flexible—especially if you’re traveling with either very young kids or no kids—consider visiting after the peak summer season. A three-day hotel and Park Hopper package at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., costs $1,402 during the last week of August for a family of four, but drops to $1,240 just one week later. And several Florida theme parks—including Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and SeaWorld Orlando—offer 10 percent off advanced bookings for those visiting between Sept. 3 and Dec. 20.
Contact hotels directly. Forget the toll-free reservations line. Many chains are independently owned or managed, so calling the property itself can net you savings. Even corporate-owned hotels often give on-site employees leeway to negotiate. If the hotel won’t budge on the rate, try asking for a complimentary add-on, such as breakfast or parking. And don’t forget to inquire about discounts for senior citizens, government employees, military personnel, and members of AAA or AARP.
Look for deals on rental cars. You can save by renting your vehicle at a location other than an airport, where rates usually are higher. Find out whether your insurer or credit card covers you for any damage. If so, you can decline the rental company’s collision insurance. Search online for discount coupons. Take advantage of discounts for AARP or AAA membership and deals for union members or employees of major companies. And gas up before returning the vehicle. If the rental company fills the tank, you may end up paying two to three times the price at the pump.
