Dont assume that your job is done after you have completeda thorough review of your cheaptravel options, including cheap airplane tickets, cheap fares, cheapdeals, discount hotel rooms, cheap auto rentals, discounttravel deals, and cheap vacation packages. There are plenty of inside travel tips thatcan make your trip all that more enjoyable.
A savvy budget traveler does more than just mean save money. He/she also travels in the smartest,most stylish way possible. The followingare some of the best money saving travel tips out there, according to RebertFirpo-Cappiello:
Researchyour destination and decide how close you want to be to a citys major attractions. Make certain that a good hotel price does notcome with a time wasting long distance schlep every day.
Insteadof getting hung up on trying to figure out the best day to purchase airlinetickets, buy your airline tickets about two months prior to departure. You are likely to access the cheapest pricesby booking early in a week, when airlines often adjust fares. Follow all major airlines on social media,sign up for their rewards programs, and subscribe to their free e-newslettersto gain access to the inside track on deals.
Pickup your rental car early as possible because the early birds often more likelyto be given free upgrades.
Reserveyour cruise either early or late. Makinga cruise reservation six months to a year out usually results in a greatprice. That early, the supply is high,and demand is relatively flat, usually resulting in cheaper prices. Alternatively, a few weeks prior to a cruisedeparting, cruise lines sometimes scramble to fill empty rooms and offer evencheaper prices.
Makeyourself familiar with resort fees. Ifyou think the resort fees at a particular resort are too high, then shoparound. If staying at an all-inclusiveresort, find out what beverages are included.
Dependingon the size of your travel party, check out vacation rentals. A rental home that comfortably sleeps fiveand comes with a full kitchen is likely to be much more comfortable than ahotel room and will save you money on food.
Doyour best to take public transportation. When visiting any major city, such as New York, London or Paris,learning the routes and pricing systems of light rail, underground, and bussystems can save you lots of time and money compared with renting, paying forgas, and parking a car.
Mostmuseums are free. Even museums thatcharge a fee typically offer free hours each week and a free day eachmonth. Do a little advanced research andtake full advantage of everything a museum has to offer on a given day. Find out when there is a guided tour, ahands-on class for kids, or evening hours when the museum is much quieter thanduring the day.
Lookinto national and state parks. Comparedwith any other vacation spot, our national and state parks offer greatvalue. While there is usually anadmission price per car, wildlife, trails, ranger talks, evening presentations,and junior ranger programs tend to be free.
Try toreserve package deals that include airline tickets, and hotel stays, as well asa car rental if you need one. Airlines,hotels, and car rental agencies are sometimes willing to steeply discount theirinventory instead of seeing it go unused. By comparing a package deal to booking airfare and hotel separately, youwill find that the package is almost always meaningfully cheaper.
Packlike a pro to save money on baggage fees. Pack early to avoid being in a panic mode, and pack matching tops andbottoms (rolled not folded), as few shoes as possible, and wear your heaviestlayers on the plane. When in doubt,leave it home.
Speakup if you are traveling on a honeymoon, celebrating an anniversary, or gettingengaged. By mentioning your romanticstatus to flight attendants, waiters, and hotel managers you may be pleasantlysurprised and provided complimentary wine, upgrades and other goodies.
Beopen to visiting small (populations under 20,000) towns. Whether you can appreciate a warm welcome, avibrant main street, local craft beer, cutting edge galleries, or tasty localmeals, Americas small towns offer some of the finest and most affordablevacations around.
Rememberthe adage Ask and ye shall receive. Ask for a free upgrade. You neverknow what might be available. The sameapplies to asking for late checkout, complimentary breakfast, and othernegotiable perks.
Alwaystravel with a smile. By being nice to abeleaguered airline representative, that person might make a big difference inhow your day goes.
Makeyourself familiar with travel insurance. Before departing check all of your existing insurance policies todetermine if you will be covered where you will be traveling, including health,auto, and any possessions (which are sometimes covered by home ownersinsurance). If you will be reserving apackage tour or cruise, understand the cancellation policy, and make aninformed decision whether paying a small premium is worth it if you believethere is a chance you will cancel.
If youare traveling with children, keep them busy. Travel with plenty of activities, games, art supplies, andpatience. License plate bingo and I Spyhelp keep kids occupied on long drives. The fun of playing together, instead of having children lose themselvesin a tablet screen, is priceless.
Rememberthat seniors have more fun, often in part because of the discounts offered topeople 55 and older.
Make apoint of getting your shots. In additionto T-dap, measles/mumps/rubella, and annual flu shots, check into the healthrisks of your destination. A travelclinic can provide vaccines for serious risks such as typhoid and hepatitisbefore visiting a developing region.
Considergoing road tripping. Some of the besttrips are to be had on Americas highways.
Learnyour homes One-tank escapes: locales within a two-hour drive from yourhome. For most Americans, suchdestinations include gorgeous parkland, cool small towns, food you wont findat home, and often the kind of surprises that most of us travel for.
Learncultural etiquette. Dont visit McDonaldsin Rome or wear an Im With Stupid T-shirt to a museum of tolerance. Learn how to say hello, goodbye, please, andthank you in your destinations language. Avoid embarrassment by learning a cultures body language, and gestures,food customs, and tipping.
Travelwith credit cards that do not charge overseas transaction charges. While you should not rack up credit cardcharges that you can not pay off after returning home, certain credit cardspartner with airlines or travel companies to provide reward points, mileage,free upgrades, free baggage checks, and more.
Thefastest way through airport security is by signing up for TSAs Pre-Checkprogram, which enables pre-approved fliers to bypass much of airport securityfor a more efficient arrival at their gates.
Knowwhen and where to drink the water. Waterand food safety is a concern in most parts of the world. When traveling outside the U.S., Canada,Europe, and Australia, there are many countries where tap water should beavoided, including ice cubes and mixed drinks unless you are at a resort. Remember when in doubt, drink only bottledwater or other bottled beverages, and do not eat fruit or vegetables unless youpeel them yourself. Avoid street foodunless the food is hot out of the oven and the cart is free of flies.
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