The travel business has its own share of secrets and can be quite elaborate. And today's environment is especially difficult for the travel scene. With the endless increase in fuel prices and the constant threat of terrorism the travel industry has been forced to make cuts and changes. Pity the consumers who have had to go through the numerous increases in fare.
If you want to get the most of what the travel industry has to offer these days, you need to be aware of the different policies and procedures as well as their consequences. You can potentially save a lot of money by taking good time to review every option available.
Discount deals are found on the internet but they're not always the best. Check as many options as you could. There is such a thing as a volume discount fee - one of the many hidden fees travel websites stack on customers. An old-fashioned, but effective alternative would be your local newspaper's travel section.
Gas prices involved in driving long distances make flying oftentimes the cheaper option. This is especially true if you're flying a long distance - a similar car trip would cost more due to the costs of survival and lodging. Put a pencil to the numbers before you make a decision.
You can save by booking at alternate airports. There are quite a few well-known cities with multiple airports. Some are cheaper to fly into and out of than others. There would be times, though, that you will have to drive to the next city to save some money on airfare by booking at their airport. You could find yourself saving hundreds off your travel costs. The smaller airports are usually more user friendly and offer cheaper or even free parking.
One classic tactic that might save you money is buying two round-trip tickets. All you'll be using would be the leg of the ticket you need, with one outbound and one incoming flight. The airlines may have wised up to this practice, but for the most part, it still can be done and is often legal. Before you go with this option, be a hundred percent sure that the airline doesn't have any policy against this.
Caveat emptor. The quality of your hotel room could greatly depend on the place where you book it and buy it. When choosing your room, hotels would base it on the amount of money you paid. If you got a deep discount you could be placed in a less desirable location such as near the ice machine or elevator. Read between the lines when checking the hotel's website, and watch for any hidden or purposely-vague clauses that may refer to this.
Car rental insurance is usually unnecessary. Check your coverage before you travel by calling your insurance provider. If the car rental is covered by a credit card, then usually insurance applies automatically. Car rental employees earn hefty commissions by convincing customers to get insurance - so you might get covered twice.
Last minute deals are a great way to save a lot of money, but you need to make the necessary adjustments. Empty seats or vacant rooms bring no revenue so it's a win-win situation for both parties. Keep tabs on these by signing up for e newsletters or search the web.
Travel services today are rarely complimentary. If you are aware of the different options on how to save, you just might get lucky.
If you want to get the most of what the travel industry has to offer these days, you need to be aware of the different policies and procedures as well as their consequences. You can potentially save a lot of money by taking good time to review every option available.
Discount deals are found on the internet but they're not always the best. Check as many options as you could. There is such a thing as a volume discount fee - one of the many hidden fees travel websites stack on customers. An old-fashioned, but effective alternative would be your local newspaper's travel section.
Gas prices involved in driving long distances make flying oftentimes the cheaper option. This is especially true if you're flying a long distance - a similar car trip would cost more due to the costs of survival and lodging. Put a pencil to the numbers before you make a decision.
You can save by booking at alternate airports. There are quite a few well-known cities with multiple airports. Some are cheaper to fly into and out of than others. There would be times, though, that you will have to drive to the next city to save some money on airfare by booking at their airport. You could find yourself saving hundreds off your travel costs. The smaller airports are usually more user friendly and offer cheaper or even free parking.
One classic tactic that might save you money is buying two round-trip tickets. All you'll be using would be the leg of the ticket you need, with one outbound and one incoming flight. The airlines may have wised up to this practice, but for the most part, it still can be done and is often legal. Before you go with this option, be a hundred percent sure that the airline doesn't have any policy against this.
Caveat emptor. The quality of your hotel room could greatly depend on the place where you book it and buy it. When choosing your room, hotels would base it on the amount of money you paid. If you got a deep discount you could be placed in a less desirable location such as near the ice machine or elevator. Read between the lines when checking the hotel's website, and watch for any hidden or purposely-vague clauses that may refer to this.
Car rental insurance is usually unnecessary. Check your coverage before you travel by calling your insurance provider. If the car rental is covered by a credit card, then usually insurance applies automatically. Car rental employees earn hefty commissions by convincing customers to get insurance - so you might get covered twice.
Last minute deals are a great way to save a lot of money, but you need to make the necessary adjustments. Empty seats or vacant rooms bring no revenue so it's a win-win situation for both parties. Keep tabs on these by signing up for e newsletters or search the web.
Travel services today are rarely complimentary. If you are aware of the different options on how to save, you just might get lucky.
