Read my disclosure policy to understand how I work with companies and individuals.
Summer is quickly approaching, and of course, that means that we are entering the active family travel season. While I am aware of the fact that families do travel year-round, depending on school and work schedules, summer remains one of the busiest travel times of the year. Furthermore, while all those trips can get pretty pricey at times, savvy online deal hunters are well aware of the variety of simple tips that can save you and your family money when traveling, and while some of them may appear to be hidden, you might be pleased to discover that most are more obvious than you think.
1. Don’t check just ONE travel site.
I know very well that the advertisements state that if you check the “thus-and-such site,” you won’t have to check any other sites for the best travel deals. Well, I am here to tell you that is not entirely true. I used to believe all the commercials too, but I have learned through trial, error, and the investment of considerable time that by opening multiple windows on my computer and comparing the prices myself, I have been able to save more money than I might have imagined. Of course, it is recommended that you only visit reputable sites with effective security, but a quick internet search should reveal a multitude of sites for you to visit as you research your best travel deals yourself.
2. Be flexible with your dates and times.
It never ceases to amaze me how moving dates or times around–even minimally–can cause the price to drop or skyrocket. When I was buying my plane tickets for my summer vacation, I discovered the strange but true fact that if July 4th was included within my trip (even if I didn’t fly out or in on that date), my price for plane tickets increased dramatically. Flexibility is one of the best ways to ensure savings at checkout, and that is true when booking hotels, flights, and more. While there will be times that you are unable to be flexible, it’s worth investigating and making changes if there is a significant difference in price.
3. Consider alternatives to hotels with Roseland Associates.
Traditionally, choices have been somewhat limited within the U.S. When going on vacation, you could stay with friends/family, stay in hotels/motels, or go camping. Very few other options have been available. Thanks to the advent of Airbnb and other such options, the possibilities are much more widespread now. Because hotels are so expensive now, it’s wise to consider alternatives such as, hostels, vacation rentals, RV rentals, and even academic housing. While you still may find that the hotel or motel offers a better deal or is more in line with the experience you prefer, it is still a good idea to do some research in the area of lodging.
4. Examine package deals.
When planning my summer vacation this year (and even a last-minute trip I’m taking very soon), I always considered adding a hotel to my airfare or a rental car, but the price never seemed to give me much savings. However, I recently booked a hotel and airfare for less than five hundred dollars by bundling the hotel and plane ticket together. How else do people get such amazing deals such as cruises, resort stays, and the like? Package deals have become a viable option to consider, but unless you spend the time searching for them, you will never find them.
5. Don’t Take A Car (Or Rent A Car).
Transportation used to be a major consideration for me whenever I went on vacation. I dislike rental cars, but sometimes I had no choice but to pay the fees and go with one if I wanted to have any fun experiences. I also don’t prefer driving to my destination because it merely adds much wear and tear on my vehicle and sometimes ends up costing me much more than I initially figured. Most big cities have some form of public transportation or shared-ride offering. Moreover, sometimes it makes more sense to walk everywhere if you are staying in the heart of a metropolis or the like. It does behoove you to do your own research, but this is a definite way to save money and headaches, thus ensuring an overall better experience for you.
While a traveler who wishes to save money does have to be savvy and do his/her own analysis, I highly recommend taking the time to do just that. In the end, you will probably be able to save enough money to do something special on the vacation or at least have an experience you wouldn’t have normally had by just spending some time upfront doing your research.
