Budget Friendly Travel Tips

Budget travel may not be your cup of tea, but, with economy giving everyone a rough time, travelers are looking for more pocket-friendly means of travel. Here are some tips and tricks on planning as well as taking your next trip:

1. Grab hotel deals

In an effort to increase their bookings, many popular hotel chains are offering travelers significant deals. Fairmont hotels, for example, has slashed rates as much as 20 percent at more than 50 of its properties through April 15. Other hotels are also offering discounts such as free nights and savings packages. You’ll find the greatest values in destinations such as Las Vegas, Hawaii, Florida, the Caribbean, and Mexico—places where tourism plays a vital role and rooms need filling.

2. Earn rewards for being a loyal customer

Most loyalty programs, including those of Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and Wyndham have eliminated blackout dates for points redemption, so you can get free nights even during peak season.

3. Choose an all-inclusive package

Whether its hotels or cruises, choosing an all-inclusive package can mean significant savings. And there are some great bargains to be had out on the water right now. Crystal Cruises, for example is offering perks, such as stateroom upgrades and discounts as much as $2,000 on penthouse rooms on some Asian sailings.

4. Stay at rented house or apartment

For significant savings—and more square footage for your dollar—consider staying in a privately owned apartment or house on your next trip. Rental apartments and homes gives you that extra privacy and space that you don’t get a typical hotel room that too at lower rates.

5. Use your Flyer miles

This is the year to make use of your miles that you have accumulated over the past. With fewer people taking to the skies, your chances for redeeming miles could potentially increase. Most airlines start selling flights 330 days out, so using your miles as far in advance as possible increases the likelihood of getting an award seat. And if a flight isn’t full approximately two weeks before departure, the carrier will turn to frequent-flier customers to help fill the plane.

Handy Survival Tips for Extended Stay Traveler

When people travel, they need a place to stop for the night. Those who travel for business regularly tend to have favorite hotels in many different parts of the nation. Extended Stay hotels are the best options for travelers who need to stay at a place for a week or more. But spending too many nights away from home can really take its toll on a traveler. Once you spend more than a week or so in a hotel room, you start to get antsy. So, here are some handy extended-stay survival tips, just in case you find yourself stuck in a generically-decorated box for any length of time.

Spacious Extended-Stay Hotel Room

Space matters: Try to get the largest room, preferably suite that you can afford. Staying long at a place might make you feel wanting some more space to move around. So treat yourself to as much space as possible.

Ask for lots of extras: To make yourself feel at home, you can make special requests to the hotel manager to provide you some basic necessities. Ask for a refrigerator. A DVD player can help break the boredom. There may be a small charge for some of these items, but it will most likely be worth it.

Keep it clean: You may be a slob at your house, but you should be neat as a pin in your hotel room. A messy room is will also make you feel that the room is too small.

About that dirty laundry: Many hotels offer laundry and dry cleaning service, but it’s often not great. You can take help of the hotel employee to find out the nearby dry cleaner that does a better job. If you don’t like other people washing your clothes, then just carry some extra clothes.

Keep some privacy: If you don’t want strangers traipsing in and out of your “house” every day, just leave the ‘Do Not Disturb’ on the door and flag down or call a housekeeper when you want to get the room cleaned.

You’re not on permanent vacation, so watch what you eat: Most of us love to eat the hotel food but maintaining your weight is equally important. Take the time to go to a local market and get some fruits and veggies, low-fat string cheese, healthy cereal and unsalted nuts (you can use the refrigerator to store them). Use the hotel’s gym, or get a guest pass to one nearby.

Get out! Just go out and visit places of you interest: Try a new bar or restaurant. Visit an eclectic museum. Grab a map and go for an aimless drive. Take the kids to a park.

Travel Tips: Fend Yourself to Save on Travel

Fending Yourself

With services and amenities that were once routine but now accruing surcharges by the minute travelers need to fend themselves more than before. As airlines continue to drop more flights and hotels adding hidden fees to your bills, you need to be extra careful before planning for your next trip. Here are some tips that will help you plan wisely and avoid those hidden pitfalls.

1. Confirm your flights
With airlines making unpublicized and even unannounced flight cuts all the time, it is easier and cheaper for the airline simply to deal with a few unhappy travelers and perhaps pay for a few nights at a hotel than it is to notify and rebook an entire flight. So, it is best in your interest to check periodically to make sure your flight is still flying.

2. Consider actual final pricing
With so many surcharges now in play, the final cost of ticket is much more than you think you’re paying.

3. Give yourself more time
Airlines are cutting staff, which means there will be less number of people to keep you moving through the airport and thus longer lines, fewer people to help you with problems and slower progress through the airport. This means now you have to reach the airports much early than before.

4. Know luggage rules by airline
Check the airline site carefully and take note of the extra baggage charges or pack lightly to lighten your load.

5. Weigh your bags at home
If you take the time to weigh your bags before you leave, you can redistribute the contents such that you pay less or nothing at check-in.

6. Pack lighter, and let the hotel pick up the tab
Instead of packing (and paying for) some items, you can obtain them from your hotel at check-in.

7. Bring your own entertainment
Try to bring your own headphones for the in-flight entertainment system and save money.

8. Skirt surcharges
Prepare for and figure out ways to beat the surge of surcharges by knowing where to find them

9. Bring your own connection
With hotels now charging $10/day fee for Internet access and Wi-Fi, its better to bring your own PDA’s and portable computers on longer trips.

10. GPS your car (or phone)
GPS system in your car can come in extremely handy to avoid getting lost in the wrong neighborhood. If you will not be driving around much, skip the GPS system, but consider your own GPS device or GPS-enabled phone.

11. Use the phone for research, not booking
Booking flights on phones can cost you $10-$30 but researching flights without booking won’t cost you anything.

12. Clip coupons
With rising travel costs, finding ways to save money is essential. You can search online on coupons sites offering free travel coupons or check out the site you are booking with for discounts or money saving coupons.

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Tips for Avoiding Hidden Hotel Fees

Researching for Hidden Hotel Fees

Hotels these days charge travelers of some extra fees which they might not be aware of. The most common fees includes the charges providing airport shuttle, Bellhop/housekeeper gratuities – often known as the service charges, Cancellation fees, Internet charges, Parking, Taxes and other local charges. Here are a few tips to help you avoid these hidden charges:

Do Your Research
Except the taxes, it might be difficult to find out which fees will be charged at a particular hotel or resort before you book. Most of the fees mentioned above is not listed on the hotel sites. So, be sure that you search multiple sites for a better idea of what exactly you’ll pay.

Ask Ahead of Time
Call the hotel and ask what fees will apply to your stay — and whether any of them can be waived ahead of time. Instead of calling the 800 reservations number, call the hotel directly and note the names of any staff members you speak with and which fees they agree to waive.

Don’t Tip Twice
Before you leave a tip for your housekeeper, make sure the hotel isn’t already charging you a housekeeping gratuity fee.

Stock Up
Bring your own snacks and resist the temptation of the minibar of edible “gifts” the hotel offers.

Use Your Cell Phone
Hotel telephone charges can be pricey, so, it’s better to use your own cell phone.

When in Doubt, Ask
Before using the hotel gym, or an extra towel at the pool, ask for any charges, if applicable.

Allow Plenty of Time at Checkout
Don’t just sign the hotel bill in a hurry. Allow yourself plenty of time to check the charges and dispute any that seem unfair.

Know Your Rights
Federal law requires that all hotel fees be clearly disclosed. This usually happens in the fine print — so read the terms and conditions of your reservations agreement carefully.