1. THE RIGHT TIME FOR THE RIGHT PRICE
Who knew there was a perfect time to purchase airfare, yep…it’s true! Tuesdays at 3pm EST will get you that perfect airfare for your budget! Many airlines post sales on Monday evening and usually by 3 pm on Tuesday, those cheaper fares are reflected on their sites ready to be reserved. Once you get the hang of this, it will become second nature for you to find the best flight deals.
2. DON’T PAY MORE FOR THE SAME
If you notice that the plane tickets you purchased have gone down in price… ask for a refund! That’s right, airlines or ticketing sites can offer the difference back putting money back in your pocket or toward an extra unexpected excursion. Yapta.com is a good site to track your flight…the site will notify you if your flight price goes down.
3. WAIT, I HAVE A COUPON FOR THAT
So that’s what that little box is for! Use the promotional code boxes you see when checking out on a travel site. You can save big on all things travel –be it flights, rental cars, or even hotel rooms. Check out PromotionalCodes.com or CouponWinner.com to get those codes and save -save -save!
4. TRY A TWEET TO GET YOUR SEAT
Major airlines are now linked to Twitter. Get on board and follow them for amazing deals. They often show discounts, promotional codes, share sales, with their followers. Twitter offers great deals so why not fly like a birdie…search #traveldeals.
5. NORMAL IS SO OVER-RATED
Don’t follow the norm; think about booking your trip mid-week and pay less. Booking airfare/travel Tues.-Thurs. tends to be less. Another tip is to pick less traveled times of the year, airlines raise flight prices during more trafficked times of the year. The end of January is a good time or after Labor Day and before Thanksgiving.
6. HAVE THE PLACE ALL TO YOURSELF
Make the Off-season the Peak Season! Hot destinations that are based on seasons can be amazing and much cheaper during other times of the year! Instead of skiing down the mountain or ice skating on the frozen lake, try the summertime and hike up that same mountain or canoe on that same lake now sparkling with warm rays of the sun.
7. PAY MORE SAVE MORE
Sure one can get a great deal on a super cheap flight to a popular destination but once they are there; lodging, food and excursions can be very pricey. A good tip is to book a more expensive flight to a less expensive destination allowing you to do so much more. There are many places where your money can stretch further…some examples include Peru, Costa Rica, Morocco, Thailand and Vietnam.
8. MY HOME IS YOUR HOME
There are more alternatives these days than just a hotel when it comes to finding a place to stay. Get online and start searching…great sites like Airbnb.com or VRBO.com offer different choices such as vacation rentals. Some sites like CouchSurfing.com offer free lodging; no money required just a great personality and an audacious spirit.
9. YOU BETTER CALL SOMEBODY
Often by calling the hotel or reservation center and actually talking to someone can result in a great deal. Hotels say that they post their best rates online, but calling them and negotiating or inquiring about special rates or promotional deals being offered can result in a better savings that you can’t find online.
10. THIS PLACE WAS MADE FOR YOU AND ME
Why not join a membership? Member websites can provide great deals on travel and there are many to choose from on the net. Some member sites offer up to 60% to 70% off on lodging and travel packages. Here are some sample sites: SniqueAway.com and Jetsetter.com, TripAlertz.com is like Groupon, Lifestyle sites like LivingSocial.com and Bloomspot.com offer great getaway deals.
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