Archive for September, 2009
Finding Cheap Hotels: 8 Tips
The cost of your lodging is going to be the most expensive thing you purchase on a vacation after airfare. If you can find a better hotel deal, you will be able to splurge more on other aspects of the vacation. Start with the basics when you are looking for a good rate.
1) Ask the hotel
Just asking the hotel directly can easily get you hundreds of dollars in savings. Ask about promotions, deals for AAA members or seniors, and how the hotel would recommend saving money. Especially in a recession, hotels want your business. If you tell them you need a better deal, they may just work with you to make that happen.
2) Shop around and track quotes
The Internet makes it very easy to track and compare quotes from a number of hotels. You can check sites like Hotels.com and Expedia.com daily, and you can even set up alerts for when the price of a hotel drops below your budget. If you’re not willing to do this, consider contacting a travel agent. Often, the fees you pay to book through an agent will be only a fraction of your savings.
3) Make price a priority
If you are flexible on all points but price, you will save the most money. Don’t get set on a specific hotel property. Instead, set your budget, and make this your only criterion. You may have to rough it a little more than you would like. But, its worth it when you can enjoy a better dinner each evening.
4) Skip the 800 number
Look for the contact information on a hotel’s actual site. The 800 number that you may be using through the hotel owner (aka Hilton, Hyatt, etc) is often to an agent who does not have the most information. You can call the branch of the hotel to speak with a local manager and usually find a better deal.
5) Book last minute
If you’re willing to wait until the last minute to book you’ll find the prices go down. This is only really a priority if you are driving to your destination. Otherwise, you may find yourself very stressed come the day before your expensive plane flight. Making your booking options really flexible helps you keep price as the #1 criterion.
6) Celebrate flexibility
Don’t go when you want to go, go when the price is low. You may have to travel in the off season to do this. Most locations have a lot of advantages in the off-season though, not the least of which is less crowds and cheaper air fare.
7) Book your hotel with your plane ticket or rental car
Travel agents and booking agents are happy to offer incentives for you to package your purchase. These companies have usually negotiated these deals with the hotel. They have done the legwork for you, and you can take advantage of this if you are willing to book all at once.
Buy local
Avoiding large hotel chains can save you money and add charm to your trip. You may find better service and accommodations at a local inn than you will at a large hotel. Read reviews online to determine which location is most in line with what you need. Remember: hostels are a great option for budget travelers.
Number One Travel Cost Factor: Destination
The biggest factor that will affect how much you spend on you trip is where you are going. This may seem like common sense, but there is a lot that goes into the cost of destination when you are considering traveling to a specific city. Many people think that Europe is always expensive and Mexico is always cheap, but this is only when the two places are evaluated on a limited range of factors. When you determine where you are going, think of all the criteria going into the decision.
Public Transportation
Public transit is the way of the world for budget-conscious travelers. European cities are notorious for well-developed public transit systems that even run between cities and between countries. This means a person can get from Paris to Milan with relatively low cost. It may require several stops and transit changes along the way, but it is doable, and it is cheap. The same goes for traveling the northeastern seaboard of the US. Getting from New York to Boston to Philadelphia to D.C. is relatively inexpensive. Hopping from San Francisco to LA to San Diego will cost you.
Free Activities
The number of free activities in a large, developed cities may compensate for higher travel and room rates. New York, for example, has expansive public parks and sight-seeing opportunities for those who are interested. Boston, similarly, is rich with historical sites viewable at no cost whatsoever. Traveling to Mexico, however, typically means a charge to even use a restroom at most public locations. Even if the charge is small, it can often add up.
In-Room Kitchens
Dining in will save hundreds of dollars over the course of a vacation week. Even having a kitchenette where you can serve breakfast and lunch is key to keeping expenses down. In-room dining options increase when you stay at family-friendly hotels as opposed to more luxury rooms. These hotels understand the high cost of feeding a large group and offer well-stocked kitchens on most occasions. Hotels in extended-stay locations may also be a better option than resorts. Try looking for a time share rental to get the most options out of your immediate room.
Dietary Restrictions
When you travel to a third world location in particular, it is important to understand that dietary restrictions may force you into high-end restaurants. These restaurants cater to tourists who cannot stomach the local food. Tourist-specific locations are always more expensive because vacationers are more apt to spend money on the whole. Staying away from tourism centers will save you. However, if you are unable to be in the mix with street food or local restaurants, you may not have a choice.
Exchange Rate
Exchange rate is often overlooked but is a major contributing factor to the cost of a trip. Choosing to go to locations where you can get a favorable exchange will allow you to spend more lavishly. You will be able to afford higher-end dinners than if you go to a place where the exchange rate is one-sided in the opposite direction.
Cheap Travel Rules to Live By
When you are trying to save money, it is critical to make rules and stick to them. It is easy to to set rules aside on a whim when you find a great restaurant, a long line at the bus stop, or a deal on designer clothing while you are traveling Europe. Even with the best of intentions, though, a cheap traveler will be thrown off course if there are not strict rules about when and how money can be spent. These are some rules cheap travelers live by.
Take Public Transit
City buses and trains are simply the cheapest way to get around, whether you are in New York or New Delhi. When you opt for a private cab you are agreeing to spend a 200% to 300% mark up just to avoid sitting with other people. Cabs are often more direct, cleaner, and more convenient. However, when you take the indirect bus route as an adventure, you will see this option is no worse than taking a taxi cab. Using public transit will give you a good feel for the city or countryside, wherever you happen to be traveling. It will also often save you from getting swindled by local taxi cab drivers who take advantage of unknowing tourists.
Eat Street Food
Street food has culture and flair; it is often the truest indication of a country’s culinary heritage. Street food is not for the weak of stomach, however. If you have specific dietary needs, be sure to travel with trail mix, granola bars and other high energy snacks. Even candy bars can be a life saver. The last thing you want to do is spend a high price for a bottled water and some chips at a news stand. It is best to avoid sitting down at a table, as well, where tips and drink costs, even for soft drinks, can add to the price of the bill.
Rely on Cash
Take out only the cash you will need each day from a local ATM. If you are traveling abroad and afraid there will not be ATMs or will be high ATM fees, take travelers checks. Carry only the amount you intend on spending that day plus a little extra for emergency. Using a credit card can put you easily into the rhythm of spending too much on the trip and intending on paying it off later. If you are in the US, most banks will have ATMs throughout the city you are traveling to. You may even want to take out a small amount of cash before dinner to keep yourself from splurging on a pricey meal.
Practice Patience
If you are patient when you travel, you will save big. This means everything from watching plane ticket prices to waiting in line for free attractions. Going on vacation with a set schedule will make you subject to the swings of the prices at the attractions you are visiting at any given time. By maintaining your flexibility, you can allow prices to dictate everything from when you travel to where you go.
Tags: cheap travel advice, cheap travel rules, traveling with cash
