With temperatures soaring, we’re all looking for ways to escape the city. But add up the costs of airfare, hotel rooms, and meals away from home and even a short trip can take a real toll on your finances. Here are some tips that can help you save money on your summer vacation.
Airfare
Plan your vacations in advance. While there are some Websites – like www.hotwire.com and www.priceline.com – that can offer cheap last-minute deals, the selection is small. A better bet is to book your travel at least 21 days prior to your departure, when the lowest airfares are generally available.
Shop around, and be flexible with your itinerary. Many travel websites will allow you to search a day before and a day after your original request (some even allow searches within a range of days).
Additionally, if you are willing to travel into and out of different airports you can save even more money. On most travel sites, you can search for fares traveling from Baltimore Washington International (BWI), Washington Dulles International (IAD), and Reagan National Airport (DCA), by using the code for the region: WAS.
Don’t forget to look for alternate airports at your destination, too. The difference in fares between flying into Oakland Airport (OAK) as opposed to San Francisco (SFO) can be quite large.
Hotels
With the many travel websites available, it’s easier than ever to look around for the best deals. Search engines can help you find hotels that fit a wide range of needs, including your budget, and proximity to a specific attraction.
If you are traveling over the weekend, try booking a room at a business-oriented hotel. Many of these places will offer special weekend rates, because otherwise their rooms would sit empty.
Car Rentals
Shop around for the best deal but also consider the credit card that you use to pay for your car rental. Many credit card companies offer collision-damage waiver (CDW) insurance standard if you use their card to pay for the entire car rental bill. This can save you from having to purchase additional CDW insurance from the car rental company (and can save you up to $12 a day). Check your credit card’s policy before you travel (this is also a great tip if your trip requires travel insurance; many credit card companies automatically offer travel insurance if you pay for your trip using their card).
Food n’ Fun
Set a budget for what you are willing to spend on extras before you get to your destination, and then stick to it. Decide how many sit-down restaurant meals you can afford versus how many grab-and-go meals. And if you’re staying at a hotel that offers breakfast as part of the room, don’t oversleep and miss out on the savings of getting your first meal of the day free. Set a limit on the travel “mementos” you will pick up. And don’t pay the “tourist mark-up” for anything you can bring from home—resorts and hotels at your destination will charge a lot more for that little bottle of sunscreen than your local drugstore does.
Remember Your Membership
Finally, make being a member pay. If you are an AARP or AAA member, you can often receive discounts on hotel rooms, car rentals, or other travel-related services. When in doubt, ask. One word of caution, though—the reduced member rate isn’t always the best rate you can get. As with all other travel arrangements, shop around and look for the best deal.
