There are many trade secrets in the venerable travel industry. And today's environment is especially difficult for the travel scene. With the endless increase in fuel prices and the constant threat of terrorism the travel industry has been forced to make cuts and changes. Any price hikes are invariably passed on to the consumer.
If you want to get the most of what the travel industry has to offer these days, you need to be aware of the different policies and procedures as well as their consequences. The savings will go to the educated and the persistent.
For example, you may see a nice discounted fare online, but it may not be the best choice. Check as many options as you could. There is such a thing as a volume discount fee - one of the many hidden fees travel websites stack on customers. An old-fashioned, but effective alternative would be your local newspaper's travel section.
Gas prices involved in driving long distances make flying oftentimes the cheaper option. This is particularly true of longer flights when you consider the cost of gas to drive, food and possibly hotels. Put a pencil to the numbers before you make a decision.
Another way to save would be through alternate airports. Most of the major cities in the world have at least two airports. And some of these airports can either be cheaper or more expensive to fly into and out of than the main airport. You may sometimes have to spend a little to drive to another city so you can fly out of their airport. This practice can save you hundreds of dollars. The smaller airports are usually more user friendly and offer cheaper or even free parking.
Two round-trip tickets can be cheaper than one. You just use the leg of the ticket you need, one going and one coming. While this is usually a legal method of saving airfare, there are a few airlines who are cracking down on this practice. Before you go with this option, be a hundred percent sure that the airline doesn't have any policy against this.
Caveat emptor. Where you book and buy your hotel room could determine the quality and location of the room you get. A hotel determines the room you receive based on what you paid. If you got a deep discount you could be placed in a less desirable location such as near the ice machine or elevator. They would never admit this but to avoid the situation deal directly with the hotel's website.
Insurance for your auto rental is often optional - meaning you don't need it. Check your coverage before you travel by calling your insurance provider. You are usually insured automatically if you pay for the car rental via credit card. Rental employees get a commission on insurance sold so beware of double coverage.
Last minute deals on airlines and hotels can save you a bundle but you must be flexible. Both parties can benefit from something here, because an empty seat is a waste of money in itself. You can get information on these last minute deals by doing quick Internet searches or signing up for email updates.
Travel services can sometimes be quite saddening with their (no pun intended) lack of service. It pays to be a well-informed and proactive traveler if you want to save a huge chunk off your travel costs.
If you want to get the most of what the travel industry has to offer these days, you need to be aware of the different policies and procedures as well as their consequences. The savings will go to the educated and the persistent.
For example, you may see a nice discounted fare online, but it may not be the best choice. Check as many options as you could. There is such a thing as a volume discount fee - one of the many hidden fees travel websites stack on customers. An old-fashioned, but effective alternative would be your local newspaper's travel section.
Gas prices involved in driving long distances make flying oftentimes the cheaper option. This is particularly true of longer flights when you consider the cost of gas to drive, food and possibly hotels. Put a pencil to the numbers before you make a decision.
Another way to save would be through alternate airports. Most of the major cities in the world have at least two airports. And some of these airports can either be cheaper or more expensive to fly into and out of than the main airport. You may sometimes have to spend a little to drive to another city so you can fly out of their airport. This practice can save you hundreds of dollars. The smaller airports are usually more user friendly and offer cheaper or even free parking.
Two round-trip tickets can be cheaper than one. You just use the leg of the ticket you need, one going and one coming. While this is usually a legal method of saving airfare, there are a few airlines who are cracking down on this practice. Before you go with this option, be a hundred percent sure that the airline doesn't have any policy against this.
Caveat emptor. Where you book and buy your hotel room could determine the quality and location of the room you get. A hotel determines the room you receive based on what you paid. If you got a deep discount you could be placed in a less desirable location such as near the ice machine or elevator. They would never admit this but to avoid the situation deal directly with the hotel's website.
Insurance for your auto rental is often optional - meaning you don't need it. Check your coverage before you travel by calling your insurance provider. You are usually insured automatically if you pay for the car rental via credit card. Rental employees get a commission on insurance sold so beware of double coverage.
Last minute deals on airlines and hotels can save you a bundle but you must be flexible. Both parties can benefit from something here, because an empty seat is a waste of money in itself. You can get information on these last minute deals by doing quick Internet searches or signing up for email updates.
Travel services can sometimes be quite saddening with their (no pun intended) lack of service. It pays to be a well-informed and proactive traveler if you want to save a huge chunk off your travel costs.
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