20 Tips to Travel Cheaply and Find Affordable Deals
1.Learn how to cruise the world for free by being a group leader on your own mega event at sea.
If you have your own niche and a following, we’ll show you how to be the guru at your own fun group event... sailing to exotic ports while the leader
and your guests network…instead of some stuffy hotel room. During a recent marketer’s cruise there were five mastermind and showcase sessions
during a 7 day cruise. The sessions were 3 hours each while the ship was at sea. There is plenty of time for fun on the ship and the group leader lets
the travel agent make all the arrangements. E-mail [email protected] for more information.
2.Book a cruise while you’re on a cruise.
Each cruise line has their own policy, but they usually give onboard credit between $100 and $400 when you book your next trip while you are still on
board. There are other perks they might allow as well, such as certificates for family or friends to get the same offer.
3. Wait for last minute deals.
If you have a flexible schedule, you may get a good deal at the last minute. Cruise lines do not directly market cheaper cruises. They sell them
through other providers. However, airline tickets usually get more expensive the closer you get to the date of travel.
4. Travel in the off season.
This may be the easiest way to save money on a vacation. For example, consider visiting Florida in summer and Paris in the Fall. It’s easier to find a
good deal then because there are fewer bookings and companies are eager to strike a deal. Avoid Spring Break, Thanksgiving and December
holidays.
5. Flying time.
The best deals on vacation flights are in January and February, and on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
6. Attending a time share presentation often lands you a couple of free days at a resort. Most companies advertise getting prizes
if you attend a 90 minute presentation. However, the presentations have a way of going over the 90 minutes. It is your right to say that we only
signed up for 90 minutes, and we have other plans when the 90 minutes is up. Again, read the fine print as many time share companies only
present to couples. If your significant other is not in the mood to go to a presentation, you will not be eligible for the prize. If you have a fax, you will
get a lot of deals faxed, but you usually have to sit in on a time share presentation.
7. Pre-plan and try to book your ticket in advance-at least three weeks (21 day advance). Advance booking equals great deals. Of course you
may get e-mails from carriers who at the last minute have some give away ticket prices. But for the most of us, we prefer a more casual approach to
our booking instead of taking a chance on getting a last minute deal.
8. Apply for credit cards and get free miles.
Go to creditcards.com to see a comparison of several different cards. You can earn frequent flyer miles or rewards points when you travel or
when you spend. The frequent flyer miles or rewards points can be redeemed for airline discounts or free nights at participating hotels. If you are a
frequent flyer or travel a lot, an airline or travel credit card could help save you money. Several cards waive the first year’s fee. Also, you may get
priority boarding, no bag fees, and 0% interest for several months.
9. Pay additional fees so that you can easily change your ticket with no penalties.
I often recommend this since we tend to book our flights well in advance and this gives you peace of mind for just a few more pennies. Also, you
never know when there will be bad weather, an emergency, missed connections, or illness that causes trip cancellation, interruption, or delay.
10. Check airlines for extra charges. Southwest airlines allow for two free bags and also has no change fees. This can save
enormous amounts of money. Some of the smaller airlines such as Spirit charge for everything including your carry-on bag. Bag and cancellation
fees vary by carrier.
11. Dodge those fees. Avoid "foreign transaction fees" for overseas purchases. Check out special credit cards that waive those fees at websites
like CreditCards.com and CardHub.com. Make sure the benefits aren't outweighed by high annual fees or interest rates.
12. Use Discounts: AAA and AARP give travel discounts. They may allow discounts on hotels, entrances into parks, as well as tows. It is well worth
the membership fee. Also, there are many places with coupons including Entertainment and hotel websites. Any time you book, always ask if there
is a way to get a discount. Many employers also have discount programs.
13. Use a discount dealer such as Luxury Link to save on accommodations. Sometimes you will find a deal, but it may be non-refundable.
It is always good to look at the fine print.
14. Craig’s List has some good travel deals. Often timeshare owners sell their weeks at very discounted rates.
15. Park perks. The America the Beautiful senior pass for $10 provides a lifetime entry to 2,000 national parks and recreation sites.
16. Feeling adventurous? Consider a visit to CouchSurfing, Hospitality Exchange or Servas International, online sites where you can find people who
host visitors in their homes for free.
17. Look for alternative accommodations. If a hotel is out of your budget and you don’t mind sharing basic accommodations with others, a
youth hostel can be the perfect solution. You can also rent an apartment to save money on meals, go camping, or swap homes with other
travelers.
18. There are a few organizations that have programs with reduced fees that include housing, three meals a day, travel insurance coverage,
airport pickup, in-country orientation and some tours. You usually have to provide your own transportation to the country, personal expenses, and
visa (if required). The requirements usually are: Min age 18, speak English, good physical fitness, full medical insurance, and immunizations. Each
program has a different age restriction. There are specific programs for teens and seniors. Also, the time you are required to spend in the country
varies by program. GoEco is one of the organizations that work with volunteers in many countries.
19. Travel to Teach is an international volunteer organization that links volunteers from all over the world with grassroots community projects in South
East Asia and Central America. The two regional head offices are in Thailand and El Salvador. It strives to lower costs and provide affordable
programs that most travelers can afford.
20. Be aware of discounted fares on the internet. By the time you factor in taxes and fees they generally can run higher than getting the price direct
from the airline website or travel agent.
If you have your own niche and a following, we’ll show you how to be the guru at your own fun group event... sailing to exotic ports while the leader
and your guests network…instead of some stuffy hotel room. During a recent marketer’s cruise there were five mastermind and showcase sessions
during a 7 day cruise. The sessions were 3 hours each while the ship was at sea. There is plenty of time for fun on the ship and the group leader lets
the travel agent make all the arrangements. E-mail [email protected] for more information.
2.Book a cruise while you’re on a cruise.
Each cruise line has their own policy, but they usually give onboard credit between $100 and $400 when you book your next trip while you are still on
board. There are other perks they might allow as well, such as certificates for family or friends to get the same offer.
3. Wait for last minute deals.
If you have a flexible schedule, you may get a good deal at the last minute. Cruise lines do not directly market cheaper cruises. They sell them
through other providers. However, airline tickets usually get more expensive the closer you get to the date of travel.
4. Travel in the off season.
This may be the easiest way to save money on a vacation. For example, consider visiting Florida in summer and Paris in the Fall. It’s easier to find a
good deal then because there are fewer bookings and companies are eager to strike a deal. Avoid Spring Break, Thanksgiving and December
holidays.
5. Flying time.
The best deals on vacation flights are in January and February, and on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
6. Attending a time share presentation often lands you a couple of free days at a resort. Most companies advertise getting prizes
if you attend a 90 minute presentation. However, the presentations have a way of going over the 90 minutes. It is your right to say that we only
signed up for 90 minutes, and we have other plans when the 90 minutes is up. Again, read the fine print as many time share companies only
present to couples. If your significant other is not in the mood to go to a presentation, you will not be eligible for the prize. If you have a fax, you will
get a lot of deals faxed, but you usually have to sit in on a time share presentation.
7. Pre-plan and try to book your ticket in advance-at least three weeks (21 day advance). Advance booking equals great deals. Of course you
may get e-mails from carriers who at the last minute have some give away ticket prices. But for the most of us, we prefer a more casual approach to
our booking instead of taking a chance on getting a last minute deal.
8. Apply for credit cards and get free miles.
Go to creditcards.com to see a comparison of several different cards. You can earn frequent flyer miles or rewards points when you travel or
when you spend. The frequent flyer miles or rewards points can be redeemed for airline discounts or free nights at participating hotels. If you are a
frequent flyer or travel a lot, an airline or travel credit card could help save you money. Several cards waive the first year’s fee. Also, you may get
priority boarding, no bag fees, and 0% interest for several months.
9. Pay additional fees so that you can easily change your ticket with no penalties.
I often recommend this since we tend to book our flights well in advance and this gives you peace of mind for just a few more pennies. Also, you
never know when there will be bad weather, an emergency, missed connections, or illness that causes trip cancellation, interruption, or delay.
10. Check airlines for extra charges. Southwest airlines allow for two free bags and also has no change fees. This can save
enormous amounts of money. Some of the smaller airlines such as Spirit charge for everything including your carry-on bag. Bag and cancellation
fees vary by carrier.
11. Dodge those fees. Avoid "foreign transaction fees" for overseas purchases. Check out special credit cards that waive those fees at websites
like CreditCards.com and CardHub.com. Make sure the benefits aren't outweighed by high annual fees or interest rates.
12. Use Discounts: AAA and AARP give travel discounts. They may allow discounts on hotels, entrances into parks, as well as tows. It is well worth
the membership fee. Also, there are many places with coupons including Entertainment and hotel websites. Any time you book, always ask if there
is a way to get a discount. Many employers also have discount programs.
13. Use a discount dealer such as Luxury Link to save on accommodations. Sometimes you will find a deal, but it may be non-refundable.
It is always good to look at the fine print.
14. Craig’s List has some good travel deals. Often timeshare owners sell their weeks at very discounted rates.
15. Park perks. The America the Beautiful senior pass for $10 provides a lifetime entry to 2,000 national parks and recreation sites.
16. Feeling adventurous? Consider a visit to CouchSurfing, Hospitality Exchange or Servas International, online sites where you can find people who
host visitors in their homes for free.
17. Look for alternative accommodations. If a hotel is out of your budget and you don’t mind sharing basic accommodations with others, a
youth hostel can be the perfect solution. You can also rent an apartment to save money on meals, go camping, or swap homes with other
travelers.
18. There are a few organizations that have programs with reduced fees that include housing, three meals a day, travel insurance coverage,
airport pickup, in-country orientation and some tours. You usually have to provide your own transportation to the country, personal expenses, and
visa (if required). The requirements usually are: Min age 18, speak English, good physical fitness, full medical insurance, and immunizations. Each
program has a different age restriction. There are specific programs for teens and seniors. Also, the time you are required to spend in the country
varies by program. GoEco is one of the organizations that work with volunteers in many countries.
19. Travel to Teach is an international volunteer organization that links volunteers from all over the world with grassroots community projects in South
East Asia and Central America. The two regional head offices are in Thailand and El Salvador. It strives to lower costs and provide affordable
programs that most travelers can afford.
20. Be aware of discounted fares on the internet. By the time you factor in taxes and fees they generally can run higher than getting the price direct
from the airline website or travel agent.
