Category: Money Saving Tips

How to Find The Best Travel Deals

1/16/2020

There's so many things that you can do to save money when you travel. However they change frequently. I'm here to give you the most recent information on travel deals.

First I'd like to talk about getting the best price on airfare.
There are three websites that will give you the best prices:
Skiplagged.com
Momondo.com
Skyscanner.com

Hide Your Identity.
It is important that you hide your identity. You can do this by using different browsers, clearing cookies, going incognito, or even using a different computer. It's amazing how much we are tracked. The system knows when you've been looking at the prices. If you go into a site often looking at the same flight, they may raise the price for you as an individual.

The time you purchase travel is important.
Studies show that if travel is booked on Sunday and it is 4 weeks before travel, you save 17%.
Don't book on Friday. It'll be approximately 12% higher.
Fly on Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday for leisure.
These are averages, so of course, there will be times when these are not the best prices. But on average this is the rule to follow. These statistics came from the Airline Reporting Corporation, ARC. They say if you book five weeks in advance this is best for you. Discounts actually start 6 weeks. But don't wait until 2-3 weeks before your trip, because prices start to spike.

Destinations where you will find travel deals.
Number one is Tahiti. There is a direct flight from LA to Tahiti, and when this started airfares dropped 20%. Keep in mind land portion of your trip is still going to be expensive but the air went down.
One of the places to go when you're there is the Austral Islands. People don't know as much about these islands but they are beautiful. You can get a guest house with a cottage and pay about $50 a night.

Matera, Italy
This is located on the heel of Italy. This city is known because it was built on a system of caves. This is where Mel Gibson's movie Passion of Christ was filmed. They even have hotels and restaurants in some of the caves. There are no crowds and there is very good service. A lot of places there is a problem with over tourism. The Chinese travel the most. Make sure that you avoid the Chinese New Year's when you're traveling.

Portugal
Parque Nacional Peneda-Geres in Portugal is under-explored.
Estrada Nacional 2 also known as the Route 66 of Portugal is an exciting and scenic journey in the heart of the country. The road is paved and crosses four mountain ranges, 11 rivers, and 29 towns.
Portugal was one of the richest countries in the 1700s because of the explorers. They had a golden age. At some point this stopped but what you want to do now is go visit and enjoy the beauty of this area. It is 20% cheaper than most Western European countries.

Tour Finders websites that can help you find the best deals are”
Stridetravel.com
Tourradar.com
You'll find tours available, where they go, and prices. They give enough details that you can evaluate what you are looking for, how much time you want to spend, and what price you want to pay.

Day Trips Tours
There are several tour companies on websites that have many tours for a location. Sites include ToursbyLocals.com, and AirBNBExperiences. They may be a little bit more expensive than if you go directly to a tour operator. However, it will take a little time to find the operator directly. If you have the time, book your tours direct.

Food
There are few websites including
Travelingspoon.com
Foodytrip.com
Airbnb.com/experiences.

Happy Wanderer Trips
If you want to get away for more than just a week or two, you might think about some of these options.
Workaway.com. You work 5 hours a day for room and board. The rest of the day you can do whatever you want.
WWOOF.org
VaughanSystems.com
With Vaughansystems.com, you go there to speak another language. This is good for all ages, and it is good way to learn a language. Usually it's just a two-week invitation.

Living in Another Country for Cheap
Check out Flexjobs.com or Remotely.com.

Rentals
AirBNB.com.
However be very careful when you book on them because some of them add huge cleaning fees to the price. There's also lots of fraud on AirBNB. Make sure that you get travel insurance if you are booking on AirBNB. Keep in mind that if you put a deposit down on a place on Airbnb and you have to cancel, you don't get the deposit back. That is why it's very important to get travel insurance.
Other sites are
flipkey.com
vrbo.com
zander.com.

Home Exchanges
Homeexchange.com
Guesttoguest.com
CultureGoGo.com

The fun about an exchange is that you meet a lot of people. For example on a trip I took, I stayed in a very nice house in a small village. Every day someone could came and say hello, how are you. The neighbors just wanted to know if I had any questions. Of course people do that because they want to make sure they're checking up on you. Keep in mind that it will take you a while to set this up. There are a lot of emails that go back and forth.

Follow Disasters
Bahamas.
There were two or three islands that were devastated by the hurricane, but many of them are fine including Nassau.
Dominican Republic
It got a bad rap when the news came out with stories about the number of vacationers that were dying there. Keep in mind that people die on vacation all the time. It has been verified that the people that died, died of natural causes. It is safe to go to the Dominican Republic.

Sales
Look for sales. There are many different ones going on all the time.

If you have questions, don't hesitate to ask. That's what I'm here for.
Judy Peterson
https://www.PetersonTravelPros.com or
e-mail: [email protected]

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25 Hidden #Travel-Fees

8/9/2019

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There are always unexpected fees that come up during a vacation. It is best to always
try to build some extra padding into your budgets, to cover additional expenses and unforeseen costs, but more and more I’m noticing that the travel industry is gradually adding fees on services that used to be complimentary.

Here are are some of those fees.

Booking Your Flight
1. Reservation
When you book online, you actually save the travel companies time and money. Because of this, when you choose to call and speak with a live agent, they’ll often charge you for the personal attention. For example, American Airlines charges an extra $10. United, JetBlue, and Southwest all charge for offline reservations as well.
2. Refund
If you book through a third party and need to rebook within 24 hours, you may be charged a reschedule fee. Whereas, if you book directly with the airlines and need to make a change within 24 hours, there is no fee. If you’re spending a significant amount on airfare, it may be worthwhile to purchase trip insurance, to protect you from wasting the money if an illness, lost luggage, fender bender, or personal emergency ruins your vacation.
3. Miles
Frequent flyer programs seem to offer great deals, but they’re not so great if you have to pay extra fees for your flight. A lot of this has to do with taxes. Make sure when you are booking a free flight, you check out the taxes you have to pay before you book. There is a big difference in them and you may be able to get by with less, if you choose a different airport to fly into.

At the Airport
4. Bag Fees
Make sure you know the charges as each airline is different. Some airlines charge more for a carry on than they do for a checked bag. Southwest allows two free checked bags.
5. Overweight Baggage
If you must check a bag, you can save an average of $50 per bag by avoiding the surprise of an overweight baggage fee. Just weigh your luggage before you leave, and you’ll save time and money at the checkout counter. Again, check your airline restrictions. Some international flights only allow 44 lbs.
6. Exit/Tourist Fee
When traveling home from Costa Rica I had to pay a $10 exit fee that I wasn’t aware of. Other countries also ask for this. Make sure you know all the regulations before you travel.
7. WiFi
If you need WiFi to get some work done in-flight you will have to pay. However many airports offer free WiFi, but it may not be secure.

Your Rental Car
8. Rental Insurance
Taxi and bus fares can add up quickly, so while a rental car may sound like a costly choice, it’s often the best way to save money on longer trips. While the “per diem” rental quote should include taxes and fees, many renters make the mistake of purchasing additional insurance when they’re already covered.
Pro Tip: Rental car companies offer expensive insurance policies, but most credit cards provide collision coverage when you pay for your rental with your card. Also, place a quick call to your car insurance provider to find out if your policy covers rental car claims in addition to your personal vehicle. However, if you use your own insurance, they will count this as a claim against you. Also, if you use credit card insurance, their rule is that if you have car insurance, you have to use that first.
9. Age
Drivers under the age of 25 used to be barred from renting a car at most companies. Now, rental companies let drivers between the ages of 21 and 25 rent – and charge them more money for their age. The rate is usually a $20 to $30 daily surcharge, since that age bracket statistically gets into more accidents than any other group. Drivers between the ages of 18 and 21 will experience even tougher restrictions and higher surcharges.
10. Extra Driver
If you are traveling with a group and you know there will be multiple drivers, a rental car company can charge you up to $30 per day for the additional driver, supposedly to cover insurance costs for the extra person. However, some companies allow husband and wife as no additional charge. It pays to check around.
11. Alternate Drop-Off
Are you planning to drive your rental car from one city to another? Especially if you’re not starting or finishing at an airport, you’ll probably pay extra to drop off the vehicle at a different location.
12. Extra Fees
Some charge $8/gallon if your car is not full when you return. Also, they might ask if you want to add toll fee coverage. Again this is your decision. It depends on the number of tolls you'll be going through.

At the Hotel
13. Resort Fee
Believe it or not, many hotels will charge what is known as a “hotel resort fee” upon checkout. Often, this fee will be an extra 10% per night. Thus, even if you have already prepaid through a site like Expedia or TripAdvisor, you will have to pay an extra 10% when you checkout. It’s essentially a higher nightly rate, hidden in the fine print.
Pro Tip: Read the fine print, and remember that all hotels mustdisclose this fee upon booking. Make sure to consider the fee when you decide if this hotel indeed offers a reasonable rate.
14. Water
Some hotels furnish a bottle of water a day for free, but not all of them do. Make sure you ask before you drink.
15. Parking
If you drive to a hotel with a rental car from the airport or on a road trip directly from home, you may have to pay a valet or parking fee. Unlike hotels in rural or suburban areas, city hotels may add a garage or valet fee because parking is limited in high-traffic areas.
Pro Tip: Make sure to ask about parking accommodations before you book the hotel. Sometimes valet parking in a private hotel lot is cheaper than at a nearby garage or with street parking.
16. Luggage Storage
Most hotels will ask you to check out at noon or even earlier, but if you want to explore the area in the afternoon, you might have to pay to keep your bags at the hotel. Even if this isn’t a formal fee at nicer hotels, it’s customary to tip the concierge or bellhop on a per-bag basis.
Pro Tip: When you check in, ask if you can have a late checkout, and if they say no, ask again on your last morning at the hotel anyway. Ask if they’re expecting to fill the room later that day, and if they’re not, they’ll probably let you keep your things in the room, especially if it’s not a peak travel time.
17. Fitness Center
The standard hotel fitness center has a stationary bike, a treadmill, and some hand weights, but if you’re staying in a swankier place, the fitness center may come with a high-end gym. Be wary of the nicer fitness centers; some hotels are charging a daily fee to cover operation costs.
18. Energy
Hotel guests can expect to pay about $4 a day in energy surcharges. But some hotels charge well beyond this rate. Caribbean resorts and hotels, for example, tend to take advantage of this surcharge. Atlantis in the Bahamas charges up to $12.95 per adult per day.
Pro Tip: For longer stays, these fees can add up quickly. Don’t be afraid to negotiate, especially if it’s the off-season. Call ahead and ask for a better rate on the room if they won’t budge on the energy surcharge.
19. ATMs
I was staying at a hotel and was in a hurry, so I just used the ATM in the lobby. The fee was $3.50 to use the ATM, and then my bank charged me another $2.50 for using a machine outside the network. I ended up paying $6 for the convenience. Hotel ATMs can charge higher ATM fees to capitalize on hurried travelers like me.
Pro Tip: If you think you’ll need cash, plan ahead and bring some with you. When you’re out and about, keep an eye out for your bank’s ATM.

On a Cruise
21. Port Fees
When I tried to book a cruise directly through the cruise company, I clicked through to make my reservation, only to see an additional $200 added on to the total price. I wasn’t surprised to see a list of various taxes, but I didn’t expect to see a port fee. When a cruise ship docks at a port of call, they’re charged a port fee, which the cruise line passes on to travelers. These fees are government-imposed and vary based on destination.
Pro Tip: Port fees vary by destination, and they’re usually included in the cruise fare. But if you’ll be going with a smaller cruise line, double check to make sure these fees are actually included.
21. Built-In Gratuities
Did you think that the un-priced drinks at dinner were free and the margarita you bought at the bar was already paid for? Think again. Many cruise lines add a 15% gratuity fee to beverages, even if it wasn’t served to you by the waitstaff. If you get a free prepaid drink package, check to see if gratuities are included. Most of the time they are extra.
Pro Tip: Bartenders usually expect tips, so the gratuity fee is reasonable, but if your cruise line charges a gratuity fee, keep it in mind before you slip even more cash into the tip jar.
22. WiFi
In most hotels, Internet is available in your room and it’s usually free. However, connectivity is tougher on cruise ships. You’ll usually find separate business centers with a wired Internet connection, available for use at $1 or so a minute.Connections off the ship are usually much faster and cheaper.
23. Laundry
If your cruise lasts more than a few days, you might need to do laundry. The higher-end cruise ships will offer dry cleaning at several dollars a shirt, and you’ll be charged by the pound (or the bag) for room service laundering.
Pro Tip: Sometimes you just have to do laundry. But you can certainly lighten the load if you pack plenty of undergarments and clothes with wrinkle-resistant fabric.
24. Shore Excursions
Even all-inclusive cruises don’t include your expenses during shore excursions. If you’re looking forward to an adventure-filled vacation of kayaking, snorkeling, or sightseeing, don’t overlook the cost of tour operators. Make sure you know what you need to pay for.
A dollar or two here may not seem like a big deal, and even a twenty dollar fee there might just sound like something you have to tolerate. But guess what? You don’t.

Traveling Internationally
25. Foreign Transaction Fees
Before traveling outside of the country, it can often be beneficial to check whether the credit cards that may be used during the trip charge foreign transaction fees. Some cards do not tack on this additional charge, and it might benefit a credit card holder to attain one such card if they plan to travel beyond their home nation. Another important consideration is a currency exchange fee. While abroad, exchanging currency can generate additional costs as well.

With a little planning and research, you can avoid many of the fees I listed above. Perhaps more importantly, you can at least get rid of the surprise and build some of these more imposing costs into your initial budget. Needing to pay an extra $50 in port fees, for example, is far easier to take if you’ve saved for it over a few months, rather than getting slapped with it in the middle of a trip. In the end, you can’t get out of all of these expenses, but you can adjust your plan accordingly. Being aware of hidden costs that may accumulate while on vacation can reduce surprises and overspending for consumers across the country. All that’s left to do is to pack those bags!

Contact Judy Peterson at Peterson Travel Pros for help with planning a trip.

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9 Tips to Help You Plan For #Travel After You Retire

4/6/2019

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Travel is at the top of 83 percent of Baby Boomers’ bucket lists. You have time, energy, and a travel budget. But you want to be wise about how you spend your travel dollars. Maybe you've been dreaming about that luxury trip, but I suggest that you make a 5 year plan. Where do you want to go in the next 5 years and where will the money come from.

One of the first things to talk about is taking full advantage of savings options including catch-up contributions to IRAs and 401(k)s. That is critical in creating a nest egg,” said Chief Financial Analyst Greg McBride of Bankrate.com
Travel expenses may need to be funded from those savings. You should actually preplan for retirement trips before you retire. Start putting money away for your dream vacation before you retire. If you haven't saved during your working years, using your fixed income after retirement might be tight.

Second is to think about other options you have to reduce travel expenses.
--One of those things is to use credit card credits. If you have a lot of points on your credit cards use them to book flights or hotels.

--Don't hesitate to express interest in gift cards if asked what you want for a present. VISA has nice gift cards that you can use on anything. Experiences are one of the most fulfilling gifts you can have.

--Work with a travel agent. They have a lot of experience and can help you plan a trip within your budget. Great experiences can be affordable for almost anyone. Even retirees with fixed incomes are able to find a great vacation with no compromise on quality.

--Travel in the off season. The off seasons are the times that are not holidays or when kids have time off from school. The best times to travel are February, March, and Sept- November. It is not only less expensive but also less crowded.

--Know your limits. Plan a vacation that meets your energy needs. Fit in travel during the early years of retirement when health and mobility might make travel easier.

--Think about who your travel companions are. Build relationships with people that will be good travel companions. Maybe you like traveling by yourself. There has been a surge in solo travel in recent years. However, it is nice to travel with someone that you can share your experiences with later. But don't fear, often times solo travelers form close friendships with their group members that enrich their lives and future travels
-Consider cruising. Cruising offers many choices, from river cruises in Europe, Asia, and South America, to ocean cruises just about anywhere in the world. Nearly all-inclusive with most details planned ahead, the ability to visit many places easily, onboard entertainment, quality dining, and specialized themes. Cruises are attracting more travelers each year.

--Consider all-inclusive resorts. Similar to cruises, they offer daily entertainment, quality dining, optional activities such as yoga or dancing, and optional excursions. No need to pack up and move from place to place. Everything is available to you in one spot.

The bottom line is that planning for a vacation takes a lot of planning Plan with your financial adviser, travel agent, and friends and family. Don't leave it to the last minute. A dream without a plan is just a dream..

Check out more tips on how to save for a vacation.

For more help, contact me at https://www.PetersonTravelPros.com

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4 Steps to Help You Save For a Vacation

4/2/2019

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Saving for a vacation starts with your mindset. You may think it is too expensive to go on a vacation or to go on a certain type of vacation. But if you have the right mind set, you can save. I've got a few steps to help you. Everything you have in your life is a result of your belief in yourself and your belief that it’s possible. We've been so conditioned throughout our lives to doubt ourselves. It takes a little discipline, but you can do it.

Here are the four most important steps to learning how to do many things

Believe it’s possible. Believe that you can do it regardless of what anyone says or where you are in life.
Visualize it. Think about exactly what your life would look like if you had already achieved your dream.
Act as if. Always act in a way that is consistent with where you want to go.
Take action towards your goals. Do not let fear stop you, nothing happens in life until you take action.

These are the basics.

If you want to go on a luxury trip, it may take a while to save up. However, have a don't overspend mindset and you will save more than you think you can.

Here are some examples.

When you have errands to run, batch them. My grocery store has a bank and mail area. I can do grocery shopping, banking, and mail my letters on the same trip. If you are lucky, you may be able to buy gas at your grocery store as well. You'll save gas by making only one trip to do three different tasks.
Don't buy that cup of coffee on the way to work. Make a cup before you leave for the office.
Don't buy magazines or books. Read magazines while you are waiting for appointments, and get your books at the library. You not only save money, you have less clutter around your house and save a few trees.
Skip the concert or play that you want to go to. Sometimes you have to visualize your trip over and over again to be able to pass on something you'd really like to do to get the long term goal of a vacation. But it is really worth it.
Eat at home. Eating out can cost a lot of money. Take your lunch to work.
If you still need more money,you can always sell something on line. Don't hesitate to use the apps Nextdoor or Facebook Marketplace to market your items.
Use a travel agent to help you find the best deals. Agents know when deals are available and give great advice.
Instead of having your own phone plan, connect with family or friends and share a plan.

Start Planning Now.
If you need help planning a vacation, check out https://www.PetersonTravelPros.com

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The Top 5 Frequent Fyer Programs

2/27/2019

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Airline loyalty is hard to come by.
Most travelers choose credit cards based upon the number of free miles they get when they apply for the card. Keep in mind that there are several crucial things you need to consider. Some of them include the number of miles you earn per dollar spent, interest rates, and what airlines you use the most. You may also get other perks with your card including free memberships to AARP, discounted Global Entry, and free entrance into the airline lounge. Also some credit cards offer travel insurance or insurance on products you purchase. If those things are important to you, make sure you read all the details.

Roughly 7% of flights are paid for with points or miles, according to PWC. So there’s obviously value in committing to a carrier. You just have to find the right one.
To help you earn more free flights and other assorted perks, WalletHub compared the 10 largest domestic airlines’ loyalty rewards programs across 23 key metrics, ranging from the value of a rewards point or mile to blackout-date policies.
Here are the best frequent flyer programs:

Delta SkyMiles
United Airlines - Mileage Plan
JetBlue Airways - TrueBlue
Southwest Airlines - Rapid Rewards
Hawaiian Airlines - HawaiianMiles

Key Points to Remember When Selecting a Program
Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways are the only two major airlines whose miles do not expire because of inactivity.

8 of the 10 largest airlines do not have blackout dates for tickets purchased with miles.

5 of 10 major U.S. airlines will retroactively credit loyalty program members with miles for a flight up to 12 months after the fact.

7 of the 10 largest U.S. airlines allow rewards program members to earn and redeem miles with partner carriers.
Delta Air

*The following airlines do not have frequent flyer partnerships with other airlines: Southwest, Spirit and Sun Country.

Airline miles cost an average of 61% more than they’re worth when purchased rather than earned.

*Sun Country Airlines does not sell miles.Back to Top
Detailed Scoring for 2019’s Best Frequent Flyer Programs

Other Options
Keep in mind that if you are not loyal to one airline, you might want to use a non airline affiliated credit card. Cards such as Capital One let you accumulate miles that you can use on many different airlines. The other nice thing about these cards is that you don't have to have the total miles to cover a trip. You can book the trip and then use the credits you have to pay off what ever portion of the trip you like. They are good for any type of travel including tours and cruises.

To help you figure out the best frequent flyer program for you, visit
1FREQUENT FLYER MILES CALCULATOR 2MAIN FINDINGS 3DETAILED SCORING
4ASK THE EXPERTS 5METHODOLOGY Frequent Flyer Miles Calculator

From: Custom Calculator Feb 27, 2019 | Alina Comoreanu,

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5 Money-Saving Smart Phone #Apps for Your Summer Travel

2/16/2019

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As you get ready to embark on your own summer vacation, here’s a quick list of smartphone apps that can help you get organized, find great deals, and save you money along the way.

Waze – Whether your trip involves a lot of road travel, or you just want to find a faster way to get to places in your own city, consider Waze. Recently purchased by Google, it uses social media input to give real-time updates on traffic situations. So, for example, if there’s a game downtown in the city you’re visiting, as you’re trying to navigate that same area to get to a restaurant, Waze will let you know where the jams are so you can avoid the tangle and the time (and fuel) wasted waiting for game-goers.
GasBuddy – GasBuddy is another app that takes advantage of the constant updates and interaction of crowdsourcing. People input gas prices and keep an eye out for low prices, so users can quickly and easily search for gas stations nearby and compare prices to ensure the best deal in their area.
TripIt Travel planner - This is a great tool to use in partnership with your travel agent! Reservations, tickets, events, meetings, personal gathering with friends or family — you can basically have all the important details of your trip at your fingertips, all in one convenient place. You know all those confirmation emails that you get from hotels, airlines, car rental services and the like — the ones you frantically search for in your Inbox the night before you leave on a vacation? Your travel agent can simply send all these emails along to [email protected], which will then magically generate a digital itinerary that you can refer to on your mobile device. It also provides weather info and maps of your destinations. You can add multiple trips to TripIt if you're a frequent traveler, or just use it for a single vacation. TripIt was awarded Best Travel Mobile App for 2011 at the Webby Awards. All the services described above are free, or you can upgrade to a paid version for even more cushy service and alerts.
Around Me — Ever find yourself in an unfamiliar city, and you just want a decent cup of coffee or a place to buy an extra toothbrush? This application tells you all the points of interest that are located near you. It detects your current location, and lets you select from categories like bars, cafés, hospitals, pharmacies, and hotels to filter though the results.
Road Trippers — This is a fun travel tool made for the iPhone as an app, but that is also available via mobile web so you can use it with Android, Blackberry, and other smartphone platforms. Here’s how it works: you type in your starting and destination points and it tells you distance, time and estimated gas costs. This is great for day trips — think of a great tour of Napa while staying in San Francisco (or vice versa!). While the distance-finding feature in itself isn’t necessarily groundbreaking, RoadTrippers goes one better and tells you about all of the attractions worth seeing along the way, from the obvious to the wonderfully ridiculous.

There are tons of apps to explore, of course, and this is just a glimpse — but these should add some fun and help you plan and save a few dollars. Once we’ve worked together to plan your awesome summer vacation, give these apps a try and let me know how it goes!

For More Money Saving Tips

Click Here for Money Saving Tips

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How to Find The Best Travel Deals

25 Hidden #Travel-Fees

9 Tips to Help You Plan For #Travel After You Retire

4 Steps to Help You Save For a Vacation

The Top 5 Frequent Fyer Programs

5 Money-Saving Smart Phone #Apps for Your Summer Travel

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