Travel Tips
Staycations are the rage for many this summer, but if you’ve decided to pack your bags for vacation, there are still some good ways to save money. Here are a few to keep in mind.
First, remember that air travel and ground accommodations and transportation focus a lot on supply and demand. If you have flexibility in flight arrival and departure, you’re likely to save a few bucks. Midweek and Saturdays are usually cheapest travel times, but it pays to play around with online bookings to get the lowest rates possible. Many hotel chains are offering 3-for-2 sales and other specials. Those that target business travelers often drop their rates on weekends. Work the phones and your computer in advance of your trip to find the best bargains and consider packaging combinations of air, ground and hotel through one vendor to drive rates lower. Another trend made increasingly popular by the web is home and apartment accommodations. Sites like craigslist often have several listings from folks who are willing to loan you their residences for a short stay. And if you’ve decided to get away and don’t care where you’re going, get on the email lists of the discount online travel agencies, or visit sites like lastminute.com here for destinations at below market rates.
What to do when you’ve arrived at your vacation spot? You’d be surprised at the number of attractions that offer discounted tickets or free activities. AOL Travel has assembled a comprehensive list of free attractions here. Their site also includes links to dozens of convention and travel bureau websites, which are also great resources to help you find fun experiences on an affordable budget.