| Having a little flexibility and common sense can save | | | | people, this is a wonderful option. |
| you a great deal of money on your vacations. The | | | | 4. Learn your way around the travel sites. Examples |
| competition for your vacation dollar is fierce and this is | | | | are Travelocity.com, Hotels.com, and This knowledge |
| good for you. Think of it this way, every day cruise | | | | will pay off is saving you hundreds (or thousands) of |
| lines, hotels, car companies, restaurants and more are | | | | dollars. Travel sites have become very user friendly. |
| competing to get new customers. | | | | You can do many "What if Scenarios" to find the best |
| You are in the driver's seat to get great deals if you | | | | times to travel and the lowest prices. |
| do your homework are flexible and know where to | | | | 5. Last minute deals. Flexibility and spontaneity are key |
| look. Here are some of the top things to do to get a | | | | here. When a hotel, or cruise, or airlines has to fill |
| great vacation and slashing your costs in the process. | | | | bookings they would rather have a paying customer |
| 1. Travel during the off or shoulder season. Many | | | | (even if it is less), than no customer at all. If you can |
| people travel during the peak season and pay peak | | | | get up and go on a moments notice and be extremely |
| prices. On the off season you can save 20-50% in | | | | flexible where you are going, there are some dynamite |
| many cases on airline tickets, hotels and more. A great | | | | deals. |
| compromise is the shoulder season. It is between the | | | | 6. Purchase a good guide book. Guide books pay for |
| high and low season. The rates are better than the | | | | themselves many times over. Look for one with |
| high season, and the weather is usually good as well. | | | | detailed maps, things to do, insider tips, history, great |
| Note: Be careful of traveling during potential inclement | | | | restaurants, hotels, shopping, nightlife and more. Many |
| weather times of the year. For example, if you are | | | | times I will purchase two guidebooks to get different |
| traveling to the Caribbean, be cautious of the hurricane | | | | perspectives on an area. |
| season. Make sure you check what happens if you | | | | These books are full of money saving tips and things |
| get caught in bad weather. | | | | that shouldn't miss. Consider Frommer's guides. I have |
| 2. Tours - Tours are a great way to get a | | | | used several of them and have been very pleased. |
| Smorgasbord of different areas of the world. Because | | | | There are other good ones as well. |
| they are a package deal, prices are frequently less | | | | 7. Purchase an Insiders secrets book -Disneyworld |
| than if you booked everything yourself. I have been on | | | | Disneyland, cruises and certain other vacations have a |
| several tours over the years to Europe, China, on dive | | | | wide array of prices and hidden costs. Purchasing an |
| trips and more. They make a lot of sense for certain | | | | insiders guide can save you hundreds if not thousands |
| vacations. | | | | of dollars! |
| For example traveling in China would be difficult | | | | 8. Book early to get great rates. By booking early you |
| without a tour due to language and custom barriers. | | | | have the advantage of checking rates over a period |
| Another example is dive tours. A trip to the Great | | | | of time and jumping on the best rates when they |
| Barrier Reef on a tour makes a lot of sense for | | | | appear. |
| safety, and companionship reasons. | | | | Today you can be staying at a hotel, or sitting on an |
| 3. Cruising - Cruising is an inexpensive way to see an | | | | airplane where the person next to you has exactly the |
| area of the world you are not familiar with. The costs | | | | same arrangements, but paid half as much (or twice |
| start extremely cheap and stay that way if you are | | | | as much). The savvy traveler who is willing to do the |
| careful! Your room, food, great locations, entertainment | | | | right research does best on prices. |
| and more are included in cruise packages. For some | | | | |