Tips on Making Travel More Affordable
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Although purchasing cheap fares, whether cheap airplane tickets and discount hotel rooms or cheap vacation packages is a smart way to plan for a trip there are additional ways to save even more money when traveling.
The following are other suggestions:
Airfares tend to be most expensive on weekends. The cheapest day to purchase tickets is usually Tuesday because many sales begin Monday night and competitors usually match them by Tuesday morning.
A day pass to an island resort often is cheaper than paying ala carte for activities on a Caribbean island. If going on a cruise, reserve your own excursions before you sail to avoid more expensive outings offered onboard.
If you are a senior, save on ski passes by checking with clubs such as the "Over the Hill Gang International" and the "70+ Ski Club." The Internet can help you find senior ski clubs.
Many cafes and restaurants in Europe give patrons the choice of sitting at a table or standing at a counter. Often the savings are substantial if you are willing to stand.
If you are interested in renting a car one way, be aware that in late spring rental car companies move a portion of their fleets north from Florida and in late fall they move a portion south. During these time periods one way rates are slashed. Last April Hertz charged $5 a day, plus taxes, to rent a compact from Jacksonville to Washington Dulles Airport, with no drop off fees.
Avoid foreign currency exchange kiosks when traveling abroad. ATMs often offer better rates. You can avoid some ATM fees by using machines affiliated with your bank's global network.
Most U.S. credit cards add on foreign transaction fees that range from 2 to 3 percent for overseas charges. You can find cards that do not charge foreign transaction fees at websites like "CreditCards" and "CardHub."
Avoid rental car damage charges by taking pictures of your rental car before taking it off the lot and after you return it.
Seaside thrift stores often offer reasonably priced local souvenirs and sometimes even bikes. If priced right, you can donate the bike back at the end of your trip.
Avoid renting a car at the airport where additional fees and taxes may add as much as 10 percent and instead rent in town traveling there by shuttle or public transit.
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Avoid Airline Baggage Fees
A well planned trip made affordable with the purchase of cheap airplane tickets and discount hotel rooms or cheap vacation packages can become unnecessarily more expensive because of airline baggage charges.
A family of four, each checking a single bag, can result in baggage fees of between $160 to $200 for a single round trip flight. The country's twenty largest airlines collected $2.6 billion in baggage fees during the first nine months of 2010. Baggage fees are expected to climb even higher in the future.
The following are suggestions as to how to avoid these fees:
‧ Depending on the airline you will be flying on, some waive baggage fees if you hold an airline branded credit card. Delta waives fees for the first checked bag for holders of its SkyMiles card from American Express. Continental does as well for holders of its branded OnePass Plus card from Chase.
‧ Some hotel chains have started to reimburse guests for baggage fees. Kimpton Hotels issues a room credit of up to $25 for guests who show proof of a second bag charge. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts ran a promotion earlier this year whereby guests of Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and Candlewood Suites were eligible to receive up to $100 in checked baggage fees back for two night guest stays.
‧ The more frequently you fly on the same airline the more likely you are to earn "elite" or "preferred" status in an airline's frequent flier programs. Often such status is earned by flying 25,000 miles per calendar year. Once you attain preferred frequent flier status you can save and often avoid baggage fees altogether.
‧ Pack lightly and use a bag that you can carry onto the plane to avoid having to check baggage and pay a fee.
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Cheapfares.com employees enjoy sharing their travel points of view and latest travel news with others who might share similar interests.
Category Article Affordable, making, travel
