Travel Smart with Savings,Tips and Insurance
Dec 6th, 2007 by Kaushik Adhikary
Image by h a o via FlickrMost travelers know that some of the best bargains are in the off-season, when poorer weather or the start of school makes vacationers scarce.
So when do you travel to get the best deals? That depends. Peak season varies from region to region. Summer airfares to popular exotic places, parts of Canada, and Europe can be high. But summertime travel to warm weather destinations…Florida, the Southwest, parts of Mexico, and the Caribbean…can be a bargain. If heat isn’t a big deal to you, why not take advantage of lower costs? Summer in the United States is winter in Australia and the Galapagos Islands (as well as a lot of other places).
Midweek stays at resorts are often less costly than weekends; but city hotels that cater to business travelers have high rates during the week and bargains on weekends. The best airfares often require a Saturday night stay unless it’s a local hop. You’ll sometimes find better domestic fares in the middle of the week or during off-hours on weekdays (late at night, early in the morning). Weekend flights almost always cost more. Here’s the catch: If you have to take off two days of work in order to get a midweek flight or book a midweek resort stay, and you lose either pay or vacation time, what have really saved? You’ll need to consider those factors as well.
SEASONAL SAVINGS
When it comes to lodging, consider the “shoulder” season..the time between peak and low travel periods. If you book a stay early in shoulder season, you can get a deal and probably still have the benefits of the same weather and opportunities available during peak season.
But sometimes programs are not available in shoulder season. At many guest ranches, for example, families can cut costs in June and September, but there may not be a supervised children’s program or as many children to make friends with. If you have older kids who would be out riding with you anyway, this is an excellent time to visit a guest ranch, as it’s often less children’s program so you could get in adults-only time, the money you save by traveling during the off-season may not make up for that loss.
YEAR-ROUND BARGAINS
Keep in mind that deals can be had at almost any time of year and that bargaining skills are not just for use in foreign marketplaces. At many hotels, it’s standard practice to quote callers the highest rate first. Reservation clerks are often told not to volunteer deals unless specifically asked about them. To get a better deal after a rate is quoted, ask if there’s a better price available. There usually is. If you’ve seen a special deal in a newspaper or online, you should mention it. Ask about discounts for group members. You’re likely to have the best luck bargaining with reservation clerks at the hotel itself as opposed to those at a nationwide number, but try both. If no one will offer a deal, find a different hotel. You can almost guarantee that your costs will come down if you negotiate. After booking your stay, check periodically to see if new deals have come up in newspaper travel sections. Ask your travel agent to continue checking airfares in case of special promotions. But don’t obsess about it. Vacation is all about letting go and being laid-back.
Please look for the remaining post tomorrow:
