Buying Guide to Your Dream Vacation
Other invaluable resources in vacation planning are the numerous travel websites, such as Expedia.com and Orbitz.com, which offer booking services for flights, hotels, rental cars, etc… These websites offer random deals and packages that are considerably less expensive than specific company websites. For example, you can often find a better rate for a Marriott hotel room at Hotels.com or Expedia.com than at Marriott Hotel’s official website. These travel websites are also convenient because they allow you to view and compare rates for numerous companies and corporations simultaneously. You do not have to spend a substantial amount of time bouncing from site to site comparing prices. Another bonus to the travel websites is the ability to roll your flight + hotel + car rental all up into one package, which is often cheaper than booking everything individually.
The following guide breaks down the specific components of a vacation in order to display the best options for saving money as well as convenience in booking:
FLIGHTS
The number one element to keep in mind regarding airline travel is that ticket prices are almost NEVER commensurate with the distance being traveled. This is due to various reasons, including the locations of particular airliner hubs and frequently traveled destinations, to name a few. You can often receive sizeable discounts in airfare by agreeing to make multiple stops and airline changes. For example, it is often relatively inexpensive to fly Delta airlines from any city in the U.S. to Atlanta, Georgia because Atlanta is Delta airline’s largest hub. Then you can fly from Atlanta on any number of carriers to your final destination. Even if Atlanta is not on your way, it might behoove you financially to take this detour. The basic explanation for this price break is the fact that your flight to Atlanta will most likely be fully booked which means you are sharing the cost of fuel and other expenses with a vast amount of people.
I recommend using a travel website for booking, or at least researching, your airfare because they do all of this legwork for you. Travel websites will combine various carriers and multiple stops in order to produce the lowest fare to your final destination; this is especially cost effective for international travel. On airline specific websites such as Delta.com they will only offer you itineraries for Delta airlines and its limited number of partner airlines. The airlines’ websites also seem to be geared more for the business traveler, so they often assume you desire the most direct route to your destination; which, as I’ve pointed out, is rarely the most economical option.
In my experience, the best travel website for booking airfare is Orbitz.com. They conduct the most extensive research regarding multiple carriers and travel times. You may find yourself with two or three layovers and traveling up to three different airlines but it will often save you hundreds of dollars. If you wish to take your search for the lowest fare possible to the next level, it might prove beneficial to contact the airline directly once you have received a rate from Orbitz.com. I have heard numerous accounts of American Airlines meeting or beating the rates offered by travel websites for their airfares.
Hotels
As far as researching hotel deals, I recommend Expedia.com or Hotels.com. Just as Orbitz.com often offers the lowest fares for airlines, these sites usually have the most significant discounts for hotel rooms. Again, the convenience of the travel website is that you can view numerous hotels on one page and compare their rates. Also, with a simple click of the mouse, you can be directly connected to the hotel’s main website where you can view detailed descriptions of their amenities and, in most cases, photos of the guest rooms and hotel grounds.
As with the airlines, you can always contact the hotel directly and ask them if they are willing to offer you a better deal than the one offered by the travel website for their hotel. However, in most cases hotels simply can not compete with the travel website prices – especially if you are booking your hotel and flight together, which is discounted even more by the travel websites.
My final tip regarding hotel booking is in reference to the city that never sleeps – Las Vegas. Las Vegas is one of the few places on Earth where booking your hotel online is almost NEVER financially advantageous. Unlike most vacation destinations, Las Vegas does not rely on hotels as their main point of tourist revenue – obviously this mission is carried out by the casinos. Since most casinos ARE hotels, it is better to arrange for your hotel room in person, once you have proven your willingness to gamble in their casino. Often spending merely $20 on a slot machine will get you up to a %50 discount off that casino’s hotel accommodations.
Car Rental, Restaurants and Extras
When it comes to searching for the best deals regarding these aspects of your vacation there are three little words you should always keep in mind: Buy in bulk. That’s right, bulk purchases are not only valuable when it comes to cereal and household goods, you can apply this concept to the detailed expenses of your vacation.
If you wish to rent a vehicle while at your destination be sure to shop around. When you arrive at the airport, it is most convenient to simply make a beeline for the car rental companies who have a counter right there in the terminal. These are often your major corporations such as Hertz or Budget Rent a Car, but this convenience will be reflected in the price of your rental vehicle. There are often smaller and less popular rental car companies located within a short distance from the airport that are substantially cheaper than those located right in the terminal. It is best to research your destination on the internet and price check the rental car companies and their locations. They will sometimes even offer a shuttle bus free of charge from the airport to their location.
When arranging for your vehicle, always inquire about the weekly rate for the car, even if you are only using the car for four or five days. The weekly rate will often be cheaper than the daily rate you will be charged for five consecutive days. A final tip regarding rental cars is the age restriction. Almost all U.S. rental car companies require the driver to be a minimum age of 25 due to insurance reasons; even in international locations where age restrictions are more relaxed, American companies must still adhere to their U.S. policies.
As for restaurants and attractions at your destination, it doesn’t hurt to ask for discounted prices by agreeing to visit their establishment on more than one occasion throughout your stay. Restaurants may offer a percentage discount on your meals if you make reservations and dine with them for at least one meal every day of your trip. Be sure to remember all of your basic discount pathways too, including AARP, AAA auto club, and student, senior or military discounts. Most of these are accepted at numerous international destinations as well.
Reference
The following is a list of the more popular travel websites, some of which I have personally utilized and recommend:
âÂ?¢ Orbitz.com – Best for lowest priced airfare
âÂ?¢ Expedia.com – recommended when booking airline and hotel together
âÂ?¢ LuxuryLink.com – An auction website offering high end accommodations at romantic and exotic destinations; recommended for honeymoons.
� LowestFare.com
� Travelocity.com
� Hotels.com
� Hotwire.com
� PriceLine.com
� BestFares.com
� TravelNow.com
Planning and purchasing a dream vacation is no longer an exhausting task that is limited to the exorbitantly rich. Armed with a credit card, an internet connection and a few pointers, you too can experience the vacation you’ve been dreaming of at an affordable price. The tourism industry is booming throughout the world and the competition for great deals is at an all time high. Take advantage of the current situation and go have some fun!
