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10 Ways To Save Money On Your Vacation Travels - Part 1
Travel today can be a very expensive proposition.
Especially with the rising cost of fuel for airlines, heightened
security, and just general increases in the rate of inflation. It
is more important than ever to keep a tight reign on your travel
budget. To help all travel lovers looking to for ways to save money
on their vacations, I put together a quick list of some of my most
favorite money saving tips. I know these tips will not only save
you money but it will make your trips more enjoyable.
They are in no particular order of importance but your own personal
travel need may make 1 more important than another.
Pick the best mode of transportation for the trip
This is a bit of a tricky one to determine because the distance
you need to go is the primary factor here. For example, say you
live in Chicago and want to travel to Minneapolis to visit the Mall
of America. You could fly there in under an hour and half but you
pay a premium for it. But if you have the time, you could drive
there and enjoy time on the road with family, friends or whoever
else you might be traveling with. To save even more money, and maybe
a better option if traveling alone, you can consider traveling by
train. This offers even more of a discount and a great chance to
relax and let others get you there while you enjoy the ride.
Pick alternate airports
Now let's say you have no choice but to fly. If you are lucky enough
to have multiple airports near you, be sure to check if there are
airlines that offer cheaper rates. For example, in Chicago, the
alternative to flying from O'Hare International Airport is to fly
through Midway Airport located on the Southside of Chicago. Often,
airlines at Midway have rates that can are much lower than airlines
at O'Hare and, as a result, can save you hundreds of dollars.
Look for coupons at hotels
Hotels are a great source for information and coupons on everything
from dining to local attractions. Some hotels will even have established
relationships with certain restaurants and stores that can provide
money saving coupons and exclusive discounts for guests of the hotel.
Also, I am a big fan of the Entertainment Book. If you are not familiar
with this book, it is basically a giant coupon book loaded with
coupons and discounts for regional and local shops, restaurants,
attractions, hotels, and so much more. These are great for trips
because you can order them online ahead of time and do a bit of
trip planning with the book before you go. The best part is that
they will often pay for themselves when you use just 2 or 3 coupons.
For more information about the Entertain book and what regions are
available, visit www.entertainment.com
Travel off season
I know that certain destinations are best traveled during certain
times. For example, you might not want to go to Cancun when it is
their hurricane season. But often you can get great deals on destinations
when it isn't at peak travel times.For example, Whistler Mountain
in Vancouver, British Columbia is known for their skiing. But why
not take a trip there during the summer? It is still the mountains
after all and you can go on amazing hiking trips and see what the
area is like without all the snow covering everything.
Do your homework on the destination
If you want to make sure you dont over spend when on your
travels, you have to research the place you are going. What does
that entail? Well, for example, if you know you want to see some
of the sites or experience the attractions the city has to offer.
Look them up online and see if they have discounted rates during
certain times or days.
In Portland, Oregon, the Portland Zoo offers discounted pricing
on admission. In Chicago you can visit some of the museums for free
on certain days of the week.
Also, by planning ahead you might even be able to buy tickets online
and not only save money but time as well. There are even websites
where you can purchase tickets for several different attractions
or places for discounted prices. One such website is gocardusa.com.
This site offers discount cards that offer unlimited admission to
some of the most popular attractions in the United States. Visit
www.gocardusa.com and find how you can save money on your next trip.
Some locations might even have special events that you will be in
town for. By knowing ahead of time you can work your travel plans
to fit them in.
If you plan out what you will be doing or knowing what you will
be doing you can definitely look for things to do that will be memorable
and money saving as well.
Continue
to "10 Ways To Save Money On Your Vacation Travels" -
Part 2
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