Becoming A Savvy Traveler

Many of us have one too many cost justifying reasons as to why we can’t travel. As a result, we tend to stay locally after doing the routine “9 to 5” religiously for months without a break in-between. So what happens when a “stay-cation” just doesn’t fit the bill this time around? It’s time to book a real vacation!

Time and money are the most concerning factors for many during the trip planning process. Here are 5 ways to save big on your next getaway:

BE FLEXIBLE

“I’m traveling the 1st through the 8th” won’t do the trick. It’s all about timing and being flexible with your travel dates. Departing on off-peak days/times can mean lower fares: Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday. This also calls for less crowds at the airport and a better chance for snagging an upgrade to First Class. Thursday – Sunday and Friday – Monday usually sees a hike in fares as these are the most sought after dates for many travelers due to mandatory work schedules.

BROWSE PRIVATELY

Enable private browsing (new incognito window) when looking for flights online. Travel sites are known for increasing their prices based on your search history. You can also clear your cache to avoid potential fare hikes.

TRAVEL DURING SHOULDER SEASON

Most of us are already aware of the two seasons to travel: Peak season, such as the summer, in-which everyone is looking for a beach to tan on, and off-peak season, where hurricanes and seasonal closing of most businesses (i.e. Europe) are the norm. The solution around this is to travel in-between both seasons. During a shoulder season, when crowds are thinner, but the weather is still pleasant, there’s a great chance for finding both hotel and flight deals. For example, Europe normally sees moderate priced fares in April and October.

STAY ALERT

Airfare glitches and flash sales on hotels/flights often go unannounced. Sign up for email alerts from your loyalty programs or flash sale sites such as TheFlightDeal.com and Jetsetter for the heads-up!

BE DIRECT & GET THE INSIDE SCOOP

Once you get to your hotel (or prior to), spark up a conversation with concierge. Find out if at any point during your stay will the hotel experience low occupancy. Then, politely ask if there are any chances for an upgrade.

Don’t stop there – inquire about local deals, happy hours, “Kids eat free on Sundays”, etc. that are happening during your stay that you can capitalize on.

Following these few steps will surely help you get on track to becoming a savvy travel in no time!