Flying frugally
Before the end of the year, take inventory of your frequent
flier miles. Claim credit for any missing miles and decide if you can top
off—with an extra flight, hotel stay or mile-generating purchase—accounts where
you are close to getting elite status perks for the following year.
When shopping for new flight reservations, sign up for fare
alerts, enlist helpers such as Kayak's price forecasting tool and remember the "24-hour reservation
requirement" put into effect in January 2012 by the U.S.
Department of Transportation. The rule requires carriers to hold a flight
reservation for 24 hours without payment, or allow a reservation to be canceled
within 24 hours without penalty if the reservation is made one week or more
ahead of the flight's departure date.
"If you see an airfare you're comfortable with, book
it," said Kayak spokeswoman Maria Katime. You can continue your research
and, if you find something better, go back and cancel.
Reasonable rental cars
When it comes to cars, reserve once you know your dates and have
done some shopping, but recheck prices closer to the time of travel.
"Prices can drop last-minute, depending on the actual availability of cars
versus what the companies anticipate," said travel expert Carol Pucci, who saved more than $100 with this
method on the Big Island of Hawaii. "It was easy to do because I hadn't
prepaid, which is hardly ever a good idea given the chances of prices
falling," said Pucci.
To make sure a rental car company doesn't charge you for
scrapes, scratches or dings already on the car you're issued, "take
pictures of the car before you drive it away and when you return it," said
Joe Brancatelli, publisher of the business travel website Joe Sent Me.
"Rental firms are getting extremely aggressive about these
charges and since the cars in the fleet are older these days than they used to
be, there's more of a chance you'll be given a car with a ding and/or
scratches," he said.
Honing in on hotel deals
Sign up for the frequent stay program of any hotel you visit to
take advantage of free perks that can include complimentary breakfast, free
Wi-Fi and welcome amenities such as cheese plates and bottles of wine for even
the first-time guest.
Research room rates and hotel property reviews online, but as a
final step, call the hotel you've chosen. "Once I narrow down my hotel
choice, I call the hotel to see if they have any better offers then what I see
online," said Rob Connors, assistant vice president of marketing for
National Car Rental. "Your membership in a club or association might get
you an added discount, and many
times hotels offer special rates for suppliers calling on nearby
companies."
It's also a good idea to check city tourism sites for short-run,
special promotions.
Some cities have destination marketing funds and packages
designed to generate room sales during off-seasons. The inaugural Hotel Week LA runs from Nov. 29 to Dec. 14, and in
2015, more than 30 Manhattan
"The offers coming from that program are the best we have
on offer," said Jim Mockford, general manager of the Listel Hotel. "They're highly targeted in
regards to time frame, so you have to be quick and flexible. So it's always a
good idea to put your name on the mailing list of your favorite hotels. You'll
hear about some great deals that you'll never see anywhere else."
Choosing travel gear
To get the best bang for your buck when shopping for travel gear
"make a list of three to five 'musts' for your new bag and prioritize
these as you do research," said Michele Marini Pittenger, president of the
Travel Goods Association.
"The manufacturer's warranty policy can be an indicator of
durability, but be sure to check the dimensions of new carry-on bags to avoid
getting dinged by extra charges when flying," she said.
When to use a travel agent
Modern online booking tools and mobile apps make it easy to
research and reserve much of your own travel. But the customer services of a
travel advisor who can quickly reroute and rebook you when there's a travel
snafu can come in handy.
"When it's a trip that matters—family vacations, celebration
travel, a destination you want to experience rather than 'see'—that's when you
most need a travel advisor," said Matthew Upchurch, chairman and CEO of
Virtuoso, a network of luxury travel agencies. "Not only will they save
you precious time, they can save you money with negotiated hotel benefits and
extensive firsthand knowledge to ensure that you get exactly what you expect
from the trip."
Boarding the bus
"Bus travelers typically save 50 to 55 percent versus the
train and 55 to 73 percent versus flying," said Joe Schwieterman, a
professor at DePaul University in Chicago and author of the Traveler's Tradeoff
studycomparing intercity bus, plane and train fares across the United States
"The 'sweet spot' for bus travel involves trips between 125
and 300 miles. Driving can be tedious, but air travel is often not cost
effective," he said.
When to book the bus?
"As early as possible," said Megabus spokesman Mike
Alvich. "Generally customers booking 30 to 45 days in advance will see the
greatest savings, but even last-minute trip tickets are still very affordable
in comparison to last-minute airline travel or even the cost of filling the gas
tank of your personal vehicle."
Smarter destination choices
You may not have much choice where business trips take you, but
you can save money on leisure trips and avoid crowds by heading for South Africa , Shanghai ,
Uruguay , Portugal
Choosing "almost-as-good" alternatives to classic
experiences in more expensive cities can also save cash.
"European cities are stuffed full of amazing historic
buildings and churches that can be seen and explored for free without the
crowds of big-name things," said Lonely Planet's editorial director, Tom
Hall. "Gorilla trekking might be an unforgettable experience in East Africa , but looking out for chimpanzees and smaller
primates can be much more fun and is certainly easier on the wallet."
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