Cheap Travel Tips
Tips for Saving Money on Your Last Minute Travel Plans
Author Alexine
When a family emergency comes up or you have an extra long weekend and want to go visit a friend or family member you have to make last minute travel plans. This type of traveling can be costly due to the increase they put on last minute plane ticket prices to make profit on business travelers. To help avoid these costly seats here are some ways you can save money on your last minute travel plans.
Last Minute Deals
If you happen to have time off of work or need to get to your family for an emergency you may have luck finding a last minute deal. These tend to be offered by airlines at the larger airports around the country so if you live in a small area it may be hard to find. Talk to your local travel agent to see if any of these last minute deals are available to you.
Alternate Airport
When traveling last minute it is important to have as much flexibility as possible to get the best deals. If there is an airport that is a little further away you should check and see if they offer a better deal than the closer airport. You can call the airlines directly to talk with a ticketing agent and see what they have available from the airports in your area.
Air Miles
If you have a large amount of air miles accumulated and are looking for a reason to use them then last minute travel is a great opportunity. While they may not have seats on their own airline or partners there is the option to use more air miles to get on multiple carriers. This would allow you to spend air miles instead of a huge chunk of money to get to your destination.
Train Travel
While train travel is not the fastest way to get to a long distance destination it can help with getting you to a less expensive airport. When you live in a more rural area with a small airport then consider booking yourself a train ticket to the closet international airport where you can get cheaper flights. This will save you quite a bit of money since train tickets are a fraction of the cost of airplane tickets from some of the small airports.
Bus Travel
Traveling by bus is also not a very fast way to get to a long distance destination but can be used as a way to get to a larger airport. Sometimes a bus ticket to the closet large city can save you a few hundred dollars on parking your vehicle or taking a plane. Make sure you check on weather predictions and possible cancellations before you rely on bus travel in winter months.
Drive
While driving is an easy and less expensive way to get to your destination when it is not that far away, it is hard to rely on driving to a far away destination. As an alternative to driving the whole distance you can see if an airport a few hours away has better flight deals than your local airport and drive part of the way. The huge downside to driving is figuring out what to do with your car while you are away since parking can be very expensive.
Shop Around
The best thing to do when traveling last minute is to shop around and compare total cost of the trip to and from your destination. If you map out all of the possible ways to get to the destination then it is easier to determine which itinerary saves you the most money. This may mean you have to take the train or bus to another airport or leave on a redeye. Good luck making your last minute travel plans and hopefully you can get where you need to go on time.
Tips About Travel Reward Credit Cards
Author Alexine
If you travel on an airplane these days the airlines are usually offering bonus miles on their credit card for signing up. It may mean they give you enough for a free flight or it may just help you get that much closer to being able to use your miles for a ticket. Either way there are some perks to having the credit cards and some catches so here are the different things to consider about a travel credit card.
Annual Fee
The first thing to consider when signing up for a travel credit card is the annual fee since that will be an ongoing cost on your card. If you determine what you will be purchasing in addition to airplane tickets on the credit card you can determine if it is a good deal for you. While you may pay up to one hundred dollars a year for the card, if you spend enough on it to equal a free ticket each year then it is worth the cost.
Partner Companies
An important factor to look into when selecting an airline travel reward credit card is their partner companies. If they have larger partner companies there is most likely going to be flights that you can get on to redeem your air miles. If the company does not have good partner companies then you may be stuck using way more air miles than you expected to purchase one round trip ticket.
Companion Fare
The companion fare perk is only offered by certain airlines and has about a hundred dollar fee associate with using the voucher. The great thing about the companion fare is that the second traveler has a ticket price of only one hundred dollars. The important thing to remember is a companion fare means you have to travel together for all your flights. While this is great for taking family trips it is difficult if you are single unless you have friends to travel with.
Serviced Airports
It is important to choose an airline travel reward card for an airline that services the closest airport to your home. If none of the airlines servicing your airport offer a card that has the best rewards then you can always choose one that will service the nearest large airport. Choose an airport where you can easily access with a drive or train ride because it may cost a lot less than buying a ticket for the short flight.
Travel Destinations
Another important thing to consider when choosing an airline travel reward card is what travel destinations you plan on going to with your rewards. Different airlines charge more or less for traveling within the forty eight states, to Alaska or Hawaii and traveling out of the country or overseas. If you live far away from your family then it is nice to accumulate miles from your day to day purchases so you can earn tickets to visit.
Money Smart
While travel rewards credit cards are a great way to save money they are a credit card so you have to remember to use them wisely and not accumulate debt. If you are not someone who travels on your own pocket due to work paying for your traveling then a different reward credit card may be a better choice. Just remember to choose your credit cards wisely and travel safe.
International Volunteer Opportunities for Your Vacation
Author Alexine
If you love to travel around the world or have never had the chance to take an international trip this is a wonderful opportunity.
Volunteering for an international charitable organization as your vacation is both eye opening and rewarding. Whether you have no work experience or are a professional there is something for you. Here are some volunteer opportunities you may want to sign up for when planning your next vacation.
Teen Volunteering
If you have a teenager at home or know of someone who might love the opportunity there are summer programs for teens available. Every summer break there are different volunteer opportunities that you can send your teens ages fifteen to seventeen on. There are some that last only one week and others that are two weeks long.
College Break Volunteering
As an alternative to the beach party and club scene of spring break you can sign up for an international volunteer project. They are available anywhere from one week to six months depending on the organization you sign up through. Summer vacation is a great opportunity to do a three month volunteer project or you can sign up for one week over spring break.
Vacation Volunteering
As an adult it is nice to have the opportunity to get away from the daily grind of work and scheduled activities. What better way to get away then to go and help somewhere around the world. If you are a professional in education, medicine, social work, engineering, or are just getting into the professional world there are opportunities for you.
Areas of Interest
Most of the international volunteer opportunities are in developing countries as they are the most in need of assistance. You can sign up for programs in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. The organizations select the locations with safety of both the local people and volunteers in mind so you do not have to worry.
Cost and Fees
While it may seem silly to have to pay to volunteer it is not free for these organizations to keep up and running. To provide things like food, shelter and administrative resources for the volunteers, money must be collected. There are also extra costs like your airplane ticket, vaccinations, visa and spending money. Be sure to create an accurate budget before you sign up for a specific volunteer opportunity.
Personal Experience
After reading testimonials on the different websites of organizations you can begin to see how a volunteer opportunity might be. While each personal experience is different there is an overall feeling of happiness and being grateful. Helping those in need can be such a rewarding and life changing experience. This is especially true when those being helped are so grateful for your kindness.
Deciding Which Program
At the end of the day it all comes down to how much you can afford and how long you have to volunteer. No matter what your budget is there are always opportunities to fundraise for the expenses to ensure you can participate. Discuss your personal situation and interests with someone from your organization of choice to determine which program is best for you. No matter where you go or what you do to help, volunteering is so rewarding and you will not regret it.
Ten Ways to Save Money as a Traveling Student on a Budget
Author Alexine
Traveling can be almost impossible when you are a student on a budget. From the cost of getting to your destination to the expenses along the way, the price of traveling adds up fast. To help cut back on the cost of traveling I have come up with some money saving tips for students on a budget.
Student Travel Rates
Many different airlines offer student airfare discounts that are listed on sites specified to offer student travel. There are also student rates on cruise, railway and bus routes. Contact the company directly if you want to check for student rates in your area on different forms of transportation. This could save you quite a bit of money.
Accommodations
While hotels and motels sometimes have student rates available that is not usually the case. Your best bet for saving money on accommodations when you travel as a student is to stay in hostels. They have bunk bed rooms that are very inexpensive and some even offer private rooms for a bit more. You can typically find hostels that offer free breakfast or a reduced dinner rate if you want to save on food.
Food & Drink
While you are traveling the breakfast and dinner options at a hostel are great but if your accommodation does not include food then you will want to eat out wisely. Try and purchase easy and non-perishable foods to snack on in the morning with a cup of coffee or hot tea from a local café. Then throughout the day you can snack and buy readymade food instead of paying for sit down service.
Student Discounts
Wherever you go on your trip you should always ask if the businesses offer student discounts. This may seem silly or repetitive but there are many companies who do not advertise student discounts but have them available. Do not be afraid to ask even if it is for a movie or visitor attraction.
Share Cab Fares
If you meet other students or people on a budget in your travels then try and arrange to go to town at the same time. Sharing cab fares can cut a huge chunk out of your budget when traveling. This is a win-win situation for both parties and gives you more money for the attractions along the way.
Group Discounts
If other students from your school happen to be going to the same destination then you should check if there are any group discounts. This does not mean you have to spend your whole trip together you just would book your airfare, hotel rooms and make tour reservations together. These types of group discounts can save you quite a bit of money.
Be Flexible
The wonderful thing about being flexible is that it can save you a bunch of money or get you a free airfare pass. Last minute airfare deals for students are a great way to save along with being bumped for a later flight. When an airline bumps you for a later flight they typically offer free accommodations and give travel vouchers for you next flight.
Pack Lite
While this is an obvious way to travel as a student, packing lite allows you to jump on a train for a side trip or take a bus to another city for some fun. Packing lite allows for more flexibility and less baggage to drag around between hostels or other accommodations. Also if you travel packed in a backpack then you can easily sight see along the way.
Water Bottle
One huge expense when traveling is good clean water to drink. If you bring along a reusable water bottle and carabiner to hook it onto your backpack you can save quite a bit of money. Bottled water can cost anywhere from a dollar to five dollars depending on where you travel so bringing a water bottle is great savings.
Calling Cards
To keep in touch back home no matter where you travel it is important to purchase a calling card. They cost a lot less than roaming internationally on your cell phone. Also many cell phones will not work outside of the continent so having a calling card on hand to call home is nice for keeping in touch. The internet is also nice but in case of emergency it is important to have a calling card with you for getting in touch with family or friends.
Travel Safe
As a student there are many offers available you just have to look and ask around. Make sure you look into the saving opportunities listed above to see how much money you can really save. There are lots of corners to cut in traveling as a student all it takes is a few phone calls or e-mails. Good luck in your travels and have a wonderful vacation.
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Travel Fees From the Largest Airlines in the US
Author Alexine
When traveling around the United States and North America it is important to choose your airlines wisely. Many airlines have tacked on lots of extra fees in addition to the charge of your seat on the plane.
To bring you up to date on all of the expected and unespected fees the airlines charge these days I have put together a chart. This chart outlines all the major areas of fees and compares the top airlines in the United States.
Please keep in mind that I did not include SkyWest Airlines because the fees they charge are depending on which partner you fly on that trip. Their fees will be from United, Delta or Air Tran.
As expected Southwest Airlines had the fewest fees and even allows for two free bags per paid passenger. That is a nice savings if you are traveling with the family in the near future. Check your local airport and destination to see if Southwest Airlines services the trip. This can save you up to sixty dollars per passenger.
When booking your tickets check on each of the airlines websites for the best deals so you do not miss out. Sometimes it may mean you have to avoid fees by packing lite and carrying on your luggage.
Goodluck with your travels and remember to check with the airlines to avoid any unwanted fees.
Money Saving Tips for Traveling by Plane
Author Alexine
Air travel these days costs so much more that it once did. There are fees for everything from luggage to legroom. In order to help you save a little money where it counts I have come up with some money saving tips for traveling by plane.
Packing Lght
The days of two free fifty pound bags of luggage allowance are over. Now the airlines are counting on luggage fees for profits instead of the tickets themselves. To help you save a little try and pack your luggage in a carryon bag.
This may mean you have to choose several tops that match the same bottoms or one pair of extra shoes that match your dressy outfits. However, you are going to spend about twenty five dollars for the first bag and about thirty five for the second if you choose not to budge.
If the carry on option will not suffice then you can try to pack the family in one large suitcase and carryon luggage. This will only cost you a minimal fee compared to paying for each family member to check a bag.
Pack Your Snacks
Airport food has always been expensive so travelers have often packed a lunch or eating the costs or waited until the flight. Airlines would provide nice meals for longer flights along with their usual beverage service and peanuts or pretzels.
Today the airport food is still expensive but the airlines food is more expensive. They have snacks and snack boxes from three dollars up. The more little goodies you get the pricier the food. To help avoid this expensive food pack your own snacks.
Remember not to pack drinks as they are free from the airlines and are not allowed through security. However, sandwiches and snack food are perfect to throw together in a backpack and bring on board. Make sure you pack enough for the length of your travels and include all family members in the selection process.
Bring Pillows and Blankets
You might not think that pillows and blankets are such a big deal if the plane ride is just a couple of hours but if you have a long day of travel they are nice to have. Making sure your airline does not charge for the pillows and blankets would be the best way to determine if you need to pack them or not.
If they do charge for pillows and blankets then either dress in layers where you can stay warm in the air conditioning and use your extra sweatshirt as a pillow. Or you can pack a travel pillow and blanket in your backpack.
Comfort is important when you have little children and long flights. Packing the right cozy blanket or favorite stuffed animals are a good way to get your little ones to nap so you are able to relax.
Save For Fun
While it may be more of a hassle to pack light, bring food and carry pillows or blankets you will save yourself quite a bit of money. Not to mention the money you save by sitting in a normal seat instead of the ones that have six to eight inches of extra legroom.
Instead of spending the money on getting to your destination, by using these tips you will save your money for the fun stuff at your destination. Enjoy your travels and be sure to plan ahead so you can save money on your trip.
Affordable Vacation Ideas for Families
Author Alexine
In the best of times, it can be difficult for families to budget the funds to get away for a time of rest and relaxation, but that task proves to be even harder in today’s economic conditions.
Thankfully, it’s not impossible. The following list of travel tips provides affordable vacation ideas for families who want to escape the rat race this year and enjoy a little time away together without breaking the bank.
Take a Stay-Cation
It used to be that family vacations meant packing Mom and Dad and the kids into the family station wagon or boarding a plane for a long cross country trek, but with the challenging economic times of the past few years, families are finding plenty of opportunities to get away within a day’s drive of their own backyards.
From state parks and theme parks to regional resort towns around lakes, beaches, or mountains, budget-minded travelers are finding plenty of opportunities to relax and unwind just a tank or two of gas away from home.
Talking with friends and relatives who’ve taken similar trips or searching for nearby family vacation destinations on the Internet can help you turn up some of these nearby family fun spots.
Take Advantage of Discounts and Special Offers
Just like the vacationers who visit them, the owners of hotels and attractions are very mindful of the recession and are offering special deals and discounts to entice vacationers to spend their hard earned dollars with them.
To find these special offers, visit the websites of the destinations, hotels, and attractions you wish to visit and look for a link to the page containing their current discounts and promotions. Additionally, placing a call to the destination can uncover any specials they have recently announced that might not have been posted on the website.
Be Spontaneous
Although it’s not always possible, the ability to drop everything and go with a few days’ notice can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars. While this may not be feasible for a family that has just a small window of opportunity to get away, families with small or home-schooled children and parents with flexible work schedules can take advantage of these last minute opportunities.
Though it does take some diligence – and the ability to make a quick decision — the Internet makes it easy than ever to find these deals. Travel comparison sites, like FareCompare.com and Orbitz track the latest deals and pass them along to their readers. Airlines such as Southwest Airlines frequently post last minute airfare and hotel packages online.
To be among the first to know when these deals become available, track sites that follow vacation deals and sign up for their newsletters or deal alerts. If you don’t like giving out your email information, you can also follow them on Twitter or Facebook. Just make sure to periodically check their posts and updates in order to take advantage of any time-sensitive offers.
Travel Off Season
In good times or bad, vacationers can save money and avoid the crowds by traveling off season. Peak times for family vacation destinations vary on location, but most are Memorial Day through Labor Day. Vacationers who visit outside of these dates can avoid fighting the crowds and paying peak rates that are associated with the busy season.
If vacationing off season isn’t an option, look into the possibility of travelling on weekdays during the peak season. Many resort towns fill up end-week through Saturday night, but are quieter on Sunday through the middle of the week and may even offer room and attraction discounts for these off-days of the week.
One word of caution, however, when traveling off season, some of the attractions may be offered on a more limited basis or not at all. Be sure to call ahead to verify which venues will be open and what their hours will be.
Don’t Eat Your Budget
Finally, one of the simplest ways to save while travelling is to avoid paying the inflated tourist prices for food. Booking a hotel room with a kitchenette or even a small refrigerator can help you keep and prepare food for simple meals or lunches to go.
Even theme parks offer in and out privileges. Getting your hand stamped and heading off-site for a picnic or even to a fast food restaurant outside of the attraction can drastically cut down on the costs associated with visiting the park.
