Bargaining, haggling, demanding, begging; none are very inviting practices for holiday travelers to exercise in order to secure a good deal. While we all love to save money on airfare, hotel accommodations and rental cars, most of us don’t really relish the idea of having to grovel in order to score a discounted rate or upgrade.
Fortunately, there are ways to save without having to plead, press or petition:
Plan in advance: The earlier you book the better. This is especially true if your travel dates aren’t flexible. For example, if your clan takes an annual vacation to Hawaii each winter, consider making your reservations as soon as you solidify your exact dates. By doing so you will guarantee occupancy and likely snag a decent deal while supply outweighs demand.
Be flexible: If you are not married to specific travel dates, you can look to save a good chunk of change. Many hotels charge more on the weekends because that’s when they get more customers. Aim to stay during the midweek to secure a reduced rate.
Join a club: Whether it’s a frequent flyer program with your favorite airline or a loyalty rewards program with your favorite hotel chain, it’s a good idea to enroll now so you can make the most of the perks that are given to preferred customers. Program benefits include money-saving discounts, automatic upgrades and other noteworthy services and amenities.
All-inclusive: Package deals are ideal for travelers who don’t want to deal with having to fork over cash at every turn. What’s more, combining hotel and airfare is often cheaper than booking each separately. Check out travel aggregate sites like Orbitz and Travelocity for package deals or make reservations directly with all-inclusive resorts like Sandals. Finally, consider the ultimate all-inclusive vacation–a luxury cruise to a dream destination.
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