Travel
Jul 25You’ve worked hard all year long for your summer vacation! But maybe you have more dream than dollars for your ideal destination. Don’t fret, there are plenty of ways to save when traveling this summer. You just need a strategy—we’ve got 50 of ’em.
Stay off the beaten path
“Booking a hotel just a few blocks away from the beach can help you save big,” says Scott Steinberg, founder and CEO of SELECT: Your City’s Secrets Unlocked. Likewise, destinations looking to boost tourism, such as Ecuador or Iceland, may offer better deals than more traditional getaways, like England or France. Psst… It pays to know the super-secret language of travel deals.
Compare flight prices on several travel websites
Sure, you know the basic sites, like aggregators Kayak.com and Momondo.com, and you’re signed up for travel alerts and newsletters through places like Bookingbuddy.com, Kayak.com, and Travelzoo.com. Now take your bargain-basement airline-ticket shopping to the next level: The Hopper app tracks fluctuating ticket prices and best times to travel and sends alerts when deals pop up, while Skiplagged searches for cheaper tickets using a tactic called “hidden city ticketing.” This lets you buy a ticket with a layover, and then just depart at the layover spot instead of continuing to your ticketed destination. Another innovative site, kiwi.com, combines flights on different airlines together to form one full, lower-priced route for you. “There are some risks to this approach (for example, if your first flight is delayed and you miss your second flight). “Kiwi helps protect you with the Kiwi Guarantee, which will refund the price of your flight if you miss it,” says Aaron Deutsch, editor of PlaneToTrain.
Check out the city’s convention or visitor’s bureau website
Before you hit the road, check out the website for the city or town that’s your destination. You may find a listing of free events, like outdoor concerts or movies, along with special deals and coupons.
Call a concierge
A concierge at a fancy hotel, like a Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons, can give you a quick rundown of top recommendations and tips on when to go to beat the crowds and save money, says Steinberg. (Even guests at luxury hotels appreciate a bargain.) Give one a quick call when you’re planning your trip to ask for their best insider advice. On the other hand, these are the things you should never ask the hotel staff.
