Strategies for Finding the Best Travel Deals
Want the best deals for travel? Finding great savings usually requires research. Airline, hotel, and cruise line fares constantly shift according to algorithms designed to maximize revenue. Securing the best deal requires a flexible travel plan, price monitoring, and some patience. Then, when ready—swooping in to snatch it up.
To save big, it’s critical you do your research. Sign-up for loyalty programs, join groups for special offers, and look for travel deals at wholesale clubs.
>> Pay With a Credit Card. It’s the most important way to protect yourself from scammers and poor travel services. When you pay using a credit card you get strong protections from the federal Fair Credit Billing Act and the policies of credit card issuers.
>> Airline Deals. Opt-in for web notifications from online ticket sites. Some even help estimate airfare based on their pricing history.
• Does your booked airfare require a $200 change fee? If not, continue to search for a lower fare. Cancel and rebook at the better rate.
• Monitor airline points and credits—airlines have a myriad of rules for issuing credits and their expiration dates. You may have a credit and may not know it.
• For cancellations visit the airline’s website or call to cancel your trip before it departs. If you simply don’t show up, you might not get credit towards a future flight.
>> Hotel Savings. Peruse multiple booking websites to access deep discounts & earn rewards.
• Book a “mystery” hotel deal —these rooms are unsold hotel rooms that are being sold at a reduced price, typically somewhere 20%-50% their usual list price. These often belong to luxury hotels who obviously do not want rooms left empty and use this as an alternative way to sell the excess. Although you won’t learn of a hotel’s name until after you’ve paid, you can apply filters to control key information to ensure you land at a good spot. Search results help pinpoint which mystery deal belongs to which hotel.
• Don’t rush to book your room if warned about “limited hotel room availability.” It’s a high-pressure sales tactic and there’s often plenty of room at the inn.
• After you’ve booked your room, keep monitoring price. Especially if you can change lodging without penalty. Keep an eye on rates and rebook if they go down.
• Ask to waive early and late check-in fees. Hotels will usually accommodate unless the hotel is fully booked.
>> Cruise line Upgrades. Register online with a cruise bidding service where multiple travel agencies vie for your booking. You provide the information on the cruise you want. Then, get offers from high-volume cruise travel agencies to help you get the best deal on your next cruise
>> Car Rental Add-Ons. Save money by not purchasing car rental insurance. If you own a car, your own car insurance already provides sufficient coverage and there’s no need to purchase the rental insurance.
• Consider buying a standalone insurance policy rather than what’s offered by rental companies through American Express card holders. Another way to save is to travel by bus. There are bus booking websites where the platform integrates with multiple bus companies to provide instant tickets.
