Money Saving Travel Tips for May 2007
With the busy summer travel season nearly upon us, many of us are looking for ways to shave a few dollars off our travel plans. A few dollars here and there all add up. And, it means we’ll have money to splurge in a few other areas.
Here are some tips for this month:
- While I wish that all airports offered free wi-fi, that just isn’t the case. If you need access, but object to the daily fee, you can try sitting outside one of the airline club lounges to see if you can pick up the free connection that they offer guests. I was stuck at SFO for several hours last week, but unfortunately there were no club lounges close enough to get a connection strong enough to try.
- Consider upgrading to the American Express Platinum card. This tip falls under the category of spending money to save money, and is NOT for everyone. But — if you travel extensively, and spend lots of money on AmEx, this card yields some nice perks. The card fee is $395/year, and when you book through its travel service, a number of freebies are available, including continental breakfasts, late check outs, automatic room upgrades (if available), along with other specialized amenities. Depending on your situation, using these amenities may offset the price of the card in only one trip. Definitely not for everyone, but take a look.
- Buy “day of” tickets for the theater, at greatly reduced prices. New York and London have TKTS, but most cities have something comparable. You need to be flexible about what you want to see, but the discounts are deep and the seats aren’t bad. I’ve used TKTS in NYC, and have good luck. I check out the tickets available, and then, while I’m waiting in line, rank my top three choices. When I get to the front of the line, I can make my request, and have a backup ready to go in case my first choice isn’t available.
- If you’re going to be visiting attractions that have admission fees, consider a CityPass. Many cities have them (Boston, NYC, Seattle, etc.), and for the price of a pass, you receive admission to a list of attractions. You’ll need to do a little research to see what’s included in the city where you’ll be, but you can quickly do the math to see if you come out ahead.
- Research housing alternatives other than a hotel. If you’re going to be in one spot for a week or longer, a condo or extended-stay facility may be a good value. You’ll have kitchen facilities, and can save by eating in for some of your meals. This could represent a substantial savings if you’re traveling with a family.
- If you’re renting a car, consider how many miles you’ll be driving and compare that to the rental agency’s mileage policy. Although unlimited miles has become the norm, you don’t want to be hit with an unexpected, and expensive, excess mileage fee.
- Double check to make sure that your “convention” or “conference” room rate is really the best rate available. Most of the time it is, because the meeting planners have negotiated room rates based on a large number of people securing rooms. But, if the rooms are spread out over a number of hotels, or, if it’s a smaller group, remember to ask for other special rates that you may qualify for: AAA, AARP, other affinity group discounts, etc. I always ask: Is that the best rate that you can quote me, or is there another discount that may be a better option?
Thanks to readers and friends who sent in suggestions for this month’s list of Money Saving Travel Tips. If you’d like to contribute to June’s suggestions, just email me, or leave your tip in the comments of this post.
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1 opinion for Money Saving Travel Tips for May 2007
Tantowi
Jun 3, 2007 at 8:35 am
Make it a game – If you’re traveling with someone, try to make it a game to see who can spend the least amount of money. You’ll be surprised at what you can do.
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