Archive for the 'travel' Category

Planning a Vacation on a Budget

Sunday, May 14th, 2006
travel discount packages
Travel Mum asked:


Going for a vacation is always a big expenditure. However, with careful planning, your vacation can be fun and enriching without compromising on its quality. If you are on a budget and planning for a vacation, here are some useful tips for you.

Flight Planning

1. Always compare flight deals. Look for lowest rates and understand what they are offering. Do note their cancellation policy before you make your reservation.

2. Look for a flight and hotel bundle which will save you money.

Transport Planning

1. Grab a rail pass to make travelling easier and hassle-free. Some countries offer family passes too. Usually, rail companies will have discounted packages with admission to attractions or accommodation deals.

2. Go for sightseeing buses to minimize transfers and maximise sightseeing. Sightseeing buses provide interesting commentary, unless you want to miss it.

3. Look for free airport transfer from hotels or free transport around the city. Some cities and attractions provide free city tourist shuttle.

4. Always look for sightseeing passes. There are a number which includes transportation. These passes can save you tons.

5. Get a local transport bus pass if you intend to adventure out on your own.

6. If you are planning a self-drive vacation, compare the terms and conditions of different car rental companies.

Activities and Attractions Planning

1. It always pays to look into local tour operators for activities and tours. They are often able to provide better or competitive deals than the rest.

2. Spend wisely and work on a budget by pre-booking your tours. Identify activities which are ‘must do’, attractions which are ‘must visit’ and those which are optional.

3. Visit the homepage of attractions to secure on-line specials, early bird specials or download coupons.

4. Look for combo packages. These packages allow you to enter a few attractions at a discounted rate.

5. Some attractions offer free entry on certain days or after certain hours; while others may have discounted entry after certain hour or during weekends.

6. Get coupons provided by tourism businesses or restaurants. Look for visitor cards with discounted admission to attractions or dining privileges.

Accommodation Planning

1. If you are working on a budget, hotels with free nights or hotels where kids stay free will be a good option. Do consider staying in a hostel. Many hostels offer freebies such as free breakfast and free airport pickups.

2. Always read hotel reviews before you book your accommodation. You know what it means to make a wrong choice.

Travel Ideas

1. Read travelogues or blogs to find out more about the destination. It’s worth to find out how other travellers made it in each destination. Travellers are likely to comment on their experiences for each activity, tour and provide excellent travel tips.

2. Participate in travel forums. Usually there are experts for each destination to answer all your questions. So don’t be shy to post your questions.

3. If you do not have an idea of where to go, you can begin with travel deals. Also, suggested itineraries from tourism boards offer excellent ideas. Check the events calendar for your desired destination would be helpful too.

Other budgeting tips

1. If you are planning a self-drive holiday, check the petrol prices of the destination.

2. To find out the cost of living of your desired destination, visit the homepages of its major supermarkets and fast food chains. You can have an accurate estimation of the cost of living and plan a budget for your meals.

Create a video blog…instantly.

Travel Discounts Available Online

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2005
travel discount packages
James Brown asked:


There are several methods to use to save money on travel expenses online and people enjoy finding more each time they visit the internet. Some of these travel discounts are not available to all travelers and even those who do qualify for the discount might not use the method because they do not know how to get the discount. People that own computers are generally the first to know because the online travel discounts will show up in their email accounts every month.

An online travel discount might be allowed if the traveler uses a certain credit card to secure the reservations with. The credit card company might provide travelers with lodging discounts by giving them credit for staying at certain hotels for a certain number of nights. These travel rewards will be reflected on credit card statements every month but some travelers fail to read credit card paperwork because they pay their accounts through automatic debits from their checking account each month.

Online travel discounts will be given to travelers who have a membership in a travel club. The internet access provided by hotels in each room will allow travelers to check the travel membership sites for recently added travel packages that could include the place they are staying in that night. Discounts will be applied to the final hotel bill upon check-out and travelers can thank their lucky stars that they decided to log into the internet the night before.

Online travel discounts could come from rental car agencies that are known by name around the world. The credit card statements could give travelers discount codes that can be entered online in the shopping cart of the rental car booking site. Membership in insurance groups can give travelers a discount code that bears a better discount and travelers will learn to keep a list of the discount codes that are offered by companies they deal with on a month-to-month basis.

Some travelers will carry coupon books that are tailored to a specific city that is right on the way to a favorite destination. The coupons might provide travelers with discounted meals in restaurants, or discounts on various activities that can be done night or day. Online travel through internet portals will allow travelers to order other coupon books for discounts in cities recently added to travel plans and group travel arrangements could offer travelers further online travel discounts.

To take advantage of some online travel bargains it might require that the traveler find a friend to join in on the travels. It’ is hard for travelers to use a coupon for a free flight unless someone else is along for the trip. These bargains always seem to come along after a family has booked several flights. The preferred airline company will use these free flight offers as a way of saying thanks for choosing them for all of their flying need in the United States. The online travel opportunities are limitless and there are many online travel bargains to be discovered, so travel often and make sure a friend is available to take advantage of the best travel deals around.

Caffeinated Content - Members-Only Content for WordPress

Travel Discounts By Mode Of Travel

Thursday, January 27th, 2005
travel discount packages
Jim Brown asked:


Some people look for travel discounts that are based on the mode of travel. Some people like to travel by automobile, train, boats, motorcycles and last but not least by a wide assortment of airlines. The discounts that are offered for each of these modes will make travel more affordable but they will also give the traveler pleasure because it is their chosen mode of travel.

Some people are very uncomfortable with the idea of traveling by air. No matter what type of discounts are offered on their flights, people still have the preference of remaining on the ground and arriving at their destination on time. Some people are completely different and choose airline schedules because they know they can save many hours of their vacations if they travel by air.

There are some people who can travel in a variety of ways and not give it a second thought. These travelers know what to look for when they visit travel websites because the travel opportunities offer them a wide assortment of departure times to pick from and amazing travel packages that make any type of travel mode seem very fair and reasonable and certain to please any type of traveler at sometime during the year.

When people choose to travel by boat, there is always a place on the itinerary that they have always wanted to go. They find that the ship’s itinerary is the most important part of their travels and pricing for a particular stateroom is usually the last thing they consider when booking their reservations. Some people will book last minute cruise deals to enjoy their vacations even more.

Some people use their memberships in travel clubs to gain the best airline fares and discounts on hotel rooms and fine dining. The discounts begin to add up when they are also given discounts that encourage them to rent a car somewhere along their travel route. The discounts from shopping at certain stores will give travelers discounted gift cards that can be used to pay for gasoline or a variety of souvenirs that they find along the way.

Some foreign countries promote the use of scooters and motorcycles in various travel packages. These modes of transportation will allow visitors to travel through streets that are noticeably smaller and difficult to manage for some travelers. They reasonable prices that this mode of travel affords will make travel in the foreign city much more exciting and fun to do. Some vendors in foreign countries will give families large discounts for renting several scooters at one time and this makes travel modes for the whole family very affordable.

Caffeinated Content

Seven Ways To Get Travel Discounts

Tuesday, October 5th, 2004
travel discount packages
Lee Dobbins asked:


Do you love to travel but don’t have the money to take all the trips you want? What if you could cut your travel costs? You might be able to take more vacations or finally visit that special destination you’ve been dreaming of.
Finding travel discounts does take a bit of legwork, but in this age of computers you can do a lot of the legwork right in the comfort of your own home. You can find discounts on airfare, hotels and car rentals at major airline and travel web sites if you want to invest a little bit of time in surfing the web.
But getting discounts on your airfare and hotels aren’t the only way to save on vacations. Here’s seven things that might help you cut costs the next time you take a trip.

1. Shop around for the cheapest flight online either at the airlines website or the big travel sites. Airlines offer discount tickets periodically so you should check their sites often. The big travel sites have specials as well and it can really save some time if you register to receive an email when a discount to your destination comes up. Don’t forget to check these sites often since you never know when a good deal might pop up.
2. Look for web-only discounts offered by hotels and airlines for people who don’t mind making reservations online. You must commit to your reservation but sometimes you can save half the cost with one of these specials.
3. Check on detour flights other than the straight one you’ll most likely get when you inquire. Your total flight prices can be cheaper when you take two flights instead of one. Some people save thousands booking their flights this way.
4. Check out package deals for your dream vacation as you can usually save a bundle and it’s a bit more convenient for you too. Packages that combine airfare and hotel can be had at a steep discount compared to what they cost when paid for separately. Even better, try to get a trio package that combines airfare, hotel and car rental for a really great travel.
5. If you’ll be staying in the same hotel for more than 7 days, call ahead and ask if they have any week long stay discounts. Sometimes you can get a free day or a bit off your overall price.
6. Travel to great vacation places that have a low cost of living - the prices there will tend to be a bit less than other vacation spots. Malaysia and the Philippines are good examples where both have great scenery and tourist spots but prices are reasonable. Make sure there is plenty of English speaking people there unless you enjoy the challenge of communicating with people who do not speak your language.
7. Once you’ve gotten all your travel discounts on hotels and airfare, you can still save some money on your vacation by buying food at the grocery and cooking it yourself instead of eating out for every meal. Restaurants tend to have cheap food that might not be the healthiest so do your wallet and your health a favor by eating in. Of course, you’ll want to make sure to get a hotel room that has refrigeration and allows for cooking too.

Create a video blog

Best Travel Deals For Your Holiday

Thursday, March 11th, 2004
travel discount packages
James Yee asked:


The greatest secret to getting an affordable airfare or best travel discounts is to know your budget and what do you really want. Additionally, you should shop and compare deals until you run out of options and choose the best among them.

And importantly, always plan ahead. Nothing is too early when it comes to vacation planning. This will give you ample time to search and choose.

Whether you’re a business traveler or planning a family vacation, here are some travel tips to save you money and choose the best deal:

1. Buy your ticket directly. Travel agents usually charge between $15 and $35 per ticket.

2. Buy your ticket all at the same time instead of buying one at a time. Booking fee may be discounted.

3. Booking for a package tour could be a wise choice for some destinations.

4. When planning a more complex trip, a travel agent can save you more time and money.

5. Compare prices online for the best deal. There are websites that help travelers to shop and compare. Some also provide travel tips and guidelines.

6. Play the seasons. Some travel destinations are cheapest at certain times or season of the year. Booking for an off-peak season also would give you the best deal.

For both air and car travel, avoid the crowds by traveling during the week, especially from Tuesday through Thursday. An added bonus is that airfares for travel Tuesday through Thursday are usually cheaper.

Mid-morning and late afternoon flights tend to be less crowded, plus you can really avoid commute traffic during this time. This site also offers the load on late-night flights (also known as red-eye flights for obvious reasons): these flights can help you avoid traffic but it’s only effective if you can sleep sitting up-right on a plane!

And did you know that traveling off-peak means traveling during holidays (not before or after) when airfares are lower and there’s less road traffic?

Some of the most affordable travel deals of the year can be found in the fall. If you find super off-peak dates that fall between major holidays, strike while the iron is hot. Book immediately with your discount travel broker. Never hesitate!

7. Be flexible with travel dates and times. Some airlines and hotels offer substantial discounts if you book one or two days earlier.

8. Smaller airlines often have lesser fees. Additionally, small airlines don’t necessarily mean smaller airplanes.

9. Alternative airport also could provide you with substantial discounts. Ask your travel agent about it.

10. Plan ahead. The earlier you book, the better deal you will have.

11. Buy trip insurance. Insurance will not only save your life but also could save you money. If you end up being sick in foreign country, your insurance back home might not cover it. Thus you might end up using your vacation budget on hospitalization.

12. Sign up for hotel and airline awards programs. Chain hotels usually have award programs; take advantage of it especially if you are a frequent business traveler. Finally, never stop bargaining, always explore the possibility of lower airfare, lower hotel rates.

However, it is important to weigh and compare all options since not all cheap travel deals will give you the travel value you deserved. Travel will be more enjoyable if you get the most of your hard earn vacation budget.

Caffeinated Content

How to Get Cheap and Discount Travel Deals

Thursday, October 9th, 2003
travel discount packages
Lesley Lyon asked:


Traveling is not always expensive and extravagant. As both the airline fares and vacation fares are increasing day-by-day, hard working people are finding it difficult to travel and for them cheap travel is the affordable solution. You can make cheap travel possible by minimizing your expenses on travel and also make travel enjoyable.

For cheap travel you can follow these tips:

Travel packages with discounts are best travel deals; so look for discounted packages on sources like Internet and newspapers. It will be surprising for you that there are packages with discounts available especially for hotels, car rentals, airfares etc.

On your travel, the main expenditure will be on accommodation. The best tip for cheap travel will be opting for inexpensive accommodation. Cheap hotels offer lower prices on accommodation with all the facilities you require. You can also take an apartment on rental basis and it will be cheaper than hotels. You will have a chance to live with the native people and your vacation will be exciting.

Next to accommodation, your major expenditure will be on food. Limiting your food consumption particularly in restaurants can easily make your travel cheap. Eating in supermarkets is quite cheaper. Try to identify discounts offered by restaurants and by utilizing special discounts like senior citizens, kids and so on you can save a lot of money.

Cheap travel can be made if you plan ahead by buying air tickets earlier and choosing off-season vacations. Often the round trips air tickets and onward and return tickets are comparatively cheaper than the one-way air ticket. Always compare the airfare prices for getting the best offer. While looking for cheap air travel, your plan should be flexible. It is also important to remember that direct flights are expensive than stopover flights at one or two cities. By choosing non-direct flights, you can save a lot on travel.

You can plan for your flight and this will save your airfare. At times the airlines offer discounts up to 90 percent for unsold seats and if you are lucky, you can get such deals during eleventh hour travel planning. You have to frequently surf the airlines’ websites to find those exceptional deals. You can also subscribe for their newsletters and get deals through e-mail.

Weekend tickets are more expensive than weekdays and so cheap travel is possible on weekdays. The peak season for travel will be summer and all your expenses will be based on this. So traveling off-season will give you more savings. When you do last minute preparation for travel, you may end up in paying higher price for the services. Online searching for travel always gets you best deal on packages, air tickets and hotels. You get lots of information about cheap traveling from your location and also there will be no need to pay service charges.

Some destinations are offered cheap travel for specific customers and it might not be suitable for mass market. Relying on paid services on your destination will be quite expensive and hence opt for travel books and maps. You also request for compliment visitors guide from the destination’s tourist office, as it will include all the city attractions, coupons and up-to-date maps with accurate information. Even though discounts are not offered by the travel sources at all times, you ask them for discounts. If you are a budget-conscious traveler, you should not be afraid in asking for discounts.



Create a video blog…instantly.

Economical Way Travel Last Minute Advantage Absolute Best Deals

Saturday, August 9th, 2003
travel discount packages
Wirat Muenpan asked:


Another economical way to travel these days is to wait until the last minute and take advantage of the absolute best deals. Another advantage to last minute travel deals is the closer to the reservation date, the possiblity of an even lower price. Budget Travel is Ireland’s number one provider of cheap holidays, last minute holidays and package holidays to a range of destinations. airhitch airhitch airhitch airhitch travel last minute airhitch flights budget airhitch airhitch airhitch airhitch europe student airhitch airline One good website to refer in this regard is ‘lastminutetravel.com’.

So refer these websites, find travel last minute deals and save up! Get a great last minute deal travel package at ebookers and set off on that dream holiday. Get a great last minute travel deal package at Kelkoo and set off on that dream holiday. package holidays lastminute holidays Travel Insurance Kasbah.com has teamed up with some of the best providers of cheap travel insurance from around the world. You may contact LastMinuteTravel.com with any questions via email or toll-free number. And don’t forget to email all the details (and photos!) from your most recent travels, whether they be of the last-minute variety or not. Here are some tips to help you save big on last minute travel.

Here’s what you need to know to avoid getting caught in the shuffle and more last-minute travel tips for the Big Apple. A last minute airline deal is good for on-the-spot travel when you can wait for the next open flight. The flight information for your business travel or last-minute travel is based on the latest information the airline is sharing with us. Orbitz shows you the most business travel and last-minute travel deals from the world’s leading airlines, rental car companies, and hotels. When making last minute travel arrangements, be flexible when it comes to departure dates and times. This comes in handy to the last minute traveler. American Express Travel has a last-minute deals section for travel the next two upcoming weekends. who bought leisure travel online used last-minute travel online products.

We bring you last minute travel deals and information that will save you time and make travel expense management a breeze. Unfortunately, travel vouchers may not be used to purchase any portion of a Last-Minute Package. I think last-minute travel sounds cool, just haven’t done it yet. This is certainly not always possible in the case of “last minute” travel. Use the following search option to find the best deal for your last minute travel needs. The original last minute travel system for discount flights. Even if more people are starting to book ahead as the economy improves, don’t expect last-minute travel services to disappear.

I’m a compulsive comparison shopper and no one’s been able to beat LastMinuteTravel.com’s prices yet. “Travelers have been conditioned to expect higher prices for last-minute bookings,” said Pauline Frommer, editor-in-chief of Frommers.com and special travel advisor to priceline.com. A good resource for saving on spur-of-the-moment trips is SmarterTravel.com’s last-minute airfares database. Choose your trip from thousands of discount travel packages and last-minute deals from the world’s best resorts, hotels, and cruise lines. These last minute travel trips have to be filled and the outfitter is willing to give you a special incentive to get on board.

Our travel experts have handpicked these top last-minute deals, which means you’ll always get the best values. Hotwire A new entrant on the last-minute travel scene, hotwire has a similar concept to priceline. Sorted links - last minute travelDirectory of last minute travel1. We hope you were able to find what you were looking for and save money on your purchase at LastMinuteTravel.com! People’s concerns about the safety and inconvenience of air travel combined with economic uncertainty have translated into a huge upsurge in last-minute travel. the Canadian specialists in last minute travel. http://www.last-minute-travel-vacation.com/

Caffeinated Content - Members-Only Content for WordPress

Airline Consolidators The Best Source For Travelers

Saturday, March 15th, 2003
travel discount packages
George Wood asked:


Airline consolidators are a source for travelers to find airline tickets at huge discounts. This is because these consolidators buy tickets from different airlines in bulk and sell them to passengers at discounted rates after taking out their commission and other charges. The airlines hire consolidators to find customers who will be willing to buy tickets at low rates in order to make a full flight and leave no empty seats. There are offline as well as online consolidators available for travelers.
Online consolidators are the easier way to go around since they are just a click away. There are many websites that offer comparison of different flight prices across a range of airlines. You will be able to find the cheapest of flights at any time of year you wish to fly. Since the market has grown considerably in the last decade, competitors have entered the consolidator market to increase the number of online and offline consolidators and therefore more and more services are being offered to the customers to succeed in the race. The websites list all the benefits and features they have to offer to their customers in order to get more attention. But you need to be careful because sometimes there are fake consolidators as well. It is recommended that you check several options before picking one.
There are three kinds of air travel consolidators: wholesale consolidators, online travel consolidators and destination specialists. You may want to pick one of these for the kind of flight you are planning. If you hire a travel agent, he or she may get in touch with one of the wholesale consolidators to get you a possibly cheaper flight. These consolidators do not sell tickets directly to passengers. Online consolidators are available at websites such as Travelocity, Expedia, Skyscanner, Cheap Flights and many others. You just need to search on the Internet to find these websites. They will, in turn provide you with search options to find the best possible deals in your area. Destination specialists target only some popular destinations and bring discounted packages to their customers.
When you buy airline tickets through a consolidator you have to check a few things. First of all check the price of your package. See if it includes taxes and other hidden charges. Some sites list only the price of the ticket and do not explicitly state the hidden charges that are associated with it.
Consolidator airfares are sometimes as low as 70% of the original price fixed by a particular airline. In order to get the best consolidator package, tell your consolidator how flexible your timings are. If you can afford to wait, then they will come up with a very inexpensive flight on one of the off-peak days or seasons. Also tell your consolidator if you are enrolled into some frequent flier programs to benefit from a special offer if one is available.
Since there are many options available on the net, do not limit your search to a few sites only. Try to spend some time comparing different sites and reading their reviews and other details to get an idea of how popular they are. Last, but not the least, after receiving your tickets from the consolidator, check your details on them, especially the date of your departure. You do not want to get into trouble when the departure time comes and you are at the airport waiting for your flight. So it is better to check all things beforehand.

Caffeinated Content - Members-Only Content for WordPress

Getting The Most Out Of Your Travel Deals

Monday, February 10th, 2003
travel discount packages
James Yee asked:


Today, travelers could be overwhelmed by the numerous travel deals being offered. Therefore you should weigh all options before choosing the right one in order to get the most out of it.

The greatest secret to getting an affordable airfare or best travel discounts is to know your budget and what do you really want. Additionally, you should shop and compare deals until you run out of options and choose the best among them.

And importantly, always plan ahead. Nothing is too early when it comes to vacation planning. This will give you ample time to search and choose.

Whether you’re a business traveler or planning a family vacation, here are some travel tips to save you money and choose the best deal:

1. Buy your ticket directly. Travel agents usually charge between $15 and $35 per ticket.

2. Buy your ticket all at the same time instead of buying one at a time. Booking fee may be discounted.

3. Booking for a package tour could be a wise choice for some destinations.

4. When planning a more complex trip, a travel agent can save you more time and money.

5. Compare prices online for the best deal. There are websites that help travelers to shop and compare. Some also provide travel tips and guidelines.

6. Play the seasons. Some travel destinations are cheapest at certain times or season of the year. Booking for an off-peak season also would give you the best deal. 7. Be flexible with travel dates and times. Some airlines and hotels offer substantial discounts if you book one or two days earlier.

8. Smaller airlines often have lesser fees. Additionally, small airlines don’t necessarily mean smaller airplanes.

9. Alternative airport also could provide you with substantial discounts. Ask your travel agent about it.

10. Plan ahead. The earlier you book, the better deal you will have.

11. Buy trip insurance. Insurance will not only save your life but also could save you money. If you end up being sick in foreign country, your insurance back home might not cover it. Thus you might end up using your vacation budget on hospitalization.

12. Sign up for hotel and airline awards programs. Chain hotels usually have award programs; take advantage of it especially if you are a frequent business traveler. Finally, never stop bargaining, always explore the possibility of lower airfare, lower hotel rates. However, it is important to weigh and compare all options since not all cheap travel deals will give you the travel value you deserved. Travel will be more enjoyable if you get the most of your hard earn vacation budget.

Create a video blog

Finding Good Deals On Vacation Packages

Thursday, June 6th, 2002
travel discount packages
MIKE SELVON asked:


Most people work hard all throughout the year, so with anticipation, they look forward to making the most of their vacation when they will have the opportunity to get away from their daily routine and get out and see the world. One of the best ways to make the most of a travel budget is to look for good deals on vacation packages.

By shopping for a travel vacation package, instead of making arrangements separately for the different aspects of vacation travel, a family is often able to save anywhere from twenty percent to as much as sixty percent on the overall cost of their vacation. This is because the travel companies that put together these packages work hard to negotiate special rates, for things like the airline flights, the hotel rooms, tourist attractions and even special tours.

The more successful the travel agencies are at negotiating special vacation packages, the better price they will be able to provide to their customer base. In addition, they will also attract brand new customers when they can offer super discounts on travel. The end result of these special packages is the best deals on airline tickets, hotel rooms and car rentals.

With the significant increase in fuel costs this season, more and more people will be looking for the best rates they can find, especially if they are trying to make travel arrangements for the whole family. As a result, discount travel packages will be in even greater demand.

In fact, with the rising costs of travel, some families will find it almost impossible to get out of town for their vacation time unless they can find cheap vacations. However, the best opportunity for saving a significant amount of money on travel will be through prearranged, packaged deals that are offered.

While there are significant savings to be enjoyed with these packaged travel deals, there can be problems that crop up as well. Usually, the biggest problem has to do with the scheduling of the trip. The travel packages with the biggest discounts will be those that are available for travel during the off season.

Most of the time, the off season is during the time of the year when kids are still in school, which can make it challenging for families to enjoy the biggest savings. However, with some patience and careful shopping, there are still good deals on travel packages for all times of the year, although the savings will not be as significant during the busy travel season.

The deals that you can find with vacation packages will depend upon a number of factors, including when you travel, how long the trip will be and the level of accommodations that are expected. Often these vacation deals also come with admission tickets to the big-name attractions that are nearby and sometimes provide a packet of coupons that can help you save even more while you are in town.

Website content