The Beginner’s Guide To Finding and Booking Awesome Travel Packages
There is nothing better in the world than a good vacation. Actually, finding good travel packages to ensure a good deal on a good vacation is the very best thing. Locating those money-saving items, however, can be a difficult endeavor, particularly if you are new to the game. Thankfully, there are a few tricks and guidelines to follow that will almost guarantee you a few saved dollars. Take a look at the following to help you plan your next great vacation:
1. Find a spot you like and sign up for deal alerts.
More hotels, bed and breakfasts, car rentals, and even airlines offer periodic discounts and specials for those who are a part of their email lists. Sign up on an email list to take advantage of the deals. The key to benefitting from this service, however, is to regularly monitor the offers. People who save the most on travel packages generally keep a vigilant eye out for specials. Ask familiar businesses if they have email lists and then subscribe. Be careful not to knock the businesses into your spam folder!
2. Be flexible on your dates.
Hotels and other businesses that rely on tourism and business travel are constantly trying to book their services. This can mean that off-season times and weekdays are less busy than other times of the year and week. Keep an open schedule to book a less-popular day for travel. Call ahead or search online for weekday specials. Also, booking your trip way in advance or last-minute are both better methods than planning a standard trip. Many businesses like to fill up early, so planning a trip more than 6 months in advance can help you score some great deals. Likewise, booking last-minute, usually less than two weeks before your trip, can also land you some great deals. The key is to check for deals and remain flexible in your plans.
3. Travel in a group.
Traveling alone can be a liberating, and sometimes necessary experience, particularly if you are going for business purposes. But a significant amount of the travel packages available are priced for two or more people. If you are able, find someone to book with you. Single members can often incur surcharges on their visits. If you are traveling with multiple people, like two families, then consider booking together and splitting the costs after. Always mention to the business with whom you are booking that you are bringing a group and see what type of group discounts they offer. If you book in a block, chances are good you will save some money.
4. Consider the area.
Be flexible on your location, if possible. A great option for travel packages is locating a spot that offers several different possibilities for travelers, like restaurant specials, museum discounts, and winery trips, for instance. Locations that advertise as getaway spots are usually great spots to try, particularly those smaller winery towns. Call the concierge at potential hotels or the Chamber of Commerce for local recommendations. The key to saving money is to just ask!