Every Budget Traveler Should Know Travel Off-Season In sports, the off-season is a time for athletes to relax. When it comes to vacations, the best time for you to relax is also the off-season. Imagine going anywhere you want for less money and avoiding the crowds. The Caribbean or Colorado in the summer, not the winter. Similarly, he suggests Alaska in the winter, not the summer. When you travel off-season, You can avoid long lines, crowds and higher prices. Why go when is overcrowded, go you can go when its tranquil & quiet. It is all about YOU getting away from all the stress from home and enjoy the serenity. Dont Book Your Flight Too Far in Advance The early bird certainly catches the worm, but not always the best airfare. The best time to start comparison shopping for flights 45 to 60 days before youd like to travel. Airline computers are intentionally set up not to give you a deal outside that time frame because they are looking at the law of supply and demand. Know the Rule If your plane is delayed for any reason other than weather, you need to invoke Rule 240. It is the one rule airlines never want you to know about, he says. If you invoke Rule 240, that means the airline has to take the ticket and endorse it over to the next available flight. The next available flight can be on any major airline. Almost all the big domestic airlines participate in Rule 240. If you still face a delay or cancellations, I recommend you keeping a written record of every person you speak with. Having records to refer to will help you get a refund or a voucher for your trouble. Avoid BIG Hotels Sure, you have to stay somewhere, but hotels arent always the best value for your money. Try renting a room in an apartment, or even the entire place. Also, if you live near a tourist attraction or big city like San Francisco, take advantage of apartment swapping. You can trade up through companies that can be found online. Go with a larger company for the widest array of options. Get a Guarantee If you do choose to stay in a hotel overseas, Get your hotel to guarantee your rate in U.S. dollars so you are not affected by a further slide of the dollar against a foreign currency. Live Like a Locals Avoiding tourist traps by eating at neighborhood restaurants where the locals eat. Everywhere in the world, locals go to thier regular spot where for Good Quality Food at a decent price. So when your traveling, avoid overpriced touristy areas, and go to the local hangouts. Heres how to find them: • Never ask a hotel for recommendations. They are often paid to drive customers to certain restaurants. • Go up to someone on the street and ask where they would eat. • When in a country that speaks another language, avoid places with menus in English if your traveling to foreign places. You can find wonderful quality home-style places visited by locals at fraction of the tourist places. Go Where the Dollar Takes You Further Try to go where the dollar still has purchasing power—South and Central America and Canada are great options. Turkey, Switzerland and Croatia havent switched over to the Euro yet and are more budget-friendly. Also Portugal, El Salvador and the Philippines you dollar will travel further. These affordable destinations are rich in culture, history and natural beauty. Brought to you by: besttravelbids
Posted on: Thu, 13 Feb 2014 08:07:26 +0000
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