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This is a repost of a recent post. The information is important enough to repeat. Strongly consider buying Entertainment books for your upcoming travels during the next year. Entertainment books are now on sale online and in stores.
Every year about this time (early to mid October), I want to hurry up and use a bunch of my Entertainment book coupons.
Entertainment.com Promo – 9 October 2012
Most Entertainment book discounts expire on November 1–after which the next year’s edition is active.
You see, Entertainment books have SO MANY discounts that it is impossible to use them all.
On the other hand, the value of an Entertainment book is recouped after using two discounts–every additional use is truly saving money! You decide how much money you want to save.
That is why the Entertainment book is better than Groupon, Living Social, and other discount programs.
With Groupon, Living Social, etc., you buy one certificate at a 50% discount (usually) for one use. For instance, pay $15 for a $30 dining certificate.
With an Entertainment book, you pay about $30 for hundreds of 2-for-1 discounts.
The other night, I used the Entertainment card to get $15 off an entree at Supper Club of India in Herndon.
PLUS, there are hundreds of coupons for local restaurants and activities (including movies, dry cleaning, grocery, other shopping).
PLUS, each Entertainment book offers opportunities for discounts at national, mail order, and order by telephone vendors (flowers, dining, shopping, and more).
PLUS, and the BEST reason for me, each Entertainment books offers fantastic lodging and car rental discounts. They also offer other travel discounts (air, cruise, tours, package vacations), of which I have not used.
So, YES, Entertainment books ARE still worth buying. Entertainment books are better deals than online services such as Groupon.
There are several ways to get discounts on Entertainment books:
- Through Entertainment.com, sign up for auto delivery of next year’s book to get a discount on current edition.
- Through Entertainment.com, they offer discounted rates throughout the year (holiday specials, for instance).
- Buy your book when you need it. For instance, wait until June to buy a book for your vacation to San Diego in July. The book will be about half price then, through Entertainment.com.
- Buy the book at Costco. Last year, my book was $10 less than retail.
- Apply a store discount. When I shop at CVS, I usually get a coupon for $5 off $25 purchase.
- Share books with a neighbor, friend, or coworker. You can split the initial cost and coupons.
For more information about Entertainment discount books visit Entertainment.com and read my previous posts: Travel Tip: Better Than Groupon, 50% Lower Hotel Rate in 5 Easy Steps, Restaurant Discounts – Dining Deals,
Previous McCool Travel post ====> Scenic and Historic Loudoun County Virginia (Waterford)
To read previous posts in the Road Trip Diet series click here.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool). You can also follow me on LinkedIn, Pinterest, Klout, and StumbleUpon.
© 2012, Charles McCool
I hope my previous post convinced you that Entertainment coupon books are still worth buying.
Entertainment coupon books allow you to save hundreds or thousands of dollars (it is up to you!).
My previous post showed you six ways to save money off the retail cost of a new Entertainment book.
Well, I just purchased my new 2013 local edition book.
And saved 43%.
How?
Well, the retail price is $35. The books are being sold for $19.99 at my local Costco.
I saved $15, almost 50% off the retail price.
McCool Travel: 2013 Entertainment Coupon Book at 43% Discount
BONUS: at Costco, the Entertainment books are on open tables so that you can browse through them and determine whether you want one. Believe me, you want it! However, you can look at the index to see which local restaurants participate, for instance. At Barnes & Noble, CVS, and other stores, Entertainment books are usually behind the counter and/or shrink wrapped.
Happy Discounting!
For more information about Entertainment discount books visit Entertainment.com and read my previous posts: Travel Tip: Better Than Groupon, 50% Lower Hotel Rate in 5 Easy Steps, Restaurant Discounts – Dining Deals,
Previous McCool Travel post ====> Are Entertainment Books Still Worth Buying?
To read previous posts in the Road Trip Diet series click here.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool). You can also follow me on LinkedIn, Pinterest, Klout, and StumbleUpon.
© 2012, Charles McCool
Every year about this time (early to mid October), I want to hurry up and use a bunch of my Entertainment book coupons.
Entertainment.com Promo – 9 October 2012
Most Entertainment book discounts expire on November 1–after which the next year’s edition is active.
You see, Entertainment books have SO MANY discounts that it is impossible to use them all.
On the other hand, the value of an Entertainment book is recouped after using two discounts–every additional use is truly saving money! You decide how much money you want to save.
That is why the Entertainment book is better than Groupon, Living Social, and other discount programs.
With Groupon, Living Social, etc., you buy one certificate at a 50% discount (usually) for one use. For instance, pay $15 for a $30 dining certificate.
With an Entertainment book, you pay about $30 for hundreds of 2-for-1 discounts.
The other night, I used the Entertainment card to get $15 off an entree at Supper Club of India in Herndon.
PLUS, there are hundreds of coupons for local restaurants and activities (including movies, dry cleaning, grocery, other shopping).
PLUS, each Entertainment book offers opportunities for discounts at national, mail order, and order by telephone vendors (flowers, dining, shopping, and more).
PLUS, and the BEST reason for me, each Entertainment books offers fantastic lodging and car rental discounts. They also offer other travel discounts (air, cruise, tours, package vacations), of which I have not used.
So, YES, Entertainment books ARE still worth buying. Entertainment books are better deals than online services such as Groupon.
There are several ways to get discounts on Entertainment books:
- Through Entertainment.com, sign up for auto delivery of next year’s book to get a discount on current edition.
- Through Entertainment.com, they offer discounted rates throughout the year (holiday specials, for instance).
- Buy your book when you need it. For instance, wait until June to buy a book for your vacation to San Diego in July. The book will be about half price then, through Entertainment.com.
- Buy the book at Costco. Last year, my book was $10 less than retail.
- Apply a store discount. When I shop at CVS, I usually get a coupon for $5 off $25 purchase.
- Share books with a neighbor, friend, or coworker. You can split the initial cost and coupons.
For more information about Entertainment discount books visit Entertainment.com and read my previous posts: Travel Tip: Better Than Groupon, 50% Lower Hotel Rate in 5 Easy Steps, Restaurant Discounts – Dining Deals,
Previous McCool Travel post ====> Scenic and Historic Loudoun County Virginia (Waterford)
To read previous posts in the Road Trip Diet series click here.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool). You can also follow me on LinkedIn, Pinterest, Klout, and StumbleUpon.
© 2012, Charles McCool
Have you ever asked a travel company to match an advertised price from a competitor?
Most airlines are copycats anyway. When one carrier drops the price on a route, the other carriers flying that route will match the lower price. When the sale is over and fares goes back up, they magically go up from all carriers.
In the pre-Internet days, every once in awhile I was able to convince an airline to match a deal from another airline. Not always, but sometimes.
Today, airlines offer a take it or leave it menu of airfares. They would no sooner offer a customer an unadvertised price than they would let you fly the plane.
Rental cars are the same.
I usually stick with a basic formula of checking Hertz and National, using my discount codes. That usually gets me the best deal–greatest convenience at close to the lowest price.
Often I will find a tremendous deal with another car rental firm. So, I will use the phone and talk to a representative. They are almost always friendly, professional, and competent. Sometimes they even find a little bit lower rate than I find myself. However, they never match the fantastic deals of other firms. They just don’t.
Lodging is another story.
I find that hotels, especially independently owned motels, are more likely to match competitor’s rates.
On road trips, I will pick up hotel coupon books from welcome centers and rest stops (or use the associated mobile app). Surrounding properties often match a competitor’s rate even if they do not have one of the listed coupons. Thus, I will drive by a line of hotels and motels, pick the nicest one, and ask if they will match the lowest rate coupon. Often Yes but sometimes No.
I once made a mistake on a reservation and went to the wrong chain hotel. I drove to the wrong hotel (which was much, much nicer than where I made the reservation) and of course they could not find my reservation. I insisted and even showed my reservation number. The agent said that was not their reservation code and they had no rates matching that.
However, they would extend me a courtesy rate assigned to industry personnel (flight crews). After checking into my room, I dug out my paperwork and saw that my reservation was at a different hotel. Oops. Good thing that it was a reservation that I could cancel without penalty.
Even though I made a mistake by going to the wrong hotel, I felt travel karma helped me out because I was patient and friendly.
Your results may vary. Mine certainly have. There were many other situations where a property did not match a competitor’s rate.
What are your experiences asking for matching rates?
Previous McCool Travel post ====> Co-Terminals
To read previous posts in the Road Trip Diet series click here.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool). You can also follow me on LinkedIn, Pinterest, Klout, and StumbleUpon.
© 2012, Charles McCool
I often stay at independent hotels or motels, rather than chain hotels, especially on road trips. Not only do I find that I get more value from independent properties, I also experience better service from the workers.
Here are 8 great reasons to stay at independent motels:
- Save Money. Rates are typically lower at independent properties because, for one reason, chain properties have to subsidize a national marketing budget. I also find that I can negotiate lower rates more at independent properties than hotel chains.
- Comfort. It is often easier to find king size beds at independent properties than at hotel chains. Independent hotels and motels often have larger rooms than nearby chain properties.
- Parking. Independent hotels and motels are usually smaller properties with parking available right outside the room.
- Better Service. The front desk staff at independent properties are usually also the owners. They have a vested and personal interest in customer satisfaction and loyalty. They are friendlier and provide better service, in my experience and opinion, than employees of chain hotels. As small business owners, they have better suggestions for things to do, see, eat, and buy in their area.
- Amenities. Most independent property rooms have a small refrigerator and a microwave. Wi-fi is usually fast and free. Independently owned hotels might have their own mini golf course, swimming pool and/or spa, or other facilities that nearby competing chain properties do not have.
- Uniqueness. Independent properties have more character and charm than chain hotels. You might even stay in a cabin, cottage, or other cool property. A place like the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, California has individually decorated and themed rooms. Stay there 100 times and have a different experience each time.
- Location. The location of independent properties favor leisure travelers, especially roadtrippers. Independent properties are usually found on smaller roads, away from major highways and city centers.
- Miscellaneous. Independent properties tend to be quieter because they are generally smaller and do not have interior hallways. They do not have large lobbies that you must walk through to get to your room (see Parking). Owners of independent properties can be more flexible so, for instance, they might have a more pet-friendly policy or allow discounts on longer term stays.
How about you? Have you stayed in independently owned properties? Like or dislike?
Previous McCool Travel post ====> Save Over $100 — 3 Days Only
To read previous posts in the Road Trip Diet series click here.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool). You can also follow me on LinkedIn, Pinterest, Klout, and StumbleUpon.
© 2012, Charles McCool
Sometimes I am surprised that old tricks still work–to find lower airfares, hotel rates, and other travel deals.
I recently searched for a hotel for three nights. The rate was $169 per night.
However, when I searched one night at a time, the first night was $129 while the other two nights were $169.
Airfare searches often assign the highest fare to all passengers, even when a lower airfare is available for some of the passengers.
Yes, some online travel agent websites apply the highest rate across the entire reservation.
When booking lodging for multiple nights or buying airfares for multiple passengers, check rates for individual nights and passengers.
You will often save money.
I covered this topic in a couple of other posts:
- Save Money By NOT Buying In Quantity
Previous McCool Travel post ====> Beware the Direct Flight
To read previous posts in the Road Trip Diet series click here.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool). You can also follow me on LinkedIn, Pinterest, Klout, and StumbleUpon.
© 2012, Charles McCool
Scott Wood of OneFineStay.com recently contacted me about writing a guest column for McCool Travel. It sure is nice to have others share their travel tips; it helps us all learn techniques and strategies for saving money, time, and stress on every trip. Anyone else want to do a guest column? Contact me at CharlesMcCool -at- gmail -dot- com.
onefinestay offers boutique vacation rentals in London. Travelers can rent local resident’s homes for a more authentic vacation experience. Here is Scott’s submission.
——–
In recent years there has been a huge rise in the number of travellers who are looking for an alternative to staying in a hotel whilst on holiday. This has been caused by many factors, the main ones being the increasing number of soulless hotels along with the trend of visitors wishing to explore the “real” city.
This is where home swap/stays become a very viable option, these allow tourists to stay in a real person’s home and sample the life of a real local.
There are three main ways in which home swapping works.
The first is a direct swap. This is when two homes owners from different cities or counties both agree to swap homes for a set period of time. This is a great option for those on a tight budget as no money changes hand but it’s very reliant on the timings and desired locations of both parties matching up. The other main main issue with home swapping is the fear that the quality of the homes do not match and therefore one set of guests would feel hard done by.
The second alterative to staying in a hotel is to rent a spare room in a local’s home. This trend of “couchsurfing” has becoming increasing popular among young travellers as it provides an easy and cheap alternative to hostel rooms, which are often unsecure. Couchsurfing works by home owners posting information of their spare room on a website, travellers can then book and pay for the room online. The homeowner is then responsible for arranging the comings and goings of the guest during the stay. Some people have found this to be great way to travel as they get to meet the homeowner and get their tips on the local area. The fact that you are moving to a person’s home while they are still there can sometimes lead to a lack of privacy for both parties.
If you like the idea of staying in someone’s home but don’t want to have them there or if you’re travelling as a family then an entire home rental is the best option. A home rental allows travellers to live in a real home but the owner is away. Guests have access to the entire home, this means that you get things that you don’t get a in a hotel, such as a kitchen and a fully equipped living room. A onefinestay rental allows guest to stay in an upscale London home and also receive all the services which you would expect from a hotel.
All three of these options allow travellers to see parts of any city that tourists don’t see without having to pay over the odds for a boring hotel room.
Thank you, Scott!
Charles McCool is an independent consumer travel advocate.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool). You can also follow me on LinkedIn, Pinterest, Klout, and StumbleUpon.
© 2012, Charles McCool
In a prior post, I explained how the Entertainment Book is a much, MUCH better bargain than Groupon or any other discount program.
With Groupon, you essentially pay an amount (such as $10 or $20) to save that much money. That is, you buy buy a certificate for a certain restaurant for $10 to save $20 on your visit.
With the Entertainment Book, you spend about $25 to save thousands of dollars over the course of the year. Every year I think I am going to use more discounts than I actually do. I am a bit distressed when late October rolls around and I have a book full of coupons.
However, I use plenty of coupons to justify buying the Entertainment Book each year. One of my favorite local restaurants has coupons for a free entree and free appetizer; that pretty much covers what I paid. I just bought a local edition at Costco for $20.
In addition to many other restaurant trips throughout the year, I will use my Entertainment Book discount for a few car rentals and hotel stays.
The 2012 Entertainment Book discounts began November 1.
Usually each book costs over $30 but there are always promotions through Entertainment.com and other online discount programs like FatWallet.
Charles McCool is an independent consumer travel advocate.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool).
© 2011, Charles McCool
A recent post covered my road trip rules, including not driving on interstate highways and not visiting chains. I admitted that I sometimes break my own rules.
Specifically, on road trips I do sometimes drive on interstates highways and visit chains. Although I really, really try not to do so, there are instances that warrant it.
Here are some exceptions:
Interstates. On my last road trip I was caught in a weather system. It was raining where I was and for several hundred miles in every direction. The forecast showed rain for at least the next two days. Luckily it was the end of my road trip and the interstate was a straight shot back to my home. Normally, if the weather was nice, I would have driven smaller, country roads.
I will also break this rule and drive on an interstate highway to get between scenic drives. Or if I am in a hurry to get somewhere. After all, that is the real purpose of the interstate system.
Sure, every once in awhile, there is an interstate highway that is marked scenic but there is usually a nearby (often parallel) road that has the same or better scenery. When there is an alternative to an interstate, I will take it!
Chains. I most often break my self-imposed chain rule by staying at a chain hotel. If the quality and price are comparable, I prefer to stay at independent lodging properties. After a long day of driving, I consult my iPhone apps (Hotels.com, HotelsByMe, HotelPal, and RoomSaver). If the best rate happens to be at a decent chain property, I will stay there.
My second most common chain rule breaker is large grocery and sundry chains (like Target and WalMart). Again, I try to support local, independent shops but I often find it too convenient to bypass the biggies. On road trips, I can make one stop for a gallon of water, some groceries, suntan lotion, a pillow and towel, cleaning supplies, and so on. It has been a couple of years for me to do so but WalMart parking lots also serve as an emergency lodging option.
The biggest temptation, however, are restaurant chains. I absolutely 100% try to avoid the ubiquitous, omnipresent chains. One, it is never the healthiest option. Two, it is the same taste and experience, whether in Miami or Madrid. I travel so that I can experience different flavors. For instance, on my last road trip, I bought a local cheesesteak grinder from the local “Joe’s Subs” rather than the major familiar $5 sub chain.
That said, I infrequently make exceptions. One is for regional chains, like El Pollo Loco, Pollo Tropical, or even Biscuitville. If the chain is not near my home, then I can somehow justify a visit to a road location as a treat. On my last road trip, I visited Skyline Chili in Louisville, Kentucky. It was after 9pm and everything else was closed. Another exception is for Krispy Kreme.
Still, I really try not to visit chain restaurants as a rule. Even with the almighty Krispy Kreme, I have not visited one in a couple of years. I have bypassed them for local doughnut shops.
Charles McCool is an independent consumer travel advocate.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool).
© 2011, Charles McCool
Consumers buying multiple products (in quantity) receive discounts. This is a standard business rule. Except for one industry. Yep, the travel industry.
OK, to be fair, the travel industry is a bit schizophrenic.
Consumers might get discounted rates when staying at a hotel for a designated number of nights; could be 10 or 30. One might get discounted airfares when buying for a large group with the same itinerary.
However, the most common, typical travel scenarios are nearly always not discounted and actually often cost more.
These typical scenarios are buying more than one airline ticket or booking multiple night stays at hotels.
I am not going to mention any specific airline, hotel, or website but there are several guilty players.
To fight back and save money, buy separate tickets or book individual nights.
Situation 1:
You want to buy flights for your family of four persons. You research airfares and find the best deal. Except that it may not be the best deal. If all four tickets are not in the same fare class (cost the same), then all four tickets will be priced at the higher price. For instance, if two tickets are $200 each but the other two are $275 each, buying four together will actually cost $275 each (not $200 for two and $275 for two). You pay an extra $150 in this scenario.
Situation 2:
You want to book a hotel for five nights. You research hotel prices and find the best deal. Less common than with airfares but many hotels and websites will apply the highest rate to all days during a stay. If rates are $99 per night for three nights and $179 for two nights, some sources will charge $179 each night. You would pay an extra $240 in this scenario.
The Solution:
To save $390 on the above trip (flight and hotel) is pretty simple.
In such situations, I find out what each airline ticket and hotel night would cost. It is easiest to do this by changing the website search parameters. For airfares, I would enter the desired itinerary details and look for fares for 1 person, then 2, then 3, and finally 4. This way I find out how many tickets are available at the lowest price.
Many, many times I have split itineraries with two travelers on two different records (or three on one and one on another).
Similarly, I look up hotel rates for each date during a desired stay. If I can save money by making separate reservations, I will (and have done so many times).
Even less common, I have split car rental reservations in order to save money.
Have you saved money with this technique? Will you try this for future trips?
Charles McCool is an independent consumer travel advocate.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool).
© 2011, Charles McCool
