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Much of the current travel news is about increasing airfares. Savvy travel consumers will continue to save money in this environment. I want you to be a savvy travel consumer.
The news is like Chicken Little running amok yelling the sky is falling. Wow, the sky falling would be really bad for air travel.
Don’t be frustrated. Don’t believe the hype. You can spend LESS on airfares.
Here are some resources to find current airfare deals:
- Be Flexible. Being flexible is my number one rule for getting the best deal on all aspects of travel. Yes, many airfares are increasing but there will be airfare deals. Flexible travelers will find cheap airfares.
- Small Carriers. Sure, the big dudes will certainly raise most of their fares but the smaller guys might not. Smaller carriers are the ones to push buttons and force bigger carriers to react.
- Frequent Flyer Awards. Airlines have also increased fees to redeem frequent flyer awards but they can still be good deals. Yesterday, I found last-minute award travel between DC and Honolulu in March for 35,000 points and $110 ($100 booking fee and $10 taxes). The same seat costs almost $1,000.
- Don’t Fly. Yes, I said it. If you do not have to fly, then don’t fly. Take an air travel sabbatical. Make it a great time to explore closer to home. Take road trip vacations. Stick it to the air travel industry by not paying for their crappy service.
- Save Elsewhere. I recently read in Tim Ferriss‘ book to not try to make back lost money the same way. If you lose money on one investment (airfares, in this scenario), then try extra hard to make more money in a different area. If you must fly and pay more than usual, save money with a car rental deal, cheaper lodging, or less expensive dining. Maybe it is a good time to try house swapping?
Here are some resources to find current airfare deals:
- create airfare alerts with your favorite booking engine (like Kayak and Travelocity). They will send you an e-mail message with current airfares for your preferred destination(s).
- use airfarewatchdog to see the current airfare deals from or to your preferred destination. For instance, I can view all of the current airfare deals from Washington, DC airports. I can also view all of the current airfare deals to Honolulu. If I see a great fare from another airport (Las Vegas, for example), then I can use my split ticketing strategy to save money.
- Travelzoo publishes a Top 20 deal list every Wednesday at noon (eastern US time). The Top 20 list has incredible deals, including packages, vacations, lodging, and airfares.
- I love trolling the FlyerTalk message boards for airfare deals found by passionate frequent travelers. I often see deals announced on FlyerTalk (particularly in the Mileage Run forum) before any other source. If you really want to be an airfare guru, master the Trick It thread (currently 658 pages of cryptic but phenomenally valuable tips).
*** By the way, here are a few of the current airfare increase articles: AP, Boston Globe, Jenkins, McGinnis
Share your thoughts by leaving a comment. Also see McCoolTravel.com‘s previous 8 Great article on getting cheap airfares.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool).
© 2011, Charles McCool
When looking for hotel discounts, I sometimes find lower rates through visitor centers. I encourage you to include visitor centers in your trip planning toolbox to save money and time on future lodging searches.
Here are two methods to find discounted hotel rates from visitor centers.
- Search Online. For Washington, DC, I sometimes find cheaper hotel rates through the visitor center reservation service than anywhere else. The Monterey, CA visitor website organizes lodging specials in one place. You will save time if not money.
- Personal Visit. Especially when I am on a road trip or in a new city, I will visit the local visitor center or Chamber of Commerce. Browse the brochure racks for hotel and B&B discounts. They often have information for surrounding areas. Ask the staff for recommendations and other discounts. I booked a hotel room at a New Orleans French Quarter hotel for under $35 through a Louisiana State Welcome Center worker. Visitor centers also carry coupon books.
Visitor centers can negotiate rates with hotel properties and often serve as a clearinghouse for excess inventory. They sometimes offer lower rates than other suppliers and can book rooms that are not included in Priceline, Hotwire, Hotels.com, and AAA.
In addition to cheaper lodging, visitor centers are a great source of information and other discounts, on attractions, dining, tours, and transportation.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool).
Charles McCool can be contacted directly by email (CharlesMcCool -at- gmail -dot- com).
© 2011, Charles McCool
More great travel tips and information were posted this past week on McCool travel. Topics included finding cheaper flights by phone, saving money and having more fun on local buses, and an interview with Jason Scott, CEO of Sunday Drive. If you have not yet read the 11 Twitter Accounts post, you may be the only one; it is our most read post, by a wide margin. Perhaps even more exciting is that a meeting room was reserved for our first public travel seminar. Details will be posted next week at FunTravelSeminars.com. Exclusive preview, just for you: DATE is March 4, 2011, TIME is 1pm-4:30PM, and LOCATION is Reston, Virginia.
The blog posts from McCool Travel this week:
January 10: Looking for the Cheapest Flight: Try the Phone!
January 11: 11 Twitter Accounts to Follow for Travel Deals
January 12: Travel Tips From Travel Experts: Jason Scott
January 13: Local Buses=More Fun, Less Cost
January 14: Travel Tip: You Get What You Ask For
What topics would you like McCool Travel to cover in the future?
Please share your responses by leaving a comment below or contacting me directly by email (CharlesMcCool -at- gmail -dot- com).
May you have safe, fun, and memorable 2011 travels.
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool).
© 2011, Charles McCool
To celebrate 1/11/11 in the United States and 11/1/11 in the rest of the world, here are 11 Twitter accounts you should follow for travel deals. I can only hope the time where you are reading this is 1:11 11:11 (or 1111).
@airfarewatchdog (owned by @SmarterTravel)
@Travelzoo (legendary Top 20 list released Wednesday noon NYC time) regional accounts include: @TravelzooNYC and @TravelzooLA
@bestraveldeals (general travel deals)
@travel_ticker (hand-picked travel deals from @Hotwire)
@getatraveldeal (general travel deals)
@johnnyjet (money saving travel expert)
@rickseaney (CEO of @FareCompare)
@JetBlueCheeps (announces super cheap flights Tuesday mornings)
@Quikbook (discount hotel rates)
@BestFares (Snooze You Lose and more travel deals)
@thedealmap (restaurant and entertainment discounts)
Bonus: @CharlesMcCool (that is me!)
Do you follow other Twitter accounts that list travel deals? Let me know! …and, of course, happy 1/11/11. I cannot wait for 11/11/11.
Share responses by leaving a comment below or contacting me directly by email (CharlesMcCool -at- gmail -dot- com).
For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool).
© 2011, Charles McCool
Face it, most of us (no one?) wants to spend hours looking for travel deals. Right? Right!
Even though I am relatively good at uncovering travel deals, I would rather do other things (like, of course, travel). That is why I look forward each week to Wednesday. Around noon (eastern US time) every Wednesday, a top 20 travel deals list is published by TravelZoo.
The TravelZoo Top 20 Travel & Entertainment Deals is my window shopping fix. Each list includes discount rates on hotels around the world, package vacations, and flights.
This week’s TravelZoo Top 20 list includes a $230 flight from DC to St. Lucia, a $600 Ireland vacation (including flight, car, and 6 nights in 3 bedroom cottage), great hotel rates in Orlando, San Diego, Bangkok, Nassau, and more.
Recently, I booked a $99 Manhattan hotel for January. Last year, my family spent Spring Break in a $99 2-story, 2 bedroom condo in Hilton Head. Both deals were through TravelZoo. There have been others.
Register to receive the TravelZoo newsletter on the TravelZoo homepage so that you do not miss any deals. You can also choose to visit TravelZoo.com every week or whenever you wish.
Besides my weekly window shopping fix and booking my own deals, I have received positive feedback from others that I have suggested TravelZoo to (in my travel seminars and otherwise).
Happy Window Shopping for Travel Deals!
Be sure to follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool).
© 2010, Charles McCool
