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Use these strategies to step up your travel planning game and score a great deal on your next vacation.
When it comes to travel deals, fortune favors the flexible. By pushing your trip back a week to avoid peak season or traveling on a weekday rather than a weekend, you can save big on airfare, hotels, excursions and more. Feeling spontaneous? Check out last-minute travel deals and you just might book the trip of a lifetime at a steep discount.
Low-hassle travel doesn’t have to come with a high price tag. Travel memberships and hotel loyalty programs make it easy for members to rack up rewards and cash in on a variety of travel-related perks.
Whether that means free nights at hotels, access to premium airport lounges or huge savings on all-inclusive vacations, these programs offer big bang for your buck.
Credit card points and airline miles can significantly reduce travel costs if you choose the right programs and use them effectively. Each program and its perks are different, so before signing up, do your research to determine which offers best suit your travel style and preferences, and which you can truly make the most of.
Ready to book a trip but not sure where to start your search? Social media platforms and internet forums can be excellent resources for finding current and up-to-date travel deals. You can make your search even more effective by choosing a forum or account that focuses specifically on deals from your preferred departure city. AAA Members can also work with a AAA Travel Agent to find travel deals.
Unfortunately, what you see isn’t always what you get when it comes to travel deals. Each year, Americans lose millions of dollars to travel-related scams, which is why it’s so important to know how to recognize and avoid them.
That said, it’s not just scams you’ve got to worry about. Even legitimate businesses sometimes engage in dishonest tactics to trick you into spending more money for less vacation. Here are some tips from AAA travel experts.
If a deal sounds even a little bit too good to be true, that’s a sure sign you should dig deeper and read the fine print before you book —not after. Here are a few things to watch out for:
Look for any availability restrictions. Some offers come with extensive blackout dates or are only good for non-consecutive days of travel. A good rule of thumb: If you have to bend over backward to make it work, it’s probably not a good deal.
Be wary of percentages. You can’t always take travel promotions at face value. Unless you’re consistently monitoring prices for a hotel stay or flight, a deal claiming to be “X% off” can’t necessarily be trusted. Often, it’s just a gimmick to make you think you’re getting a deal, even if you aren’t.
Solo travelers, take note. If you plan to travel alone, look out for the phrase based on double occupancy or per person rates when you’re looking at travel deals. Cruises, resorts and some hotels expect to put multiple guests in each room. Solo travelers desiring a private space may be charged an additional fee, also known as the single supplement.
Scammers will often create fake websites that impersonate real brands and trick unsuspecting site visitors into divulging personal information like credit card numbers or Social Security numbers—or even into sending money directly to the scammer. Here are some red flags to watch out for:
Strange URLs: Learn how to identify scammy URLs. It’s worth noting that scammers often use hyphens in their URLs. For example, someone impersonating AAA Travel could make a fraudulent site cheap-travel-deals-for-aaa-members.com.
Lack of physical address: Reputable businesses will always have a real-world mailing address, which you should be able to find on the Contact Us page of their website. For extra security, you can search the address on Google Maps to confirm it’s a real location.
Poor design quality and typos: Trustworthy businesses invest in the content and appearance of their websites. Rampant typos, low quality visuals, excessive advertisements and pop-ups, and odd site layouts are all signs you may be on a fraudulent site.
Unusual payment methods: Scammers benefit from hard-to-trace methods of payment, such as wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency and even some payment apps.If a payment method looks suspect, don’t use it.
Listen to your gut: If something seems off but you’re not sure why, it’s much safer to steer clear and search for travel deals from companies you know you can trust.
Some companies will advertise a low price and then surprise you with extra charges before you complete your booking. Those can be a gut punch to the travel budget.
Keep an eye out for resort fees, airline class fees, hotel parking fees, booking fees and more. Families traveling with children should also double-check for extra person charges at hotels.
Be sure to review policies for airlines, hotels and online travel sites before you finalize your bookings. Guest reviews can also be a great resource for learning whether a hotel charges additional fees and how much you can expect to pay.
If you’ve found a travel deal that looks good, but you want to make sure it’s being offered by a legitimate business with a good reputation, there are steps you can take to verify deal authenticity and avoid travel fraud.
Great travel deals aren’t about spending as little money as possible when you vacation. They’re about helping you have more money to spend on the things that matter most to you.
If you’d rather take an inexpensive flight so you have more budget for amusement park tickets and treats in Orlando, you can. Or if you just want to kick back, you might splurge on a relaxing flight experience, book discounted lodgings and then spend all your time lounging on the beach in Jamaica.
The point is, travel deals can expand your options. Here’s how to find the deals you need to help make your dream vacation a reality.
Simply getting there can eat up a big chunk of your travel budget, even if it’s not the highlight of your trip. But if you can save on flights, you’ll have more to spend when you arrive at your destination.
Of course, the cost of airfare isn’t the only type off light deal. You can also get great deals on airport parking, travel assistance and insurance, lounge access, passport and visa services, and more.
Tips for Finding Cheap Flights
Unless you’re taking advantage of last minute travel deals, the best time to book is typically one to three months ahead for domestic flights. For international flights, five months ahead is usually when flights are cheapest. If you haven’t decided exactly when you hope to travel, start monitoring prices so you’ll recognize a good deal when you see one.
As with most travel deals, you’ll save more on flights when you’re able to be flexible with your dates—and especially if you can fly on a weekday rather than a weekend. If you want to score some seriously big savings, consider flying on or after major holidays.
Generally speaking, you’ll save money if you fly out of a larger airport rather than a small regional one because there are more flights and airlines to choose from. Keep in mind that early morning and late night flights are usually cheaper as well.
If possible, use points or airline miles to lower the cost of your trip. Compare one-way versus round-trip flights to see if youcan save even more.
A hotel can be merely a place to sleep between adventures of a breathtaking attraction on its own. However you prefer to travel, finding a great hotel deal can help maximize your rest and relaxation.
Tips for Finding Affordable Accommodations
It’s smart to compare the same property on multiple websites—including the brand’s own site. Why? In some cases, you may avoid booking fees from online travel sites. Of course, with a travel membership like AAA, you can get exclusive pricing and discounts on hotels and resorts.
What is the best time to book a hotel? It depends. Research has shown that when you travel to big leisure destinations like Cancún or Hawaii, you’ll usually find the best prices at least three months in advance of your departure. On the other hand, if you’re traveling to big cities like New York, Chicago or Los Angeles, you’re better off waiting to book until you’re about 15 days from departure.
Hotel prices also fluctuate significantly throughout the week. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday are usually the cheapest days to check in. You may also save money by shifting your itinerary to avoid Saturday night, which is usually the most expensive, especially in cities like Miami and Las Vegas that are known for their nightlife. (But if that’s what you’re going for, it’s worth the splurge!)
Don’t forget that hotels and resorts aren’t \your only options for lodging. Vacation rentals can be a great alternative, whether you’re trying to minimize costs by renting a single bedroom or hoping to find more spacious accommodations when traveling with a group.
Finally, it never hurts to expand your search area. Consider a different region or neighborhood and see if you can discover a hidden gem—you might be glad you did.
The truth is, searching out deals for flights and hotels and rental cars and activities can require a lot of time and energy. Once you arrive, you’ve got to keep all those reservations organized, manage your schedule and navigate unfamiliar roads.
Not quite the R & R you had in mind when you decided to go on vacation.
Fortunately, travel packages make it possible to see the world without all the hassle—and there are endless possibilities to choose from. Whether or not you opt to bundle your flight and hotel, indulge in all-inclusive resort amenities, take to the seas (or rivers!) on an unforgettable cruise, or embark on a guided tour of Europe, you can find a vacation package that fits your interests and preferences.
Tips for Finding All-Inclusive Travel Packages
As a rule, peak season comes with peak prices—even if you’ve booked a vacation package. You’ll save more money if you travel off-peak or during shoulder season.
No matter when you choose to travel, many popular hotel brands have invested in all-inclusive resorts, which means you can use points to pay for your trip—or at least earn some.
When you book a stay at an all-inclusive resort, remember that it usually doesn’t matter which type of room you choose. To save extra cash, book the basic room—odds are you’ll spend most of your time enjoying the amenities anyway. Families may save more at resorts where kids stay for free.
Keep in mind that working with a trusted travel agency can boost your savings significantly. Travel agents often have access to special discounts and partnerships that you can’t duplicate when booking on your own. If you do choose to book with a resort directly, always ask about discounts before you go— and don’t forget to ask about upgrades when you arrive.
AAA Travel can help you get the most out of your travel budget. With access to exclusive travel discounts, expert travel agents and so much more, you can book an unforgettable vacation at an incredible rate.
Discover your next destination today!
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