Save Big Money On Travel. See the World!

Everyone should travel.  Why?  We need it to remove our cobwebs, and our prejudice.  I have never heard an elderly client nearing death complain that they spent too much time in worlthless travel pursuits.  Rather we normally hear, " I wish I had spent more time with my family.  I wish I had seen more of the world.  I wish I could stand one more time at the ocean's edge."

Interestingly, when you ask people to write down their goals and dreams, travel as a couple or family is often near the top of the dream list, but near the bottom of the do list.  Why?  Two reasons:  We don't do what we do not prioritize.  We don't do what we cannot easily afford.  This article is about making travel affordable.  Fortunately, the availability of travel resources, like train, plane and bus seats, as well as resort and hotel rooms promote a certain affordability each and every year.  A seat that is not sold can never be resold.  A room that is not slept in can never be resold for that missed night's lodging.  And in this truth is your door to great travel experiences at a marked discount.

It is a big world with many wonderful experiences waiting for you.  Are you going? What are you waiting for?

I believe that everyone, health permitting, should travel and do it frequently.  There just is no excuse for not taking the trip of your dreams once a year.  You have the money.  You just spend it on other things.  Travel is one area that is target rich for big savings.  With good planning it is possible to shave fifty, even seventy percent off some of the costs of traveling.  No, you do not have to sleep on the side of the road.  In fact, my preference is to get four star hotel rooms for two star rates.  But you do have to plan ahead, maintain a little flexibility and focus on the desired result.  You can use the services of a travel agent who now charge a minimum fee for travel arrangements, or your can book direct.  Before you book directly, buy a good book on discount travel, visit several of the great discount travel websites, and check out the travel section of a large metro newspaper.

1. The number one money saver is in this area of planning ahead.  You can save half or more on air fares by booking  and buying long in advance.  If you are booking hotels in Paris, the price of an
advanced booked room compared to the last minute can be one third!  It pays to plan ahead.  Nearly every hotel and resort in the world is willing to sell a few rooms for every night at a deep discount for advanced bookings.

2. The number two money saver is available because travel experiences are a perishable commodity. Tourism is a very inexact science and therefore every hotel, restaurant and car rental agency would rather have some income than no income on an unused rental or meal un-served.  There are bargains frequently available to fill out the day's available revenue.  You must ask, or you must retain a "bucket Shop", a firm that specializes in finding such bargains for the wise traveler.  On any given day, someone on the airplane spent $600 to fly, and someone else spent $100 to fly to the same destination; someone spent $100 for a nights sleep and someone else spent $38 for a nights sleep in the same hotel;  someone spent $4 for the resident's special at the restaurant, and someone at the next table ordered the exact same breakfast and paid $7.50.  You must ask for the rates.

3. The number three money saver is in the packaging.  You will always save on a package deal from a bucket shop that puts together the airfare, meals, hotel, transfers, and special event packages.  You just have to shop the market to find the best packagers.  Airlines, hotels, and transporation firms are content to sell wholesale to a bucket shop at steep discounts for the benefit of knowing a certain block of seats, rooms, or tour group tickets are pre-sold.

4. The number four money saver is in the coupon books available through coupon houses.  Any golfer that travels and golfs is throwing half his money away without a course coupon book.  There are discounts available at over five thousand hotels, car rental agencies and attractions.  Buy or obtain a coupon book for your destination.  Visit the websites of the desired destination.  You may locate free coupons on the site for booking directly.

5. The number five money saver is in the change from peak to off season.  This is called shoulder season pricing.  Savings are thirty percent typically.  When the snow birds stop going south but there is still winter to deal with, the rates drop.  We once headquartered in a resort community that receives two million visitors annually.  Room rates  vary by a factor of five, from fifty dollars to over $250! During the change from peak to non-peak, rooms are half or less.

6. The number six big money saver is to buy cancellations.  A person who has prepaid for a vacation but due to circumstances cannot utilize his or her space will not typically receive a full or even a partial refund.  Any money received is better than no money received.  A couple in our church who had recently retired and a self employed business man who could leave his business in the hands of his children traveled together at a moments notice often for thirty cents on the dollar to the islands, to Alaska, to London, to Disney World, and New Orleans.  They always had a great time and kept a suitcase packed.  The notice is often less than a couple of weeks.  Keep the passport current, and be ready!

7.  The number seven big money saver makes you a quasi travel coordinator for even small groups.  For many years we arranged national and international conferences for groups of our clients.  We would book the airfares, transfers from airports to hotels, rooms, and a few meals together.  Our benefit:  We received discounts for our entire group, and free air fare passes for every group of seats, a complimentary suite at the hotel , and additional benefits like free golf, tennis, and excursions.  Book your extended family for a reunion cruise, and watch the price come down!  Planning a ski trip.  Run an ad to invite others to participate with you on the same dates to reduce everyone's price.  Visiting Rome or the Holy land.  Jump in with a tour or form your own by linking with a travel service.

Make Travel Experiences a Part Of Your Good Life by observing four rules!

Rule Number One:  Everyone should travel.  It is an eye opening, culture broadening experience for young and old alike.

Rule Number Two:  Everyone can, if they choose, travel at a discount.

Rule Number Three:  Planning ahead and shopping thoroughly is the best method of saving big bucks.

Rule Number Four:  Exercise caution in booking over the phone or over the net with your credit card information by knowing all penalties attached to the terms of your anticipated discount.

There are so many promotional fares available, there is just no excuse for not taking that dream trip.  Take it soon!

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