Saving Money on Travel - Ideas?

Kim · **Saving Money on Travel - Ideas?**

We'd love to take a vacation this summer. What are your tips to get the best deals on restaurants, hotels, and airfare?

ty&nessie'smom · 05-16-2007, 07:56 AM

For military families look for military installations to stay at. Anywhere there is a base there are guest quarters. We stay at the National Guard Officers Quarters when we go home to visit our parents. We pay $18 a night per room. During the summer they have a recreation area that we stay at. It is $10 a night for a 3 bedroom trailer. Don't forget about the military recreation areas and National Guard camps when looking for lodging.

Kellyandgirls · 05-16-2007, 08:28 AM

I soo need travel trips for Car travel!! we are going West

AyeOhKay · 05-16-2007, 08:54 AM

If you are going to a major city, you can buy a discount book at entertainment.com for that city/area and save lots on food/attractions!

We always vacation "off-season" to save on lodging,etc. If you travel after Labor Day, prices in most areas drop dramatically.

I always price compare accomodations, flights, car rentals, etc. with the major online travel sites like hotwire, tarvelocity, priceline, obitz (to name a few). They have super deals sometime!

We always look for a hotel chain that offers free continental breakfast. That saves us a considerable amount of money as buying for six can quickly add up!

Hotels with a kitchenette are a bonus, too. Depending on what type of vacation you're taking, you may wish to do some cooking in the hotel to save on meals. We save by ordering in, too. We always pack our own drinks. Then we can usually find coupons for pizza delivery deals. We always pack our own snacks, too. You can often save on supper time meals if you eat a little early at some restaurants (say 4 o'clock). Some places raise their prices after that time for the same or similar meal.

Another thing to consider in booking lodging is hotel vs. condo vs. rental house. We've actually found that it is often cheaper to rent a house in some areas especially since our large family often has to have two hotel rooms to accomodate us (state fire marshall laws). Some state parks also have great cabins that are available at a great rate.

We always contact the Chamber of Commerce or visitors' bureau for information and discounts. Also, stop at the rest centers as you enter each state. Often, you can find coupons and discounts available there.

Of course, there is always the option of staying with friends or family to save on accomodations.

I know some families who are taking mission trips in leiu of vacations this year. They don't have to pay a thing (their church is covering all expenses) but will have a wonderful family experience in another country to share.

Try camping! Camping can be much cheaper, but be sure to check the campsites fees, etc. before you make this decision. Some are still very costly!

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. HTH someone! I can't wait to read the other tips!

ember15 · 05-16-2007, 08:59 AM

Friends and Family, Its your network. Who do you know? where do they live? do they have a summer place or an extra bedroom? Those are the cheepest places to stay. The other Idea is to take a tent. There are excellent camp grounds across this contry and a tent or car camping will likely be only $15-$30 a night
Restaruants this was something I did on my trip to europe in college. Peanut butter sandwiches while on the road. Fast and cheep and you don't have to keep it in the fridge. If you do that for breakfast and lunch then dinner would be your only meal out and not such a drain. Also order smart. A place known for Large portions is perfect for splitting. Don't order drinks, Don't order extra sides, appatizers or deserts.
Skip souvineer shopping buy a few great post cards.
Gas. Do your research. Some places have higher or lower prices. There are web sites that let you know what the prices are. In my area prices can vary by as much as $0.30 For example I am driving 3 hours south today to visit my family. I filled up last night because I know that if I didn't I would need to get gas mid way and that the little stations out in the middle of nowhere have a higher price or the ones that are in the middle or a city. If I want the cheepest gas I fill up at the station just outside of a military base and they are it because they are competing with the on-base prices which are lower.
My other car trip is check out some books on tape from the library. You get to enjoy the scenery and still be entertained.

ember15 · 08:50 AM

Oh by the way check out getting and entertainment book for anywhere you are going to be staying for a week or more. The 2007 books keep coming down in price as the year goes on. They have some great coupons for hotel stays, activities and restaurants.
http://www.mommysavers.com/deals/entertainment_book.htm

stevesgal · 05-17-2007, 07:24 AM

My biggest tip is to research everything! We usually will think of where we want to go on vacation right after New Years (after we receive our W-2's)- we usually will get an idea how much we can save towards vacation. Then I research for a good package deal at a hotel or resort- then I book that place (you can save a ton of money reserving a room way in advance!). Then I research things to do in the area, find out where locals eat (usually a lot cheaper and great food). Usually in spring places will start putting out brochures that have great coupons and advice about the local area- grab them up in advance (email or mail a request to welcome centers and so on)- they usually will send them out to you! If you don't get a room with a kitchen (we will be having one)- go out for dinner before 5 o'clock- usually resturants will raise their menu prices during these timesr- you avoid the crowds and you save money. If you have a kitchen, use your head about it- make simple easy to cook and clean foods- do you really want to spend your entire vacation in the kitchen cooking and cleaning- I know I don't. A lot of places have coupons- use them!

As far as driving goes- me and Dh will pack the car up the night before, go to bed earlier than usual, put the kids in the car while they are sleeping and go (that way you can knock out a lot of miles before the am rush and you can have many decent quite miles between your home and your destination! Me and DH love it!). I usually will make them a little travel bag with small toys and such for the trip- this year we invested in dual portable dvd players that will play diferent movies- I think it will be a blessing! I also will have in the car a small cooler with drinks, snacks and a few other food items. We don't really have to stop, except for gas and bathrooms- at one of those stops- have a picnic lunch and let the kids run a little to strecth their legs. We usually will get to our destination way before check in time- for the most part we have not been turned away from going to our room- but if that should happen- that is okay, you can familiarize yourself with the surroundings- also a good time to pick up a few groceries and maybe to go one of the attractions that you were planning on going to!

stevesgal · 05-17-2007, 07:29 AM

BTW, we also go camping a lot throughout the year(actually spring, summer and fall)- it can be very expensive if you go out and buy everything all at one time. If you want to start going camping, look for camping equipment at yard sales- you can get a few good cast iron skillets and so on there. We have quite the collection for camping- but it took us many years to get to this point! When we first started camping we only had flashlights, tent, sleeping bags, cooler, wood and a basic survival kit- we did fine then- but camp alot better now (especially since I got a great breakdown chief's table!).

flybygrace · 05-17-2007, 08:08 AM

-check restaurant.com for gift certificates in/near your destination city
-make lunch the biggest meal of the day (that's how it was years ago) to save money
-ask the locals for suggestions on where to go to eat. you may be surrounded by chain restaurants but find out there is a wicked mom & pop joint two miles down the road that is cheaper and has really good food.
-bring snacks that energize and keep you full longer (cheese/crackers, fruit, trail mix, etc) as opposed to chips or fatty snack foods
-for traveling, i definately second the portable dvd player to make your trip as painless as possible.

It's the only way I get up to my parents' house (5 hours) without losing my mind with a screaming toddler in the back. he gets to watch his movies and I can concentrate on the road.
-camping doesn't have to be as primitive as you think. you don't have to sleep under the stars. check out the area/surrounding area for some campgrounds. often times you can get a little cabin with some bunk beds, or even a working bathroom. developed campgrounds usually have working showers/bathrooms within a very short distance of the cabins or camping area. check out girl/boy scout camps and church camps too. you never know until you look around.

phoward336 · 05-17-2007, 09:54 AM

We love to travel, and I second a lot of the tips posted so far. A few that work for us:

- we always split meals, sometimes one meal and a kids meal or appetizer works for all three of us (and bring the baby his food from home). That way you don't eat too much and don't have leftovers you can't save. Our philosophy is if we are still hungry, then great we can have ice cream in an hour or so - we say that, and not once in fourteen years have we actually still been hungry!

- this one may not work for everyone, but I bought a timeshare cheap off ebay (Fairfield points) and we use it to book a week or two a year in a condo - as long as you are flexible about where you go and can handle the yearly fees it can save a lot in the long run. Example, we are going to Orlando in June and swapped my points for a two bedroom villa. Great pool, our own kitchen and lots of room for less than $100 a night (not including the original fees). We can also get last minute condos for as little as $129 a week through RCI, so if you are flexible that can be a plus too. But, I wouldn't recommend this unless you are willing to accept yearly dues for life and know you will be traveling every year for a week or two.

- I second asking the locals - we have found the best "dives" that have wonderful, cheap food by doing this!!!

- I always check out the Frommers website and a Frommers book at the library before our trip.

- for car rides, I stock up on new CD's, DVD's, books for a few months before hand and will dole them out as needed - for our June trip, I got two new DVD's at Meijers a few weeks ago when they had that buy $15 of certain food items get $10 off a DVD - spent $3.41.

Hope some of these ideas help!
Pam