Traveling How to Avoid A Money-Sucking Nightmare

By: Molten


Traveling can be tons of fun or a money-sucking nightmare. It all depends on how much planning goes into the trip, and it really does not matter if the travel is for business or for a family vacation. Regardless of the purpose, there is no need to spend a small fortune to finance you travel. Rather, all you need to do is look for the deals, on everything from airfare to entertainment, to save your hard earned money.

The very first thing to consider when you are getting ready to travel is whether you need to go by air. You have quite likely heard about, or even used, some of the travel web sites that purport to offer the cheapest possible flights available. But did you know that airlines do not always give the best deal to those sites? It is a known fact that some of the airlines keep their best deals to themselves, and then offer them on the airline web sites. Check out the travel sites, and then check the airlines directly. Chances are you will grab your seats for much less.

Likewise, rental car prices are typically pretty comparable. If you are traveling over a weekend, expect to pay more, though. There are deals to be had, though, especially if you book the car with the flight, whether through a travel site or through an airline directly. Sometimes, you can even translate a slightly higher rental car fee into frequent flier miles if booked through an airline's site. Also, do not neglect to check out the types of cars available. Do you really need the extra-large SUV? Even if there is a great deal on the larger car as opposed to an economy or compact rental, you still have to fill the gas tank before you return it; consider the gas mileage before you sign up for a larger vehicle.

So here we are, with our luggage dutifully collected and loaded in the trunk of the rental. Where to? Ah, yes, the hotel. If you book your travel online, even if it is through an airline directly, did you know that you can obtain discounted room rates? No one pays full price anymore; it is simply a matter of researching the rates and area hotels. Once again, if you are traveling on a weekend, expect to pay slightly higher rates than are offered during the week. So by all means, check out the deals the travel sites offer, and then check with the hotel directly. You may be able to negotiate a lower rate than the impersonal travel web sites offer.

Let's surmise that you have now arrived at your destination, picked up that car, and checked into your hotel. You feel smug, knowing that you saved a load of money on all of these portions of your trip. So now what? Amid all of the travel planning to get there, did you take the time to determine what there is to do and how you can do it? Entertainment budgets are notorious for being too small; there is always some unexpected expense involved with traveling. Whether the food is more than you thought or there is nothing to do in the area, you would be wise to have planned this out, too. Researching the activities that are available in the area and looking for discounts and coupons ahead of time mean you can maximize your vacation time and your vacation dollar.

Generally speaking, travel can be a great source of fun or a complete nightmare. One way to ensure that the travel components you choose are relaxing and as worthy of the money spent is to spend a bit of time researching before booking. After all, spending a lot of money is not favored by most; getting a great value for your traveling dollar is. There is no one thing more satisfying than knowing that the for once, you are not the one who overpaid; in fact, you are the one who scored a great deal.

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Molten Marketing presents: Learn the tips and tricks to travel the world for fun and profit.
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