Here are some booking tips to help you save money on your next trip or vacation.
flight
You can pay less if you book your flight 21 days or more in advance. Airlines realize that when you have to fly at the last minute, you have no choice but to pay more. To take advantage of lower fares, purchase tickets 3 to 21 days in advance. If you plan to travel intercontinental, you must purchase it at least 21 days in advance.
Airlines are expected to offer 14 day advance or 7 day advance fares. Sometimes they offer special 3-day prepaid rates, which happen during ticket wars and don’t last long. When this happens, you don’t have to wait forever to get information and make a reservation.
car rental
Booking your rental car in advance can also help you save money. Rental car companies know when their competitors have already booked their cars through advanced revenue management systems. When the rental demand is high, brokers will take advantage of the system by charging higher fees. If you book in advance, you don’t have to worry about this situation causing room rates to go up.
You can save money by renting a car far from the airport. In these other places there may be less taxes. You will usually get the cheapest price if you rent in the afternoon or Thursday and stay Saturday night.
hotel room
Booking in advance will save you money on hotel rooms. Nowadays, you can get guaranteed low prices for hotel rooms as online competition makes prices competitive.
You can get a better price if you buy a non-refundable room. But remember: once you’ve bought it, you can’t cancel it for any reason.
online help
There are many online resources to help you save money on travel. Priceline.com is one such site that helps you get deals on airfare, car rentals, and hotel rooms on your next trip. Remember that you can save a lot of money by planning well in advance of your intended departure date.
