An expert guest columnist suggests travel tips
By Bill Miller
CheapOAir.com
While travel rates and fares are not as low as they used to be, there are still many more affordable deals right now than in recent history, especially going into the New Year and one of the slowest periods of the year for tourism.
WHAT TO DO:
—Know when the best time of day to book travel deals. The day and even the time you book could save you big cash. Always check airline tickets on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday overnight. Airlines will update their fares through what is called a Global Distribution System (GDS) during this time and that could make a big difference on your wallet in the end.
—Sign up for email fare alerts, and follow travel providers via social media, such as CheapOair’s twitter and Facebook. For emails, you can provide the market you are interested in flying to, and emails and updates can be sent to you on a regular basis to inform you when fares are increasing or decreasing. As for social media – often times you will find last minute “fire sales” that can be up to 50 percent off.
—Look at and compare multiple brands before you make your purchase. Sometimes going off brand can result in extra savings.
WHAT NOT TO DO:
–Don’t only go to an airline directly, as it will limit what you see to just that airline. Always be flexible with your search, as it has been proven that people who can leave a day earlier or later wind up saving big bucks in the end. Searching across multiple airlines provides you the best opportunity to get the best fare available.
—Don’t go into major debt when planning a vacation. If you're looking to travel this year, but just do not have the time or funds, why not take a vacation closer to home? While the word 'staycation' might turn some people off, you can actually make the most out of travel without going far away. Two ways to get a break from everyday life without going into major debt are to look for deals under $199 for a weekend getaway to a nearby state or stay at a hotel in your own city.
—Don’t pay for travel searches. Travel searches are provided by retailers to customers for free, so charging for them is a sign that the source may be untrustworthy.
Bill Miller is a Senior Executive of CheapOair.com, which says it is the seventh largest online booking travel site and a “leading supplier of cheap flights, hotels, car rentals and vacation packages.”
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