Before you start reading the tips about getting cruise bargains, please bear in mind one important thing – with cruising you are going to be on board of a specific ship for the duration of your holiday. Things that you adore there, will be with you during the whole cruise; things that you hate on this ship, will also be with you during the whole cruise.
Ok, you passed this step and narrowed down the cruise liners. Now you need to look at what prices the cruise lines themselves are offering the holidays for. This will give you an idea of when you are facing a bargain.
Do not rely on the last minute bargains: they are few and far between on cruises. This is too risky, and the attempt to save money will leave you without the cruise.
The help of a specialist travel agent is a wise step to make. Contact agents and ask to be put on their mailing list. If you are interested in a specific line or destination make this known to them.
If you are going on a cruise with kids, remember that children pay full adult price on cruises if they are taking a full adult berth. But there are still some child-specific deals.
Cruise lines offer incentives to book for the following year when you are onboard. Typically you can expect to get a decent amount of money as onboard credit which will mean that you get the benefit of your early booking next year. That is why the loyalty programs is another place where you can save money on a cruise traveling.
Package holidays are the voyages where you get the whole trip, plus the flights, hotels and the transport.
This is how you can get your package holiday bargain.
Last minute package holidays are one of the options, in case are not fussy about destination and have the nerve to wait until the last minute.
You should understand that tour operators often make their biggest profit from extras like insurance, excursions and transport at your destination. Surely youc can find them elsewhere cheaper, but purchasing these extras from your package holiday operator will help you to negotiate a discount on your holiday or even a ‘free’.
Accommodation is not the expensive part of the package. Last minute package deals are often so cheap that you can take the point of view that even if you hate the accommodation. The best bargains are often those that are classified as ‘allocation on arrival’. And this just means that you will be allocated accommodation when you arrive. There is also a halfway option – you are told the resort, the type of hotel or the grade but the final selection will be done when you arrive.
As you can see, with package holiday deals you can find a lot to save money on.
Buying a last minute flight is tricky. But you can pick up a flight bargain.
Check the web sites to find flight operators that cover the location which you wish to travel to and subscribe to their mailing lists. This will help you to hear about all their deals.
Usually the best deals are on flights leaving Monday to Thursday and on domestic flights on a Saturday.
A flight that involves a connection saves you money. This happens because airlines often place a large premium on non-stop flights. If this is not cricual for you, do the connection flight and save extra bucks.
The same applies to the flight time. The ones that do not need a very early start or do not involve traveling over night. Being more flexible on your flight times can show you the road to huge savings.
By the way, do stick to your destination. You can go to a nearby airport and drive the last hour or so. Once again, this can save you money.
Also consider air courier travel. To be able to become a courier you will have to be very flexible, prepared to travel alone with very little luggage, but on the plus side you will get to travel to new places very cheaply.
In case you booked an airline ticket and the price goes down, make sure to contact the airline and ask for a refund. But to be able to do this, read the small print about refund policy and ask if it applies.
When you call the hotel on the very day when you intend to arrive – you can win nice money saving bargain. Hotels are prepared to offer substantial discounts on the day (this is logical as from their point of view an empty room is a waste of money).
But this ‘last minute hotel booking’ strategy is viable if you are traveling to a city that has several hotels, it is out of peak season and you are flexible in terms of facilities.
For other situations the phone call to the hotel in a few days’ advance is a more often thing to do. Yes, you will not get the total bargains, but you have plenty of space to negotiate.
Those who want to get inside a specific hotel - check their cancellation policy. For example, you read that this hotel requires at least 3 days notice to not charge for a cancellation. Congratulations, now you know the point where they are most likely to receive the most cancellations. And you will help them to fill vacant spaces.
There is another strategy. You book a cheap chain hotel that allows you to cancel free up until the day of travel. Then, when the X day comes, you call to other hotels with the aim to get a better deal. If you found one – you cancel your previous booking without penalty; if you did not find anything better – you are safe.
Negotiations about extra free nights or discounts do not work with the larger chains of hotels: they have a central system and do no normally negotiate directly with a guest.
By the way, swimming pools, fitness centers, satellite televisions add to the costs of a hotel. That is why if you do not need these facilities – don’t get into the hotel where you are paying for it.
How to Choose the Best Season to Travel
The destination and the time of year – these are, perhaps, the most important price factors in budget traveling. Some destinations are dirt cheap at one time of year, and very expensive in another season. No rocket science, but most of the people forget this.
Low Season
Low seasons – the time to get bargains. For example, it is very hot in Egypt during the summer months and surely less people come there, hence the prices get lower.
Shoulder Season
Shoulder season is the medium between low and high seasons. On one hand, by traveling to a specific destination at shoulder season you save money, on the other hands the "resort life" is more active.
HIgh Season
Now you can say it yourself, this is the most favorable time to visit a specific place – the best climate conditions, fun around, etc. And, of course, the biggest price.
Winter
A wonderful destination for the winter months is Asia. Flights are available but lose popularity and plenty of discounts on offer. Weather is variable in Asia during the winter season, this puts a lot of visitors off and for you this is a chance to find excellent bargains.
Spring
Best time to travel to Europe: flights are cheaper as in the spring months the temperatures are still relatively low.
Mexican beaches and the Caribbean islands get their prices down from mid April: no wonder – the weather becomes hotter. But the water and air temperatures are still pleasant.
Summer
A bargain in summer is a difficult issue. Most of the glovbe is having vacations. But through June and July Caribbean destinations can be a nice chance for a deal. Make sure you book before the Europeans start to flood in during their school holidays at the end of July.
Between June and September safari holidays are great, because high season is over in May, and the weather is still relatively dry.
Fall
One more time you got a perfect place to head to Europe. Do not forget that flights to these destinations will be cheaper from October onwards, and temperatures are normally perfectly pleasant until mid November.
Want to gave a great budget travel experience? Then learn the key secret of budget traveling. It is PLANNING.
Things like when you book, how you travel, whether you go package or build your own agenda influence the price greatly. And what is important is the fact that these things are within your control
When to Book
When to book is a little like gambling.
When deciding on when to book for maximum financial gain, ask yourself these simple questions:
• Are you flexible in terms of dates that you are prepared to travel?
• Are you flexible in terms of destinations?
• Will you be buying a package deal or will you be building your own package?
• Are you considering a popular destination where many tour operators or flight companies travel?
Those who are flexible in terms of location and dates have an advantage – they can resort to the last minute deals that are a lot better financially. So waiting until the last minute to book your holiday, because it can save you a lot.
Creating your own package is also saving you huge money, but adds a nice part of the fuss. You need to consider your airfare, hotels and transport. And the last minute approach here can fail you (you can find a last minute flight at great price, but with hotels this does not work).
Another thing about "last minute" booking – when you go to a popular resort on a specific holiday to a destination that is only offered by a few operators, you may find that last minute bargains are simply not available.
What to do? Read more tips on the blog, we share many budget traveling tips.
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