Great Day Getaways

March 2, 2008

Planning Your Vacation Carefully Can Save Money

Just because you are planning to go on vacation does not mean you have to take a vacation from saving money. The good news is you don’t have to. There are so many vacation bargains and deals out there, it’s difficult not to save money with a little planning.

Here are some of the opportunities to save significantly while planning a vacation getaway:

The Scoop on Frequent Flyer Programs. Airline frequent flyer programs can provide free tickets, free upgrades and many other perks. Before you join specific programs, compare them carefully to make sure you get the maximum benefits for your favorite destinations. They can vary widely from program to program.

How to Find Good Hotel Deals. Yes, great deals on hotel accommodations are available, if you do your homework and keep your opinions open.There are steps you can take that could save you up to 50 percent off the rate you would get by picking up the phone and calling the reservation desk.

Renting a Car. If you are planning to rent a car for your vacation or a weekend trip, you can save money by knowing the questions to ask and knowing how to avoid hidden charges and fees. Here are some points to consider and questions to ask when you reserve a rental car.

Disney Deals Hunter – Save on Food at Disney. If your vacation plans include a visit to one of the Disney resorts, one of the biggest expenses can be feeding your family. There are other ways you can save on food during your Disney vacation and still keep everyone happy, including yourself.

Theme Park Savings. Just like other businesses, theme parks and amusement parks are in competition with each other to attract customers and that is good news for the bargain hunter. Do your research. Theme parks offer membership benefits, package deals and discount tickets to get you to visit their park instead of the competition.

Major Cruise Lines Put a Halt to Bargain Hunting. All of the major cruise lines — Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Celebrity — have all changed their policies restricting the deals that travel agencies and online travel sites can offer. But discounts and bargains can still be found. You have to know who to ask.

What to Look for When Shopping for Luggage. There is a lot of cheap luggage on the market, but a lower price doesn’t always mean it’s a bargain. Here are some tips on what you should consider before choosing luggage for your next vacation.

Cheap Eats – Save on Dining Out. A major expense during a vacation can be the cost of eating out most of the time and prices are notoriously high in major tourist destinations. There are ways that you can save while eating out, whether you are on vacation or just taking a break from the kitchen.

February 28, 2008

Useful Tips To Make Holiday Travel Easier

The holidays can be quite hectic but they are often a time when people travel to see family and friends or to take a well deserved vacation.

Following some useful tips will help ensure you have the best time when you travel during this time of year.

Being prepared for things to go wrong is the first step in minimizing the damages and getting on with your holiday travel plans.

Make sure you have all of your tickets and confirmation numbers in a specific place. It is a good idea to make a copy of the information as well as the contact number for your tickets and place it in another location.

This way if you lose the originals you will have all the necessary information to take care of it. You should call about a week before your travel dates to make sure your reservation is still active for all modes of transportation and your accommodations.

It is common for flights, trains, and buses to get delayed over the holidays due to security issues, weather, and trying to meet the needs of the volumes of people using such modes of transportation over the holidays.

Make sure you have plenty of money, food, drinks, and necessities to get you through these delays. They can range from a couple of hours to a few days. If you will be traveling a long distance you should consider bringing along activities to pass the time, especially if you are traveling with children.

If you take prescription medications you need to make sure you have them clearly labeled. You may get questioned about them if they aren’t in the bottle you picked them up at from the pharmacy.

It is a good idea to have a written note from your doctor regarding the medication as well. Makes sure you have enough of it for the entire trip including any delays that may occur.

Lost luggage is one of the biggest problems when people travel, and it compounds during the holidays because of how busy everyone is. While you really can’t prevent your luggage from getting lost, you can do your best to make sure you have all you need in the mean time.

Make sure each person traveling in your party has clothing in all of the suitcases instead of making one for each person. This way everyone will have a chance to have some items should a bag or two get lost in the shuffle.

Clearly identify your luggage so that you will be sure to get yours upon reaching your destination. Too many bags look the same and many people are in a hurry when they travel for the holidays.

Place a colorful ribbon or colored tape on your bags if you carry the styles and colors that are very popular. If you travel often you should consider some unique looking luggage that will stand out.

Traveling during the holidays needs to be as smooth as possible to ensure you will enjoy your trip. By taking the time to follow these tips you can help make that happen.

There are plenty of horror stories out there about people not being able to get to their destination for the holidays or they didn’t have the items they needed upon arriving. Don’t open the door for your holiday vacation to fit into this grim category.

January 6, 2008

ABCs Of Adventure Travel

A – Address peel and stick labels for all your family and friends before you go. Then stick to postcards along the way and you’ll come home looking good.

B – Bottled water is a must – don’t drink anything else.

C – Cookbooks from your travels are always a great souvenir. Cook a dish from one when you have friends over to see your video and pictures

D – Digital cameras save the day; their small and you never run out of film

E – Expect excitement; go with anticipation, not trepidation (more…)

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