How much effort do you put into finding cheaper rates for a trip? - Page 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dewdrop75 

I am planning a trip right now and searched and searched for discounts, but I am not finding any for where we are planning to go.  I have never used a travel agent, not sure if they would be able to save me money or now, guess it wouldn't hurt to check into it.  Right now the bed and breakfast I am thinking of is $150/night.  And we'll probably stay two nights.  So that takes up almost all of our budget for the trip.

Let us know where/when you're going (if you're comfortable with that) and we can help you.  I enjoy searching for travel deals.  Are you set on a bed and breakfast?  I find it's easier to look for 4-star hotels on sites like Priceline, Hotwire or Hotels.com.

Are you flexible on your travel dates? That has probably saved us the most, especially if airfare is involved.

Kim you can look for me if you would like I want to go  from LWS to SYR the last week in June or first week in Jul and stay for 4 weeks. I need 3 tickets at this time.  Oh and NO redeyes

I search until I drop!

poeple always ask me how im able to travel so much being a single mom... (and my son loves to travel too)... besides having no debts (Yey!) I search all the search engines, trip advisor, blogs, etc..

Find free walking tours that you tip them (mostly in Europe), its amazing how inexpensively you can travel if you do your homework...

Always use public transportation (with a good map)

Travel agents are great!...not always the cheapest option, but if something goes wrong... they have a much better chance to get it straighten out than if you buy from a 3rd party such as expedia, orbitz, etc...

I never buy airline tickets through 3rd party... its too risky if something happens or if your flight gets canceled...

I love venere.com and booking.com for hotels.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2bearsmom 

Big trips we have used a travel agent. Next year a group of 8 of us are planning a trip to the Bahamas and we will probably go the same route and book with an agent.

I agree.  I went to Jamaica and was so glad I had an agent set everything up. 

For small trips, we just find a Marriott to earn points.  If that's not available, I'll use one of the popular websites already mentioned.

Quote:

Originally Posted by debellafunk 

Kim you can look for me if you would like I want to go  from LWS to SYR the last week in June or first week in Jul and stay for 4 weeks. I need 3 tickets at this time.  Oh and NO redeyes

Those are really tiny airports, so the rates are going to be high. When I first searched, they were in the $700-$1000 range.  If you can be flexible and fly from Boise to the NYC area, you can save BIG.  Those flights are in the $350-$400 range.  You'd be saving about $500 per ticket and could put that towards ground transportation to and from the airport.  That's probably what I would do.  Plus, you could do some sightseeing in NYC while you're there!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim 

 

 

Those are really tiny airports, so the rates are going to be high. When I first searched, they were in the $700-$1000 range.  If you can be flexible and fly from Boise to the NYC area, you can save BIG.  Those flights are in the $350-$400 range.  You'd be saving about $500 per ticket and could put that towards ground transportation to and from the airport.  That's probably what I would do.  Plus, you could do some sightseeing in NYC while you're there!

I would but it is me and a 7 and 2 yr old. doesn't make for a agood time in NYC.  When I first moved here I could get tickets for like 350 :(

We are taking a short trip in a few weekends with another couple.   I searched twice for rates on a cheap, nice hotel room.  I just googled "cheap hotel room in city/state" and this site called kayak came up & does comparison rates but you have to book thru them to get the promotional rates.  I got our rooms for $75 a night.   there were a few cheaper but they weren't rated as high, plus we were looking for an indoor pool at the hotel (& we get free breakfast there too).  We are riding with the other couple to our destination (they're really good friends of ours) so we can split the cost on gas. We can't wait to get away for a few days!