Do you love to travel? I do too, and I am always looking
for new and cheap ways to travel,
or how to travel "frugally" you might say. I prefer to
spend my money on other things rather than spending a
bundle on airfare just to get to my destination. I bet you
would too. So I have gathered together a few tips to help
all of us "thrifty" travelers.
- If you are planning on flying into Washington DC, be
sure to check out prices for flights to Baltimore instead,
as these flights are almost always less expensive.
- If you are not traveling internationally, consider
flying on one of the subsidiary airlines for the major
carriers (such as Delta Express), as you will usually save
money this way.
- Be sure to use the Internet to check out last-minute
discounted fares on the airline's website. Start looking
Wednesday for the upcoming weekend.
- Cheap travel and smart travel? Be
patient and wait for a good price to come up. However, when
you do see a great price go ahead and grab it.
- Try to be flexible with your leaving and return dates.
Sometimes if you just adjust your dates by one day you can
get a better price. For example, leave Thursday and return
Monday instead of leaving Friday and returning Sunday.
- If possible, book your tickets directly at the
airline's website. If you use a travel agency, even one
online, they will charge you an additional fee. It will
also be easier to correct any problems if you are dealing
directly with the airline itself instead of a travel
agency.
- Mornings are sometimes the best time to check for
tickets, and Saturday and Wednesday mornings are good days
to take a look for some great prices.
For everyone looking for hints on cheap travel, these tips
should give you a start. Don't forget to sign up for
frequent flyer miles; it is surprising how often people
don't take advantage of this perk.