Issue link: https://www.cominghomemag.com/i/1470856
Lighter-on-the-Wallet FLIGHTS & HOTELS FLYING THE FRIENDLY SKIES ON A BUDGET HOTELS HAVE DEALS, DEALS, DEALS, TOO! in the Off-Season! Flight prices will be higher for popular destinations during busy seasons. Here are the times of year that you may want to plan around. S P R I N G Spring Break & Easter Families and college students looking to have fun flock to beach towns and ski destinations. S U M M E R Memorial Day, Independence Day, & Labor Day Optimal weather conditions and a day off for working Americans lead to higher demand for extended weekend trips. FA L L & W I N T E R Thanksgiving, Christmas, & New Year's Travelers who want to spend time with their families during these festive occasions flood airports worldwide. Book Flights With transportation and lodging being on the costly side, vacationing can get pricy. Still, there are several ways to save, such as: • Signing up for a membership with sites like Scott's Cheap Flights and Travelzoo. Visit the site, sign up with your email, and let them research amazing flight and destination deals—some at up to 90% savings—for you. They'll send discounts straight to your inbox. • Booking travel through wholesalers like Costco or Sam's Club. The beloved wholesale stores provide lower prices on select travel choices, like hotel rooms and cruises, thanks to their pre-negotiated bulk rates with a number of travel vendors. While some experiences may be more affordable when booking through these methods, harder-to-reach destinations might not offer cost-cutting conveniences. Monitor flight prices early on Google Flights. Try to book plane tickets at least two to three months in advance, as prices fluctuate drastically depending on airline logistics and consumer demand. To monitor flight prices, visit www.google.com/flights, enter your origin and destination airports, travel dates, and any other filtered data specific to the flights you'd like alerts for. Hit "Search," and you'll see flight options and a "Track prices" toggle with your entered dates. Clicking this toggle will turn on price tracking. You must have a Gmail account to receive Google Flights price alerts. Secure a good deal when you see it. Many airlines have updated their policies and now waive change fees, so it might be better to book a good deal when you see it and switch your flight later if you need to and the airline allows. Be flexible on your seat preference. Airplane seats with limited legroom or decreased reclining capabilities tend to cost less. Bid for an upgrade. Some airlines, like Lufthansa, Norwegian, and Virgin Atlantic, hold auction-like services and offer unsold premium seats for rock-bottom prices. Airlines typically require you to have a booked reservation on the flight already. To bid, visit the airline's website about 72 hours before your flight for information. Cost-compare third-party sites with proprietor prices. Booking directly with a hotel or property manager can be cheaper than going through third-party sites like Hotels.com, since they take a cut of bookings. Think about Airbnb and VRBO for bigger groups. Instead of securing multiple hotel rooms, larger homes may be more of a value for families traveling together. Sign up for free rewards programs. Many global hotels (think Marriott) have free rewards programs that provide member benefits, like discounted bookings and complimentary stays. Wait for last-minute deals. If you're feeling adventurous, apps like Hotel Tonight feature heavily discounted hotel stays that you can snag within 24-48 hours. Consider booking through a travel agent. Sometimes, an experienced travel agent can work wonders in cutting costs for a highly anticipated trip.