Money-saving ideas for fun spring and summer vacations
(BPT) - Spring break, the end-of-the-school-year celebration or summer vacation: If your family loves to travel, these are prime times to go out and see the world.
With online travel companies and discount programs available, it's much easier to plan trips so you can visit places you've never been. You can quickly research hotels for price, availability and reviews, and you can even discover if you'll need to rent a car or can rely on public transportation. It’s easy to find a listing of the best places to visit during your stay and keep all your reservations digital, too, so you won't have to lug around a huge folder of information once your travels begin.
When you use online cash back sites like Ebates.com to access both travel aggregator sites like Orbitz or Hotels.com, or specific airlines and hotel chains, you'll end up saving money that you can then apply toward shopping or other miscellaneous expenses. First, you need to access Orbitz or Hotels.com via Ebates.com, and then you can search for the deals you want and make your purchase right there. Not only will you find the best price for flights, car rentals and hotels, but you'll also get cash-back from Ebates.
As you sit down to start planning your spring break or summer trip, keep these factors in mind:
* Bundling – Some travel companies partner together to offer better prices. For example, one airline might partner with a car rental company and offer a discount if you bundle. If you need both services, why not purchase them together?
* Prepay – Many tourist destinations will offer pre-paid tickets at a discount. If you know you want to tour a museum on a certain day of your trip, call ahead to see if you can get a discount on pre-paid tickets. This also applies to several airlines that charge a baggage fee. Check the airline's guidelines online to see if you can save a couple of dollars per bag!
* Traveler rewards – Hotels, airlines, airport parking lots and car rental companies all offer frequent user benefits. If you plan a trip only once per year, you might not benefit from signing up for a rewards program. But if you always fly the same airline and purchase tickets for four family members each time, the miles can add up quickly.
* Plan your trip for the off-times – If you don't have to worry about school schedules and you have flexible vacation days, consider traveling on a Tuesday or waiting until after Labor Day when school is back in session. Travel providers will often offer deals on the off-days to stay busy. You might also be able to find more direct flights on a week day, especially if it's a business route.
You might want to take the time to explore a new city, wander through America's amazing national parks, visit relatives or spend the week fishing and boating on a lake. All vacations take a bit of planning, so sit down in front of your computer, bring up money-saving sites like Ebates.com, and get your travel planning started. Then set your watch, because your vacation will be here before you know it!