Put On Your Discount Travelin’ Shoes
O’Brian Gunn
As you’re reading over this issue’s best gay travel destinations, the anchor known as your finances may be keeping you moored in your living room while you’d like nothing better than to cast off for a far-flung destination. Technology, travel, and lodging have changed so much in the last few years that it’s time for you to learn some of the newest ways to save money while traveling in 2015.
$$$$$ BOOK WITH THE LITTLE GUY
Before you head over to Orbitz and Expedia out of sheer reflex, relax your fingers and check out Hotelpower.com, Tingo.com, and Hipmunk.com. In addition to getting you less expensive rooms than the heavy hitters of the reservation ring, Hotel Power and Hipmunk can also point you to locally owned places to support. One great thing about Tingo is you’ll be refunded the difference if you book a hotel room and the price drops. A caveat with Tingo is the service is better suited for those who are looking for a luxury hotel rather than a standard hotel.
$$$$$ BE LOYAL
Once you’ve booked your room, see if there are any loyalty programs you can sign up for. It’s natural to want to opt out of any seemingly needless extra deals and offers once you’ve placed your reservations, but some of them are worth paying attention to. By signing up for a hotel loyalty program, you might be able to get a free room upgrade. There are even some deals that allow you to combine money with your travel points, meaning you may be able to score a $350 room for $75.
$$$$$ KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOUR HOTEL
To take the previous tip even further, use your smartphone or tablet to stay connected with your hotel. You can receive messages about deals you might be interested in, such as discounted spa treatments and happy hour specials at the hotel bar. These deals can be personalized to your likes and any services you may have taken advantage of in the past, keeping you from being notified of a discount on filet mignon when you’re a strict vegetarian. One thing to keep in mind is these discounts can sometimes be geared toward your spending habits, so you may not want to spend too much on room service if you want to receive the lowest bargain possible.
$$$$$ DINE LIKE A KING AND PAY LIKE A PAUPER
Rather than eat out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, consider making some of your meals if you have a kitchen in your lodgings or a grill near the pool. This is an especially good tip if you’re traveling to a destination hotspot where the prices may be pumped up more than a gay man’s physique. In addition to saving money, you can also save time on waiting for a table.
$$$$$ LOOK BEFORE YOU BOOK
It was once cheaper to book your flight on Tuesdays, but now it’s better to book on Sundays. Snatch up those tickets around two months in advance for domestic flights and around six months for international flights.
$$$$$ FREE IS THE WAY TO BE
As you’re planning your trip, type in the name of your travel destination followed by the word “free.” This is an especially good tip for major destinations and can help you discover free activities that even hotel concierges or guidebooks might not be aware of.
Don’t let the excitement of your upcoming trip blind you from some of the easier ways to save some cash. You may spend hours waiting for a connecting flight to Puerto Rico, but you don’t have to spend every penny of your vacation fund before you return home.
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