The Vacation and Travel Blog

As cool fall weather sets in, our thoughts turn to winter vacation. Or at least, it should, if you want to get great deals over the winter holidays.

(Side Note: Here’s a free report with even more cheap travel tips: Globe Cheap’s free report. Grab it and see how much you can save from your next winter getaway.)

Whether you’re dreaming of a winter skiing destination, or would rather escape to a warm paradise, these tips will help you save big on your next winter vacation.

1. Make a vacation budget and stick to it

How much can you afford, exactly? Find out now, or else have a plan to have a specific amount saved up by the time winter rolls in.

2. Plan well in advance

When it comes to budget travel, time is one of your most important tools. You need time to make advance reservations
and to research the best deals.

3. Shop around

Now is the time to go comparison shopping for travel options, accommodations, and major attractions.

4. Compare different modes of travel

Depending on where you’d like to go, various means of traveling will have different costs. Also consider how many people are traveling. If you’re a family, it’s usually cheaper to drive than to fly. If you’re traveling solo, you may have more options – including carpooling with friends or family.

5. Ask for discounts

Sometimes you just have to ask, to receive discounts. At the hotel or airline, for example, ask for free upgrades on your room or flight. Ask your credit card provider about travel options they offer to clients at reduced rates, such as travel insurance coverage, etc. Don’t forget to ask hotel/hostel owners and tour operators for discount coupons, such as to the nearest attractions.

6. Share a vacation rental

If you’re traveling in a group, or can find family and friends to vacation with, sharing a rental house for a flat fee can be very economical.

7. Try a hostel

Hostels go for as as low as $20/night, so they’re a budget option you should consider.

8. Cook your own meals

Eating out can be very expensive. Stay in hotels or rentals where you can cook your own meals. Or pack your meals in a cooler, if you’re traveling by car.

9. Get as many discounts as you can

If you’re a student or traveling with a student, make sure to bring student ID cards or International Student Cards. This free report from Globe Cheap lists other discounts you or a family member may be eligible for. Also explore discount passes when buying online or by certain dates.

10. Borrow equipment

If you’re going skiing, bring your own or borrowed equipment rather than renting them at the resort. If you plan to go skiing often, it’s probably cheaper to buy our own equipment in the long run, instead of renting every time.

11. Explore discount packages

Hotels and travel agencies usually offer packages that include travel, accommodation, meals and entrance to various attractions. These usually cost less than if you paid for each one individually. They usually also offer discounts for early booking.

12. Travel off-season

The peak season for traveling in winter is around Christmas and New Year. If you don’t mind traveling around those dates, you’ll find everything cheaper. It’s also usually cheaper to travel on weekdays or midweek rather than on weekends.

13. Consider warm-weather destinations

Looking to escape from the cold? Consider places where the US dollar goes farther, such as small Caribbean islands, Mexico, and parts of Central America and Asia. Some destinations within the United States are also cheaper in the cold season.

14. Don’t touch the minibar

Bring everything you need so you won’t have to open the water bottle in the hotel, or get snacks from the minibar. You’ll pay ridiculous prices for these! Some hotels also charge extra if you request additional towels and toothbrushes. If you must, buy extra supplies at the nearest grocery store, not from the hotel. And don’t forget to pack those over-the-counter medications you usually use!

15. Stay out of the way

Consider staying a little farther from major attractions. You’ll save tons on accommodation – as long as you won’t pay through the nose for public transportation or parking.

16. Camp out

If you’re going to a warm destination, plan to go camping. It’s a very cheap traveling alternative. If you’re driving, find the cheapest places to get gas.

17. Look for free attractions

Entrance fees to tourist attractions can also add up very quickly. Do some research to find free attractions at your destination. These could include malls, national parks and historic streets or towns. Find out when museums are open to the public for free.

More Cheap Travel Tips

You can get even more FREE tips for budget traveling from Globe Cheap’s free report. Grab it and see how much you can save from your next winter getaway. Have some happy and safe travels.

Cheap Hotels Deals. The key to enjoying an affordable vacation is to finding inexpensive hotels to stay in. This is because accommodation costs are a significant chunk of the total vacation expenditure and by staying in a cheap hotel vacationers can afford to experience more of what a holiday destination has to offer.

Families planning a vacation need to keep their eyes open for the best hotel deals on offer. The Internet is a great resource for finding cheap hotels that offer good food and lodging. One can compare services offered across hotels for a given rate; this knowledge helps while negotiating for accommodation. Hotels can also be compared for nearness from the airports, railway stations, and tourist attractions. It is important to look up hotels on more than one site that list comparisons. This is because not all hotels in an area may be listed on a site. Hotels also list discount deals and vacation deals on their own websites, subscribing to hotel newsletters is another option that helps to keep abreast of rate changes.

Staying in a cheap hotel is a great idea not only for budget vacationers but also for those who may not have budget constraints. Cheap accommodation does not necessarily mean having to rough it out.

A little research will enable one to come up with hotels that provide good accommodation at surprisingly cheap rates. However, there are several things that need to be considered while searching for cheap hotels. Most hotels have the cheaper rooms taken up fairly quickly, so it’s important to book in advance. Also, hotel rates during the off-season are low; so families can plan their vacations accordingly. If the cheaper rooms have been taken up when one first enquires, there is no harm in checking again after some time. Also, if the hotel tariffs have fallen after one has made a reservation, some hotels will in fact offer accommodation at the revised rates.

Even if a hotel’s rates appear slightly on the higher side, very often they are negotiable. In fact, vacationers should keep in mind that good bargaining skills can help them get some pretty amazing accommodation deals. In order to be able to bargain skillfully, one needs to first of all communicate with the right person in the hotel, for example the sales manager. Also, it pays to be informed about the facilities that can be had for the rate a hotel is charging and to know the times of the year when the hotel is in demand from business travelers and vacationers.

AAA cards can earn their members discounts of up to 10% on their hotel stay. Points earned on credit cards can also be redeemed by vacationers to contribute to lodging expenses, many hotels that offer cheap rates accept AAA cards and redeem credit card points. Thus, a little planning and careful research in selecting a hotel can enable families on vacation to enjoy the sights and sounds of their chosen destination to a far greater extent. Find more information about Cheap Hotels Cardiff here.

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