The Vacation and Travel Blog

Uh-oh, you’ve done it again. You’ve left planning for your holiday trip to the last minute and find your travel costs are much higher than you expected.

Well, it’s not too late to get some last-minute savings. Even though travel peaks during the holidays, the cost of traveling nowadays is still less than it used to be. Plus, if you take action now, you can still shave some dollars from your holiday trip.

1. Comparison shop. You don’t have much time, but the Internet makes comparison shopping faster and easier than ever. Check out aggregator sites like kayak.com, but don’t forget to look at individual airline sites as well. And when you’re comparing costs, remember to consider extra fees which aren’t included in ticket prices, such as baggage fees and other additional charges.

2. Act fast. When you do find a good deal, book it. Companies usually make great packages available for a limited time only, so you may not find it again if you don’t book it right now.

3. Plan to travel outside the peak periods. Don’t fly on the day before or after the holiday. Midweek also tends to be cheaper than weekends.

4. Explore other airports near your destination. See if it’s cheaper for you to fly to a nearby airport than where you originally planned go. Of course, factor in the cost of a cab or other transportation to get to your destination.

5. Try to book multiple flights with one or more connections instead of direct flights. Sure, direct flights are faster but they’re also more expensive. If you’re not in too much of a hurry – and if you’re not traveling with small children – you just might save some serious money by taking a series of connecting flights.

6. Save on accommodations by stay at a relative’s or friend’s house. Or look for hotel deals such as special family packages or holiday deals. Also check out how much it costs to rent a condo or apartment, or find a home swapping deal.

7. If you’re traveling to get away from it all, pick an off-season destination. For example, Las Vegas is cheaper during Christmastime than the rest of the year.

8. Look for deals on car rentals, if you need to rent a car. Again, the Internet is your best tool for finding hot deals.

9. if taking your own car, optimize its fuel consumption. Make sure all your tires are properly inflated, and replace your car engine’s air filter. While you’re at the mechanic, have your car checked to make sure it’s road worthy.

10. Food expenses can really add up when you’re traveling. To save on food, pack snacks and lunches to eat while you’re traveling. And when you arrive, plan to prepare your own meals.

These are only a few of the ways you can drastically reduce the cost of your holiday trip. If you want more tips you can use for your next trip and year-round, download this free report from Globe Cheap. Most of the tips in this report are insider tips only a former travel agent would know (which the author is).

If you’re willing to be flexible with your travel plans and invest some of your time and energy finding great deals (as opposed to putting everything in the hands of a travel agency) then you will save big money by following these tips. Go here to claim your free report now: Click Here To Get The Free Report Now!

Happy and Safe Travels!

Asheville NC is a small mountain city in southwestern North Carolina. A thriving city filled with movers and shakers surrounded by an artsy and culinary delight. Within it’s area, Asheville has something or everyone. Outdoor activities seem to be the local and tourists stronghold given the amount of parks, gardens, hiking trails, camping zones, cycling, horseback riding, winter sports galore and who cant forget about the Smokey Mountains? Asheville has a population of just over 70,000 people and has a large percentage of young adults. Within the city limits, Asheville has long been respected as a health and spa destination dating back to the early 1900 which has attracted some of elite with names like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Thomas Edison to name a few. Many decades have past but the city still lives up to a “health” destination and retreat for many.

Take the Grove Park Inn for example, a huge resort hotel on the western face of Sunset Mountain in the beautiful and famous Blue Ridge Mountains. The Grove Park, outside of being on the National Registrar of Historic places has a $40 million+ underground spa that ranks in the top 20 spas in the world by Travel and Leisure Magazine. Spend an hour, or two or even the whole day and the world will be a happy place. While we are on the topic of the Grove Park Inn, it is home to an amazing golf course that was opened in 1899 and then redesigned 25 years later. Mainly badged as a members club, it is open to the public and guests alike.

While in Asheville, another stunning place to visit in the world famous Biltmore Estate. Badged as America’s largest home it is a eye opening sight to see. The 250 room 175,000 Sq foot French Renaissance style house sits on roughly 8000 acres. With so much to do and see, why not check out their official website and perhaps book a visit.

Ok, so the day has passed and the sun is setting down. Dinner has been taken care of and it’s time to get the nightlife on…Asheville is no stranger to that matter. With many Breweries, bars, dance clubs, alternative lifestyle clubs, bands and live entertainment, one can have a great time until the sun comes back up the morning. Trust me, there is something for everyone. Without typing another word, just visit My Asheville Nightlife for everything that goes on within the city limits when the sun calls it quits. A very well laid out site discussing not only nightlife but, bands, live entertainment, news and events, schedules, happenings and so much more.

Some very useful website to check out before visiting or during the trip are:

http://myashevillenightlife.com
http://www.exploreasheville.com
http://www.ashevillechamber.org
http://www.romanticasheville.com

Enjoy your vacation/trip to Asheville NC and remember, if you don’t have time to see everything, you can always come back whenever you want.

Cheers!