Mobile PC, October 2004 Kids and Hoboes Fly Free!
Here's how to pay like a pauper but travel like a prince Traveling for business means corporate cards and expense accounts. But when you're not jetting around on the company's dime, it's a little harder to justify high airfares and expensive hotel rooms--and it only gets more expensive if your family is along for the trip. Can you lead a filet mignon travel life on a hamburger budget? You bet your frequent-flier miles you can. If you do your research and follow a few easy guidelines, you can fly to exotic locales and stay in decent, even luxurious, accommodations without spending a fortune. Here's how to travel first-class without breaking the bank. DON'T FOLLOW THE HERD Map out this year's hottest travel destinations--then go somewhere else. "No Mexican would ever go to Cancun," says Tim Leffel, author of Cheapest Travel Destinations "Everything's priced for Americans." Instead, opt for a low-key Baja town like La Paz. Think Eastern Europe, not Western, or Panama instead of Costa Rica. Ski in April, or visit Arizona in June. "Look for areas of opportunity," says Joel Widzer, author of The Penny Pincher's Passport to Luxury Travel. For instance, Greece will be a good place to go at the end of the year. The Olympics are over, but Athens is still spruced up. WATCH THE DOLLAR One of the best ways to save money on a trip is to make sure each dollar you spend is worth as much as possible. "People don't pay much attention to currency fluctuation and exchange rates," says Leffel, "but it can make a huge difference in vacation costs." The dollar is weak in Europe right now, which means your hard-earned cash will go further in Asia or Latin America. One other suggestion is to take a trip closer to home. "In the States, there is tremendous value right now," says Widzer, citing airline fare wars and more hotel rooms than there are domestic travelers to fill them. BOOK DIRECTLY While it's tempting to let a travel agent or an adventure travel company do all the planning for you, you'll save a bundle by booking your own itinerary locally. "We went trekking in Nepal and booked our own accommodations, and slept in lodges for one to two dollars a night," says Leffel. "We met people staying in the same places that paid thousands of dollars to adventure travel companies." BE FLEXIBLE On Internet travel sites and e-newsletters (see "Surf and Save" at right), good deals come when you're not picky about where you stay, what days you travel, and even where you go. Airlines offer great deals if you fly from a smaller airport that's less convenient to you, for example, San Diego instead of LAX. If you live near a busy cruise ship port such as Miami, you can score last-minute unsold staterooms at rock-bottom prices. The only requirement is that you be ready to sail within days, or even hours. BE LOYAL If comfort is your biggest priority, pick an airline and a hotel chain, and give them your business exclusively. Dress nicely and be a pleasant customer at the front desk, and write letters commending good service. Not only will you earn mountains of points and miles toward future discounts, you may find yourself being upgraded for the asking. "Most travel employees are under a lot of pressure, and people treat them pretty poorly," says Widzer. "Show them a good reason why they should upgrade you." TURN OFF THE NEWS After watching a few hours of CNN, you may be tempted to just stay home. But don't be afraid to go to an exotic local because you're nervous about local unrest. In fact, a little negative publicity can mean rock-bottom hotel and airfare prices. We're not saying you should spend your holiday at the Baghdad Hilton--be prudent about State Department warnings. However, most incidents are usually isolated. Skeptical? Look around you. "If people were as worried about danger here as they were about going overseas, we'd never leave our homes," says Leffel. NOT FOR EVERYONE How does a free vacation house sound? Or a complimentary round-trip ticket? It's no joke: With a little ingenuity, you can get deeply discounted travel, or even free trips. Home Exchange Don't mind swapping houses with total strangers? List your home on a site such as Homeexchange.com or Homelink.com and trade for a villa in Tuscany or a condo in Thailand. This option requires some flexibility and massive amounts of trust. Air Courier Air couriers deliver freight between destinations in exchange for deeply discounted or free round-trip airfare. Once you're on the ground, you're free to enjoy the sights until your return flight. Try the International Association of Air Travel Couriers website at www.courier.org. Cruise Lecturer If you're an expert on something--anything--you can parlay that knowledge into a free ticket on a cruise ship. Cruise lines are always looking for guest lecturers in exchange for a free or discounted trip. Check out www.toseawithz.com, which helps match lecturers with cruise lines. Volunteer Vacations We've all heard about Priceline and Hotwire for getting great travel deals, but check out some of our other favorite sites. SURF AND SAVE A little dedication to a cause can mean big travel opportunities. Travel cheaply with an organization like Earthwatch Institute or Habitat for Humanity and spend your trip on an archaeological dig, counting turtle eggs, or building homes. It's not entirely a pleasure trip, but doing a good deed can be relaxing in its own way. SkyAuction.com The eBay of travel: bid for hotels, airfare, and packages. You can save 25 percent to 50 percent off advertised prices. BiddingforTravel.com If you're going to use Priceline, come here first to see what others have paid for similar trips. BetterBidding.com gives you the same information at Hotwire. SmarterLiving.com A great newsletter that e-mails you deals departing from your home airport. Articles on the site outline good strategies for finding deals and maximizing frequent-flier miles. LonelyPlanet.com This veteran budget traveler publisher also has a website with an active message board and travel cost calculator. VacationsToGo.com Book last-minute cruises at 40 percent to 50 percent off, but be ready to leave within the week.