Planning ahead can help you save on hotels and airfare
Time Frame
Book your flight and hotel room as far in advance as possible to get the best available rate. If possible, try to make your reservations at least 21 days in advance. You should also try to travel during off-peak times of the year to get the best rates. It is best to avoid major holidays and summer stays. Try to travel and stay on weekdays as opposed to weekends.
Benefits
Booking your flight and hotel together can result in a price savings. Many online booking websites will offer a discount for purchasing a package instead of separate components. Travel agents usually offer vacation packages that include hotels, airfare and rental cars.
Misconceptions
You may believe that the published airfare or hotel rate you see is the one you must accept. However, by speaking with a hotel manager directly you may be able to negotiate an even lower rate, especially if business is slow. By checking an airline's website you may find additional bargains that may not be available through other methods.
Other Methods
Join a travel association or club such as AAA. You can gain access to a specific code that you can enter when making your hotel or flight reservation online or over the phone. If you subscribe to golf publications, check them for discounts and advertisements for travel. Also be sure that you are taking advantage of any applicable discounts, such as those for senior citizens and students.
Warning
Be cautious when purchasing a plane and hotel package from an unknown source, especially on the Internet. Verify the legitimacy of these organizations by contacting the Better Business Bureau and by checking online for possible complaints about the company. Unfortunately, the travel industry is noted for scam artists, so if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
About The Author
Chris Joseph is a freelance writer residing in Pennsylvania. He has written hundreds of articles for the Internet on a variety of topics, including several on golf for eHow.com. A golf fanatic, his goal is to someday make the cut at Augusta, but he'd settle for breaking 90 at the local Putt-Putt. Check out his weekly humor column "A Loon with a View" at www.chrisajoseph.com.
Photo Credits
"mothers-day-2009-gravelly-point-009" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: dchousegrooves (Andy Grant) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
"mothers-day-2009-gravelly-point-009" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: dchousegrooves (Andy Grant) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
