Saving on Travel

Everyone loves a deal, especially when it comes to saving on travel. However, not every package and travel sale is a deal when you break it down. More and more flash sale sites are offering travel packages as a way to book more rooms. Even to fill more cruise ships and get bodies into tourist attractions. That doesn’t mean they are great deals. In fact, prices might go up in order to put them on sale. Meaning, they might jack up the “retail” so it looks like the sale price is really good.

Like any other purchase, it is important to comparison shop. Knowing the details that are attached to your purchase and make sure you are comfortable with all aspects of a trip. You can always check out our booking page to check for deals, and rates for every kind of trip.

Use this checklist to ensure that you save on travel in a flash sale and don’t end up paying more for a popular destination or purchase something that you can’t use.

Saving on Travel

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Price Shop Before Booking

In order to know if you are really getting a deal, price the trip that you want to purchase off the flash sale site. This way you know exactly how much a trip to your preferred destination would cost. Along with the type of hotel you want to stay in and for the length of time you are interested in.

Get an idea of what kind of trip you want to take. Then begin watching for similar trip packages being sold on flash sale sites. Anything that saves you more than 20% of the best price you can book on your own is a great deal.

Read All Restrictions

Most packages, especially those being sold on flash sale sites do not allow for any changes, upgrades or extensions of travel time.

These packages are being listed for sale on these sites because they piece together empty plane seats on a particular flight, un-booked rooms for a specific hotel and spots in tours and other attractions that will otherwise go unfilled.

If there is any aspect of the package that you cannot make use of but want to book anyway in the hopes of making a change later, do not book. Why book something you can’t fully use? Search for another way to book without the extras.

Don’t Feel Pressured

Flash sale sites have become so successful is because they use all the impulse buying triggers that we have.

Go into flash travel sale sites with the mindset that you are just window shopping. Tell yourself you are not ready to purchase yet. This helps reduce the pressure of buying asap. No pressure to buy the first package you see.

Hard as it is, ignore the timers, warnings that there are only so many seats left and headlines like, “This will never be offered again!” Just like a department store or online store, there will always be more sales and discounts.

Stay Open To Alternate Destinations

The best deals on travel flash sale sites come when an unknown or alternate destination has gone un-booked. It is great to have a specific travel destination in mind. Most of us do. However keep yourself open to alternate destinations.

If one Florida coast is more popular for spring break travel this year, that’s ok. The other coast might be the perfect place to get in just as much beach time. This might be at a huge discount.

At the same time, stay open to staying in a different part of town, lengthening or reducing the number of days you want to travel and up or downgrading hotels to get the best deal.

Write it Down

Saving on travel can sometimes be fun, and sometimes be frustrating. I keep a notepad close by so when deals come across my desk I jot things down. Like what, where, how much, etc. This way I never let a good one get away. I have so many come across my desk I would hate to miss out.

Amazon has some super cute travel notebook planners too, so you can keep all your travel info in one place.