PART 4: Tips & Tricks for Travel Savings

Our previous ‘Tips and Tricks for Travel Savings’ articles offered valuable travel savings info, but there are so many more opportunities to save on your vacation! The cost of food, activities and even getting around can really add up! Here are some additional tips for ways to save…

Eat, Drink, Be Merry…and Save!

The cost of dining out can put a significant dent in your travel budget. Depending on your destination, happy hours may be available and can provide savings on drinks and dining.  If you’re willing to dine outside of a typical dinner time frame, you can take advantage of discounted cocktails, unique appetizers, and the opportunity to try out a restaurant that might otherwise be out of your budget.  There are apps to help you locate happy hour locations and offerings. Try out Hotspot Studios “Happy Hour” app or UMeTime’s “Hooked Deals” on your mobile phone for happy hours near your location.

Pre-planning can save you money on dining out, too. Purchasing discount gift cards from sites like raise.com, or checking out the deals on groupon.com (specific to your destination), can put more dollars in your pocket for fun activities or a fancy dessert.

Getting Around

Renting a car at your destination? You can save quite a bit of cash by shopping around for rental car deals. Utilizing websites like hotwire.com or orbitz.com can help you snag a great price. However, one additional step can help you save even more… AutoSlash, a site promoted by Conde Nast and The New York Times, provides a tracking system to ensure you get the best price for your rental. Enter your reservation number, and the Auto Slash system tracks the rental price on your reserved vehicle.  If the priced drops below your reservation price, they automatically rebook for you, at the lower price.  The website also offers coupons and travel tips.

Parking your own vehicle at the airport can be fairly expensive, but occasionally there are savings opportunities if you know where to look. Hotels located nearby airports offer parking spaces to travelers, and often a stay at the hotel is not a prerequisite. Check out airportparkingreservations.com. Enter your departure locale and your dates, and the site will create a list of parking options. The price difference can be quite substantial. For example, the cost of parking at SFO is $24-$36 per day. However, air travelers leaving San Francisco can park their vehicles at The Hilton Garden Inn for less than ten bucks a day! The hotel is next door to the airport and their free shuttle will take you right to your departure terminal.

See the Sights - at a Discount

Whether you’re headed to a museum or seeking the latest theatre production, vacation entertainment can be costly. Frequently, pre-booking your activities can save you not only money, but queuing time in lines as well. Many popular excursions offer pre-booking specials on their own websites or social media pages. Or, grab a coupon from the destination’s Chamber of Commerce site or printed guidebook. You can also check out destinationcoupons.com for discounts and deals.

Saving Your Hide

You’ve gathered your coupons, registered your rental car, and loaded your apps. You’re ready to take advantage of deals that will keep money in your pocket, and you’re excited to try out some new restaurants or indulge in an extra treat using your savings. But there’s one more tip that can keep you comfortable during your travels. While not exactly a money-saver, this tip can save you from an uncomfortable seat on your next flight.  While booking your flight, utilize seatguru.com, to ensure you’ve selected a seat worthy of your posterior. Enter your airline, flight number and travel date. You’ll get an image of the interior of your plane, and details of every seat on that plane. If you’re not too keen on having a seat that doesn’t recline, or you want to make sure you’ve got extra legroom, this site will be your new best friend!

Got an outstanding travel savings tip or trick? Share it with us below!

Terrie Carrozzella is the Web Designer & Social Media Manager for Sub Sea Systems. Want to contact Terrie about Sea TREK helmet diving, Clear Lounge underwater oxygen bar, or FunCat electric catamarans? Email her here!terrie@subseasystems.com