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Summer Holiday Deals: Where to Find Them

Where to Find Hot Deals on Family Vacations

By Mindy

Wondering how to make the most of your summer?  Take a vacation. There are currently scores of great summer vacation deals for families and travelers of all ages – as long as you know where to look and how to travel. Not only can you score a well-earned break from your regular routine, you can do it at a fantastic price. Read the tips below to learn how you can find a great summer holiday deal.

Start your search with the Internet

Regardless of whether you’re looking for rest, relaxation, culture, or excitement, your best bet for finding a deal begins online. There are literally hundreds of travel deal websites where you can shop vacation bargains of all types.

Start with travel deal sites that let you customize your travel preferences like 1 800 Hotels, found at www.1800hotels.com. This site allows you to put in a specific destination or city along with your preferred check-in and check-out time. From there, you can shop discounted prices on various locations, complete with helpful details like whether breakfast is included or whether the hotel is close to major attractions.

A good way to shop Internet travel sites is to compare multiple sites at the same time. If your computer browser allows it, open up several different Internet windows at once. Pull up a different travel website in each window and cross-compare the prices on the type of deal you’re looking for.

Look to your own unused resources

A surprising number of people fail to use bonuses they already possess. Things like frequent flier miles, discount vouchers on hotels, or perks that come with memberships are often overlooked.

Bite the bullet and spend a weekend getting organized. Look though your home office to find the following unused travel perks:

• Frequent flier miles. If you suspect you have frequent flier miles but can’t find any information on them, contact airlines on which you’ve traveled in the last few years.
• Membership perks. If you’re a member of a professional organization related to your trade, contact the membership office to find out what sort of bonuses come along with your membership. If you belong to an association of any kind, look into whether it’s affiliated with deals related to travel.
• Credit card bonuses. Many credit cards offer card holders discounts at hotels and car rental companies. Several even offer free travel insurance. Contact your credit card company to find out what you’re entitled to. Chances are you’re not even aware of the extras included with your card, especially if you’ve had a credit card for a long time and no longer remember the premiums associated with opening an account.

Quick tips on deals

Even after you’ve searched travel sites and looked into existing privileges, sometimes it’s best to simply go to locations where the deals are plentiful. Some of the best summer vacation deals available can be found by taking advantage of the following getaway opportunities:

• Cruise to Alaska. If you want lavish family fun on a tight budget, trek up to Alaska. Many cruise lines offer kids free passage on any week-long cruising itinerary, provided at least two adults come along as paying passengers. Better yet, cruise ships provide tons of free stuff to do once you get on the ship. Many include educational programs where kids can learn about glaciers, dolphins, whales, and eagles. And don’t forget all meals are included with the initial cruise price, meaning you won’t have to budget for food expense on a daily basis.
• Check out a beach city. Soak up the sand and sun by visiting one of the many tourist cities located on the beach. Not only will you find a handful of getaway packages with great bargains aimed at luring tourists in, you’re also likely to find some interesting bonuses. For example, Santa Barbara has hotels offering discounted hotel packages that include free tickets to the fabulous city zoo. Other hotels in the area are throwing in dining credits, free room upgrades, and even complimentary disposable cameras. With bonuses like that, it’s hard to beat the options for thrifty family vacations.
• Head south and save on kids fares. Many vacation booking companies are offering families package deals that save a tremendous amount of money on airfare for kids. This is especially true for anyone heading south to destinations like Mexico or Jamaica. In several cases, you can qualify for a 50 percent rebate off your child’s airfare when you book your own reservation. Just be sure you keep track of the necessary paperwork and apply for your rebate within the allotted time period.

Make educated travel decisions

A final proven way to save money on family vacations is to be smart about where you decide to go and how you choose to travel: 

• Opt for places that are out of season so you can beat the crowds and savor the deals.
• Prepare your own snacks and meals to eat while you’re in transit so you won’t have to pay for pricey food at the airport.
• Pack lightly so you won’t have to pay to check an extra bag on a flight.
• Forego souvenirs and just take pictures to remember your trip.

After all, it’s the experience that counts when you head out for summer vacation, so do anything you can to enjoy it without getting bogged down in costs.

6/24/2009

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