Things You'll Need:
- Internet access
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Step 1
Travelers should book in advance, since prices will go up as gas prices increase. Avoid booking on weekends, since companies aren't fully staffed and deals are only updated once a day, around 5 p.m. The best times for deals are 2pm, 4:30 pm and midnight, when they're updated on weekdays. There are still some exceptions with last-minute deals, but that is if your schedule is completely open and you can travel at a moment's notice.
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Step 2
You can waste time and money wandering the Web to find the cheapest airfare. Instead, head for Kayak.com, which fetches fares (plus hotel rates and other travel products) from more than 140 sources. Click on the best deal, and Kayak.com will send you to a site where you can buy the ticket. Other sites are Momondo.com and Sidestep.com.
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Step 3
A great site is Farecast.com, which enables travelers to predict when prices will go up or down. Farecast.com is a tool that uses historic pricing data to help you make an educated decision about whether a fare is likely to fluctuate in the coming week. A supplementary service called FareGuard ($10) covers the difference if they tell you to wait for a price to go down and it rises instead.
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Step 4
Be flexible. Check fares over a range of dates. Look for a feature that says "flexible dates" or "more options". They enable you to customize results by affordability, airline, stopover and departures time.
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Step 5
Bundle it. If after a few Internet searches you still haven't found anything reasonable, consider booking a package from Expedia.com, LastMinute.com or other companies that bundle together airfare and lodging for one price. Packages sometimes cost about the same or less than what the airlines are charging for flights alone.
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Step 6
Cut airfare costs by traveling on off-peak days such as Saturday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
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Step 7
Join a frequent-flier program. Whether you travel for business or pleasure, consider signing up for an airline's frequent-flier program. Enrollment is free, and you can start collecting miles on your first flight that you can eventually cash in for free flights, hotel stays, merchandise and other perks. WebFlyer.com is the most useful site for comparing programs and for getting the best seat or upgrade for the miles you've earned.
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Step 8
Hotels in cities are usually cheaper on the weekends when business travelers aren't staying there, but hotels in resort areas or other places that are popular with leisure travelers are often cheaper during the week. Some hotel chains offer perks to repeat customers. Inquire about upgrades, free nights, free continental breakfast or access to the concierge lounge.
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Step 9
If a hotel is run independently or is part of a regional chain, call the front desk and ask the clerk for an extra night's stay free, a discounted rate or free upgrade--even if the hotel isn't currently advertising one. Independent and regional-chain hotels, which lack the marketing power of national chains, may be more willing to bend to fill an unexpected vacancy.
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Step 10
Consider hostels. For $15 to $35 a night, you can stay in a dorm-style room. Make reservations online through Hostels.com. Or for a little more money, many hostels offer private rooms for couples and families.
Most hostels come with communal kitchens and laundries, and some even offer perks such as high-speed Internet access, game rooms, TV rooms, hot tubs and organized activities for kids. Plus, many are in the center of town. -
Step 11
Condo or house rentals can be a nice alternative to hotels. Vacation rentals generally offer more room and amenities for the same price as hotel rooms. Plus, their kitchens can spare you from having to dine out for every meal. One of the best sites we've found for rental lodgings is at HomeAway.com.
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Step 12
Check out an all-inclusive resort for savings. One price includes your accommodations, meals, snacks and entertainment.
