| If you've ever typed "discount travel" | | | | deal arrives in your inbox, you have to |
| into a Google search box, you know the | | | | be ready to take action. Get yourself |
| frustrations of trying to uncover a gem | | | | organized by creating a list of things |
| among way too many chunks of coal. | | | | you'd have to do before skipping town |
| "Discount travel" and other popular | | | | for the weekend. Figure out who you need |
| search phrases -- "cheap discount | | | | to call to check on the dog or pick up |
| airline travel," "discount travel web | | | | your newspaper while you're gone. Know |
| site," or "cruise travel discount" -- | | | | where your suitcase is and keep a stash |
| typically return an infinitely long list | | | | of travel-sized toiletries handy. You |
| of mind-numbing websites that promise | | | | could even make a list of your go-to, |
| exotic travel for pennies on the dollar. | | | | jet-setting outfits: something dressy |
| And then you look for the details. | | | | for an evening out, something comfy for |
| Underneath a possibly attractive home | | | | walking around town and, of course, your |
| page, many of those travel sites just | | | | favorite swimsuit. |
| don't have much substance. So what is a | | | | |
| bargain shopper to do? Give up, | | | | Plan early. If you aren't the |
| exasperated, after spending hours | | | | last-minute type, do the opposite: Plan |
| clicking and searching? | | | | your vacations a year in advance. This |
| Have faith, bargain shopper. You can | | | | is likely to save you money on cruises |
| find travel deals out there; you just | | | | and airfare in particular. Cruise lines |
| have to be strategic in your search. | | | | will book more than a year in advance, |
| Follow these tips and maximize your | | | | while airlines usually go out about 11 |
| opportunities to travel at a discount: | | | | months. Oh, and if you've saved up |
| Subscribe to free newsletters. If you | | | | enough frequent flyer miles for free |
| can handle receiving a few extra emails | | | | airfare, you have to book that ticket a |
| in your box every week, you'll have the | | | | year in advance. Airlines usually limit |
| opportunity to save a bundle on your | | | | the number of freebies they'll offer on |
| travel plans. Hotels, airlines and | | | | each flight, and they book up fast. If |
| cruise ships prefer to book up | | | | you wait too long, you won't get the |
| completely, even if that means they have | | | | flight you want. |
| to shave a little off the price at the | | | | Be flexible. When you're researching a |
| last minute. These travel companies | | | | specific destination, be flexible about |
| often use e-newsletters to let you know | | | | your arrival days and the length of your |
| when they're ready to offer you a deal. | | | | stay. Experiment with different dates |
| Take a visit to the websites of your | | | | and times; leaving on a Tuesday instead |
| favorite airlines, cruise operators and | | | | of a Friday for example might make a |
| hotel brands and hunt around for an | | | | huge difference in the cost of your |
| e-newsletter sign-up form. Try a couple | | | | airfare and hotel. Depending on the |
| of travel agents too, as they sometimes | | | | destination and the number of people in |
| have fire sales on complete vacations. | | | | your travel party, a date change might |
| Just make your selections wisely--it | | | | save you enough on airfare to cover the |
| doesn't do you or them any good if you | | | | cost of staying a few extra days. Along |
| don't read your emails. | | | | those same lines, be willing to visit |
| Be a frequent buyer. Travel companies | | | | your destinations in the off-season: You |
| love loyalty. While you're looking | | | | know, Palm Springs in the summer, Paris |
| around for e-newsletters, check into | | | | in the winter. You'll save money and |
| frequent buyer programs too. Affinity | | | | avoid the crowds. |
| cards are popular; these are the credit | | | | Be an outlier. You might be planning a |
| cards that earn you miles or points. | | | | vacation around a specific attraction, |
| Once you have that card, the airline or | | | | like Disneyland. If so, consider staying |
| hotel will be pretty good about letting | | | | in a neighboring city. The hotels in |
| you know how to use it to earn more | | | | Anaheim, particularly those within |
| miles. If you're super-diligent about | | | | walking distance to Disneyland, charge a |
| paying your bills, start using the | | | | huge premium for their location. The |
| credit card for all of your regular | | | | same will be true for hotels surrounding |
| expenses. Food, gas, clothes, whatever. | | | | almost any major attraction. Go to |
| Just make sure you pay off the balance | | | | Google Maps and get familiar with the |
| every month. It may take awhile to earn | | | | communities around Anaheim; if you stay |
| those free plane tickets, but it'll be | | | | 10 miles away, you'll save enough to pay |
| well worth the effort. | | | | for your rental car and then some. |
| Stay packed. When that dream vacation | | | | |