Here are this week’s money saving travel tips:

 

• When booking a hotel room or car rental, always ask the agent:  Are there any specials or group rates that would save me money?  Is that the best rate you can offer me?  Sometimes you may qualify for a group or special rate that you have forgotten to ask about.
• Pack a collapsible travel bag in your checked luggage for use on your return flight.  If you plan on doing any shopping, you don’t want your bag to become so heavy that you face overweight luggage fees.  Packing a second bag gives you the ability to shop away, and then check a second bag.
• Try to renegotiate your room rate once you are at your hotel.  I was traveling over 9/11 and found myself having to stay at hotel for another few nights.  I was traveling during peak season at my destination, and had been paying a fairly high rate.  I went to the front desk and talked with a hotel representative about the situation, asking what they could do to get me a better rate.  At a time when the hotel may have been able to raise rates because all of the guests were “stuck” there, the hotel stepped up and made me a great offer (lowering the room rate by about 40%), which I eagerly and happily accepted.

Do you have a great tip for saving money while you travel?  Please email me, and I’ll be happy to list it in a future post.

 

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