Visit me at Adult-Travels
How do you go about getting a good price on a rental car? When you go on vacation you want the best of everything, that includes a rental car. But you also don't want it to cost you an arm and leg. One of these days, I'd love to go on vacation myself a BMW. but so far I have not found a way to get a good deal on a BMW while on vacation. But I have done fairly well at getting a good price on a convertible when I'm on vacation. So how do I do that? The first thing I do, is when I know I'm going on vacation, I start looking for rental cars. Just as with airfare, you kind of have to have an idea of what kind of price you are looking for. Once you have a firm idea of the price you would like to pay, you can shop around.
The nice thing about rental cars is that you can reserve them in advance without having to pay for them. That way if you find a better price later on, you just cancel the one that you had and book the new one. You can do this as many times as you need until you get the price you want. Once I have a car that I'm happy with the price of, I like to go to Priceline and see if I can beat it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The bad thing about Priceline, is that once you have booked a car and paid for, you are saying you cannot cancel it. But if you have gotten yourself a really good deal on a rental car, you don't really want to cancel it.
Sometimes you will get your best deal on rental car far in advance of your travel dates. And sometimes you can do your best deal last minute. Some people just don't want to put this much time and effort into getting a rental car for their vacation, but for me. It's what I like to do. Part of the fun of vacationing for me is the planning.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
More on How to Find the Best Airfare
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Finding the best airfare is not only concerned with getting the best price. You also need to be concerned with getting the best FLIGHT. What does that mean? Well, you may find the best price for a flight from PDX (Portland, OR) to MCO (Orlando, FL) on Delta, for $180. But it leaves at 11:00 PM, stops in Salt Lake City for a 2 hour layover, then to Atlanta, GA where you have to change planes and then finally arrive in Orlando 12 hours later. Sometimes the cost reduction is worth this, but just make sure you can't get a better flight at a comparable cost. In this situation you may be able to take a Southwest flight for $200 and it will only make one stop in Kansas City and you don't even deplane, getting you into Orlando in only 7 hours. For me, it would be worth the extra $20, for the less hopscotchy flight.
Sometimes however, taking the hopscotch can save you a significant amount. Only you can make that choice.
When you start looking at flights, take notice of which ones have routes to where you want to go, in the most direct manner possible. Also look for airlines that have hubs in your local airport, that is often, but not always, who you will get the best prices from.
So, when is the best time to book a flight, 330 days out (the earliest you can get), or two days before you leave? More on that tomorrow.
Finding the best airfare is not only concerned with getting the best price. You also need to be concerned with getting the best FLIGHT. What does that mean? Well, you may find the best price for a flight from PDX (Portland, OR) to MCO (Orlando, FL) on Delta, for $180. But it leaves at 11:00 PM, stops in Salt Lake City for a 2 hour layover, then to Atlanta, GA where you have to change planes and then finally arrive in Orlando 12 hours later. Sometimes the cost reduction is worth this, but just make sure you can't get a better flight at a comparable cost. In this situation you may be able to take a Southwest flight for $200 and it will only make one stop in Kansas City and you don't even deplane, getting you into Orlando in only 7 hours. For me, it would be worth the extra $20, for the less hopscotchy flight.
Sometimes however, taking the hopscotch can save you a significant amount. Only you can make that choice.
When you start looking at flights, take notice of which ones have routes to where you want to go, in the most direct manner possible. Also look for airlines that have hubs in your local airport, that is often, but not always, who you will get the best prices from.
So, when is the best time to book a flight, 330 days out (the earliest you can get), or two days before you leave? More on that tomorrow.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Finding the Best Airfare
I had a friend ask me the other day, "I want to go to Hawaii this year, How do I go about finding the best airfare?" When she asked me that I realized that not everyone knows how to go about finding the best airfare, which for me is second nature because I shop for airfare even when I am not planning a trip.
Here is what I told her. First thing you want to do is have an idea of what is a normal price, so you will need to cruise some airline sights checking different dates, near and far, to see what the range is. When you know what the normal range is, it is a cinch to spot that great deal. Also you should know that airlines can change the price of tickets up to several times a day, although I have not found this to be a daily thing for most of the sites I check. However, if I am looking for tickets I will check a couple of different time frames to make sure I am not missing something.
And that is the second step to finding the best airfare. Keep checking. I have found that most of my friends who come to me with this question do not follow this advice. Most people do not have the patience to search for better prices; but for me, I like to travel and so the cheaper I can make each trip, the more trips I can have.
I realize not everyone is addicted to travel like me, which is why they won't take the time to do proper searches. But if you take the time to search, you might find that the trip you thought was just a dream CAN become a reality!
Check back tomorrow for more information on finding the best airfare.
Here is what I told her. First thing you want to do is have an idea of what is a normal price, so you will need to cruise some airline sights checking different dates, near and far, to see what the range is. When you know what the normal range is, it is a cinch to spot that great deal. Also you should know that airlines can change the price of tickets up to several times a day, although I have not found this to be a daily thing for most of the sites I check. However, if I am looking for tickets I will check a couple of different time frames to make sure I am not missing something.
And that is the second step to finding the best airfare. Keep checking. I have found that most of my friends who come to me with this question do not follow this advice. Most people do not have the patience to search for better prices; but for me, I like to travel and so the cheaper I can make each trip, the more trips I can have.
I realize not everyone is addicted to travel like me, which is why they won't take the time to do proper searches. But if you take the time to search, you might find that the trip you thought was just a dream CAN become a reality!
Check back tomorrow for more information on finding the best airfare.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Beach Tips
Everyone knows that when you head to the beach, especially in a tropical location, that you need to remember the sunscreen. Tropical sun will burn you much more quickly and easily than the sun you are used to if you live in North America. The suns rays are much more direct here; it has nothing to do with the temperature.
You probably also know to take water so you don't become dehydrated. Here are a couple of tricks I use to keep the water cold. First off, I buy a few bottles of water, not just one. I freeze all of them except one per person. You can then throw them all in the cooler, the frozen ones keep the non frozen one cold, and as the day goes on, the frozen ones melt, giving you cold water. This method keeps me supplied with cold drinking water all day long, whether I am on the beach or taking a drive in the car. If you are taking snacks this will keep them cold also. I have also taken ziplock bags and filled them with ice to keep things cold in a cooler. Besides providing me with more drinking water during the day, this method also allows me to put things together in a cooler where I don't have to worry about the ice melting and making a soggy mess of things in the cooler.
Another thing I like to do which a lot of people don't know about or don't use, is taking a sheet along to the beach. It can be used in several ways. I like to use it to lay on instead of a beach towel. When you are in a tropical location you don't really need a towel to dry off on, the sun does it pretty quickly and you don't get cold waiting to dry. The advantages of a sheet over a towel is that when you pick the sheet up off of the beach, the sand shakes right off, unlike a towel where the sand stays stuck in the fibers. It is also larger than a beach towel, giving space for more people. But my favorite reason is how small of a space that sheet takes up compared to two beachtowels. When I go to the beach I don't want to be a pack mule getting there, but I do want to have all of the necessities.
Do you take baby powder to the beach with you? It works really well for making the sand unstick from your body. I don't mind sand being stuck to me while I am on the beach playing, but when it is time to get back into the car I like to desand. If you sprinkle a little baby powder onto the sand before brushing the sand comes right off.
You probably also know to take water so you don't become dehydrated. Here are a couple of tricks I use to keep the water cold. First off, I buy a few bottles of water, not just one. I freeze all of them except one per person. You can then throw them all in the cooler, the frozen ones keep the non frozen one cold, and as the day goes on, the frozen ones melt, giving you cold water. This method keeps me supplied with cold drinking water all day long, whether I am on the beach or taking a drive in the car. If you are taking snacks this will keep them cold also. I have also taken ziplock bags and filled them with ice to keep things cold in a cooler. Besides providing me with more drinking water during the day, this method also allows me to put things together in a cooler where I don't have to worry about the ice melting and making a soggy mess of things in the cooler.
Another thing I like to do which a lot of people don't know about or don't use, is taking a sheet along to the beach. It can be used in several ways. I like to use it to lay on instead of a beach towel. When you are in a tropical location you don't really need a towel to dry off on, the sun does it pretty quickly and you don't get cold waiting to dry. The advantages of a sheet over a towel is that when you pick the sheet up off of the beach, the sand shakes right off, unlike a towel where the sand stays stuck in the fibers. It is also larger than a beach towel, giving space for more people. But my favorite reason is how small of a space that sheet takes up compared to two beachtowels. When I go to the beach I don't want to be a pack mule getting there, but I do want to have all of the necessities.
Do you take baby powder to the beach with you? It works really well for making the sand unstick from your body. I don't mind sand being stuck to me while I am on the beach playing, but when it is time to get back into the car I like to desand. If you sprinkle a little baby powder onto the sand before brushing the sand comes right off.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
So, do you like to travel but hate to pay for it? Did you know there are ways to let others pay for your travel? Not that you won't work for it, because you will, but still, someone else is paying. The process I am talking about is mystery shopping. A lot of people think that all mystery shopping is a scam, but that is just not true. Mystery shopping is an actual business, and they will pay you for shoppong, dining, traveling, watching movies, changing the oil in your car, getting a haircut and myriad other activities. You do have to work for your product and it does take time and effort. After all, this is a business and there is no such thing as a free lunch. You are not considered an employee, you are an independent contractor and as such you will have to keep track of your own expenses and pay and report accordingly to Uncle Sam, but truthfully there is not much to report as far as wages, as most of these are reimbursement and a very little amount of pay, but still, travel on someone else's dime? Sign me up!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Timeshare Presentation
Have you ever done a timeshare presentation? You know, go in and listen to a salesperson talk about how wonderful their product is, and then try to sell you a timeshare for 20,000 or 40,000 or more? Lots of people do this while they are on vacation, because it only takes a couple of hours and they will give you money for it. Sometimes it is only $50, or sometimes it is $200. It can be a visa card or it can be coupons that can only be spent in certain places.
I tend to do these presentations, partly for the money and partly for information I get from them. As much as I love vacations, it is a good idea for me to know the different timeshare offers that are out there. I already own a timeshare and I am very pleased with it, but I know there are others out there that I may be interested in. If you have a hard time saying "no", you should probably avoid these, but if you are ok with telling a salesman, thanks for the info but no thanks, this is an ok way to gather information and pick up some vacation bucks at the same time.
I tend to do these presentations, partly for the money and partly for information I get from them. As much as I love vacations, it is a good idea for me to know the different timeshare offers that are out there. I already own a timeshare and I am very pleased with it, but I know there are others out there that I may be interested in. If you have a hard time saying "no", you should probably avoid these, but if you are ok with telling a salesman, thanks for the info but no thanks, this is an ok way to gather information and pick up some vacation bucks at the same time.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Do you use your iphone?
Do you use your iphone while traveling? I use my extensively. I don't have to buy maps or bring a garmin with me, although I have to say that Garmins are very nice to have. My iphone won't give me verbal directions, but over the years of traveling I have become fairly good at navigating, so if I have a map I can find my way. I like the fact that you can get a general overview of the area, or zoom it in enough to get street names in tiny little towns. Although, with this trip to Florida I have noticed that my iphone is not keeping up very good. It takes a while to home in on my location, and when I move my blue dot does not always move with me.
The other thing I use my iphone for when traveling is for making motel reservations. I have a couple of hotel apps on there that will help me find something wherever I am. But a word of caution here, you should take time to read the reviews and maybe even do a drive by of the motel if possible before booking. It may save you from ending up in a skanky hotel like we got ourselves into last night. Not so skanky that I preferred to sleep in the car, and you couldn't really tell from the outside; I haven't gone back to read the reviews to see if that would have helped or not. Sometimes, despite every thing you do, you end up in a place you really wish you weren't. I itch this morning and I hope it is just my imagination.
Here's to bug free motel stays!
The other thing I use my iphone for when traveling is for making motel reservations. I have a couple of hotel apps on there that will help me find something wherever I am. But a word of caution here, you should take time to read the reviews and maybe even do a drive by of the motel if possible before booking. It may save you from ending up in a skanky hotel like we got ourselves into last night. Not so skanky that I preferred to sleep in the car, and you couldn't really tell from the outside; I haven't gone back to read the reviews to see if that would have helped or not. Sometimes, despite every thing you do, you end up in a place you really wish you weren't. I itch this morning and I hope it is just my imagination.
Here's to bug free motel stays!
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