Want to book really cheap vacations but don’t know how to find the best deals? Let us give you a helping hand. Are you tired of hearing how your friends and colleagues have booked really cheap vacations? Don’t despair, we have a number of tips and tricks to help you get in on the action and cut down the costs of your next trip.
Don’t travel at peak times
It may sound incredibly obvious, but if you want really cheap vacations then don’t travel during the peak times of the year. Spring Break is the most obvious time to avoid as demand is high and prices at a premium. The best times of year to find cheap vacations in the USA are early December (post Thanksgiving) and January/February (post holidays). Depending on your preferred destination the off-peak times may differ. For example, in the Caribbean, the middle of summer is low season because of higher temperatures while the middle of winter is low season in Europe.
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Travel last minute
Like any other business, vacation tour operators want to offload unsold inventory at the last minute. There is no point taking a half-empty plane to a half-empty hotel. With this in mind, you can always find great last-minute vacation offers – especially all inclusive vacation deals. Search online or call your favourite hotels direct to see what they can offer. Lastminute.com, Priceline and Hotwire are all great websites to use for last minute deals.
Delete your browsing history
Ever wonder why flight tickets always seem to go up in price before you finally get around to booking them? Those of you who are into technology might have already realised that many airline companies adjust their prices according to the number of hits they receive on their website. So when you are next trying to find really cheap last minute holidays, bear in mind that that company has registered your interest and can up the price of your seat in an instant. By deleting your browsing history after each session, you can ensure that your logging back on is kept securely under wraps and you can save some pennies in the process!
Book flights during the early hours of the morning
According to experts, the best deals are released during the early hours of the morning, when reserved flights are re-released to the public market. It might seem a little far-fetched but it wouldn’t harm to stay up late, if it could save you a good percentage of the original cost. As with repeat hits to their sites, airline companies (especially low-cost airlines) are said to change their prices according to peak booking times. This would include lunchtimes and evenings when most people are surfing the web.
Consider a stopover or connecting flight
In some cases, like if you are travelling a very short distance, it may not be worthwhile breaking up your journey. However, some travellers have found that by booking a connecting flight, they pay less than if they were to fly to their chosen destination directly, which can result in really cheap last minute holidays. You may have heard of these irregular fares when it comes to rail services – in some cases direct trains from one main city to another are more expensive than the fare from a lesser known town, even if that town is further away, for example. Airlines are no different to this. Similarly, breaking your journey up over two days can reduce costs in some instances.
Don’t book your room too early, nor too late
If you are one of those people who can’t wait to get everything booked and organised, try to remember that booking early doesn’t always get you the best financial deal. Equally, leaving everything to the last minute isn’t going to do you any favours. It is rumoured that the optimum time to book your hotel room is around a month in advance. It’s at this pivotal time that hotel owners aren’t sure if they will get booked up and so release attractive rates to secure the numbers.
Book refundable accommodation
Many hotel booking sites such as Trip Advisor and Booking.com offer room reservations that are refundable up to the day of check in. Why not take advantage of this service by booking your preferred location and then keeping track of hotel prices in the area right up until your holiday, to ensure you get the best deal. You literally have nothing to lose! Don’t forget to delete your browsing history after each session though…
Sign up to email newsletters
Everyone hates marketing emails and ticks ‘no’ when asked if they want to receive news and special offers. The truth is, though, that many companies do actually treat you like a VIP and send you promotional codes and discounts. Whether it is a discount code for your favourite holiday store, a coupon for your next flight booking, or a 2-4-1 deal for your next hotel room, any money off deal is a bonus and can contribute to making your trip one of those really cheap vacations.
Disclaimer: Our service is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as financial advice. We help our readers make informed decisions via impartial information and guides. Where appropriate, we may introduce partner companies who can provide services relating to financial products.
