Articles - Archived Feature

Internet Travel Secrets Your Wallet Needs to Know

If you're considering a summer vacation—good news! It's currently a buyer's market where travel is concerned, and that's whether you're headed across the state or around the globe. Unfortunately for travel-related companies (but fortunately for travelers), occupancy has fallen dramatically for hotels and airlines alike, even since last year.

That means for travelers who know how to sniff out a good—make that a great—deal, there are definitely bargains to be had. A little light homework on the Internet, and values will quickly present themselves. A quick tip: When it comes to traveling on a dime, social media is your friend. So if you have a favorite airline or two, or even a favorite destination or hotel, monitor those Facebook pages or follow them on Twitter. They will generally tweet or send a link for current bargains; the only hitch is that these bargains are generally available for a limited time only.

If you're on Twitter, try typing a hashtag (or # symbol) in the search box that describes what you're looking for, such as #Boston or #Traveldeals. Often, discounts and special offers will appear that you can track further. Follow those leads. Experts say this is probably the best year in decades to let the deal determine your destination instead of the other way around, so if you're the spontaneous type, now's your chance!

Other valuable resources in your hunt for a deal include websites like Kayak.com, Yapta.com, Travelzoo.com and Tripit.com. Kayak and Travelzoo, for instance, check literally hundreds of travel sites, then present you with the best values available for airfare, hotels, rental cars and more. Travelzoo even tells you about local deals you may find appealing. Yapta, managed by Kayak, can track flight prices before you buy, as well as after you buy. So if your ticket price drops after you've made your purchase, they'll give you all the details surrounding an airline's refund policy to help you decide whether it's worth pursuing a refund. Tripit, on the other hand, serves as a type of automated travel agent, allowing you to feed in all your travel details. Afterwards, it sends you a detailed itinerary—right down to the weather—that you can access online or from your mobile phone.

A few other tricks for saving money—

• If you're a senior, educator, student, AAA member or serve in the military, always ask for discounts. Many companies offer lower rates to these groups, but may not advertise them.
• If you're flying, consider using an alternate airport, then driving or taking an economy flight for the extra leg. This can sometimes save a great deal on your airline ticket price, and it only requires a little extra on your part.
• Don't be afraid to negotiate. These days, hotels and airlines are looking to increase their occupancy however they can. It's always worth asking.

2011 is the summer to travel. If you want to see the sights, there are deals to be had. So grab your Internet connection, follow those tweets, and go, go, go! Happy deal-hunting…safe travels…and enjoy!