14 Ways to Save Money on Transportation When You Are on Vacation

One way a Travel Advisor can help when you are planning your vacation is to take the time to research the most cost effective ways to travel and advise you of the resorts and amenities that fit your budget. Check out the ideas below which you can do and in some cases have your travel advisor assist you with.

Plane Travel

1. Save money on tickets

You can save a lot of money on airline tickets if you're flexible with your travel dates. A day or two earlier or later can make a huge difference in the cost. Tuesdays through Thursdays are usually the cheapest days to travel by air. Your travel advisor can often help checking the airports and booking the airfare which will be most cost effective and convenient for your trip.

2. Consider alternate airports

Sometimes, flying into a different airport can save hundreds of dollars per ticket per flight. Larger cities typically have multiple airports. 

3. Consider travel to and from the airport as well

Try to save money getting to and from the airport. If you take your car, you will need to pay for parking at the long-term car park. There might be cheap transportation to and from the airport, but it might be cheaper and less hassle to take your car if you have a lot of people and/or a lot of luggage. Ask your travel advisor for transport to and from the airport. Some resorts can help provide this.

4. Don’t overpack

Airlines can charge a small fortune these days for checked baggage. Pack each carry on for each family member carefully for maximum usefulness in the minimum amount of space.

5. Watch out for fuel surcharges and airport taxes

These should usually be included in the price of the ticket, but if you are booking online, that "cheap fare" might actually end up giving you sticker shock. A travel advisor can help you book a flight that is a real value while considering added fees such as checked baggage.

6. Book packages if possible

A flight, hotel and car rental for one inclusive price can be a good deal. Your travel advisor is up to date on the latest deals direct from the resorts.

7. Collect air miles

Air miles can all add up to a big savings on your next vacation as long as there are no high fees for booking. Charges will usually be highest for last-minute travel, such as less than two weeks prior to departure.

8. Go in the off season

Avoid flying at the height of the holiday and summer. Try spring and fall getaways instead. Let your travel advisor suggest the best times to travel to your destinations.

Going by Car

9. Vehicle maintenance and gas

Make sure you have your car serviced before you go. You don’t want to end up with breakdowns and/or any costly repairs on the road. Check the tires, especially in warm and cold weather. The state of the tires can have a significant impact on fuel mileage. Look for good gas prices. If you have more than one option, shop around. Pay cash for your gas. This can save you around 10 cents a gallon because so many gas stations these days are passing along the credit card company charges to the customer.

All Inclusive Resorts

10. Go all-inclusive

Consider an all-inclusive resort at your destination. They can be very cost-effective and offer sightseeing to top locations. These resorts offer food and drinks, as well as entertainment included as part of your stay. Your travel advisor can recommend the top rated resorts for your stay.

11. Bus passes

These are popular in Europe and other locations where people like to see the sights by bus. You could get a pass offering unlimited travel for 7 days, for example. Compare the price of the pass with the individual prices of the tickets between all the destinations you want to visit.

Train Travel

12. Train passes

As with bus passes, these can be a really cheap way to see Europe and the rest of the world. Note that some train systems will have first, second and perhaps even third-class options. The latter should be the cheapest, and reasonably clean and comfortable in most cases.

Cruises

13. Book a cheap cruise

A cruise is your transportation and hotel all rolled into one. All you have to do is unpack once and relax. Before booking, check out each destination carefully to make sure there will be enough to do. Some will stop at interesting destinations, while others will spend most of their time off the shore of their own company-owned island for people to do water sports and other activities.  

Your travel advisor can look for last-minute deals and packages if you don’t live at a cruise ship port of call and have to fly to get to your ship as well as track your booking to see if a lower fare or discount is announced by the cruise line. In that case, your advisor can automatically pass along the discount or get you a free upgrade or additional amenities for your cruise at no additional charge.

Groups

14. Consider group travel

Traveling with a group, usually 4 to 10 people, can really cut down on expenses. Larger groups can get the best rates if they plan ahead. A travel advisor can coordinate the bookings for all of the members and apply the additional discounts or added amenities earned from the group rate for everyone at no additional charge.