Five Travel Mistakes That Cost You Big Bucks (continued)
Travel Mistake #4:
Booking Airline Tickets at the Last Minute Will Cost You Big Bucks. Here's some important travel advice about booking airline tickets (even hotels) at the last minute: it will cost you big bucks because airlines have cut down on the number of routes they're flying and planes are packed these days. Most of the last-minute deals that used to help airlines fill up their planes are no longer necessary so do NOT depend on getting a cheap seat if you waited until the last minute. Booking at the last minute can cost you big bucks and forget a lot of those last minute travel deals. The best travel deals are found when you start looking about four months before your vacation so shop early for
airfares,
but don’t’ shop too early.
Here's some travel advice you need and that is to start shopping, but not buying, early and here’s why. Airlines typically start actively managing their cheapest seats about four months before scheduled departures so you need to look for trends and use technology to help you see when your destination normally has the cheapest airfares available like during the off-season or the shoulder seasons. Don't purchase your airline ticket too early since tickets purchased before this four month window will generally be priced at what’s called the mid-tier level.
The only exception to this rule is when you are shopping for an airfare for the busy holiday times like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Airfares are volatile like the stock market due to current price hikes and ever-increasing fuel surcharges so it makes sense to lock in a good price for a holiday trip earlier than you would for a typical cheap vacation.
You're packed and ready to go on vacation, so now comes the most important issue at hand: avoiding jet lag when you arrive at your destination. A survey by Conde Naste said that 93% of travelers get jet lag but you don't have to be one of them if you use my tips. ~Marianne Schwab
Book Your Trip
Booking travel online should be quick and easy…not to mention affordable and that's why I like Expedia. Did you know that you can save up to $525 when you book your flight and hotel together at Expedia.com? For the best deals, book 60 days or more before you travel because usually the further out you plan, the better the package rate.
~Marianne Schwab
Top Travel Mistakes to Avoid Now
I have put together a list of the top five travel mistakes people make that translate into paying too much for a vacation no matter where you book your trip (through a travel agent, airline or online). ~Marianne Schwab
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About Marianne Schwab
TV Travel Show Producer
For over twenty years, TV Travel Show Producer, Marianne Schwab, has been collecting money saving travel tips as a travel producer for high profile television programs. She has flown all over the world and produced live television productions on location from Caesar's Palace on the Vegas Strip to the beautiful island of Oahu. Read more