Posted on May - 07 - 2010
Ways to wealth: With planning, save hundreds of dollars on any vacation trip
Tarrell: I am trying to plan a family vacation out-of-state and keep our expenses to a minimum. What are some of the best tips for a military family?
Elaine: Travel discounts abound in this staggering economy. With some planning, you can probably save hundreds of dollars off any family vacation.
If you have narrowed your vacation plans to one state, the experts suggest you contact the state’s tourism site and request a package of travel information and attractions be mailed to you. Seasoned travelers say the “2-for-1″ discounts for area attractions are more plentiful than in previous years, and using them can give a family significant savings.
The other most significant change in the past few years has been how aggressive hotels, rental car companies, cruise lines and airlines have become with their Internet offers. In years past, you would find lower pricing using “discount travel” sites. But these travel providers changed their strategies and now their prices routinely match those of discount travel sites. (I requested pricing for a three-night stay at The Peabody from several sites, including the hotel’s own site. There was no difference in pricing .)
Many hotels and other travel providers offer additional discounts to members of the military (active and retired), AAA and AARP members and other professions such as teachers, firefighters, police and EMTs. Some offer discounts to municipal, state and federal employees or employees of nonprofit organizations or churches. Others offer discounts to government contractors on government travel.
Most websites do not contain a mechanism to deduct these discounts from the stated rates. If you are a member of any of these organizations or an employee of one of these entities, I recommend you contact the hotel or other travel provider and ask for these discounts from a customer service representative. If you are not offered a discount, you may be offered an upgrade.
Active military (and their families) on R & R receive an amazing 25 percent discount off the best available room rates at Warwick International Hotels, U.S., in Dallas, Denver, New York City, San Francisco and Seattle. This discount is good for up to two rooms, including suites, in all cities except Seattle.
Although the rate will vary based on the time of year, this means a luxury hotel stay can be priced from $55 per night for a classic room (or $67 per night in Seattle) to $99 for a suite, plus taxes. Prices start at $140 in New York. The discount is good for most days of the year, including holidays, with few blackout dates, as long as hotel occupancy levels permit.
Probably the most amazing hotel deals right now are in Las Vegas. Some weekday room rates begin at $15, with many at $24-$28 per night at well-known casino properties. If you want to avoid the airfare, Tunica has some room rates in the $30 range.
Questions? Write Elaine at Elainezimm@aol.com.
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