Mr. Cheap Stuff» Cheap Travel

Holiday Travel: How To Score Bargains

Jennifer — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:33:06 +0000

The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are among the most popular times for Americans to travel. Millions of Americans have been hitting the road, the bus and the airport despite what can be high seasonal prices for gas and airfares. Frankly, holiday travel is not the best time to score bargains – but you can do it with a little effort. Here are six great tips:

1. Be flexible. For Christmas itineraries, the most popular one is a Wednesday departure and Sunday return. See if you can score a cheaper flight by shifting your travels by a day or two. Most travel sites offer a flexible date search feature; try it out and see if it helps. For even better luck, look into flying on Christmas Day for savings of around 10%. Most people want to travel before and after a holiday, so if you can travel on the holiday itself, you’ll save. One good site to try for last minute holiday travel deals is FareCompare.com

2. Wait till after the holiday. The first week of January is known in the travel industry as a "dead week", when far fewer people travel and the bargains abound. If you’re concerned about using up vacation days before the end of the year, check with your employer. Many employers will okay you carrying over those days in the first couple weeks of the new year.

3. Go for off-peak locations. Travel to London, for example. Virgin Vacations offers a six-night London Fling. The deal costs $679-$769 per person (without taxes and fees), depending on your departure date and city. The vacation includes round-trip airfare from several departure cities (some cities do not offer flights on December 25), six nights’ accommodations, daily breakfast, hotel taxes and service charges, and fuel surcharges. You must book by December 17. Sure, it’s a little chilly in London, but it’s still a great place to visit. Disney World is another great spot to visit in early to mid December or in January when prices are rock bottom.

4. Hit the slopes. Usually, ski vacations can be expensive during the holiday season, but bookings are down because of the struggling economy.

5. Vacation in a city; many downtown hotels see a dropoff in business clients over the holidays so there are deals available (except for New Year’s Eve).

6. There are tons of travel sites out there, but one of the easiest ones I’ve found is called Airfare Watchdog. You don’t have to enter specific dates or itineraries to find out prices. Just enter your departure city and the site will display all the deals from that city, with the valid dates for those deals.

Photo courtesy of Flickr

Mr. Cheap Stuff Popular Coupons
1. $15 Buy.com Coupon
2. $30 Overstock.com Coupon
3. $10 Drugstore.com Coupon
Mr. Cheap Stuff Popular Posts
5 Massive Benefits of Not Having a TV
List of Restaurant that Give Free Birthday Meals
How to Make Free 411 Calls

Attention: Unless you are reading this from a RSS reader, you are reading a scraped feed. That means the site you are reading this from has violated copyright laws by stealing content from Mr. Cheap Stuff Please contact me to let me know where you reading this so I can take legal action against the scraper.
Holiday Travel: How To Score Bargains

Cheap Vacations: Where To Go to Get More For Your Dollar

Dean — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 07:57:06 +0000

A European vacation can be pricey thanks to the Euro’s strength against the dollar. U.S. currency exchange rates have improved somewhat, but there are still much cheaper alternatives to Europe. Here’s a list of exciting places that won’t break your vacation budget and where the dollar is still fairly strong.

1. ARGENTINA

link: http://www.turismo.gov.ar/eng/menu.htm

Buenos Aires is a sophisticated city filled with great restaurants, culture and nightlife. Argentina is famed for its excellent beef, as well as Italian cuisine, owing to the country’s many Italian immigrants. And of course, there’s tango, the beautiful and passionate dance which is known throughout the world. To get a real feel for Argentina, try some Argentine tango lessons before you leave home. Look for a teacher who regularly visits Buenos Aires (most of the good tango teachers do) – they can offer you some good travel tips.

To find Argentine tango teachers/dance events in your location, check out:

http://www.todotango.com/english/links/sitios_por_pais.asp?pais=United%20States

2. MEXICO

link: http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-guides/page.php?id=2366467

Mexico is one of the world’s most popular tourism destinations, and why not? It has something for everyone – white sand beaches and clear blue ocean, Mayan ruins, vibrant music and folklore. For a tropical beach getaway, there’s always Cancun, but for great culture try Mexico City, booming with new museums, a historical architectural revival and an active music and arts scene. The city’s huge Museum of Modern Art has works by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, and costs just $2.

3. CZECH REPUBLIC

link: http://www.czechtourism.com/eng/uk/docs/what-to-see/czech-republic/index.html

In Prague, you’ll enjoy all the elegance of a beautiful old-world European city without the high prices. The Czech Republic is known for history, architecture and, interestingly enough, delicious and cheap beer. There’s history, Pilsner Urquell was invented in the Czech Republic and is probably the most beloved brew in the country. If beer is not your thing, how about a massage and facial? The Czech Republic is also world-famous for its spas.

4. BALI

Link: http://www.indonesia-tourism.com/bali/index.html

The Indonesian island of Bali is truly a tropical paradise, far away and exotic yet affordable. You’ll find some of the world’s best beaches plus a a rich history and culture. There are numerous ceremonies, Balinese festivals and magnificent temples and palaces. The Balinese are skilled artisans, particularly in woodcarving and in making objects of tortoiseshell and of gold, silver and other metals. The Balinese are also noted for their traditional dance, the distinctive music of the gamelan and for their skills in weaving cloth.

5. TUNISIA

link: http://www.tourismtunisia.com/

This beautiful and exotic North African country offers pristine beaches, Roman ruins, the Sahara Desert, mosques, Andalusian architecture, sophisticated resorts, camel rides, jeep excursions, weavers, and traditional musicians.

Visit the capital city Tunis’s medina, or old city, founded in the seventh century, to see narrow, winding streets with surprises around every corner. You’ll see locals wearing traditional robes and barter in open-air markets amidst the smell of fresh bread, spices, and honey-drenched pastries.

6. GUATEMALA

link: http://www.planetware.com/guatemala-tourism-vacations-gua.htm

Guatemala is a land of tropical jungles, active volcanoes, mountain lakes, mountain cloud forests, volcanic beaches and coral reefs. The ancient ruins of Tikal provide a look at Mayan culture with plazas, an acropolis, pyramids, temples and a museum. Weaving is a popular business with a rainbow of colors found in the villagers’ hand-woven clothes. Each village has its own unique pattern and color. It is still possible to experience the clamor and color of an outdoor Indian market where handicrafts are made and sold in the same manner as in days gone by.

in the city of Antigua, Guatemala, visitors stroll the same cobblestone streets, enjoy many of the same buildings and monuments that stood when this was regarded as one of the most beautiful capitals in Spanish America. In Antigua and Guatemala City, the celebrations for Lent and Holy Week are still spectacular and attract people from all over the world.

Photo Credit from Flickr

Dean writes:

With the global recession I think if you can afford it, now is one of the best times to travel. Overall the global tourism industry is hurting which mean there are deal to be found. Hotel rates just about everywhere have been dropping.

For those of you on a really tight budget you might also want to try these sites.

Couch Surfing – Made for the younger backpack crowd.

Hostels.com – Large database with reviews of thousands of hostels.

Kayak.com – My favorite site for airline travel deals.

Anybody can recommend other great places to visit where the dollar is still strong?

10 Tips For Cheap Holiday Travel

Jennifer — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:10:27 +0000

1. The busiest — and often the priciest — days to fly or take a train are the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after. If you can schedule your trip a day or two before or after the peak days, or on Thanksgiving Day itself, you could save some serious cash and avoid crowds.

2. Keep it local. Yes, we know you’d love to visit your college friends who live on the other coast, or the favorite aunt who hasn’t seen you in years. But think now: are you the one doing the traveling every year? Is is possible for you to host them instead? Or perhaps figure out a place to meet in the middle? Also think creatively to see about ways to have a get-together within driving distance. Gas is a lot cheaper for now.

3. Check out some great sites offering incredible travel bargains. One of my favorites is TravelZoo. Current deals include Thanksgiving airfares $39 and up, car rentals from $11.50, and airfares to Europe from $212.

4. Another awesome site: Airfare Watchdog. http://www.airfarewatchdog.com Ultra simple blog where you just type in your departure city to see the list of fare specials. Also some great features like official airline route maps and tips to avoid checked baggage fees.

5. Expedia has special deals for Thanksgiving travel.

6. If you’re not visiting family, how about a cheap trip to Europe? November is the start of the low season for much of Europe, and the weather is not too bad. For example, British Airways currently offers a 6-night package with airfare, hotel and a theatre ticket from $840.

7. Take a bus. For shorter trips such as New York to DC or Boston, numerous extremely affordable alternatives have sprung up. Try Vamoose (NYC to DC only), Megabus (all of the U.S.), and BoltBus (East Coast). Or search for "Chinatown bus" and you’ll find many bus lines that offer super-cheap trips, usually from the Chinatown section of various cities.

8. Pack your own food. Remember that the cost of travel is not only the gas money or airfare, but also your meals. Besides, airport and rest stop food is often lousy, fattening and overpriced. Use an insulated lunch bag with a freezer insert and stock it up with sandwiches, fresh fruit and veggies.

9. Have trouble planning ahead? There’s always sites like LastMinute.com Sometimes you can get really good deals on unsold seats and rooms.

10. Always check airfare comparison engines such as SideStep.com or Kayak.com those sites search multiple other sites, saving you time and money.

Photo Credit

10 Ways To Save Money In Las Vegas

Dean — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 04:26:10 +0000

Las Vegas Strip at Night – Photo Credit

For most people a trip to Vegas is a once in a lifetime proposition. Face it, you are going to Vegas to gamble and have some fun. It doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg and with the following money saving tips you can now hit the card tables with a bigger bankroll.

1. Plan ahead – Plan your trip in advance. Most of the major air carriers offer steep discounts on fares that are bought weeks in advance of departure.

2. Book your room online – You can get a $500 room in Vegas for $50 if you do your homework. Casinos will offer cut rate prices on rooms, because they want you to gamble on their property and not elsewhere. A cheap room is an enticement to do so.

3. Plan your meals – Prime rib, steak and lobster dinners can be enjoyed for $10. Check your in room coupons. When you are out on The Strip keep your eyes open for the neon marquees. Most resorts have buffet specials. A healthy meal can be found. You might want to purchase a Las Vegas Entertainment Book before you leave for your vacation.

4. Take the time share tour - No, you don’t want to buy a time share but 1 ½ hours early in the morning won’t interrupt your vacation. This is the ideal place for free show tickets and free meals. If you do buy the time share you are at least guaranteed a free ride in a limo.

5. Sign up for the players card – If you are a slots player sign up with your favourite casino. Plug your player card in the casino slots for that extra $20 you’ll have to play with. Sign up usually includes a free meal and discounts for Vegas attractions or shows.

6. Free Wifi in Las Vegas – Need to go online? Save the $20 that most casinos charge for unreliable Internet use and use the free WiFi that is available at McCarran Airport while you wait for your flight connections or the limo to your casino. The Monorail is also WiFi friendly and is a great place to check your email as you ride in comfort from one end of The Strip to the other.

7. Pack less - You don’t need as much as you think in Vegas. Pack an extra bag instead and load up on souvenirs and clothing from the various outlet malls in town. Free shuttle service is provided.

8. Know your destination – Vegas cab drivers have been known to take circuitous detours. You can save ½ your cab fare if you know where you are going and recommend your preferred route to your driver.

9. Be seen – If you like to enjoy your drinks for free make sure that the hostesses can see you and don’t hop from card table to card table or from one slot machine to another. Tips will ensure that your hostess comes back with regularity, unless you prefer spending $14 for a Vodka and Red Bull.

10. Wear comfortable shoes – While this won’t save you money, The Strip is longer than you think and comfortable footwear will make you less tense when you find your poker table. Happy feet can lead to peace of mind and is one less thing for you to think about at the card tables.

These tips can save you up to $3000 for a week in Vegas. You will have already saved up to $1500 by the time you leave home. That’s money you can take to the bank!

This article was written by a Mr. Cheap Stuff contributor, have a tip or article you would like to submit, please contact me.

10 Ways To Save Money On Your Next Vacation

Dean — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 03:48:24 +0000

Plumeria in Hawaii – Photo Credit

So, the day has come at last! You have saved here and there and now it is vacation time! Now how to not go over budget while on vacation? Yes, I did say budget. Everyone needs a little holiday budget. For this, you will need to plan ahead.

1. First look for a hotel or apartment with a kitchen area so that you can prepare some meals yourself, this will help save on restaurant bills. Alternate days when you do things that cost money with days you do things that are free. Visit museums and parks on the days they are free.

2. Bring bottles for water from home so that you are not tempted to buy drinks while out on your visits. (This saves on dentist bills as well.) Also take a bit of fruit with you on your outing so that you are not tempted to buy more expensive (and less healthy) snacks.

3. Keep track of your expenses in a little book. When you are aware of what you are spending, you are less apt to go over budget. Also, you can reward yourself by saving a little each day and splurging the last day. Hold off larger purchases for this day.

4. Eating lunch out rather than dinner can save you money as lunches are frequently better deals and prices often go up for dinners, especially in big cities.

5. When we were traveling in England, we ate breakfast out. If you eat an English breakfast, you won’t need to eat lunch and we ate sandwiches that we bought at the grocery store and fruit for dinner in our B&B.

6. Stay away from tourists traps and try to do things the natives do. These usually will be rather inexpensive. Again when we were in the UK we took our sons bowling. These kinds of outings are fun and inexpensive.

6. Buy gas in the city, and if possible from a self-service or grocery store chain and not on the highway as the prices are not the same.

7. Try to pack things you know you will need and bring them from home as opposed to buying them on vacation. These include: soap, shampoo, hats, sunglasses, aspirin, pens, paper, playing cards, etc.

8. Whatever else makes it fun…"Hey kids, think we can save enough to do this the last day?" As long as you make it into a game, kids will play along.

9. Buy an Entertainment Book before you travel to the city your are visiting. These books have coupons on popular restaurants, attractions and hotels.

10. Try to on off-peak days like the middle of the week if possible. You will usually find better deals on hotels, airfare and rental cars on these days. Also if possible try to plan out your vacations during off-peak seasons.

Article written by Mr. Cheap Stuff contributor.

JetBlue $50 Travel Special

Dean — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 23:33:14 +0000

JetBlue is offering a $50 bonus credit when you book a flight online by September 18th. You must travel by October 15, 2007 to qualify for this $50 voucher. The flight credit will emailed to you on November 1st and is good from December 1st to February 13th. You will also receive a 20 Bonus TrueBlue points for every roundtrip.

JetBlue Promotion

No JetBlue coupon code is necessary but you do have to become a TrueBlue member. Check out JetBlue’s current travel deals.