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TRAVEL — Summer vacationing on the cheap |
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Written by asap
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Thursday, 13 July 2006 |
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 Cheapskate travelers, summer is not for you. Everything seems to get more expensive in the season’s heat, from gas to plane travel to hotels.
With some common sense and a bit of a hard head, however, you get more out of your dollars, pesos or Euros — even at peak times. Here are my cheapskate travel tips, accumulated over road trips nationwide and overseas jaunts to Bali, Africa, Europe, Costa Rica and this summer’s vacation on Mexico’s Cancun peninsula:
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PLAN ONLINE
I go to the library for great travel guides from Let’s Go!, Lonely Planet and Fodor’s, then take them along on the trip. (They never seem to ask about sunscreen-smudged covers.) But that’s just a starting point. Recent hotel reviews from average folks are at www.tripadvisor.com and there’s much more at blogs like www.hotelchatter.com and www.j3tlag.com.
Great aggregators for cheap flights are at www.kayak.com and www.sidestep.com ... Plus there are some incredible air-hotel package deals at www.skyauction.com. I used the latter site (which is like a travel-focused eBay, only better) to reserve a marvelous luxury villa in Bali -- www.novusbalivilla.com -- for less than half the advertised price. Be cautious of booking through www.Orbitz.com or www.Hotels.com for most rooms, though. Unless they have a great temporary discount, such sites charge booking fees that can often be avoided by contacting hotels directly.
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ASK FOR IT
Get what you want -- from a more relaxing day to more soda on the plane — simply by asking for it. At hotels, I always request a ridiculously late check-out time of 4 or 5 p.m. That way, I can enjoy a day of exploring then come back to take a shower or simply catch a blast of A/C in bed. The front desk often compromises and offers 2 or 3 p.m. — still much better than the way-too-early listed checkout times.
This goes double if you’re staying at one of the increasingly popular all-inclusive resorts. To get your money’s worth, arrive at the crack of dawn for breakfast, or at least before noon, and stick around on your last day for evening cocktails. Finally, request cans on the plane, not just that tiny portion they pour over ice. You just paid $400 for your ticket; they can afford to give you a full 12 ounces.
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GO SLOW
 If you’re truly cheap, and have plenty of time on driving getaway, by all means SLOW DOWN. The federal government estimates that every 5 mph that you drive over 60 mph is the equivalent of spending an extra 20 cents per gallon. Most engines are at their most efficient in the 50 to 60 mph range. Learn other fuel economy tips at www.fueleconomy.gov
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BE INSURED
Rental car companies make a chunk of their profits by selling that collision damage waiver for sky-high prices that can add hundreds of dollars onto your final bill. If you have a major credit card, you’re likely already covered for most anything. Check with your credit card company first, then when it’s time to rent, be ready to stand firm for their hard sell. Keep your head low, scrawl your initials on all those little lines and get out onto the road.
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asap staff reporter Ryan Pearson has been known to ask for two Cokes on a plane ride, and take one can to go.
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