Happy Valentines Day!
FEB 2014
iNSiDE
discovery box • calendar • earthtalk healthy chocolate • dad’s eye view • family movie
Valuable
Travel Deals, Steals and Tips for Maximizing your 2014 Travel Experience
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lanning goes a long way towards creating effortless and affordable travel options. Whenever possible, take your time when scheduling your family, business and couple travel plans; just as you would for a party, event or business meeting. The time spent in the pre-planning stage can result in valuable savings, serious upgrades and more!
Timing Is Everything There are several “slow” times each year within the travel industry. This is when savings can be substantial if you’re able to capitalize on booking during these times. While some hotels, airlines, resorts, etc. may require you to travel during these times, they often offer a travel window within in which, your trip must be completed. These “magic” times of year are right before the holidays (October to December, excluding Thanksgiving, of course), and right after New Years (the beginning of January until right before spring break.) While travel increases and some venues may “black out” President’s Day weekend or Valentine’s Day, these blocks of time are notoriously slow performers in the travel industry. The other times of year when travelers can reap major benefits are more specific to the locale. Look for extremes when it comes to weather – the cold, hot, humid, winter, dark, rainy, etc. seasons will garner the best savings if you’re willing to put up with what many consider less
by Kim Green-Spangler
than ideal situations. Travel is a very personal thing and what works for one person or group, may be less than ideal for another. Check out the following tips to help you save a little time, effort and money for your next trip. Due Diligence Make sure you do your due diligence – take your travel planning to the next level. Leave nothing to chance. Know your ideal dates, if leeway exists to secure a better deal, how many travelers, their ages and if anyone in your group is eligible for any discounts. Be sure to research resorts, hotels, the area, restaurants, etc. Online, versus telephone bookings, can make a world of difference when it comes to price. If you’re not sure which way will yield you the best deal – try both! Many resorts offer online deals, while some deals are unadvertised and can be secured by asking for them while speaking with a representative. Never rule out alternatives when it comes to making travel arrangements. Due to the economy,
travelers have found houses, condos, apartments and room rentals to be huge money saving options to hotels and resorts. This is especially true when traveling for special events when communities have been known to raise prices, or for prime resorts and destinations. When looking at house rentals research reputable companies and make sure you are dealing with the owner or person legally responsible for booking the rental. Depending on the destination, savings can be 50% or more. Travel Insurance? Evaluate whether you need travel/ car rental insurance. Insurance can be the difference between
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spending a little as a potential safety net or being left in the cold if plans go awry or an accident results. Travel insurance is often a mere pittance in comparison to extensive travel plans. What happens if poor weather hits at the beginning of a trip, someone unexpectedly becomes ill or get injured, or an accident results with a rental? Any of these things could be a bump in the road or catastrophic to vacation plans. Weigh whether you are comfortable leaving it to chance or research the various types, level of coverage and costs associated with insurance. Be Smart and Save Money You may be able to stack deals for huge travel savings. Deals exist for veterans, active military, seniors, groups and more. When making reservations ask venues if they are continued on page 3…