Travel these days is expensive. When you add up the cost of transportation, hotel, meals, activities and fees for seat reservations, baggage and more, getting from point A to point B can end up making a huge dent in your bank account. However, with some careful planning, flexibility and willingness to dig, you'll save cash on your next trip. The best place to start is with airfare, since the chances are good that you can find plane tickets that work within your budget.
Search on a Tuesday afternoon about three to four months before you plan to travel. Traditionally, Tuesday afternoons are when airlines discount their fares. Visit a major travel site and enter your departure city, destination and travel dates to determine the average cost for your desired flight.
Modify your search, if the results aren't acceptable. Try booking the flights to alternate, nearby, airports. For example, when you are traveling to or from Boston, Massachusetts, check the same flights arriving or leaving from Providence, Rhode Island, or Manchester, New Hampshire, which may be lower. If your plans are flexible, search for flights within a few days to see if better deals exist.
Search for flights for one person, even if you are flying in a group. When you book two or more seats, all of the seats are sold at the highest rate, even if one or more is available at a lower rate. according to the Fare Compare travel website. You might need to complete two transactions, but you could save money.
Compare the flights to those offered by low-cost airlines. Not all airlines participate in the large travel sites; Southwest Airlines, for example, only sells tickets on its own site. Check the low-fare airlines individually to be sure you aren't missing a superior deal.
Sign up for fare alerts and specials. If your travel is several months away, monitor the fares to your destination and buy a ticket if and when fares come down.
Perform an online search for discount codes offered by the airline. These codes are often offered to frequent flyers, or those who sign up for e-newsletters or deal alerts.
