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With the holidays fast approaching and children ages 5 and up finally getting vaccinated, more and more Americans are planning vacations. But it’s harder and harder to find a deal.
Planning a trip can be costly with flights, accommodations, tours, excursions, dining and more.
Still, there are deals to be had if you know where to look. Start by subscribing to emails from travel partners and follow them on social media, so you’re among the first to learn about flash sales and special saving opportunities. Being flexible with travel dates and traveling off-peak are also easy ways to save.
Looking for a few more ways to trim that travel budget? Here are five tips you don’t want to miss.
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1. Be flexible with airport choices
If you always fly out from a big-city airport that’s closest to your home, you might want to explore other options. That airport may have the most flights, the most carriers and the widest range of departure times, but the fares might not be the best out there.
Although it’s always easy to do what you’re familiar with, pushing yourself to fly from a different airport can save you hundreds.
For example, if you are flying from Philadelphia to Fort Lauderdale, use Google Flights to search for other airport options like nearby Trenton for Philadelphia. Sure, you may not have as many carriers or flight choices, but the fares can be considerably lower. The savings can be very steep, especially during peak-travel times, or if you’re traveling with others.
Additionally, consider an airport that’s within a few hours’ driving distance to your destination. In the example above, you might want to swap Palm Beach International Airport for Fort Lauderdale. This may add a bit of commuting time but it could yield substantial savings.
2. Understand airline search algorithms
If you’re traveling with multiple people, you might find that the enticing flight deal you want disappears when you add any additional passengers to your itinerary.
“This happens because airline tickets are sold in different classes called ‘fare buckets,’ which are essentially groups of fares that are priced similarly based on certain rules and restrictions,” says Willis Orlando, senior product operations specialist with Scott’s Cheap Flights.</…….
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/select/how-to-save-money-when-you-book-travel/