Cited: ABC news

Continued from “Vacation Deals Tips Part 1“

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Once you’ve chosen the type of place you want, look at the per-night price and what exactly it includes. Does the property have daily breakfast, parking, and Internet paid for with the nightly rate? Does it have amenities you’ll take advantage of, such as a pool, a fitness center, laundry facilities, and the like? Is it located close to the action (e.g., a downtown city hotel) or is it more secluded? Do the check-in and check-out times work with your schedule? Don’t necessarily jump at the lowest price–for just a few dollars more, you may find something that includes a host of extras that match your tastes.

Lastly, it’s always a good idea to read user reviews from fellow travelers before making a reservation. SmarterTravel’s sister site, TripAdvisor, has millions of traveler reviews and opinions to help you get a better sense of the property you’re considering. I always read a good sampling (at least three to five pages worth of reviews) to see a cross-section of traveler experiences, and typically, by a few reviews in, I can tell which types of travelers are similar to me. Use the same judgment when reading reviews for the properties you’re considering.

Rental Cars

Like airfare, rental car pricing is a bit more rigid. Your price will be subject to which models of cars are available, the demand for the model you want to book, and local taxes and fees.

When renting a car, consider whether it makes more sense to rent from an airport or off-airport location. Oftentimes you can snag a better price by going off-airport, but what you save in dollars may get spent in time, by foregoing the convenience of the airport pickup and drop-off. Consider factors such as fuel efficiency, vehicle roominess, and add-on possibilities (such as GPS devices, roadside assistance services, and more). Compare apples to apples (like same car class and amenities) across providers to ensure you’re getting the best price for the type of car you’re hoping to rent.

Finally, include opaque sites during your research. You may be able to find a great deal, including all the features you value, by checking the offerings on Hotwire or Priceline.

Vacation Packages

Use similar benchmarks to those suggested in the airfare and hotel sections when researching vacation package bundles. Airfare-and-hotel packages can be a great way to save, but always make sure the properties included fit what you’re looking for. Do a cost-analysis breakdown, checking the vacation package price and offerings to the same components (airfare, hotel, car, etc.) a la carte to see if you’ll get a better deal by bundling or by purchasing each trip item separately. While in many cases you’ll do better by going with a bundle, the only way to find out for sure is to deconstruct the package.

Cruises

Whether you’re a veteran cruiser or contemplating taking a cruise for the first time, there’s a lot to consider before booking your next vacation. Beyond price, there are the ports of call, trip duration, cabin styles, on-ship atmosphere, food options, and more to think about. Cruise Critic, another sister site of SmarterTravel, offers answers to these and questions you hadn’t even considered, and can help put you in touch with fellow cruisers and cruise experts to help you plan the best trip for your budget and interests.

Your Turn

How do you define value? What do you consider to be a great travel deal? Where are you going for your vacation?

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My Take: My dream vacation is a trip around the world to the countries that my ancestors are from, Scotland, England, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands and then to see the really interesting sites like the Colosseum in Rome or the Eiffel Tower in Paris. I think I will have to win a very large lottery to all that. I wonder if you have where Greek clothing when you visit the Colosseum. I doubted that is usually considered fraternity clothing anyway and I do not belong to a fraternity.

If anything, I would belong to a sorority. Although, too many frat parties play techno music and I would not attend them. I have heard that DJ Michelangelo is hot! And this topic has got me off the subject of vacations.

The one thing you want to make sure that works when you go on vacation is your cell phone. If you need Blackberry repair work done, do it before you leave! You do not want to have to get iPhone repair work done when you’re a tourist, because they can cite a tourist in my way and will charge you an arm and leg.

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Other Resources

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