If you aren't saving money on your summer vacation this year, you're just not trying.
Pricing for airlines, hotels, car rentals and other expenses are constantly in flux. But with a little diligence, there are savings to be had.The way to play the game now is to spend several weeks scouring online travel sites, where prices are often much better than over the phone, and jump fast when you find the lowest price.For example, I've been frequently eyeing an Embassy Suites hotel in Norman, Okla., where we plan to stay during a family wedding next month. On Saturday the Embassy website showed that the room rate had dropped about 20 percent from previous weeks to a very attractive $109 a night. I immediately sent the link to my family, and my brother quickly took advantage of the discount. But my father waited a few hours, and by then the price was back up to $129.We called to see whether we could add a second room to our booking, only to learn that the operator's best rate over the phone was $170 a night. But we checked out the same hotel on Dallas-based Hotels.com, and we could once again retrieve the $109 rate.Hotel prices move up or down as inventory changes, said Taylor Cole, spokeswoman for Hotels.com, which negotiates prices with more than 150,000 hotels in 80 countries."There are a lot of deals and specials out there now for summer, and it's important to book a good rate when you see it," she said. "Tuesdays and Saturday afternoons are good times to check."Airfares are just as volatile, and websites like Travelocity, Orbitz, Kayak, SideStep and newcomer Cheapoair are all trying to keep up. It's best to keep tabs on several sites to see what the market typically offers. Then when you see a lower fare, jump on it.Of the 81 percent of Americans who plan to travel during the summer, close to half plan to take shorter trips or cut back on expenses like lodging, entertainment and eating out, according to a survey by HomeAway, an Austin-based vacation rental company that runs sites like HomeAway.com, VRBO.com and BedandBreakfast.com.Using a rental property is one way to save as much as half the cost of lodging, said Jon Gray, senior director of marketing for HomeAway."Consumers no longer think of hotels as their only option when traveling," he said."The economy has given travelers a reason to find new ways to stretch their dollar, and with multiple bedrooms, full kitchens and other amenities like private pools and barbecue grills, vacation rental homes provide that value they seek."HomeAway has grown from 60,000 listings in 2006 to more than 250,000 today. Overall, there are more than 6 million vacation rentals in the United States and Europe, according to a survey from Radius Global Market Research.I've rented a three-bedroom, 1,500-square-foot town house in Brooklyn a block from the subway line for $195 a night and a two-bedroom, 2,100-square-foot condo in Beverly Hills for $165 a night, including fees and taxes.Shopping for rental property does take a bit more diligence than for hotel rooms. Don't take anything for granted; if it doesn't say on the description that the property has a stove, don't assume it does. Also look for reviews and watch for extra fees. Finally, check with the owner to find out exactly the number of bedrooms and the number and size of beds. Many of these owners are looking for weeklong rental contracts, as opposed to a few days.Here are five other ways to save on your upcoming vacation.Coupon deals. Use Groupon, Living Social, DealMaker and other daily coupon sites to sign up for deals in the places you are visiting, such as for restaurants, boat tours and other fun activities. These websites typically offer heavy discounts but must be purchased within a 24-hour time frame. Once you're home, you can discontinue the service to keep your mailbox from clogging up.Cheaper gas. Fuel prices can vary dramatically within just a few blocks, so check websites like www.gasbuddy.com or search for gas stations at www.mapquest.com. All have apps for smartphones.Rental cars. I've found the cheapest rental car rates at www.hotwire.com. Be aware, however, that you're shopping blind and you may not get the convenience of a top-rated national chain. Savings can be as high as 20 percent.Also, remember that public transit is good in many cities. A weeklong metro pass in New York City is just $29, and with one adult passenger, three children under 44 inches can ride for free. Maps, fares and other information can be found on the city's transportation websites.Free tours. One of my favorite tour groups is at www.FreeToursByFoot.com, which offers terrific city walking tours in Washington D.C., Philadelphia and seven different parts of New York. We've taken several of these tours, which average about an hour, and truly are free, although tips for the guides are encouraged. The guides are full of historical information revealed in wonderful stories with humor and detail that engages kids and adults alike.Other free stuff. Most museums have at least one free day a month, but the date is usually deeply buried in their websites. Use the search box to find their free day reference. Another place to check is www.free-attractions.com, which has a searchable database of free things to do in more than 1,500 cities in all 50 states. Most cities have free concerts throughout the year as well. Try using Google or Yahoo to check what's available by typing the city name plus the words "free concerts."Free factory tours can be found at www.factorytoursusa.com or www.factorytour.com. The National Parks Service also offers a wide variety of free or low-cost historical, cultural and nature events throughout the country's 391 national parks, and you don't have to camp there to take advantage of them. Check them out at www.nps.gov.Teresa McUsic's column appears Fridays.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
