News

How to Save Money Buying Travel Online and Get the Best Deal

Want to save some money when booking your travel online? Here are some tips to help you do just that. You at home have access to thousands of travel deals with the click of a mouse.

1. Sign up for travel e-newsletters

Many airlines, tour operators, online travel agencies and travel sites have newsletters that they will send you via email; these usually include their latest travel deals.

2. Shop around

Check various travel sites and make sure you are comparing apples to apples, know what is included. That great cruise deal may not include airfare to the port! Also check in with a travel agent to compare prices. They may in fact have a better travel deal for you.

3. Consider all possible discounts

Do you have Air Miles or frequent flyer miles you can cash in? AAA/CAA membership or other affiliations? Ask about child or senior discounts. Do they have family rates or group rates? Don’t be afraid to ask.

4. Make the travel web sites do the work

Some of them will let you specify the dates of travel and vacation you are looking for and will send you an email when the price reaches your limit.

5. Travel in off-season.

Off-season will vary depending on where you are travelling so do your research and find out when that is. Off-season includes winter for Europe, summer and fall for the Caribbean, and when the kids are in school for theme parks like Disney and so on.

6. Traveling during the week can save you money

Saturday and flights during the week are less crowded and therfore more likely to have last minute discounting. Some companies charge a bit less for vacation package that leave mid-week. Many business hotels may also charge less on weekends.

7. Read your newspaper’s travel section

The Saturday travel sections in most newspapers are still a good source for travel news, tips and last minute travel deals, departing from your city. Read them religiously.

8. Do some negotiating of your own.

Just ask for a deal or a better price! This will usually work if you are dealing with a hotel or car rental company directly. It may also work with some travel agents.

9. Book last minute

When looking for a last minute travel deal, start shopping around about 6 weeks prior to your departure to get a good idea for prices and availability. Narrow down where you want to go and compare some prices. About 3 weeks prior to departure is probably your best time to book. When you notice packages begin to sell out, you want to book before you miss out on that travel deal. The prices only go so low and sometimes sell out before they really drop in price.

10. Book early

Some of the best deals may be had booking early. Most tour operators and cruise companies offer discounts for early booking. If there is a specific date you want to travel and or you have a specific resort or destination in mind, you are better off to book early and secure your vacation than to risk waiting for a last minute travel deal that may or may not happen.

Keep in mind the cheaper is not always better. If you save a few hundred dollars by adding lots of stops to your flight or staying in a hotel you are not happy with, it won’t be worth it. Save some money but don’t compromise too much with what you really want and need.

 

News

Travel Deals – 3 Ways to Save

If you’re planning a trip in the near future to Iceland, you probably want to save some money on your upcoming trip. Since we all don’t want to pay top dollar, I wanted to give you some tips on how you can save a few extra bucks on your trip.

Be old school: When I say this, I mean head down to your travel agent’s office, and see what kind of deals you can get. Take those deals, and see if you can do any better on the Internet. If you can, go back, and see if they can beat them, or if you wish, head to the Internet first, and then go to the agent’s office after. It’s still a great way to save money.

Be flexible: When traveling to somewhere like Iceland, know when to travel. If you’re flexible, you’ll find that you’ll be able to get a better deal. Your best days to fly are generally Tuesday, and Wednesday. If you can fly on these days, or during the off season, you can easily save 40-50% right there on your plane tickets, as well as the hotel.

Try services like Triple A: If you’re part of Triple A, see what they can do for you in terms of travel. They could potentially hook you up with a vacation package that works for you, or they can give you something that gives you an Triple A discounts. Triple A discounts are great, and if you don’t have a membership, you may want to consider one!

Try these 3 killer tips when you’re looking to save on a trip like Iceland, or anywhere else.

 

Trip

Enjoy Kids’ Day Trips to Puffin Island Off the Anglesey Coast

If you are planning family holidays and are looking for kids’ day trips that will be both fun and educational, a cruise to Puffin Island while taking a break in Anglesey is likely to fit the bill.

Anglesey is one of the best destinations for UK family holidays, with lots of fun activities for children available, together with some beautiful scenery and all the facilities you will need for your break. There is a wide choice of accommodation, with everything from campsites to country house hotels to choose from, so there is sure to be an Anglesey holiday to suit your budget.

Once there, all you will have to worry about is picking the best activities for all the family. One that is certain to be a memorable experience is a cruise around Puffin Island – a real treat if you are keen on wildlife and something that is sure to stimulate your children’s interest in nature.

The island used to be the site of a monastic settlement, but is now uninhabited – by humans, at least. Its location in the fish-rich seas off the east coast of Anglesey, coupled with its steep cliffs, make it a perfect place for colonies of birds to call home. These qualities mean it is now a Special Protection Area, helping to ensure the seabirds’ habitat is not disturbed.

You could be forgiven for thinking you are bound to see puffins during your cruise around Puffin Island, but that may not be the case. There were once 2,000 pairs of the seabirds with the brightly-coloured bills in the colony, but rats wiped out many of them. Measures are now in place to control the rat population on the island and puffins have started to return, but don’t be surprised if you do not see any.

One of the most common species on Puffin Island, which is also known as Ynys Seiriol, is the cormorant. One of the UK’s biggest colonies of these large black seabirds live here and watching them fly and hunt is a spectacular sight.

Thousands of guillemots and razorbills live on the island, as the craggy cliffs make the perfect place for them to nest – and you are sure to marvel at the sight of them landing in seemingly impossible spots.

Kittiwakes and eider ducks are also among the residents, while you may be lucky enough to see gannets, choughs, storm petrels and peregrine falcons. Committed ornithologists are certain to love the mix of species, but they are not the only ones who will enjoy the sights and sounds of Puffin Island.

If you’re a fan of nature documentaries, you are sure to be fascinated by the action as the birds swoop through the air and plunge into the sea at high speed in the hope of catching fish. Seeing the birds up close is a very different experience to watching them on television, with the deafening noise of thousands of their calls adding to the thrill.

Your boat trip to Puffin Island will also provide you with opportunities to spot other wildlife apart from birds. A colony of grey seals live there and your children are sure to love seeing these cute creatures relaxing on the rocks. If you are very lucky, you may also get a glimpse of some bottlenose dolphins or porpoises.

There are a number of different operators running boat tours to Puffin Island, meaning you can choose from a small group trip or travelling as part of a larger party on a catamaran. If you are hoping to learn something about the birds try to book a trip with an expert guide, such as those run by RSPB Cymru.

While in Anglesey for activity holidays for families, you will find plenty of other nature-related things to do. Take a walk or a bike ride through the countryside and you will see plenty of wildlife, together with some great views.

Head to the beach and you can help the kids explore the creatures in the rock pools, before perhaps indulging in something a little more adventurous. There are lots of facilities for kayaking, diving and windsurfing on the coast, or you could hire a boat for a relaxing fishing trip.