This discount travel idea was eventually stumbled upon because travel can be quite expensive compared to most people’s incomes. Unless you are pretty well off, you will not be able to travel as much as you like until you master some very simple discount travel techniques. The art of budget travel is more than just a couple of saving tricks. There is an overall strategy which you can, and should apply to every element of your journey.
For example, you should explore charter flights and last minute offers, etc. to get the cheapest possible flight. When you travel to a foreign country, you should get to know some of the locals and establish just where the cheap places to eat and stay are. Discount travel involves a series of minor things that when used together result in big savings, and allows even those on a moderate budget to travel in comfort and style.
A major discount travel tip for if you want your money to last longer while you are in a foreign country is that of bargaining. In most other countries, particularly those of the developing world, bargaining plays a big part of everyday life, and you will find yourself continually overspending if you do not participate in it.
Most North Americans are terrible with these types of negotiations, although you can’t really blame us. Negotiations just do not play much of a role in our daily transactions except for major purchases like buying a car, and perhaps even with a property investment. Most of us are just not accustomed to it and we definitely are not used to haggling over small everyday items.
The first thing to understand – and a great discount travel idea – is that in the third world, everything is negotiable, and usually very heavily negotiable. When you start to haggle, you will soon see that the kind of negotiations going on in other parts of the world is very different from the North American style. People often start with numbers that are twice or more than their desired amount.
The first step in negotiations is to not be in any kind of rush to get a taxi or a hotel room, or to purchase the item. Take your time to ask around and if you can, find someone local who will (hopefully) give you an idea of a good price. The other thing to remember is that you must be willing to walk away, or at least good to pretend that you’re willing to walk away. Often you will find that by showing a lack of interest and willingness, the transaction amount will be reduced, without the need for specific bargaining on your part.
When you get the hang of bargaining you’ll find it pretty easily, and in some cases fun. The most important thing to remember when you are in a foreign country, is that your status as a North American will usually label you as rich to the local population, even if it does not seem that way to you. If you will not be charged twice – or more – for every single thing you do when you travel you have to get used to the idea of collective bargaining.
Why pay hundreds of dollars for a plane ticket if you do not have to? There are many credit cards that offer tons of frequent flyer miles just for signing up (and sometimes meeting a spending threshold). Even after the annual fees that are common in these days, travelers still come out far ahead with these credit cards.
Airline-specific cards
1. American Express Gold Delta Skymiles
This card awards 20,000 bonus miles after your first purchase. You can add up to two additional card holders for an extra bonus of 2500 miles per approved cardholder. The $95 annual fee waived the first year. If you keep your card, you will receive a $99 ticket each year at renewal. The card also provides a Skymile per dollar spent.
* Annual fee: $0 the first year, $95 then
* Mileage Bonus: 20000 to 25000
* Additional benefits: No seat restrictions or blackout dates on Delta or Northwest when using the “Pay with Miles” feature, a mil per dollar spent
2. U.S. Airways Premier World MasterCard
This card gives 12,500 miles after your first purchase and 12,500 more miles after spending $750 in the first 90 days as a cardholder, for a total of 25,000 miles. It is enough for one price ticket. The card has several benefits including a free day passes to U.S. Airways the club (exclusive, fancy waiting area), early boarding and two discounted companion ticket per year. The annual fee is $89 and U.S. Airways’ award travel booking fee is $25, which means that you can get a plane ticket that you might have spent $400 on for only $114.
* Annual fee: $89
* Mileage Bonus: 25 000
* Miles needed for a free domestic ticket: 20 000
* Fees associated with the free tickets: $25 booking fee
* Additional benefits: A free day pass to the U.S. Airways club, early boarding and two discounted companion tickets per year, and a mil per dollar spent
3. United Mileage Plus Visa
This card rewards you with 30,000 miles after you spend $50, which is more than enough for a round trip economy tickets in North America. The card has a $ 60 annual fee. Additional benefits include regular one mil per dollar spent, a seat upgrade certificate and a $25 certificate to a United ticket.
* Annual fee: $60
* Mileage Bonus: 30 000
* Miles needed for a free domestic ticket: 25 000
* Fees associated with the free tickets: $25 handling fee
* Additional Features: One mile per dollar spent, over and upgrade certificates
These are not the only cards worth checking out. Alaska / The Horizon ’s Visa Signature card can get you a free flight in exchange for a $ 75 annual fee. American Express Jet Blue’s card you get 10 000 True Blue points, with a $40 annual fee. The credit card associated with Continental and American each have a $ 85 annual fee and the price enough miles for free tickets. And Spirit Airlines flies only a few routes in the U.S., but Free Spirit Onyx World Mastercard announces an astounding three free flights if you take flights with fewer than 1250 miles during off-peak times.
Any short-Airline
1. Chase Sapphire Premier
Popular Personal Finance Blog My Money Blog recommends Chase Sapphire Premier credit cards as an easy way to earn frequent flyer miles. If you usually add about $1,000 a month on a credit card, you should have no trouble meeting the demand for this card to spend $3000 in three months to earn 25,000 bonus points, which can be redeemed for a ticket worth as much as $312.50. If you want a more expensive ticket, you only need to pay the difference. The card also offers points equivalent to 1% back on all purchases in addition to several other high-end perks.
* Annual fee: $0 the first year, $85 and then
* Mileage bonus: varies
* Miles needed for a free domestic ticket: varies
* Fees associated with the free tickets: no booking fee if done online, $ 20 per phone
* Additional benefits: points worth 1% back on daily expenses
* Total cost for a ticket: as little as $ 0
2. American Express Starwood Preferred Guest
This credit card offers 10 000 Star Points after your first purchase, which can be redeemed for a ticket worth up to $150 The card has no annual fee the first year and a $45 per year fee thereafter. If you prefer, you can redeem your points for a stay.
* Annual fee: $0 the first year, $5 then
* Mileage bonus: varies
* Miles needed for a free domestic ticket: varies
* Fees associated with the free tickets: no booking fee
* Total cost for a ticket: as little as $0
The Bottom Line
No matter which card you choose, be sure to allow 8-12 weeks for mileage to add your frequent flyer account. Sometimes the wait will be shorter, but you have to do some advance planning if you want to use miles for a particular trip. Read the fine print carefully to ensure that you understand the card’s fees and conditions for earning miles and check the target airline reward ticket policy. Do not be surprised if you still have to pay some small tax and fees, such as $2.50 per flight segment September 11 security fee. And of course, always remember to pay the card balance in full and on time. (For more, check out Credit Card Perks you never knew you had.)
Article Source:- http://financialedge.investopedia.com
