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There are a multitude of
travel discount opportunities out there. You
just have to know where to look and who to ask. Here are some things to
think about:
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Find out the off-season for
any area you want to visit. You can often save big bucks.
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Traveling with a group is generally
cheaper than traveling alone, especially if you can share communal costs
like car rentals and lodging. How many people comprise a group varies from
location to location.
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If you belong to an auto club
like AAA, they offer free trip planning that features inexpensive sites
and accommodations in your area and will often offer discounts. Check out
AAA's web site for the latest deals, http://www.aaa.com/.
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Get a Visa or MasterCard that
gives you airline miles for purchases. You can earn one mile for every
dollar spent, and sometimes more if you watch your monthly statements for
special promotions.
No matter where you visit, ask
for a discount. It never hurts to ask. Go through every membership card
in your wallet and ask if it qualifies you for a special discount. Here
are a few more discount possibilities:
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Corporate rate: You don't
have to be traveling on business to get this rate. All you need is a business
card.
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Senior citizen rate:
For some hotels and sites a senior is over 55, for others it is over 62,
for still others, asking about a senior discount will bring giggles. If
you're an AARP member, be sure to show your card, because they get some
of the best rates.
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Convention rate: If you're
with a convention, ask if attendees get a special rate.
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Automobile club rate:
AAA, in addition to discounts on car rental and hotels, sometimes has discounts
at some of the most popular tourist attractions in the USA (and in some
foreign countries believe it or not). Check out their web site for the
latest deals.
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Government rate: Military
personnel, government agency employees or even government contractors can
snag up to 50 percent off car, air and hotel.
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Union rate: Show your
union label.
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Shareholder rate: Do
you own stock in the hotel or car rental company? Are you sure? Major conglomerates
own many companies in the travel industry. For example, ITT owns Sheraton.
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Hotel membership rate:
Some hotels have frequent traveler programs that offer other travel discounts.
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Frequent Flyer rate:
Obviously this will save you on air travel but it may give you a discount
on your hotel and car rental too.
More money-saving tidbits:
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Bring detergent to wash your
undies and socks in the sink. This way you can dodge the ransom fees most
hotel laundries charge, and pack less stuff.
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Low cost restaurants can often
be found near the local open-air market. This is because restaurateurs
can get day-old perishables cheap. Also try the food counters in the market
itself.
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Digital cameras save money.
You can put 40 images on one floppy. You can delete all the bad ones so
you'll have a disk full o' quality. When you get back and want to send
photos to your friends and family, all you have to do is upload the images
and email them.
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Try to book a room that has
a kitchen or kitchenette. You can easily save on breakfast by making your
own coffee and buying a box of cereal or some danishes.
Finally, buy or borrow (from
the library) several tourist books about that area. Some tour books offer
discounts and others can point you in the direction of cheap places, which
will save you time, your most valuable resource.
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