Finding Deals and Packages – How To Save Money

Finding Deals and Packages

I usually take 4-5 big trips a year. Finding deals and packages is how I keep my costs down, and it’s one of my favorite aspects of travel.

My Best Resource Isn’t Available to Non-Crew

I’ll admit, my very best source of good travel deals is only available to airline employees.

I still have a few other tricks up my sleeve that I’m happy to share with you.

To make finding travel deals work to your benefit you’ll need to sign up for a handful of travel websites and peruse a few emails for a few minutes every week. After several weeks of reviewing the cost of trips worldwide, you’ll be able to spot a good deal too.

Some of My Best Deals (or Steals!)

By simply spending a few minutes a week glancing over a few emails, here are a few travel packages I’ve gotten good deals on: 

China – $500

We took a ten-night trip to China including airfare, hotels and most of our food for $499 (our Visa was extra). Some of my friends bought this same travel package for as low as $299. This vacation is legit, the Chinese government subsidizes the trip. If China is on your list, watch for it.

Ireland- $500

My friend alerted me to an amazing deal for a week in Ireland for only $500 per person. It included airfare, car rental and six nights in a villa.

Egypt – $750

We have a two-week trip through Egypt booked for $750 a person which includes Cairo, Valley of the Gods, a Nile Cruise and four nights at a resort on the Red Sea. Airfare is extra (which is fine, we fly for free).

Danube River Cruise – 60% off

I found a great deal on a seven-night Danube River cruise with two nights in Budapest at the start of the trip. We saved 60% off of the list price.

Research is Key

I didn’t stumble on these deals by accident. I religiously perused travel websites and emails to get a feel for how much things cost. Because I

continuously do my research, when a deal comes across my email I immediately recognize an excellent value.

My Favorite Travel Deal Websites

Tools for Finding Deals and Packages

The following are my favorite travel websites which I encourage you to sign up for. I love getting their weekly emails (especially from TravelZoo) and checking out their deals.

Opening up these emails is a bit like Christmas for me. I never know what fabulous dream vacation I’m about to score.

TravelZoo – Site for discounted specialty vacations, cruises, river cruises, China trips, meditation retreats. You name it, at some point, they’ll probably have it. Usually airfare and hotel are included. TravelZoo sends out a Top 20 Deal list every week. It’s by far my favorite email of the week (unless Costa Vida sends out a BOGO email, then that’s my favorite).

Great Value Vacations – Site for discounted vacations, usually airfare and hotel included.

On the Go Tours – Provides tours all over the world and in places that are difficult to visit by yourself. Usually, you’ll buy your own airfare, but they offer amazing value vacations all over the world, and occasionally run BOGO sales.

Other Sites I Regularly Use

Priceline (for car rentals)

Booking.com (for hotels)

Rentalcars.com (for car rentals)

Other Sites I’ve Used to Research

Viator – research for tours

Expedia – research for tours and hotels

Cruises

VacationsToGo – Discount Cruise Website

If you can go last minute you can find great deals on cruises.

Occasionally cruise ships come out of dry dock early. The ship isn’t making money if it’s not floating around so the cruise line will drop prices to get folks on board.

If you see a cruise that’s an unbelievable deal, jump on it!

Don’t Pass Up a Good Value

I can usually put together a trip much cheaper on my own and with fewer restrictions than a travel website can, but if I find a good value I won’t pass it up.

When To Buy

Finding Deals and Packages – Knowledge is Power

If you’re serious about traveling, I recommend you sign up for weekly emails from the sites listed above.

Then, when you get their emails, take a few minutes to see what’s being offered.

Take some time to get a feel for how much different trips cost, what’s included and what isn’t.

After a while, you’ll automatically recognize when something is a great value. Be sure to read the fine print, occasionally there are additional fees or a visa may be required.

Remember, research doesn’t make you obligated to buy anything. Invest in yourself and take the time to educate yourself about how much travel should cost. 

That being said, if you see a deal that you love and your chest is burning and your brain won’t stop thinking about it, that’s your inner traveler saying “LET’S GO!”

Book your vacation and plan your trip. 

If Money is an Issue

You see a deal you like but financially you aren’t sure how to make your dollars stretch.

Here are a couple of ideas to help you save even more money. Keep an open mind, you never know where this path might take you:

• I set aside 10% of my paycheck for travel. If the money is there, I can buy any package or deal I’m interested in. If the money isn’t there, I know what to look for in the future. (This works well for me, I’ve always had the money available to buy any trip or cruise I’ve wanted to go on.)

• Get a very part-time job at a hotel for the benefits. I’ve talked to many folks who work very part-time for a hotel doing various jobs for hotel benefits. If you pick a global chain you can stay anywhere in the world for about $30 a night. That’s not too bad for driving a shuttle or manning a front desk a few nights a month.

• Get a very part-time job for an airline. Airlines don’t just hire pilots and flight attendants, they also hire folks to do reservations, gate agents and baggage handlers. See if an airline near you is hiring for a part-time position. You could fly around the world for free.

You can check out this section for more ideas on how to pay for your travel.

It’s Fun to Try Something New

Unlimited travel options and opportunities are out there, do a little research, step out of your comfort zone and don’t be afraid to try something new.

If you’re traveling on a budget but want travel to be a permanent part of your life, small sacrifices today will make for big exciting opportunities tomorrow.

Thanks for Popping By

Please feel free to share your questions or comments below. If you see any typos, let me know!

I encourage you to share my tribal knowledge with someone who loves or would love to travel.

The Art of Travel (TAOT) ~ Written by Kylie, a huge thanks to Alex for the great photos.