The holiday season is quickly approaching and the idea of flying away couldn’t sound any more inviting. It’s the ‘high season’ for most continents around the globe so prices are beginning to rise.
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Companies are battling for your money so intensely that it can become quite stressful planning a holiday. Here are a few ways you can save money (and stress) when it comes to booking the basics.
Flights
Budget airlines offer some great specials throughout the year. Scoot, Air Asia, Jet Star and Virgin Australia occasionally have awesome domestic and international deals. Always check airline websites directly and keep a tab on them each week to see if they’re changing.
If you find a great flight deal, don’t stop there! Most airlines offer a ‘promo code’ that you can enter on the booking page or search page. Have a search on Google if the airline is offering any discount codes – you’ll be surprised what you can find!
TIP: Be aware of the add-ons that airlines like to subtly sneak onto your bill. That’s when the price starts to jump up. If you’re happy with just getting from A to B, then make sure you unclick all the options you don’t need.
Accommodation
There are so many hotel booking websites offering different deals that it’s overwhelming! After researching and comparing, I’ve decided to stick with Hotels.com. It’s free to become a member which entitles you to exclusive ‘secret price’ deals along side a price match guarantee.
Their loyalty program encourages you to book nine nights and get the tenth free, which is great for long trips.
Alot of hotel booking websites offer code promotions, similar to what you can find for flights. A quick Google search will lead you to a heap of websites outlining a list of active or expired codes that you can try at the checkout.
For example, Visa and Mastercard both offer 10% off if you book through their link to Hotels.com. Keep in mind that once you enter a discount code, you cannot collect nights towards their ‘free night program’.
Make use of the filter search option – it allows you to pinpoint exactly what you’re looking for, saving you hours sifting through hundreds of hotels.
TIP: Download the Hotels.com app and you’ll notice they offer cheaper prices.
EXTRA TIP: Beware of scam websites. To safe guard yourself it’s a good idea to email the hotel you’re interested in to find out if the website is an affiliating company. Hotels.com is a reliable and authentic search engine.
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Activities
From snorkelling, to day trips to the zoo. There are many options available online at competitive prices. Sometimes you can find some great deals online, however a lot of companies do mark up their prices. In Asia; Thailand in particular, it can often work out cheaper to book activities with a local travel company when you get there. In Phuket and Koh Samui, there are plenty of local stores offering great deals.
TIP: Beware of scammers. Always research online about a company before booking anything. Checking reviews on TripAdvisor is an easy way to find out about first hand experiences from travellers alike.
Images via Pacificedge, prnewswire, GreatBarrierReef, wetravelandblog
