Money Saving Ideas for Now and Always
By Maribeth Clemente

These are challenging times and one of the first cuts to be made in an individual’s or a family’s budget concerns travel.  But people aren’t going to stay home for long.  And much travel is combined with a visit to family and friends, something many of us need more than ever these days.

Good news:  There’s no shortage of bargains out there, so if you are considering going away, know that there are more travel deals available to you now than just a few months ago.  I hope the below recommendations will help you save a few bucks. 

Research
Scour national and local publications as well as the Internet for great deals on airfare, hotels, car rentals, tours, cruises and a variety of other travel products.  Nearly everyone is discounting their prices right now.  Packages that include air, land and car offer some of the best value.  Calling hotels, car rental companies and airlines directly should be part of your research since you can often obtain better discounts and upgrades (particularly with places of lodging and car rentals) by speaking with someone directly.  Be sure to consider the fees airlines charge when comparing prices.  Southwest Airlines, for example, does not charge luggage supplements, but although their prices are highly competitive, they are not always the cheapest.  Be flexible with your dates and remember that some of the best fares are offered during the week.  You’ll also save more all around if you decide to visit a destination during its off season.

Plan Picnics
Eating at least one meal in (in your place of lodging or in a park perhaps) is not only highly pleasurable but also more economical.  Whether you’re traveling in a car, train or plane, prepare a stash of healthy snacks for your journey.  And always carry a refillable water bottle (preferably aluminum) with you so you don’t have to buy bottled water.  You’ll save money and be kinder to the environment in planning ahead.  If you’re traveling by car, of course, you’ll want to have a cooler in tow.

Lovely Lodging
Consider renting a house, apartment or cabin especially if you’re doing a bit of “togethering” with family or friends.  Often this turns out to be a more affordable route, especially since you won’t have to go out for every meal.  And what about camping?  I’m not much of a camper, but it is a great way to experience many destinations.  Or you could plan to do a few nights in a hotel and a couple of nights car camping in between.  Make sure you go to safe, designated areas.

Car Rentals
Sometimes it makes more sense to rent a vehicle at an airport instead of taking a shuttle to your destination, especially if you’re not traveling alone.  This can also provide great flexibility throughout your stay.  Don’t forget parking costs though!

Minimize Extras
Of course you’re not going to gorge yourself on the minibar but what about the whole laundry list of activities you rack up on most vacations?  Maybe you don’t have to do so much.  Enjoy the amenities offered where you’re staying by spending more time at the pool or just checking out the neighborhood.  Remember kids most want to connect with you whether it’s in a big, rambling amusement park or alongside a stream.  Have your “list” consist of many free and inexpensive activities.

Minimize Even More Extras
Bring your own stroller with you in order to avoid the cost of renting one.  Maybe you want to bring grandma, too, for some occasional babysitting!  Everyone should be aware of a budget; distribute a little money to each older child for him or her to spend on his or her whims, but make it understood you’re not kicking in a penny more.

Buying Vs. Renting
Sometimes it might be better for you to buy clothing or equipment, other times it might be more appropriate to rent.  Avid skiers and boarders, for example, should buy their boots and rent the rest of their gear.  It makes more sense in the long run, plus you don’t have to put on any stinky boots that others have worn.  Inversely, if you don’t have much need for a heavy outdoor jacket and you don’t want to buy one that your child will grow out of next year, know that many places rent winter clothing in addition to gear.  Attending a special soirée and you have nothing to wear?  Many large cities offer evening and cocktail rentals for both men and women.

Multi-Day Passes
Special combined tickets for sightseeing, museums, ski mountains and more often save you good money.  Plan in advance so you don’t have to buy a bunch of one-offs.  And if you think you’re going to visit three or more National Parks in a year, buy an America the Beautiful Pass.  Did you know that most of our National Parks are totally underused?  Why not plan a trip around a few of them?  It will help to support them and you’re sure to discover some of the finest parcels of our country.

Bring the Pup Along
With more and more pet-friendly places of lodging emerging every day, it has become easier to travel with four-legged loved ones.  The extra fee you might have to pay at a hotel is noticeably less than if you were to leave your pooch in a kennel.

Go with a Guidebook

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Packing Tips
By Maribeth Clemente

When it comes to packing tips, I sadly do not always practice what I preach.  But that’s O.K.; just consider me a better coach than player.  Yes, I admit I fall into the I-take-too-much category.  To me, however, that’s better than the I-never-bring-the-right-thing group.  I think it’s most peoples’ goal to strike a happy medium.  I hope the following tips will help you to do just that.

What to Bring
It helps to start off with what you plan to wear on your traveling day.  Depending on the season, I sometimes wear or carry my heaviest-weight sweater and sport my most comfortable shoes.  (Be sure to avoid anything bulky though.)  Next I’ll pack my purse, then my carryon which typically consists of my laptop, a good book, a few important papers, my finer jewelry and the bare essentials for toiletries and medications.  If your luggage doesn’t arrive---which is increasingly the case---you’ll survive a short while just fine with only your absolute necessities. 

Now it’s time to figure out your wardrobe.  I often like to start out with shoes and work my way up since shoes are key to comfort and also to creating a smart look at home and away.  Plus you can only realistically fit in a few pairs.  Sometimes the toughest decision for me is whether or not I’m going to bring sneaks.  They take up so much room, but they are great to have for an impromptu hike or energetic walk.  Consider bringing a pair of fashionable running shoes that can be more multi-purpose and that are lighter than traditional sneakers.  For both men and women, you’ll want to pack at least one pair of casual shoes or sandals and one pair of dressy footwear in addition to what you’re wearing.  Strive to change up your shoes once a day.

Layering is key and you can best achieve this with non-wrinkable fabrics such as silks, cashmeres, soft, light-weight cottons and a variety of blends.  Save your crisp white blouse for home!  Pack with the idea that you won’t be doing any ironing.

Develop a core selection of basics that you can jazz up with a variety of accessories.  Remember basic does not have to mean drab.  A red stretchy top might figure as a basic for you.  If you choose your clothing and accessories wisely, you should come up with a number of different looks for day and evening.  Now add a few fun pieces because we always want to look our best when we’re away.

Lay everything out and study it.  Now cut it in half.  That’s the tough part for me, but it’s easier to do this if you set your belongings aside at least a couple of days before your travels.  Try to make it a game, subtracting and hopefully adding very little as you go along.  The more last-minute the preparations, the more you’re apt to bring too much. 

Always be sure to bring something cozy you can lounge around in in your hotel room or at a friend’s.  I also like to pack a few scented candles and some packets of my favorite teas so that I can create my own familiar space while on the road.

How to Pack It
I make up for my shortcomings in the quantity of what I bring with my packing prowess.  I have lived as long as six weeks out of my suitcase, often changing hotel rooms every two nights, so I’ve become very adept at organizing my stuff.  I always follow the same method which makes it easy for me to find my belongings when I don’t have the luxury of fully unpacking my bag.  Here, too, I begin with my shoes that I slip into little cloth bags (O.K., decent plastic works as well---but no grocery bags since they hardly make you feel stylish.).  I then wedge them into one of the top corners of the suitcase.  Next I place three piles of neatly folded T-shirts, sweaters, pajamas, scarves and shawls on the bottom, saving room in the opposite top corner for my toiletry case, make up bag and slippers.  Unmentionables and other small items are tucked into any open spaces, making sure to keep all together as much as possible.  Then I carefully arrange my finest clothes on hangers and cover them with plastic dry cleaner bags, usually a few items at a time.  I fold these down over all that I’ve placed on the bottom, zip up my bag and am ready to go.  I learned this technique from the Haute Couture department at Chanel when they loaned me a couple of suits for a book tour.  It works like a charm!  So when I arrive at my destination, I just pull out my clothing on the hangers, hang them up and take out my toiletry bag.  The rest is so well organized that all remains quite presentable and easy to find.

Did you notice I packed only one bag?  That makes the most sense with today’s many luggage regulations and restrictions imposed on us by the airlines.  If you think you’re going to do some shopping while away, go ahead and bring an additional duffle, but be prepared to pay the extra fees if you can’t fold it into your one bag.

Now if I only could learn to bring less. 

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Trip Planning and Research
By Maribeth Clemente

Maribeth Clemente, travel writer, globe trotter and bon vivant has joined with Resort Maps to bring you regular tips to make travel -- and your time spent planning it -- even more fun. For a brief biography of Maribeth click here.

We all have access to many tools to help us with our travels. I recommend you use some combination of those listed below.

Internet
The Internet has changed the way most of us research and plan our travel. It has also driven up competition between websites such as www.expedia.com and www.cheaptickets.com. You can google just about anything including the name of a destination, hotel or obscure tourist attraction and find a wealth of information and images on your search. It’s best to proceed with caution, however, since places---especially hotel rooms---don’t always appear in reality the way they’re presented on the Internet. Also, just because a room or a flight or another travel product receives star-billing on one of the major travel supplier sites, don’t assume that it’s the best possible deal. I recommend you do your preliminary research on the Internet and then call or e-mail an establishment or service. Be direct and ask tons of questions such as “what view does this room have” or “is there any construction going on on the property at this time?” Be thorough and have fun honing your investigative skills.

Contacting Hotels, Airlines and Other Travel Suppliers Directly
Go to the websites first, then follow up with a phone call. You can often obtain a better rate or an upgrade by speaking with someone from the hotel’s front desk directly, especially if you contact them shortly before your arrival. The same applies for car rental companies and other travel suppliers. Know also that airlines only post a certain portion of their seat availability on their websites; this is particularly the case for frequent flyer travel. With a bit of persistence, you might be better served talking with an agent directly. If you don’t succeed with one agent, call back and try another.

Guidebooks, Magazine Articles and Other Publications
As a guidebook author, you can imagine that I’m a very tactile person, so I love books. You can sit on a train headed to Charleston, South Carolina and page through your guidebook---that’s all part of the journey. Shuffling reams of printed out information from the Internet or viewing a computer screen for extended periods of time doesn’t quite have the same effect on me. Know, however, that if you’re looking for information hot-off-the-press, it’s best to consult a magazine, newspaper or online article.

Travel Agents
The emergence of the Internet as a major source of travel information and planning really shook up the travel agent world. Good news though: The Internet weeded out many travel agents and agencies and those that survived are better than ever. Good travel agencies typically provide services far beyond anything you can obtain from booking travel online. What if you have to make a last-minute change to your arrangements once you’ve arrived at your destination? You can call your travel agent to make these often irksome adjustments. Travel agents also provide a personalized touch with their recommendations on everything from how to hire out a fishing boat in the Florida Keys to where to dine in New Orleans. Ask around to find a good one.

Word-of-Mouth
Tell your friends, family and acquaintances that you’re pondering a trip to such and such a place. Most will gladly offer up their stories and impressions about your eventual destination---people love to share. (At times you might even be sorry you mentioned your travel ideas!) You can, however, glean some great information and insight from all of this chatter. One of my very best restaurant recommendations in Paris came from a hometown friend and that’s after I had been living in the City of Light for quite some time. And remember to constantly ask for suggestions throughout your travels. It’s always nice to go where the locals go.

Tourism Boards
I think it’s fun to pop into the local or regional Chamber of Commerce/Tourism Office while traveling. You can always pick up a hearty supply of maps (including Resort Maps!), brochures and firsthand recommendations. Don’t forget that you can also look up information on the Internet from these tourism boards before you even leave town. Keep in mind though that many companies pay to be featured by these organizations, so their listings might be a bit skewed.

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Cashing In On Frequent Flyer Mileage
By Maribeth Clemente

Dealing with the airlines these days has become increasingly tiresome, especially when it comes to redeeming frequent flyer mileage.  One need not despair, however, since there are still deals to be found.  You just have to work a little harder and be more creative about enjoying the fruits of your hard-earned miles. 

Randy Peterson, editor and publisher of Inside Flyer newsletter, recently de-briefed me on the ins and outs of the country’s various frequent flyer programs, many of which have existed for well over twenty years.  “You need to put time into selecting and managing them like mutual funds,” Randy says.  “You must always read the fine print and research them on the Internet as much as possible.  Google is your friend.”  He also recommends that you partner up and share information with fellow flyers on sites such as www.flyertalk.com and his site, www.insideflyer.com.  Other forums include www.flightbliss.com and www.frequentflier.com.  Remember knowledge is power.

Persistence counts a lot, too.  So roll up your sleeves and be prepared to log a good amount of time on the phone and on the Internet.  I’ve heard stories about people trying to redeem miles for a certain destination, checking on a daily basis for months on end, until they finally hit jackpot and obtained what they wanted.  That’s not my kind of hobby, but it might very well be yours.  It can work since airlines typically free up seats on a regular basis.  In the meantime, I suggest you abide by the following guidelines:

Contacting the Airlines
Go online first, then if you can’t obtain what you want, pick up the phone and call the airline.  Not all award inventory is posted online.  Remember to keep checking even if you don’t choose to make this a part-time job.

Choose Your Dates and Season Wisely
If you’re going to Europe or other popular destinations, book at least six months in advance.  You’ll also find more possibilities if you choose mid-week dates instead of weekend to weekend departures.  Consider going to a certain place during its off-season.  This kind of planning can generate great savings all the way around (with hotels, spas and the like).  I always enjoy beating the crowds as well.

Consider Upgrading
With so many restrictions on the awards, travelers are often forced to redeem double the miles than they would like, even for very well-traveled routes within the U.S.  Think twice before you do such a thing since a roundtrip ticket to your destination might be so affordable that it’s not worth wasting your miles.  Upgrading to business or first class typically offers much better value.

New Routes
Seek out award tickets on routes that have just been introduced by the airlines.  This is called cutting edge frequent flyer shopping!

Partner Airlines
Don’t forget to investigate award seats on partner airlines.  Airlines are making information about flight availability with their partners increasingly more visible on their Web sites.

Yet Another Reason to Go Online
Some airlines post routes on their sites that have good award redemption at given times of the year.  Keep your eyes out for hot deals and special perks---such as double miles on certain travel---while you’re there.

Be Vigilant
Miles can expire as fast as you can sip down a frothy pina colada on the beach.  Most airlines have instituted 18-month expiration policies, so make sure there’s some activity in your account if you want to keep them. 

Parting Words from Randy
His favorite frequent flyer programs are with United, Frontier and Alaska Airlines.  “Alaska has the best redemption policies on the planet,” according to Randy.  They also partner with American, Delta, Continental and Northwest and make it easy for you to find out about redeeming your miles with these carriers.  Frontier is particularly alluring since they offer travel within the continental U.S. for as little as 15,000 miles.

Randy’s big tip, however, is to obtain a Starwood Hotel credit card.  “It’s easy to find cheap flights but hotel rates are still high,” Randy emphasizes.  You can use points from this program to significantly reduce your room rate.

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