Save on Summer Travel with Packages (And 4 Other Ways to Save)

When it comes to summer escapes, more people are looking for ways to get the most out of their travel dollar. With that goal to save on summer travel in mind, I wanted to start out by sharing one of my favorite expert-tested tips – the package booking.

Rather than booking a separate hotel, separate flight and separate car rental, it’s usually more cost-effective to book it all at once as a vacation package. One study at Travelocity found that you can save up to $537 by just doing that. That extra $537 could go a long way towards meals and attractions during your vacation trip.

There’s also a misconception that vacation packages are pre-set, and do not allow for a choice of airlines or properties. Actually, they’re not. You can select any hotel, any flight and any car rental that works with your itinerary. By selecting “Vacation Package” each of your bookings will be bundled together and that’s when you see the savings.

One Travelocity customer, Miguel Haro, Jr. of Los Angeles, is an avid fan of package bookings. When asked why he uses packages, Miguel said, “I like booking my packages on Travelocity because it always gives me a huge selection of hotels. The site makes it easy to filter through properties to find the best one that fits my budget while getting the best possible location. It’s even better that I have several airlines to pick flights from that leave throughout the day.”

While package bookings are one great way to save on your summer travel, it certainly isn’t the only way to save money. Here are a few more of my favorite pro travel tips:

Fly on Off-Peak Days: Adding an extra vacation day to your holiday or returning a day sooner could make all the difference in price. Most school holidays start on a Saturday and end on a Sunday, so try to avoid traveling on those days. Add an extra day or two to your vacation and you may see that flights on Mondays and Tuesdays are more affordable. Also, if you are flying to a city that is popular for business, Mondays and Fridays tend to be peak travel days.
Avoid Checking Baggage: It’s actually quite easy to pack for an average vacation in a carry-on. While most international carriers still offer one free checked bag, many domestic carriers will charge you $25 for the first checked bag and $35 for the second. If you must check bags, first go online to determine the bag fee policy for the airline that you are considering. Make sure your bag is not over the weight restriction or you will face another fee.
Be Loyal to One Airline: Many major airlines charge priority boarding fees of around $10 and preferred seating fees up to $99, but not if you’re part of the frequent flier program. Generally, elite-status frequent flyers are exempt from checked-bag fees, priority boarding fees and qualify for premium seating. And remember, when booking a package on Travelocity, you can still choose your airline.
Use Social Media: Mobile apps and social media help you track down deals. Look for mobile-exclusive hotel deals, and use hashtags on social apps like Twitter to find #deals in your destination!