Everyone seems to be cutting back on vacation time, so make sure that when you actually go away, you get the most for your money. Savvy travelers get the best deals simply by checking a few Web sites before booking–which can take only a few minutes but save you thousands on your dream vacation.
Is it cheaper to fly or to drive? Log on to CostToDrive.com,where you can enter your travel plans and your vehicle’s information. It’ll tell you which mode of transportation will save more money.
If flying is in the cards, Brett Snyder, author of the award-winning travel blog “Cranky Flier,” said he usually starts by checking out matrix.itasoftware.com. That’s the same site that powers Orbitz and many other big-name travel dealers, showing them the best prices and routes for all vacations.
If you want the whole package, check out Bing.com for the best travel deals from your specific city–it’ll even tell you the optimal day to book the lowest rate.
And finally, if you’re in the market for a rental car, remember that rental agencies change their rates constantly. So reserve your car, but remember to keep checking back to see if the rate has lowered. There’s rarely a charge for canceling or changing your car rental, so you can often find the same car for a lower price down the road.
