How to Have Cheap Vacations in Europe or Anywhere and Live to Brag About It - Part 3 of 3
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So far we've provided some basic tips on how to have cheap vacations in Europe or anywhere else by applying certain departure booking strategies, choosing certain seasons and destinations, and finding the cheapest vacation packages. Now let's look beyond.
TIPS ABOUT DISCOUNT VACATION CRUISES AND SPECIALS
Did you know that few people ever pay the full advertised price for
a cruise? It's a fact, so getting a discount vacation cruise is fairly easy.
Just be aware that unlike a landlubber's package, if you discover you don't
like the accommodations, you can't change your mind and go elsewhere after the
ship has left the dock ;-).
Also be aware that if a child takes a full adult berth, you'll probably pay the full adult price, so watch for child-specific deals when you're shopping. One of the biggest money savers is when you book another cruise for next year while you're still on board. Most cruise lines will offer you various money-saving incentives during the cruise, such as early booking discounts and loyalty programs.
TIPS ON WHERE TO SHOP FOR CHEAP VACATION DEALS
Now you have an "embarrassment of riches:" local travel agents,
and an abundance of websites to visit.
- Local Travel Agents. Of course, nothing beats a face-to-face relationship with an experienced agent near you. It just may cost you a little more. If you prefer a local travel agent to the web, you should still START with the web. There's no better way than visiting websites to fully inform yourself before engaging any agent.
- The World Wide Web. You're likely to save the most by booking your vacation online. As of 2007, the latest statistics from the Travel Industry Association of America show that 79 million people in the United States made their travel plans online in 2005.
CONCLUSIONS
We just want to acknowledge that there are more detailed ways to save
money on your vacations in Europe or anywhere else. They include clubs and award
programs, frequent flyer points, hotel award programs and more.
The most important tip of all is simply, do your homework. Finding the best in discount travel is all about being aware of the market and what's available. Awareness puts you at a huge advantage for bargaining. Remember, you're the customer, so don't be afraid to ask for what you want.
So that concludes this series on how to have cheap vacations in Europe or anywhere else, and live to brag about it. And if Europe isn't for you, how about a little hop to some island in the tropics or a rainforest in Brazil? Wherever you're going, bon voyage!
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