From Tom Parsons - Consider All Your Travel Costs Before You Book Your Next Vacation
Apr-04-2014

When people ask for my advice about getting travel deals, they usually focus on getting the best airfare.

While getting a good price on airfare is important, there are other travel costs to consider, like how much your hotel stay will cost, how much a car rental will be and how much you'll pay for parking.

When you are looking at hotel rates, you need to remember that the more expensive the hotel, the more incidentals will cost, from parking to room service. I recently stayed at the Omni in Orlando and my college aged kids got the urge for a late night snack of pizza and chicken wings.

They made a room service order and those two items cost me over $65 at this 4-star property. The next time the kids get an urge for a late night snack on vacation, instead of ordering from room service, they are going to have to find a restaurant that is not on the hotel property.

One way to save is to look at specials that include free breakfast because it can cost $20 per person for a hotel breakfast. When I am traveling with the family, I usually stop by the local supermarket for soda and snacks on my way to the hotel, so we don't pay the mini-bar or room service prices. You can pay $5 for one soda from the mini-bar or buy a 12-pack for the same price at a supermarket or drugstore.

Another way to save on food costs is to look at condo style hotels and chains that offer kitchenettes. We see a lot of these in Orlando and they are available in other areas, so look for a room with a kitchen or a kitchenette when booking. You can save a bundle on food by making your own and having your own snacks available day and night.

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Posted by Ken at 6:49 PM - Link to this entry  |  Share this entry  |  Print