Finding Great Vacation Deals Takes Diligence, Research
DENVER (CBS4) - If this week's cold temperatures and leftover snow have Coloradans looking for an escape, there are ways to make a vacation more affordable.
4 On Your Side Money Saver Suzanne McCarroll looked into help saving a little on an upcoming vacation.
If a margarita and chips poolside sounds warm and wonderful, there are deals out there -- but finding them takes diligence and research.
"You may only want to go to one destination, but you need to go to countless places to find the best deal," McCarroll said.
If Hawaiian sun and waves are calling your name, the answer may be local sites like Bello Realty in Maui, which rents condos for far less than you'll find a hotel room.
"You can have your breakfast on the Lanai, watch the whales, this is whale season, and maybe have your afternoon mao-tai," a traveler told CBS4.
"It's $125 a night and it's high season," Pam Bello with Bello Realty, Inc. said.
If you want to go down under without being buried under in debt, those who know New Zealand say try bed and breakfasts, which start at about $50 per night.
"The bed and breakfasts' are fabulous. The local people in New Zealand are so friendly and they love Americans and you can get a good clean bed and breakfast," a traveler told CBS4.
Recent reports of ongoing violence in certain areas of Mexico are prompting discounted rates in an effort to calm tourists' worries. Some local travel agents say all inclusive resorts can be the way to go for safety and price.
"Your food is taken care of food, your alcohol is taken care of, the kids' soda pops are taken care of, and a lot of your activities taken care of," Andrea Shpall with Polk Majestic Travel said.
University of Denver professor Dan Connolly studies trends in tourism. He says cheap travel requires hours of research.
"The cruise industry has suffered a lot because of the economy, so because of that they've resorted to a lot of discounting to try and get people to go," Connolly said.
Connolly said the disaster in Italy will push cruise lines to further lower their prices.
"I use Jetsetter.com, that's a great one for flash-sales. And another one is LuxuryLink.com … they have auctions and you can get absolute killer deals," traveler Julie Lucas said.
Airline flash-sales such Southwest Ding fares are another good resource. They come directly to you in a text or email and are last-minute deals for future travel.
Travel planning takes work to get good deals -- you're likely to need a vacation just from planning your vacation.
Sites that track airfares are also a good idea.
LINKS: Jetsetter.com | LuxuryLink.com
