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Tips for Holiday Budget Travel
The holidays are just around the corner and many of you will be traveling to visit friends and family. Although holiday travel is not exactly factored into your financial aid budget, many of you need to find a way to travel home to visit your family and friends. Whether your mode of transportation is by air, rail, or highway here are a few tips to save you money...
If at all possible, try to avoid peak traveling days. Not only are airports a crowded disaster on these days, but these peak travel days can cost a bundle. Typically, the two best days to travel by air during the Thanksgiving holiday are on Thanksgiving and the Friday following. If you choose to travel during the Christmas season it is generally best to avoid flying between December 17th and January 3rd to avoid paying premium prices. However, if you do fly during these two weeks try to be flexible to cut back on the price as much as possible. As a student trying to survive on financial aid, the best option would probably be to choose a red eye flight and leave during the work week.
The Internet is the best thing since sliced bread! Using the Internet for planning your travel will save you money, time, and convenience. Fifteen years ago, people had to either call an airline or go through a travel agent to purchase a ticket. Now with the Internet, you can research all of the various airlines, compare deals, and select the flight that best suites your needs and your price range.
A few websites that you should check out are travelocity.com, priceline.com, and skyauction.com. Priceline and Skyauction allow you to bid on flights that you want and can save you on average 20-30% on your plane ticket. Travelocity has a Lower Rate Guarantee, which promises that if you can find a lower price within 24 hours of purchasing your ticket, they will refund you the difference. In addition to the refund they will also give you $50 off any future travel. And any student can use an extra $50!
Really want to pinch those dollars? Consider this...check into airports not only in Monterey, but within a 150 mile radius. Two hours of driving can save you huge amounts of money. Take advantage of the Institute’s First Class network and post an ad in the Classifieds folder for carpooling opportunities. For example, if another student is traveling up to San Francisco for the holidays, try to get a ride with them and pay them half of the cost of gas. Both of you will benefit, and YOU will forgo the high price to park long-term at the Airport!
Thinking of applying for a credit card? Well, as long as it’s not for the $650 ski season pass, this may not be a bad idea. Try shopping for a card that will offer frequent flier miles for every dollar that you spend. You can use the card to pay off your tuition each semester and when your financial aid comes in, you can take loans and pay off your card and ta-da!...you just earned yourself 13,000 miles instantly. Just make sure that you pay off the card in full each month to avoid costly interest from accumulating.
While you’re on break, if you have some flexibility in your schedule, you may want to try getting bumped from your flight (yes, on purpose!). Sometimes airline companies overbook their flights, especially during the busy holiday seasons. If they are overbooked, they will offer perks (free tickets, food, hotel vouchers, and CASH!) to passengers willing to take a later flight. As a student, a free ticket is like winning the lottery. Okay, maybe not quite the lottery, but....it could save you a few hundred dollars toward your next trip home!
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