Travel Tips for Getting There Cheaper
"Fifteen ways to travel on the cheap" was the link at the bottom of the Forbes.com travel article titles "Getting There". Promising right? Sort of. At least a few good pointers to pass along to you. But also some drivel. And some serious "no brainers".
Okay, drivel first, just to satisfy your weird sense of curiosity:
- Become A Professional Mourner
- Find A Good Travel Agent
- Marry A Flight Attendant
- Widen Your (Web) Horizons
- Frequent Flier Miles
- Milk Your Credit Card (get a card with ticket discounts and/or frequent flier miles)
- Purchase Packages
- Sign Up With AAA (membership gets you travel discounts)
- Take The Train - I know, I know, you're probably thinking this should have shown up in the "no brainer" section, but it struch me how rarely travel articles in the United States draw attention to trains. They are such an amazing way to travel, and are almost always a better deal than flying. If your schedule permits, book a train. (Amtrak: 800 USA RAIL)
- Moonlight As A Journalist - Great idea. Become a maverick travel reporter, and leverage your own magnetic personality and massive global network to your advantage:
'The best way for entrepreneurs to travel for cheap is to start up a travel Web site or blog,' says Adam Toren, co-founder of YoungEntrepreneur.com. 'Then send a travel request to the resort or airline, let them know that you are planning a review on travel and including their property, and would like to be comped or find out the media rate.' Then comes the hard part: make sure you actually write the review, or your credibility in the industry could be damaged.
Want an even greater idea? Let us know you where you're headed; show us you can write compelling copy; and then query the resort or travel service provider. We'll consider running all sorts of good immersion travel pieces, so you can leverage our existing readership rather than trying to start your own travel blog or website. - Get an ISIC Card - If you are 25 years old or younger, you can pay $22/year to enroll in this discount program really intended for students and teachers, and receive an international identity card offering "discounts on airfare, hotels and shopping throughout the U.S. and Europe." Other benefits include "basic travel insurance and access to an emergency help line to refer you to a local legal representative, [and] get a message to your family and forward you funds to defray legal expenses." It might be a stretch if you're not a student or a teacher, but the author of this article is clearly suggesting you should give it a try. Check the ISIC or call 800 223 7986 to see if you qualify.
- Travel as a Courier - I've never actually done this, but I've looked into it a couple of times. My impression is that this travel approach can save you a pile of cash, but you really need to be very flexible about travel times and schedule. The upside is you might get to fly around around the world for close to nothing. Check out www.aircourier.org for more information.
- Buy Your Plane Tickets in Local Currency - I played around with this option during the four years I lived in Europe. Because airlines sell their tickets in different countries for different prices, you can "take advantage of overseas pricing differentials in airplane tickets for a discounted fare."