Travel Planning

Re: Travel Planning

• JoySeattle member

  March 2012

  I usually start with Kayak and then based on results I look at the major airlines that I may want to book with directly. I also usually look for promo codes just in case. I'm a FF with the main airlines I usually fly with (or their partners) and get email offers from them (many of which don't apply, but I usually look at their recent promos too).

  For lodging, we usually look at Trip Advisor and/or Hotels.com. If I can get it through Hotels.com for the same/better deal I'll book with them to get the buy ten get a free night deal.  
  

  Met 07/07/05, Wedding 07/07/07, Legal Marriage Ceremony 12/9/12, Baby Boy Born 08/09/13

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• 2brides member

  March 2012

  I typically start with Southwest since their flights tend to be cheaper, they fly out of the most convenient airport to us, and there are no fees to check baggage. Then I do Kayak.

  For hotels where I need a specific location/type of hotel (suite style rooms), I read reviews on Trip Advisor. I also check out the brands we frequently use (Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn and then check their reviews online.) I have also had good luck with Hotwire and bidding for hotel rooms. I did that when I had a meeting in Boston this fall and got the Westin Copley for $225/night (comparably the Hampton Inn in Cambridge was $212/night) so I ended up with a $450 room for half price.

   I've also been using Hotwire for car rentals. They only bid with the major brands (Hertz, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, etc) and the cars are DRAMATICALLY cheaper than any budge code I have found. My dad got a mid sized car in Baltimore for $9/day (a Nissan somethingerather with 2k miles on it.) We rented a full size SUV in Maine this summer for  $17/day. 

  I haven't broached the world of bidding for airline tickets because I typically have tight parameters around the times I want to fly and I don't want to make multiple stops (especially with the kids en tow.)

  I also check out DealNews.com and Living Social for their travel packages - though I haven't purchased them.
  

  

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• leapgirl8 member

  March 2012

  We have gotten good deals through Travelocity's travel packages - we used them both times we went to France and saved a lot. Lots of hotel options so you can be as "budget-y" as you want. I usually start with Kayak for flights. I'm another big fan of Hotwire, their car rental prices are so much better than I see anywhere else, and the fact that you can narrow down the neighborhood and "star level" of the hotel makes it very low-risk. 

  For New Zealand I did a lot of reading to figure out what we were looking for (there are many kinds of tour packages). Once I had decided we wanted a supported self-drive tour, I read reviews and blogs until I found a company that I was happy with.

  I also sometimes ask a friend's mom - she used to be a travel agent and they take at least four major trips a year, so she always has good advice if I'm looking for something specific.

  For food in major cities I check the local newspaper's dining guide online - usually lists of top restaurants, top cheap eats, etc. For food in smaller places I use Yelp or Urbanspoon - although these reviews aren't always reliable, as I noticed quite a few "five star" reviews for WENDY'S as we were driving cross-country. (Nothing against Wendy's - I like it better than most fast food - but come on.)  

  

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