HOUSTON—Spring break is coming up, and that means people are making travel plans. The experts have all kinds of tips that will have you Saving Cents when you go somewhere.
Carol Margolis, CEO of smartwomentravelers.com says you should pack light, limiting yourself to one carry-on bag, because Southwest is the only airline that does not charge any more. Southwest gives you the first two bags free.
She said women tend to want to bring every outfit, plus a few extras they think they will need, but "we typically come back with outfits that were not worn."
So do not pack for every single day. Pack a couple of basic bottoms and a few tops and no more than two pairs of shoes, Margolis said. She wears a pair of tennis shoes and packs a pair of dress shoes.
Change up the computer you use to book flights. When you use your computer to book flights, airlines may be tracking air fares you have paid in the recent past. Once they see what you’ve paid previously to get to a certain destination, they’re not likely to offer you an airfare that is less than that.
"So I got on a different browser like Firefox or I erase my cookies and I go in again," said Margolis. "And I have found lower airfares by doing this and I’m not the only one. Other travelers have also reported this."
"I don’t know how that’s legal to actually do that," said traveler Felecia Ellis. "It sounds like it’s Big Brother kind of watching what we’re doing and I don’t like that."
Couple more tips: try not to travel on Fridays and Sundays. They are more expensive travel days. Saturdays are better. And travel, if possible, after spring break is over and before the school year ends. Margolis said deals are readily available then. Cruises are a great bargain. She said you can pay as little as $50 per day, per person for a great vacation on a cruise ship—and food and entertainment are included.
Back to packing and traveling light, Margolis advised women to not pack all their beauty products. Concoct some, she said, after you get to your destination.
For instance, a packet of raw sugar that you can get free at any coffee house mixes with facial cleanser to create a great facial scrub. And lemons and cucumber slices at the hotel make a good skin toner and refresher. Plus, they’re all natural!
To see more tips from Margolis, go to smartwomentravelers.com.
