Ways to Stretch Your Travel Dollarby Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 22 Jul 2009 06:09 AM When it comes to saving money on travel expenses the key is flexibility. It also doesn't hurt to be well informed and fast. With the economy still in the dumpster travel companies are offering more last-minute deals than ever before (hence your need to be flexible). Meanwhile, many airlines have now turned to micro-blogging sites, such as Twitter, to advertise hugely discounted fares, which usually get snatched up within seconds of being posted (hence the need to be fast). If you have yet to book your family's annual summer jaunt, then you are in luck. There are plenty of ways to stretch your travel dollar no matter where you want to go: CRUISES Cruise lines have taken a beating during these tough economic times. The industry is currently dealing with the unenviable problem of having too many ships and too few passengers. The result: Offers for some of the lowest prices in recent history. Seven-night cruises to Alaska are selling for as low as $399 in some cases. Summertime cruises to the Caribbean have also been slashed by as much as 65%. The key to securing prime savings is to opt for a roundtrip sailing rather than a one-way itinerary. By doing so you can avoid the additional cost of an open-ended ticket. AIR TRAVEL When United Airlines experimented with its first Twitter-based fare sale in May ($63 for a one-way ticket from Chicago to Washington, D.C. plus taxes) it sold out in 55 minutes. Now AirfareWatchdog.com and FareCompare.com are getting on the Twitter bandwagon by launching individual accounts for 100 cities, including Los Angeles, New York and Fort Lauderdale. HOTELS The hotel industry is notorious for not making it easy for patrons to score super deals. These days the tide has changed and many properties are offering unbelievable savings on rooms. At the Mayfair Hotel & Spa in Coconut Grove, Florida, execs are taking bargaining to a whole new level. Potential guests are actually encouraged to ask for better rates. Under the hotel's "Let's Make a Deal" program, you can call the reservations department and make an offer, which may be accepted or met with a counteroffer. Hotel execs say the discounts depend on occupancy, but guests can typically save 30 percent or more on a stay. Related Articles: Sweet Deals on Summer Vacation Favorites Sizzling Summer Travel Deals for Families Ways to Save at Disney--Lodging Can You Do Disney Without Going Broke? See What's New at Universal Studios Orlando This Summer Get Your Wiggle on at Six Flags Theme Parks that Won't Break the Bank Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevanttravel tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Discuss this article
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