Saving with Seth: Wanna Get Away?

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Summer is near and many people want to get away, but in this ailing economy some people are thinking twice before dropping the cash to travel.

"We're not sure yet," said Cathy Dyer of Kentland. "Economy and price of gas depends on that."

Others say even high gas prices won't stop them.

"Mexico," said Juan Gata of Lafayette. "We go every year so it's a family tradition. So I'm not going to let it ever, like last year, when it was $4 a gallon. We're going."

But before you book that flight or make the hotel reservation, there are some things you should know that could make your trip cost more manageable. The most popular way to book flights is online. Sites like Orbitz, Travelocity, and Expedia compete for your business, and there are some great deal with fares as low as $49 one way. But make sure you know exactly what you are getting and watch for hidden fees.

"It's really the baggage handling fees that you have to be careful of," said Richard Feinberg, Purdue Retail Expert. "And you can check that, all the airline websites will tell you how much they're charging."

Feinberg is referring to the baggage fees the airlines tacked on when the cost of oil was through the roof. Unfortunately for consumers, those fees haven't gone away even though oil prices have dropped. Many airlines still charge close to $15 to for your first bag, and $25 for your second. So, when you get that great deal, make sure to factor in the baggage fees.

But Feinberg says there is a way to avoid them. "Learn how to pack better," he said. "That's what we've done."

One airline that presently doesn't charge baggage fees is Southwest. But you can't book a flight on Southwest through any of the major travel sites. Those can be found only on Southwest's website.

Cecil Blignaut just returned from vacationing in Panama City, Florida. He says it's a yearly trip. How does he find the best deals?

"We planned it way ahead," he said.

Preplanning can be a key to saving money. For instance,  while booking a hotel recently for a summer trip I thought I had made a pretty decent deal. But as I watched the hotel's website for a few weeks I found the price went down  $30 per night. I simply called and told the hotel's front desk I wanted the better rate and saved about $120 total. All it took was a little incentive to save big. And you can do it too!

Even with these great deals on airline flights some people are choosing to save money by sticking closer to home.

"We see people taking a large number of trips to Chicago and other areas," said Jim Calloway, Imperial Travel President.

He says people can still take great trips for less with some one day bus trips starting as low at $69 per person.

"I think people are also, because of discretionary spending, they are really taking a look at how they really want to spend and where they want to go and get away," Calloway said. "So I think the cost has become a bigger factor."

The key is to figure out what you can afford for a trip, then start early planning for it. And to help, we've provided plenty of links to help you get started.

Also, don't forget to e-mail us your money saving tips at saving@wlfi.com.

TRAVEL LINKS

Local Links:
Imperial Travel

Airline, Hotel, Car Rental
Orbitz
Travelocity
Expedia
Priceline
Hotwire
Southwest Airlines

Other Links:
Budget Travel  
66 Ways To Save - Federal Citizen Information Center