Donna Rosato offers useful tips and tricks for your traveling.
- Avoid the long security line at the airport - Find another “unknown” screening point through Transportation Security Administration’s Web site, tsa.dhs.gov. Airports with hotels attached sometimes have separate security entrances for hotel guests, but you can use it.
- Snatch a room in a sold-out hotel - Don’t use the free 800 numbers, instead find the local phone numbers of the hotel you intend to stay and call them directly. Try Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com as these companies reserve rooms to sell to their customers for lower prices. Also, Donna recommends QuickBook, where she booked a room $20 cheaper than rates available at the hotel.
- Upgrade room without paying more - Smile and strike a conversation with the front-desk person. Tell them your being there for a special occasion. You might get away with a nicer room than just waiting for the hotel personnel to hand you the key to you room–looking over the garbage cans (nah, I’m exaggerating.)
- Speak to a travel agent - Talk to a live person can cost you but when you don’t know what to do, that’s the way to go. Airline reservation agents have access to partner airlines; can try different routings, connecting flights or alternative airports. You might not find these options if search and book online.
- Find first-class seat for coach price - Use Farecompare.com. This company has powerful and unique search engine which forecasts airfare prices. Though first-class tickets are not cheaper than advance-book coach tickets, but they can be just a little more expensive than last-minute economy fares.
- Upgrade rental cars for free - Book the cheapest car possible or the most popular model as they are likely the first ones to run out. So when it’s your turn, you automatically get a better car. Try to show up in the middle of the day or early in the week at companies which rent car to business travelers and on Saturday afternoon at resorts or vacation spots. Why? Low-end cars have been rented out by that time. Sweet huh?
- Bump that flight - If you’re Mr. or Ms. FlexiPant, volunteer to give up your seat to a desperate traveler in exchange for a nice compensation package from the airline. Do check thoroughly and ask for a confirmed seat on the next flight before doing the good deeds.
- Rebook your canceled flight - Do it immediately by calling the airline reservation number. It takes longer to wait in line.
[Yahoo Article]
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