- Joined
- Jul 25, 2012
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Hello, everyone!
Just a few FYI tips that I've picked up by watching how my parents do it, since one of them ends up traveling three weeks out of the month on average. Figured it'd be nice since some people are already getting invites(congrats, by the way!).
First and foremost- Book as early as possible. This is a major component! Rates for planes can jump astronomically if you wait until two weeks before your flight. Also, it doesn't hurt to check more than one booking website. Who knows? You may find something better on a different website and sometimes, you can also book your room at the same time.
Another tip- If you're willing to take a lay-over, do it. Direct flights tend to be pricier than the one that takes a stop. Although it does extend your travel time, if you're comfortable with airports, then this will (usually) save you some cash.
Also- Make sure your bag is less than 25 lbs. Yep, I said 25 lbs. Most airlines are making fees for bags that tip the scales further than that. If you need more than 25 lbs of stuff, move some of it to your carry-on. Weigh it ahead of time on your scale, which you can do by finding the difference between your weight holding the bag and your weight without it, so you don't get any unwelcome surprises.
Arrive at least two hours before your flight, especially if you're going to a large airport. The reasoning behind this is that you'll have plenty of time to get there, get through security, and find your gate and terminal. Travel's stressful already, and there's no need to drive yourself even more crazy because you have to run through security and get to your terminal in thirty minutes.
Avoid getting snagged in security. This may not save you money, so to speak, but it reduces the stress of travel. Try to get some of the dollar store sundries. They're appropriately sized and it's one less thing you have to think about as you're trying to get on the plane. Keep a form of ID readily accessible so you can show it to the TSA agent without fumbling around and freaking yourself out.
And, for heaven's sake- Pack food with you! Food in the airport and on the airplane are both expensive and, most of the time, it's not even that good(there's a reason why comedians can make a living making jokes about airline food). Also, be sure that it's in your carry-on. It'd be stupid to sit there hungry on the plane if you packed some crackers, but they're in your luggage in the cargo section of the plane.
Now, for hotels.
If the area that you're going to has a tourist season, avoid it. It's much smarter and so much better if you book in an area's "off-season". Hotels will have much lower prices in the off-season, which depends on the location.
Keep check-in and check-out times in mind. Sometimes, if you're late to check-in, you may lose your room. You can call in advance if you're delayed, and request to "guarantee" your reservation. That way, if you lose your room, the responsibility of finding you another room to stay in falls on the hotel. Also, if you're late to check-out, they may charge you an extra night. Most hotels have a noon check-out time and a 6:00 PM check-in time, but call them just to make sure.
Lastly, but certainly not least, Good luck with the interviews!
Just a few FYI tips that I've picked up by watching how my parents do it, since one of them ends up traveling three weeks out of the month on average. Figured it'd be nice since some people are already getting invites(congrats, by the way!).
First and foremost- Book as early as possible. This is a major component! Rates for planes can jump astronomically if you wait until two weeks before your flight. Also, it doesn't hurt to check more than one booking website. Who knows? You may find something better on a different website and sometimes, you can also book your room at the same time.
Another tip- If you're willing to take a lay-over, do it. Direct flights tend to be pricier than the one that takes a stop. Although it does extend your travel time, if you're comfortable with airports, then this will (usually) save you some cash.
Also- Make sure your bag is less than 25 lbs. Yep, I said 25 lbs. Most airlines are making fees for bags that tip the scales further than that. If you need more than 25 lbs of stuff, move some of it to your carry-on. Weigh it ahead of time on your scale, which you can do by finding the difference between your weight holding the bag and your weight without it, so you don't get any unwelcome surprises.
Arrive at least two hours before your flight, especially if you're going to a large airport. The reasoning behind this is that you'll have plenty of time to get there, get through security, and find your gate and terminal. Travel's stressful already, and there's no need to drive yourself even more crazy because you have to run through security and get to your terminal in thirty minutes.
Avoid getting snagged in security. This may not save you money, so to speak, but it reduces the stress of travel. Try to get some of the dollar store sundries. They're appropriately sized and it's one less thing you have to think about as you're trying to get on the plane. Keep a form of ID readily accessible so you can show it to the TSA agent without fumbling around and freaking yourself out.
And, for heaven's sake- Pack food with you! Food in the airport and on the airplane are both expensive and, most of the time, it's not even that good(there's a reason why comedians can make a living making jokes about airline food). Also, be sure that it's in your carry-on. It'd be stupid to sit there hungry on the plane if you packed some crackers, but they're in your luggage in the cargo section of the plane.
Now, for hotels.
If the area that you're going to has a tourist season, avoid it. It's much smarter and so much better if you book in an area's "off-season". Hotels will have much lower prices in the off-season, which depends on the location.
Keep check-in and check-out times in mind. Sometimes, if you're late to check-in, you may lose your room. You can call in advance if you're delayed, and request to "guarantee" your reservation. That way, if you lose your room, the responsibility of finding you another room to stay in falls on the hotel. Also, if you're late to check-out, they may charge you an extra night. Most hotels have a noon check-out time and a 6:00 PM check-in time, but call them just to make sure.
Lastly, but certainly not least, Good luck with the interviews!
