Is there a better way to book hotels/flights for residencies?

[bonoz]

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I'm just going thinking about booking something through Kayak.com or something like that.

Is that how most people are doing it? Is there a better way?

Thanks

 

[typhoonegator]

Not that I'm aware of...there may be a travel service offered by your medical school but typically those are more about getting extra support rather than a better rate. And even then, I doubt as a student you qualify. Get the best rates you can, either through aggregation sites like Kayak or Orbitz or Travelocity or Priceline, frequent flier programs, or the like. There really isn't a magic bullet for these things.

 

[curiousneuro]

Using Kayak primarily, but I would love to hear more suggestions from others for better rates. Spending less student loan money on flights would be ideal...

 

[Crayola227]

Hotels.com app was best for hotels I found compared to Kayak and easier to use

Also you book 10 nights you get one free

Sometimes if you find a good car rental rate on Kayak and go directly to the rental website you will find it even cheaper.

Also know that you should NEVER get the rental car at the counter, ever. Sit in front of the place and book online, it will always be cheaper. Don't assume smaller cars are cheaper too. It varies by local conditions, it could be a giant SUV that's cheapest.

You can often get a car for $20-30 bucks, even after gas it's often cheaper faster and more conveneint than any other method of getting to from/airport and interview.

 

[Crayola227]

Google a past post of mine for pre-allo what to pack in suitcase for interviews too

 

[RangerBob]

I always booked Southwest--they don't charge you if you cancel your interview and want to transfer the funds to another flight (for up to a year I think, after which you can transfer the funds minus $50-75 or so to an LUV voucher that anyone can use)

+1 on hotels.com--I got a free hotel night out of using them. Groupon was great too (useful if you travel with your SO and want to turn some interviews into short getaways)

 

[HIJay]

another option is airbnb, sometime may be cheaper than hotel if available

 

[link2swim06]

Priceline name your own price is going to save you a ton of money depending on the day of the week.

I got 4 star hotels in medium size cities for $70-80 a night that were otherwise listed at $150/night. But...it all depends how busy the hotels in the area are on that night...and you have to do it last minute for it to work.

P.S. Even though you can get 4.5 and 5 star hotels for fairly cheap with this...avoid them...they surcharge you on EVERYTHING (internet, parking, etc., etc.).

 

[maddogmurphy]

Also know that kayak does not search southwest. I like to use itasoftware to search flights, but not necessarily the most user friendly but very customizable

 

[keifernny2]

While interviewing, I would also try to book interviews at programs near each other to make for 1 trip when I had to fly. Often, if you have already been offered (wait till they offer!) interviews, you can contact the coordinator and even if the date is booked they can, at times, work some magic to prevent you from having to make 2 trips.

 

[Crayola227]

Ah yes and sometimes you can drive from one interview to another and it's cheaper even if a rental car or hotel in between. Some students have a block off for interviews and do that for quite a few if you daisy chain them. Example: flew to Pittsburg, interviewed, drove 3 hours to Philly, stayed at hotel and interviewed next day. Had an interview on a Friday, stayed cheap hotel over weekend, flew Sunday to next city for Monday interview.

Also going from shorter flights or from a certain hub to another or between certain cities can save on airfare.

Also keep any receipts for interview costs after Jan, because you start earning money in residency in June, you will file taxes for the year despite being a student for the first half of year, and you can deduct some of those expenses to lower your taxes. Look into how your student loans and relocation costs play into that too, and books/equipment you may buy specifically for residency, if you're so inclined. The IRS also has a website to use your expcted resident salary, loans, expenses, to calculate your estimated tax burden which can mean you change your claimed numbers of expenses beyond what the standard forms would suggest. This can increase monthly take home but will decrease your return, careful you don't underpay and then owe tax, but the website can help you plan your budget. (Segue from travel expenses to taxes, but while you're booking your interviews might as well consider the bigger pic.)

 

[WingedOx]

I survived on Hotwire.com. Saved a ton.

 

[gutonc]

Also keep any receipts for interview costs after Jan, because you start earning money in residency in June, you will file taxes for the year despite being a student for the first half of year, and you can deduct some of those expenses to lower your taxes.

 

[Cytarabine]

...

Is this a "nope, that's not legal" or a "nope, the government frowns on your technically legal shenanigans"

 

[gutonc]

Is this a "nope, that's not legal" or a "nope, the government frowns on your technically legal shenanigans"

That's not legal. Can you probably get away with it? Sure. Is it worth it for the $50 you're going to save on your taxes? No.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

I survived on Hotwire.com. Saved a ton.

Me, too. And priceline. I got some amazing deals including staying at 5 star hotels for $60 to $70/night. Way better than using the hotel list provided by the program.

 

[Raryn]

Nope

Taxes that year are great if you paid tuition in January though. I qualified for some kind of education credit b/c I paid tuition and got only a $25000 salary in the same year, tax return was almost $2000. I think deducting moving expenses gave me an extra $30 or some nonsense.

 

[mvenus929]

If for some reason Frontier is the cheapest flight in your search, book through their website, otherwise you'll be charged for your carry-on bag as well.

Lots of people on my flight after Thanksgiving learned that the hard way.

 

[j4pac]

Is this a "nope, that's not legal" or a "nope, the government frowns on your technically legal shenanigans"

Depends...if you are a med student, which is suspect that you are...then it is tax fraud. If on the other hand you are currently a resident/physician...then it is completely legal.

You should be able to itemize fellowship job search expenses.

 

[gutonc]

If for some reason Frontier is the cheapest flight in your search, book through their website, otherwise you'll be charged for your carry-on bag as well.

If for some reason Frontier is your cheapest option, either spend more money or just don't go. That airline makes Spirit look full service.

 

[MJM09]

Agree with the posters above regarding Hotwire.com and Priceline's name your own price tool. If you're risk averse check out "betterbidding.com", they keep user-submitted lists of what hotels people got based off star ratings and areas on those websites, as well as recent successful bid (in larger cities at least). They can be very good for car rentals too. Ended up with some very nice hotels and cars on my interview trail for pretty much what I would have paid to stay under the bridge in a cardboard box with a guy named Scruffy.