10 Ways to Make Last-Minute Savings on Your Holiday Travel

I get lots of travel tips and advice from the guys at
Globecheap.com. This time, it's about saving on last minute travel, something many of us would like to do I am sure. Last minute travel can sometimes be expensive especially when the places are filling up. So hopefully the following tips can help you take impromptu holidays and make savings as well:

10 Ways to Make Last-Minute Savings on Your Holiday Travel

Uh-oh, you've done it again. You've left planning for your holiday trip to the last minute and find your travel costs are much higher than you expected.

Well, it's not too late to get some last-minute savings. Even though travel peaks during the holidays, the cost of traveling nowadays is still less than it used to be. Plus, if you take action now, you can still shave some dollars from your holiday trip.

1. Comparison shop. You don't have much time, but the Internet makes comparison shopping faster and easier than ever. Check out aggregator sites like kayak.com, but don't forget to look at individual airline sites as well. And when you're comparing costs, remember to consider extra fees which aren't included in ticket prices, such as baggage fees and other additional charges.

2. Act fast. When you do find a good deal, book it. Companies usually make great packages available for a limited time only, so you may not find it again if you don't book it right now.

3. Plan to travel outside the peak periods. Don't fly on the day before or after the holiday. Midweek also tends to be cheaper than weekends.

4. Explore other airports near your destination. See if it's cheaper for you to fly to a nearby airport than where you originally planned go. Of course, factor in the cost of a cab or other transportation to get to your destination.

5. Try to book multiple flights with one or more connections instead of direct flights. Sure, direct flights are faster but they're also more expensive. If you're not in too much of a hurry - and if you're not traveling with small children - you just might save some serious money by taking a series of connecting flights.

6. Save on accommodations by stay at a relative's or friend's house. Or look for hotel deals such as special family packages or holiday deals. Also check out how much it costs to rent a condo or apartment, or find a home swapping deal.

7. If you're traveling to get away from it all, pick an off-season destination. For example, Las Vegas is cheaper during Christmastime than the rest of the year.

8. Look for deals on car rentals, if you need to rent a car. Again, the Internet is your best tool for finding hot deals.

9. if taking your own car, optimize its fuel consumption. Make sure all your tires are properly inflated, and replace your car engine's air filter. While you're at the mechanic, have your car checked to make sure it's road worthy.

10. Food expenses can really add up when you're traveling. To save on food, pack snacks and lunches to eat while you're traveling. And when you arrive, plan to prepare your own meals.

These are only a few of the ways you can drastically reduce the cost of your holiday trip. If you want more tips you can use for your next trip and year-round, download this free report from Globe Cheap. Most of the tips in this report are insider tips only a former travel agent would know (which the author is).

If you're willing to be flexible with your travel plans and invest some of your time and energy finding great deals (as opposed to putting everything in the hands of a travel agency) then you will save big money by following these tips. Go
here to claim your free report now:

This blog is part of a travel review and advice website. If you would like to know more about a certain travel destination and tips on travelling, visit Holiday Essentials Here/

Tips on how you can save on your winter vacation

A brilliant article on how to make huge savings and still have a fantastic winter vacation.

As cool fall weather sets in, our thoughts turn to winter vacation. Or at least, it should, if you want to get great deals over the winter holidays.

(Side Note: Here's a free report with even more cheap travel tips: Globe Cheap's free report. Grab it and see how much you can save from your next winter getaway.)

Whether you're dreaming of a winter skiing destination, or would rather escape to a warm paradise, these tips will help you save big on your next winter vacation.

1. Make a vacation budget and stick to it

How much can you afford, exactly? Find out now, or else have a plan to have a specific amount saved up by the time winter rolls in.

2. Plan well in advance

When it comes to budget travel, time is one of your most important tools. You need time to make advance reservations
and to research the best deals.

3. Shop around

Now is the time to go comparison shopping for travel options, accommodations, and major attractions.

4. Compare different modes of travel

Depending on where you'd like to go, various means of traveling will have different costs. Also consider how many people are traveling. If you're a family, it's usually cheaper to drive than to fly. If you're traveling solo, you may have more options - including carpooling with friends or family.

5. Ask for discounts

Sometimes you just have to ask, to receive discounts. At the hotel or airline, for example, ask for free upgrades on your room or flight. Ask your credit card provider about travel options they offer to clients at reduced rates, such as travel insurance coverage, etc. Don't forget to ask hotel/hostel owners and tour operators for discount coupons, such as to the nearest attractions.

6. Share a vacation rental

If you're traveling in a group, or can find family and friends to vacation with, sharing a rental house for a flat fee can be very economical.

7. Try a hostel

Hostels go for as as low as $20/night, so they're a budget option you should consider.

8. Cook your own meals

Eating out can be very expensive. Stay in hotels or rentals where you can cook your own meals. Or pack your meals in a cooler, if you're traveling by car.

9. Get as many discounts as you can

If you're a student or traveling with a student, make sure to bring student ID cards or International Student Cards. This free report from Globe Cheap lists other discounts you or a family member may be eligible for. Also explore discount passes when buying online or by certain dates.

10. Borrow equipment

If you're going skiing, bring your own or borrowed equipment rather than renting them at the resort. If you plan to go skiing often, it's probably cheaper to buy our own equipment in the long run, instead of renting every time.

11. Explore discount packages

Hotels and travel agencies usually offer packages that include travel, accommodation, meals and entrance to various attractions. These usually cost less than if you paid for each one individually. They usually also offer discounts for early booking.

12. Travel off-season

The peak season for traveling in winter is around Christmas and New Year. If you don't mind traveling around those dates, you'll find everything cheaper. It's also usually cheaper to travel on weekdays or midweek rather than on weekends.

13. Consider warm-weather destinations

Looking to escape from the cold? Consider places where the US dollar goes farther, such as small Caribbean islands, Mexico, and parts of Central America and Asia. Some destinations within the United States are also cheaper in the cold season.

14. Don't touch the minibar

Bring everything you need so you won't have to open the water bottle in the hotel, or get snacks from the minibar. You'll pay ridiculous prices for these! Some hotels also charge extra if you request additional towels and toothbrushes. If you must, buy extra supplies at the nearest grocery store, not from the hotel. And don't forget to pack those over-the-counter medications you usually use!

15. Stay out of the way

Consider staying a little farther from major attractions. You'll save tons on accommodation - as long as you won't pay through the nose for public transportation or parking.

16. Camp out

If you're going to a warm destination, plan to go camping. It's a very cheap traveling alternative. If you're driving, find the cheapest places to get gas.

17. Look for free attractions

Entrance fees to tourist attractions can also add up very quickly. Do some research to find free attractions at your destination. These could include malls, national parks and historic streets or towns. Find out when museums are open to the public for free.

More Cheap Travel Tips

You can get even more FREE tips for budget traveling from Globe Cheap's free report. Grab it and see how much you can save from your next winter getaway.

What are the best Ski resorts in Europe?

Isn't the time of the year to plan for your winter ski holiday? Found this interesting article about ski resorts in Europe, should be a good way to start searching for the best place to go for holiday this winter.

Snowboarding Holidays and the Best Snowboarding in Europe
By Bea Metcalfe

Europe is one of the best places in the world for taking snowboarding holidays. Whether you like to spend your snowboarding holidays free riding, your snowboarding holidays carving up the fresh snow, or your snowboarding holidays doing tricks in a snow park, Europe has something to suit you.

Free riders

Val d'Isere: This is one of the main snowboarding resorts in France and has been for years. It's also got heaps of space to it - it would take about a week to run all of the runs and trails. The park space is massive as well, with two half pipes.

Chamonix: The off piste terrain of the Chamonix Valley is some of the world's best, but anything that exciting looking is going to be dangerous. Argentihre is where most of Chamonix's all season boarders hang out. One of the most famous runs being the Point de Vue. There's a park at Charamillion which has rails, jumps, tabletops and a 150 metre half pipe.

Snowboarding holidays in Serre Chevalier: If tight terrain free riding is your thing then this huge valley resort complies. The guide books say it's like one huge snow park with its obstacles and smooth bowls to play in. The runs are mostly along the valley, which runs for ever, so there is plenty of choice about the kind of terrain to go for and about the challenge, but this is a good choice for beginners with lots of nice even runs to work your way up on.

Snowboarding holidays in Seleva, Val Gardena: This region offers easy access to the sky-scraping backdrop of the Dolomites. There are three resorts along the valley floor: Seleva is the best known, by both skiers and boarders. The snowpark is by Seleda Plateau and has an 80 metre half pipe.

Snowboarding holidays in Davos: Deep powder, natural half pipes, and the man made ones, tree banks, off piste options, a boardercross circuit and lit up runs for night riding - Davos has a lot to offer snowboarders.

Snowboarding holidays in Andermatt: At the base of Piz Gemsstock in the Usern Valley, Andermatt gets regular dumps of thick, inviting powder, especially on its north facing slopes, and the high altitude means it keeps the snow for longer - steep gradients and loads of easily accessible off-piste terrain.

Snowboarding holidays in St. Anton: Quite a lot of people agree that St. Anton has the best terrain in Austria, so it's a popular destination for free riders, who can play all on very varied terrain on the deep powder. The snow park is in the Rendl area.

Snow park Freestylers

Snowboarding holidays in St. Moritz: It may seem unlikely from her glamorous reputation, but St. Moritz is a good place to some to learn new tricks, there's a 90metre half pipe, a huge quarter pipe and jumps ranging in size from beginner to four meter jump-this-and-you-might-want-to-start-calling-yourself-a-pro size, which is why so many people come here to train.

Snowboarding holidays in Livigno: Livigno is less fur coats and money talks than talking with your feet and ankles. The snow parks here are well kept, the main one is on the Mottolino, and there's another, better for intermediate boarders, on Carosello.

Slope Carvers

Verbier: Verbier's resort looks very civilised, but accesses some of the most epic terrain in the European Alps. With 400kms worth of ground, rising up to 3,300 metres, this isn't a resort that lacks snow or run options, and there's reams of off-piste space to explore as well. The snowpark is on Mont-Fort.

Cervinia: Cervinia has Italy's highest riding slopes, which also equates to some of the longest runs though some impressive scenery. Most of the boarding in in a vast sunny bowl in between two mountains and the base of the Plateau Rosa glacier - which you can board on if you're brave - mind the crevasses!

Nordpark: Nordpark is just above Innsbruck. It's tiny, but steep, with only six pistes but views over Innsbruck and scenic surrounds. Some of the runs have 65 degree inclines, finishing on daring ridges - in scenery that looks sheer as Alaska. You won't get the clean runs - there are experts living here vying to make the first tracks every day.

Snowboarding holidays and the best snowboarding in Europe are all independently reviewed on WorldReviewer.com. Read information on the best skiing and snowboarding in Chamonix.

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Additional information- Check out Holiday Essentials for more travel reviews and holiday offers.