Money-saving tips for honeymooners, Part 2

Courtesy U. S. Treasury Department

These days it’s a good idea to take advantage of anything that saves money, even on your honeymoon.

Yesterday we discussed general money-saving tips. Today, in Part 2 of this multi-day series, we’ll tackle transporation. If you’ve got a good idea to pass along, please leave a comment.

Read Part 1 of this series, General Money-Saving Tips

Read Part 3 of this series, Accommodation Money-Saving Tips

Read Part 4: Dining-Out Money-Saving Tips

Transportation Money-Saving Tips for your Honeymoon

It’s increasingly difficult, maybe even impossible, to save money on airplane flights, but some of these ideas may ease the burden…

• Promotional Fares: Be tireless in scouring the media for promotional fares and sales, both from major airlines and newcomers to the airways. Despite the economy, such promotions occur frequently. When you see one that’s right for your plans, don’t delay. Grab it!

• Off-Peak Flight Days. Consider flying to your honeymoon destination on an off-peak day, usually Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Perhaps this means sticking around town for a day or two after your wedding, but you can find plenty of ways to enjoy yourself while you’re waiting for your flight…can’t you?

• Use Frequent Flyer Miles. You’ve probably thought of this one, but maybe not. Have you been saving up your miles? Now's the time to use them!

• Website Price Checks & Fare Alerts. Don't stick with one website—you’ll be surprised at the differences you'll find. And the earlier you start planning, the longer you have to land a bargain rate. Travelocity, Orbitz, and CheapTickets are longtime favorites, but don’t overlook newer sites like Farecast, Farecompare, and Yapta (which lets you tag and track already-purchased flights, alerting you when prices drop so that you can apply for a refund).

• Standby Fares. Sure, they’re not convenient, but they can save a lot of money. If you’re flying to a destination during its low season (as we suggested in yesterday’s post), the plane won’t be crowded and you’ll stand a better chance of getting aboard. Standby could thus be a viable (and cheap) way to get there.

• Airline Sites. Often the best deal you can find is an airline's own site. It makes sense, because airlines must pay commission to brokers like Orbitz and all the others. I’ve often purchased tickets directly from an airline’s site because doing so offered me the best deal.

• Website Cautions: Be very careful when booking through a website, making sure that you haven't inadvertently checked boxes (or that they haven't been pre-checked by the site) with add-on charges for services you don't want. For instance, is there a checkmark for travel insurance? If you don't want a service, save your money! Opt out by unchecking the box.

• Travel Agents. More and more people prefer to do their own looking and booking. But don't dismiss travel agents out of hand; a good agent can still save you money. TravelSense, the consumer site of the American Society of Travel Agents, can help you find an agent that’s right for you.

• Bid on a Fare. At sites like SkyAuction, you can put in a low bid for an online vacation or cruise auction. And you just might win!

• Cruise Aggregators. If you’re heart’s set on a cruise, try a reputable cruise aggregator. Here's how they typically work:

  1. You set up a free online account and then select the ship, sail date, passengers, and the number and type of cabins you want.
  2. The aggregator sends out your requir ements to more than 100 travel agents specializing in cruises.
  3. The travel agents compete for your business, sending you quotes for the trip you outlined.
  4. You are never under any obligation to accept  a quote, and travel agents are never given your contact info.

• Best times to book flights: Most airlines lower their rates on Fridays. Competitors try to one-up them, lowering their own rates by 5:00 p.m. Saturday. Phone reservationists get those changes immediately, but the new prices don't reach the airline's website until around midnight. So...when making a phone reservation with an airline, do it after 5 p.m. on Saturday. If opting to reserve on the airline's website, Sunday after midnight is best.
• Take a Road Trip. Driving through beautiful countryside is an adventure, and a lot cheaper—with far fewer hassles—than flying. You can also save money by packing a cooler, stopping somewhere beautiful for a picnic lunch, and staying in inexpensive motels and campgrounds.

• Reserve Fuel-Conscious Autos. Don't waste money on gas. If the auto company offers to bump you up, you may end up stuck with a gas hog that could cost a fortune to drive. Beware!