Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend who books refundable hotel rooms far in advance and then switches to (cheaper) refundable rooms a day or two before if they are still available and cancels the refundable room.

I do the same. Usually a week out.

Sure but in a hot destination, the non refundable price is usually higher by then or the place is booked.

Anonymous wrote:Then use a multi city cash ticket originating outside of the US to stop in one or more cities before coming back to the US.

OP, can you please give an example of what you mean (see bolded above). Thanks!

Intra Europe flights are cheap. So fly to the cheapest European city you can, then book a connecting flight separately. Is a little complicated with connections but if your priority is saving $…

There has to be more than this! Haha

Travel hack and don’t pay cash for any of this.

Anonymous wrote:Then use a multi city cash ticket originating outside of the US to stop in one or more cities before coming back to the US.

OP, can you please give an example of what you mean (see bolded above). Thanks!

Price out a RT ticket to your destination (US to Athens round trip);
Then price out sep one way tickets (on the way to Europe on miles and on the way home by cash; and
also price the way home as a multi-city stop in a stopover city (that is a hub of your alliance).

Example:
1. US to Athens (United miles ticket)
2. Buy the return multi-city ticket Athens to Vienna and Vienna to US through a European /star alliance partner on way home (or Athens to Dubai, Dubai to US)

Much much less than 50% of the original RT cash ticket that originated in US. Tickets that originate in the US are the most expensive.
And often the multi-city with stopover is cheaper than without a stopover (even when non-stop).

Echo pay with points + cash. I do this with flights and hotels and it’s a great way to stretch both if you don’t have the kind of travel/cc setup that lets you rack up points.

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend who books refundable hotel rooms far in advance and then switches to (cheaper) refundable rooms a day or two before if they are still available and cancels the refundable room.

I do the same. Usually a week out.

Anonymous wrote:Let the trip choose you - use google flights explore and go somewhere where the flights are cheaper

This is what I basically do.

I have a friend who books refundable hotel rooms far in advance and then switches to (cheaper) refundable rooms a day or two before if they are still available and cancels the refundable room.

Set up a google flight alert for your destination and pounce if a good price pops up. (You can cancel within 24 hrs if you get cold feet. Or book refundable if it’s not much more.)

Be sure any accommodations you book are refundable and very flexible. It’s like having travel insurance built into the price. I like to book early and have more choices - then I might re-check a few days before to make sure nothing better pops up.

Sometimes hotels offer very nice last minute rates!

If you use the booking.com app, some places offer 10%+ discounts. Filter for free cancellation.

Never let hotels or ATMs convert from local currency to USD. That always leads to a bad rate for you; use local currency always.

I read once to avoid places that offer menus with many flags and translations. Tourist traps.

Do you mean using a foreign travel agent?

Then use a multi city cash ticket originating outside of the US to stop in one or more cities before coming back to the US.

OP, can you please give an example of what you mean (see bolded above). Thanks!

A nice cow?

Let the trip choose you - use google flights explore and go somewhere where the flights are cheaper

My tips below. Please share yours!

- Use miles to fly one way out of the United States to Europe, or wherever your destination may be. Then use a multi city cash ticket originating outside of the US to stop in one or more cities before coming back to the US. It will be significantly cheaper.

- look for newer (2023 openings) hotels if you must stay in super high-end ones. They usually are running promotions, especially if they are off the beaten path.

- combine hotel rewards points with cash payment

- if hotels only require one or two nights deposit and are refundable within 30 days of arrival, book them as far in advance as you can, even before you buy tickets and then cancel if necessary….esp for hot travel dates or locations.

- avoid Amalfi in summer.