Anonymous wrote:

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.

I found many nicer hotels on my European trip were nonrefundable this past summer. I don't know if that is the start of a trend; hope not.

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.

Anonymous wrote:A nice cow?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

For the bolded above, how do you find these “last minute rates”? Do you have to go to the hotel websites or can you find these on travel websites like Expedia or Hotels.com?

Anonymous wrote:Have a wealthy friend with a private jet fly you to your vacation location…..

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

For the bolded above, how do you find these “last minute rates”? Do you have to go to the hotel websites or can you find these on travel websites like Expedia or Hotels.com?

I like to use google maps + hotels. Open your search area, select your dates, and search for hotels. Recently we went to NYC and a few weeks prior, I booked a basic hotel room for about $400 per night. Two days before we left, I did some research and booked the same room at the same hotel, plus breakfast, for $250 per night.

This won’t work for peak travel dates but I’ve found that hotels (and airbnb) will reduce rates for last minute travel.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

For the bolded above, how do you find these “last minute rates”? Do you have to go to the hotel websites or can you find these on travel websites like Expedia or Hotels.com?

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

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.