Travel Deal of the Day (July 31, 2009)

Various Loews Hotels are offering a "Family Fun Package" which includes the following:

(1) 50% off a second room;
(2) Kids 12 and under eat free (with paid adult entree); and
(3) Various other kid-friendly amenities (such as credits towards the Loews Kid's Club at participating hotels).

The offer is valid throughout 2009 (Kid's Club credit is only valid until September 7, 2009). For full terms and conditions or to book, go to the Loews Family Fun Package.

Travel Deal of the Day (July 30, 2009)

Ryanair has a large European sale with seats from various cities within Great Britain starting at 1 Pound Sterling each way (plus taxes/fees).

The Deal:
Ryanair is offering seats from Great Britain to a variety of European cities for 1 Pound Sterling each way plus taxes/fees. Fares must be purchased by July 30, 2009 for travel September 1, 2009 until October 31, 2009.

How:
Go to the Ryanair Sale. Note these terms and conditions.

Travel Deal of the Day (July 29, 2009)

If you travel frequently and are looking to avoid expensive nightly/hourly internet charges at hotels, note that Verizon is now offering free access to the internet at Verizon wi-fi hotspots (if you already pay for participating Verizon wired broadband service plans).

Internet access at hotels or at other office/equipment stores can be extremely expensive. If you qualify for the offer, you now have access to additional locations with free internet access - so investigate whether you qualify for this offer, as the fees for internet access at many hotels can add up, and this offer can potentially save you money. For more information, contact Verizon or see articles such as this article.

Travel Deal of the Day (July 28, 2009)

AirTran is offering $25 discount vouchers for flights to or from Florida.

The Deal:
Receive a voucher for $25 off a ticket to or from Florida on AirTran. The voucher can be used for tickets booked on airtran.com by October 31, 2009 for travel until December 18, 2009. The vouchers are limited to one per person, and other restrictions apply.

How:
Request a voucher and read the full terms/conditions at the website for the AirTran "Share a Little Sunshine" Deal.

Travel Deal of the Day (July 27, 2009)

United Airlines has announced that it will (effective July 30, 2009) no longer charge a fee for booking award tickets within 21 days of departure. Though the current announcement applies to United Airlines only, other airlines may match the elimination of this fee in the near future. Given the fee elimination, you should give extra attention to the possibility of using your miles when booking tickets at the last minute (especially given the expense of most tickets requiring no advance purchase).

Travel Deal of the Day (July 24, 2009)

Here is a great deal - go to a baseball game, and recieve a coupon for a free companion ticket on Virgin America.

The Deal:
Virgin America and the San Francisco Giants are offering a Buy One, Get One Free Promotion on Virgin America with paid admission to the San Francisco Giants game on August 8, 2009. The terms of the promotion, as listed on the official website of the San Francisco Giants, provide that the coupon will allow for a free second Main Cabin ticket when a first Main Cabin ticket is purchased by August 29, 2009 for travel August 9, 2009 through November 11, 2009. Blackout dates of September 4, 2009 through September 7, 2009 apply.

How:
For more information, see the "Virgin America Day" link on sfgiants.com.

Travel Deal of the Day (July 23, 2009)

Hyatt Gold Passport members earn 2,500 bonus Hyatt Gold Passport points when registering for the following promotion and paying for an eligible stay with a MasterCard. This offer is valid for stays until September 15, 2009, and you can earn the bonus an unlimited amount of times. For full terms and conditions or to register for the promotion, go to the Hyatt MasterCard Deal.

Travel Deal of the Day (July 22, 2009)

If you are traveling to any museums than have admission fees this summer or fall, be sure to do a bit of research before your trip to save some money. Because of the decrease in demand for tourism/travel, many museums are offering specials. Museums with high entrance fees are most likely to be offering significant discounts. So, before you go to a museum:

(1) Check the website of the museum for any promotions;
(2) Check with any membership associations (AAA, ABA, AARP, university affiliations, corporate affiliations, etc...) to verify if any membership discounts apply (sometimes tickets must be purchased in advance of your visit);
(3) Check with the local tourism bureau/chamber of commerce to find out if any promotions apply (sometimes a museum will offer discounts to individuals that live close to the museum);
(4) Check the price of multi-day or annual entrance passes or the price of a "membership" - sometimes it is more cost-effective to pay for a multi-day entrance pass (especially if you know you will return in the near future); and
(5) Some of the best "deals" are offered via passes that provide entrance to a variety of attractions in a city. If you are planning a visit to multiple attractions within the same city, these kinds of passes can save you quite a bit of money. (I will provide further examples of these kinds of passes in the coming days - these kind of passes are especially good deals throughout Europe.)

Travel Deal of the Day (July 21, 2009)

Many people forget that car rental companies with off-airport locations will often pick you up to bring you to the car rental location. This fact can save you quite a bit of money when renting a car.

The Deal:
When investigating car rental options, remember that various car rental companies will (for no additional charge) pick you up to bring you to the car rental location (and drop you off at a variety of locations after you have completed your car rental). This service can often save you money a few different ways - (1) you pay for the rental car for only the portion of your trip when it is most necessary, (2) you frequently (but not always) find lower rates at off-airport car rental locations and (3) you can often save on parking/gas costs by only keeping a car on the days it is most necessary. Be sure to investigate this option when renting your next car to save the most money possible.

The Inside Scoop:
When checking rates for local/non-airport car rental locations, be sure to check on the car rental website for rates/promotions, but do not stop your search there - be sure to also call the location (via the local phone number printed on the relevant car rental company website) to find out about rates/promotions. To find the absolute lowest prices, you might also want to check with local businesses as well as the local chamber of commerce to find out if such organizations have special rates negotiated with a car rental company for customers/visitors.

Travel Deal of the Day (July 20, 2009)

Amtrak is offering a 25% off sale for travel through September 3, 2009.

The Deal:
Receive 25% off of certain one-way coach fares on Northeast Regional service. 14 day advance purchase is required, and travel must be completed by September 3, 2009. Sample rates include $49/way between New York City and Boston or Washington, DC.

How:
Go to the Amtrak Summer Sale.

Travel Deal of the Day (July 17, 2009)

Sage Hospitality, a hotel management company, is offering a great deal for people that volunteer at least eight hours at a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

The Deal:
You can receive either one night free or 50% off of a night at a Sage Hotel if you have volunteered eight or more hours at a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The discount depends on hotel availability. The offer ends December 20, 2009.

How:
Go to the Give a Day, Get a Night Promotion to find instructions regarding booking a room using the promotion.

The Inside Scoop:
Note that the Sage promotion is valid at various independent hotels as well as various Marriott, Starwood and Hilton hotels. The link above provides information about participating hotels.

Travel Deal of the Day (July 16, 2009)

United Airlines is offering a sale on round-trip economy class Mileage Plus (frequent flyer) awards from North America to worldwide destinations. Redemption amounts are discounted by a minimum of 20% when booked by July 24, 2009 for travel August 18, 2009 through November 18, 2009. Other terms and conditions apply, so check out the United Mileage Plus Sale for more information.

Travel Deal of the Day (July 15, 2009)

If you travel frequently, you will likely find a new service from Google quite helpful if people are trying to get in touch with you and you are frequently at different phone numbers.

The Deal:
Google Voice is a new product from Google that allows you provide a single (personal) phone number to everyone so that they can reach you regardless of your location. Google Voice will allow you to transfer calls coming into that phone number to most US phone numbers. Google Voice also provides a voice mail system that transcribes voice mails and emails the transcript to you. The service will record phone conversations for you (at your request), provides phone routing/forwarding and will also allow you to make free long distance calls (within the Continental US) and discounted calls worldwide.

Most of the Google voice services are free. The only catch is there is currently a waiting list to sign up for the service.

How:
Go to the Google Voice website to learn more about the service, and go to the Waiting List to attempt to be added to the list.

Travel Deal of the Day (July 14, 2009)

AirTran has a new sale offering fares as low as $39/way.

The Deal:
AirTran is offering a new sale for purchase through July 28, 2009 and travel through December 16, 2009 (blackout dates apply around Thanksgiving). Lowest fares (what AirTran calls "off-peak" fares) are available for Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. Fares vary by market, and terms and conditons apply. Other airlines will likely match on a market-by-market basis.

How:
More information about the sale is available at the Press Release or at the AirTran Website. Be sure to also check fares at an aggregator booking website (such as Kayak).

Travel Deal of the Day (July 13, 2009)

Marriott is offering discounts for Pentagon Federal Credit Union Visa Card holders.

The Deal:
Marriott is offering 20% off of weekend rates through September 7, 2009 at participating East Coast Marriott Hotels for Pentagon Federal Credit Union Visa Card holders. If you are not currently a member of this credit union, you may be eligible to join as there are quite a few categories of people who are eligible, including anyone who volunteers with the American Red Cross.

How:
Make a reservation at this page using your Pentagon Federal Credit Union Visa Card. Please note that if you are not currently a member, you can verify the eligibility requirements for the Pentagon Federal Credit Union and join (see this link). You would also need to obtain the Pentagon Federal Credit Union Visa Card if you did not already have one (see this link).

Travel Deal of the Day (July 10, 2009)

Starwood has a deal that offers 50% off of a night when paying regular rate for the prior night.

The Deal:
Obtain 50% off a second night when paying regular rate for the first night. Rates are valid for stays until December 31, 2009. Rates under this plan are non-refundable and prepaid.

How:
Go to the Starwood Deal.

The Inside Scoop:
As with any deal, check all available rates before using this discount. Also, be sure to note any terms/restrictions of rates booked using this deal.

Travel Deal of the Day (July 9, 2009)

TravelZoo has a great offer at the Hilton Washington, DC.

The Deal:
Obtain rates as low as $99/night for select weekend night stays at the Hilton Washington, DC. (Some weekdays are available for $109/night.) Rates must be booked by July 17, 2009 and the rates are valid for stays until September 7, 2009. Rates include 50% off parking.

How:
Go to the TravelZoo Hilton Washington DC Deal.

Travel Deal of the Day (July 8, 2009)

If you are planning a summer trip to a major city, take a few minutes to browse the Convention/Visitor Bureau website of your destination city to view the deals available.

The Deal:
Due to the slumping economy, many Convention/Visitor Bureaus are offering specials for hotels and attractions. You may find excellent deals on these websites applicable for your trip. Be sure to consult these kind of websites before booking any non-refundable hotel or attraction reservations as you may qualify for discounts by linking over from the Convention/Visitor Bureau website or using a promotion code offered at these websites.

The Inside Scoop:
You may be able to find the best deals using other websites, so it pays to shop around - nonetheless, if you have not checked out the relevant Convention/Visitor Bureau website yet, it may be worth your time.

Travel Deal of the Day (July 7, 2009)

Southwest has started a very large Fall sale that will likely spark sales among most or all major airlines. Tickets under the sale are available until July 8, 2009 for prices of $30/way (routes up to 400 miles), $60/way (routes between 401 and 750 miles) and $90/way (other routes). Fares are valid for travel September 9, 2009 until November 18, 2009. Additional fees, taxes, restrictions and exclusions apply.

How:
To book travel on Southwest, go to the Southwest website. Once other carriers match the fares, also check fares on an aggregator website such as Kayak.

Travel Deal of the Day (July 6, 2009)

Consider using a referral site such as Ebates or FatWallet to book your next rental car - you may earn cash back for linking to the rental car website from the referral website.

The Deal:
Various websites are offering referral bonuses just for linking over to a car rental website from that referring site. FatWallet, for instance, rebates 1.5% of your car rental purchase just for linking to the Avis website from FatWallet. Similar deals exist at Ebates. Since there is no extra fee to use these referral sites, consider using them when booking your next rental car (or other travel).

How:
(1) Go to a referral site (Ebates and FatWallet are two examples, but there are other similar websites as well) and set up or log into your account. Depending on the current promotions at the referral website, you may also be able to earn a referral promotion by linking from the referral website over to a travel booking engine such as Travelocity.

(2) Link to a travel provider from these websites.

The Inside Scoop:
You should always check around for the best deals. Sometimes referral websites only have referral bonuses for a few travel partners, so you should expand your search beyond just those companies offering referral bonuses. However, if you do book with a travel provider that offers a referral bonus when using a referral website, you should definitely take advantage of the bonus.

Travel Deal of the Day (July 3, 2009)

Lufthansa has a $100 coupon for any travel throughout 2009 if purchased by July 5, 2009.

The Deal:
Receive $100 off a Lufthansa ticket booked by July 5, 2009. Travel can occur throughout 2009.

How:
Fill out the form at the Lufthansa Coupon Promotion.

Travel Deal of the Day (July 2, 2009)

If you are traveling from the Washington, DC/Baltimore area to Florida, there are some incredible fares at this time that are applicable even for Thanksgiving and the December holidays.

The Deal:
As of the time of this post, there are fares as low as $49/way (plus tax/fees) from Baltimore (BWI) to Orlando. The incredible thing to note about this fare is that it is not blacked out around Thanksgiving or the December holidays (though you will need to find seat availability for the fare). If you are flying to Disney from the DC-area for the Thanksgiving/December holidays and you can find this fare, book now.

How:
Find the best fares at an aggregator travel website such as Kayak.

Travel Deal of the Day (July 1, 2009)

Here is a deal that was originally started by Starwood a while ago, but still provides great discounts at Starwood Hotels & Resorts. It would be advisable to check these rates whenever staying at least two nights at a Starwood Hotel or Resort.

The Deal:
Obtain up to two nights free at Starwood Hotels and Resorts. The discounts under this promotion increase as your length of stay increases. For instance, the deal provides the third night free when purchasing the first two nights or the fifth and sixth nights free when purchasing the first four nights. Rates are non-refundable once booked.

How:
Go to the Starwood Hotel Offer and the Starwood Resort Offer.