Travel Deal of the Day (December 10, 2009)

One of the steps you should take before any trip involving airport parking is a search for coupons for airport parking. Such coupons are commonly found on the internet or via links from major travel websites. The airport authority/organization managing your local airport may also provide coupons for airport-run parking facilities. This is an easy step allowing you to save money on your trip. Many people forget to check for coupons, but if you make this part of your travel routine, you can be one of the people whose trip is subsidized, in part, by the other travelers that do not search for such coupons.

In addition, do not forget to sign up for any frequent parker programs offered by the airport parking facilities. These programs often offer free or discounted parking benefits after a certain number of paid days of parking.

Travel Deal of the Day (June 29, 2009)

I have received multiple recent advertisements for airport parking. Many travel-related vendors have seen a decrease in demand for travel-related services. To compete, some airport parking companies have become more aggresive in terms of providing incentives for using their services. If you are interested in saving the most possible money on airport parking, be sure to investigate all possible parking options. If you are interested in using an airport parking lot, be sure to check into sale/promotional rates and verify if the parking lot provides discounts for any professional or other associations (AAA, ABA, AARP, AMA...). Also, check the website of the parking lot, as additional discounts may be available online. Please note the following additional options (outside of the standard airport parking lots):

(1) Some hotels offer nightly rates that include parking. Be sure to investigate this option, as you may spend less money by purchasing a night in the hotel (that includes parking);

(2) Be sure to check options for long-term parking near a public transportation facility and using public transportation to get you to the airport; and

(3) Some businesses located near an airport will sell long term parking in their parking lots.

If you find the webiste of your local airport or call the administrative office of your airport, you may receive helpful suggestions for inexpensive parking.

Travel Deal of the Day (November 30, 2007)

In an earlier post, I commented on deals at airport parking lots. Here is an additional deal on airport parking that you should consider, especially on longer trips.

The Deal:
Many airport hotels are now trying to fill empty rooms by offering "Park and Fly" rates that allow you to stay the night before you leave at the hotel and park at that airport hotel while you are out of town. These rates sometimes can be an excellent deal. You may be able to get a "Park and Fly" rate for the same amount as the cost of just airport parking. In some cases in very expensive cities, the "Park and Fly" hotel rate may be lower than the cost of airport parking. Some hotels also allow you to park for free (even without a "Park and Fly" rate) if you stay at the hotel before or after your trip. In such cases, find the lowest available rate and you may save versus parking in the airport parking lot. Using an airport hotel the night before your trip can be especially convenient with early morning departures as you are very close to the airport and most hotels have an airport shuttle.

The Inside Scoop:
Though this can be a deal, watch out for hotels that charge very high "Park and Fly" rates - in such cases, the "Park and Fly" rate is not a deal unless the convenience makes the high rate reasonable for you.

Travel Deal of the Day (November 26, 2007)

If you are traveling pretty frequently and are parking at the airport, one of your last stops on the internet before heading to the airport should be to print an online coupon for a parking lot near the airport.

The Deal:
Many airport parking lots are now offering special “internet” rates available only if you print a coupon available on the parking lot’s website. Such coupons normally save you $2-$3/day and sometimes also include a free day on longer stays. Many parking lots also have frequent parker clubs (similar to frequent flyer clubs) allowing you to save money when parking at a lot on a frequent basis. Many parking lots that offer such online discounts advertise the rates that are available only when printing the online discount coupons - so, if you are intending on paying the advertised rate, you must print the online coupon.