Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > General Forums > Travel
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
 
Old 11-09-2013, 07:00 AM
 
18,837 posts, read 37,256,775 times
Reputation: 26463

Advertisements

I am still trying to figure out how to get the best deals on travel...I planned my vacation six months ago, purchased plane tickets, hotel reservations, thinking that planning far ahead, I would get a better deal.

So, I am checking out the airfare website, the plane tickets are CHEAPER now! M I should have waited?

Who can figure this out? It is driving me insane. I just should not have looked! Oh, yes, there is also a special deal for the hotel...less expensive too!

Of course, I can't cancel the trip and reschedule, because I was locked in when I bought everything before!

Grrrr....crazy making!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 11-09-2013, 07:49 AM
 
Location: Airports all over the world
7,487 posts, read 7,979,456 times
Reputation: 106086
When it comes to traveling for vacation I am a very spur of the moment person. Even then I usually book directly with the airline or hotel so that I can make changes if need be. I may pay more but the peace of mind is worth it.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 11-09-2013, 08:18 AM
Status: "Wishing all the best of health and peace!" (set 1 day ago)
 
43,387 posts, read 44,106,416 times
Reputation: 20425
I also don't like booking way in advance and being in locked into plans so far in advance. I rather pay a bit more if necessary and do everything closer to my travel dates.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 11-09-2013, 08:20 AM
 
3,604 posts, read 7,875,079 times
Reputation: 9174
Typically I buy a couple of months ahead (not 6). When I have looked I have usually found that fares were unchanged or higher.

This is one of those cases where you just have to accept that you may not get the cheapest deal. If you try to get the cheapest price you may find things completely booked, and you get to stay home. Early bookers may get the more desirable hotels, and the aisle seats.

I have heard that there are websites that track air fares and give you an idea of when it is a favorable time to buy. I have never used them however.

Now with rental cars- you can cancel without penalty and rebook.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 11-09-2013, 10:37 AM
 
Location: Outer Space
1,523 posts, read 3,892,711 times
Reputation: 1816
No one has a crystal ball. With Southwest, you can exchange your tickets at anytime if the price drops.

Almost all of my flying is international and I have a kid to take with me. I buy about 2-4 months in advance and I've never found it goes down except for carriers I have completely written off like US Airways. I'd rather fly on a sleigh pulled by albatrosses then get back with them.

I tend to book other things around that time too like rental cars and hotels. The prices fluctuate with those so sometimes I am able to switch out and get better deals, sometimes not.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 11-09-2013, 11:03 AM
 
Location: Gorgeous Scotland
4,105 posts, read 5,531,174 times
Reputation: 3351
We usually book at least 6 months in advance and sometimes earlier than that. Our flights are always international. I MUST have an aisle seat on a plane or I go berserk.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 11-09-2013, 12:22 PM
 
18,073 posts, read 18,725,007 times
Reputation: 25191
I never book too far in advance, maybe a couple of weeks is the max.

Do not get upset by seeing the lower price, it happens, cannot predict it (seasonal predicting is as close as you can get), so no use thinking about it.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 11-09-2013, 05:59 PM
 
Location: Niceville, FL
13,258 posts, read 22,723,084 times
Reputation: 16414
Unless you've prepaid for the hotel, no reason why you can't cancel the reservation and rebook it.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 11-09-2013, 06:07 PM
 
Location: Tricity, PL
61,391 posts, read 86,312,362 times
Reputation: 131151
I got a very good deal only a week in advance for travel overseas. Just came back
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > General Forums > Travel
Similar Threads

All times are GMT -6.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top