We are flying on Delta to JFK in the near future. I just checked the ticket prices, and the fare for the exact same flights dropped from $877 to $647. Usually fares go up as the date approaches, but sometimes they’re trying to sell the seats. Possibly the fares have hit their peak.
We have nonrefundable tickets, but not basic economy. I was able to cancel our tickets with no cancellation fees (apparently most airlines ditched those ugly fees), and immediately rebook the same flights using the credits. I was also able to use a Delta companion pass (those are limited and tough to use), but had never tried using one at the last minute.
The gist of it is, now my husband has a $877 flight credit and I have a $230 one, for five minutes worth of effort. Definitely check if fares are going down, even if you already booked a flight, since you might be able to get a great credit for future flights!
As far as future travel goes, based on the nightmare we had last month with connecting flights, we are looking as destinations we can fly directly to. Luckily, living near Boston, there are lots of places that have direct flights from Boston. We have a trip to Scotland in two months that was booked a while ago, and the long-ish layovers that looked annoying when they were booked look like a nice cushion to have today.
This tip is for when you are on vacation in a hot weather climate. Freeze a few water bottles for your excursions. They will slowly thaw and provide cold water through much of the day, plus are very refreshing to hold against the back of your neck to cool off. And an emergency ice pack in case of injury!
We learned about this in China (all expenses paid business trip with husband). All of the water vendors had carts filled with frozen bottles.
Consider red-eye flights domestically. We got a really good deal recently for a transcontinental flight on business class. Just slightly more than economy class for a normal day flight.
I appreciate that’s somewhat an apples to oranges comparison. However, a red-eye flight, particularly on the outbound flight, has the advantage of letting you sleep on the plane and arrive in your destination with a full day.
For hotels, go with loyalty programs (up to a point). During our recent college visits to the East Coast, we had several hotel stays where we needed to arrive very early (e.g., 9 am) or depart quite late(e.g., 2-4 pm). The loyalty program gave us that flexibility.
Speaking of loyalty programs, if you know you are going to have a ton of hotel stays like we have had this year, it might pay to buy points. Oftentimes, the points purchase price for a hotel stay is much cheaper than the cash purchase price. I got lucky as I received double points for a points purchase made last year.
On car rentals, book early. And don’t be afraid to have multiple cancellable bookings, but just make sure you cancel! Check to see if you get any special discounts for prepaying for the car. Just a few days before our trip began, I prepaid using a credit card with special perks and got a significant discount on the rental car.
Consider also one-way car rentals and flights arriving and departing out of different cities if that is more convenient. If you book early enough, there is no significant difference than arriving/departing out of the same city for flights and car rental. This makes a lot of sense for college trips over a wide geographic area, as you don’t have to drive back to your arrival city to catch your flight back home.
Wanted to add to the “one way rental” option. We found that SOME agencies do not charge a one-way premium, if the car is booked and returned within a certain radius. Parking the car near the airport or with a stay/fly option can still add considerable expense for longer durations.
Pre-Covid, we found Budget would allow us to rent one-way TO an airport for about the same cost as an Uber ride. It allowed us to pick the car up the day before the flight, and leave on our own terms, and times. Great for early morning flights. It wasn’t worth it on the way FROM an airport though because there were extra taxes added to the rentals.
We only tried this once post-Covid, and the terms and pricing were similar, but the local rental lot had only one very large car left on our pick-up day. Had they been out of cars, we would have had to go back to Uber/Lyft or friends. At least we would know that a day in advance, however.
We put nearly 2500 miles on the rental car this month, picking up and dropping off the car at different places 1200 miles apart. We didn’t have a surcharge for the one-way rental.
It bears looking into as terms and conditions vary. We have done multiple one-way rentals this year and have not seen a one-way surcharge (although it may have been built into the basic rental price).
I used to work outdoors a lot and I took frozen bottles of water to the field every day!
I’m surprised at the Chinese doing that though. When we were in China with our young children, our guide scolded us for buying popsicles for our girls to help with the heat. She said it wasn’t healthy for them to eat cold things. I kept doing it anyway.
Just because I few people were confused or concerned about Canada entry via car….
We crossed the border yesterday via car handed our passports to the agent and that was all he asked for. Asked the usual questions about where do you live, where are you going, for how long, do you have alcohol or firearms and that was about it. Assuming when he scanned our passports he could see our ArriveCan info.
Really was no different experience than the numerous times we have crossed. (Crossing via Blue Water Bridge, Port Huron)
Check in online starting 24 hours before the flight. Then you don’t even need to check in at the gate, you’ll just go through TSA and can board (when you check in online you’ll have your seats confirmed and your boarding pass in your app ready to go). I always check in the day before for both international and domestic flights - it’s so easy and I enjoy knowing the day before that I’m confirmed.
(I also suggest taking a screenshot of your pass; you never know if the internet might be down somewhere, but you can always pull up your screenshot!)
DO NOT click this link unless you want targeted ads!
I was influenced and bought the cadence travel containers. These things are great. Little spill proof containers that have magnets. They click together. I want to buy another set
Anyone have these sorel waterproof sneakers?
I don’t have any waterproof shoes that I can walk miles in. But they need to be really comfortable. I do have boots but am thinking a pair of sneakers would be nice.
Seems like we (not me, but the collective CC we) have lots of travel planned for the fall. Hoping you can share your best packing tips and suggestions
Not magnetic but super handy are the tiny clear paint pots over in the arts and crafts section of walmart or the dollar store. Come in two sizes, the caps are tight snap so don’t leak if you do put lotion or cream in them. I use them for small pill bottles–also good to put a chain necklace in. Super cheap. Also the jewelry craft section at Walmart has some cheap twist cap containers–leak proof also.
TIP - for my containers w/o labels:
blue=shampoo (rhymes) Clear = Conditioner
@deb922 - Based on a recommendation for a FB travel page (I think for Amsterdam), I bought Kiwi waterproof spray at Walmart. The post said it was $5, but cost was $8.96. I sprayed my sneakers yesterday. will let you know how it goes in a few weeks. They are some older dark grey running shoes I have, with new SuperFeet inner soles.
I sprayed some leather booties with it 2x (especially where the sole meets the leather) before a winter trip to London. Worked like magic. I made sure to let them dry outside before spraying the second coat.
Thanks! Just added a 2nd coat to my running shoes, especially where fabric meets the sole. My husband questioned my wisdom spraying over the breathable fabric, but it’s an autumn trip… and this pair will become my “wet conditions” demoted running shoes once back home.
I make a point to pack a comfy pair of black knit leggings/joggers and a T as “lounge clothes”. Something really comfy for relaxing in a hotel room but also decent enough to run out for coffee (I’m usually the first one awake) or sit in the hotel lobby. It’s also great if you are sharing a house with people and don’t want to walk around in pajamas first thing in the AM before a shower.