Planning a trip is sometimes one of the most stressful things we do, and because of this, we tend to leave it to the last second and cram everything into the last few days, grabbing any accommodation, flights and packages that are still available. However, if you choose to be smart about it, you can easily make planning your trip one of the most fun and exciting events next to the traveling itself.
1.Sometimes you won’t find your favorite or most convenient airlines on consolidation websites that promise to give you the best rates by comparing every available option. Some airlines and hotels don’t list their prices with these vendors, so if you’re in doubt, visit the airline’s website directly. That way you will be able to see what they have available, how much you’re paying compared to what you found on the vendor site, and you might also get a great package deal or discount for booking directly with the airline itself.
2.Don't book a cruise on any of these consolidation websites either. A travel agent specializing in cruises is always a better option because they will have formed a relationship with the cruise line, and could potentially get you a much better rate. They can also score you deals on the cruise ship itself as well as shore excursions. Since there are also a lot of aspects that go into getting to the port, such as flights and transfers to and from the ship itself, a travel agent will be able to help you manage all of this, and if something goes wrong, they will be able to help you fix it.
3.Beware of hotels or airlines that are labeled as ‘top picks’ in the search results if you do choose to use a consolidation site or vendor. These ‘top picks’ aren't necessarily the best quality or best value for money. They could be a business partner or sponsor of the vendor site, and therefore could be populated at the very top of the results because of an agreement as a partner.
4.Transfers at the airport can be tricky. if you've got to take a connected flight, it is important to know exactly where you need to go, how long you have to get there, and all the obstacles that might stop you from getting there in time. if your flight is delayed, it may cause you to miss your connected flight, so you’ll need to know who to deal with these situations. Try get a connected flight that is at least an hour or two after you’re supposed to land. It is much easier to wait for a while to catch your flight than have to scramble to get onto a different one.
5.When booking your holiday, or even planning a local trip, try to make a checklist of things that need to be done before you start. Start at the top of the list as early as you can and work your way down, then when you've crossed everything off the list, work your way back up to double check that you've done it properly. This way you can keep track of how much you still have left to do, what can be left out if necessary, and how much time you have to schedule your flights and accommodation bookings of you haven’t done so by the last week of your planning.
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