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INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL & CRUISES
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL & CRUISES MONEY SAVING TIPS
Considerable challenges can be faced during international travel, including how to travel in the most economical manner. Since all countries are different from the United States when it comes to travel, with some being very different, how to save money while traveling varies greatly by country. Many of the money saving tips set forth in the “Travel” section regarding saving on air fares, rental cars, and even hotels and dining can be employed when arranging your international trip, as well as during your trip, to great effect. However, when it comes to international travel, some additional tips can be helpful.
1. The first step in international travel is to have an up-
2. Compared to domestic travel, international air travel is more often arranged by purchasing a vacation package, which often includes air travel, as well as other transportation, accommodations, and many of your meals. While this makes a great deal of sense for destinations that are very dissimilar to the Untied States, for other destinations such as Canada, Western Europe, and many large international cities, travel arrangements can be made on an “ala carte” basis, with considerable savings possible.
a. You can find and separately book flights, rental cars and other forms of transportation,
and hotels with just as much ease over the Internet for international travel, as
is possible with domestic travel. You can even find independent (non-
b. When looking for international flights, make sure to investigate international
airlines, in addition to scheduled flights by United States airlines. Many large
international airlines fly scheduled flights to destinations outside the United States,
and should be shopped when looking for low fares. Also, there may be one or more
smaller international airlines that also schedule flights to foreign cities. Most
of these airlines are high quality and you may be able to find bargain fares. If
going to Europe, you may also want to consider flying to one of the European “gateway”
cities (i.e., London, Amsterdam or Frankfurt) for a cheaper fare, and then book
a seat on a low-
c. Charter companies and air consolidators also operate flights to international destinations. These flights may be sold individually, or as part of a vacation package. Charter companies generally book their flights through travel agents (either regular agents or Internet travel web sites) and group passengers going to the same destination. Because they do not have many of the expenses of scheduled airlines, and because they generally fly full (as compared to scheduled airlines that often do not sell all of their seats), fares can cost considerably less. This is particularly true during busy travel seasons. If you go with an established charter company, chances are that it will be a great flight. However, if the flight is canceled for any reason, the charter company may or may not be able to, or be required to, get you on another flight. And if you cannot make your flight, there may not be any refunds available. So, even with an established charter company (as with scheduled airlines), make sure you understand all their restrictions and policies. Also, there have been some horror stories of money being lost, and trips being ruined, by less than legitimate charter companies not supplying the flight they promised. So, although charter flights may be a very affordable way to fly, be careful you are dealing with a reputable and established operator.
3. Renting a car in a foreign country may or may not be a good idea, depending on the nature of the country, driving conditions and safety considerations. However, if you are comfortable driving in your country or countries of destination (such as Canada, Western Europe, Japan, etc.) renting a car is generally easy , particularly if rented at the airport. Many of the tips to get your best rental deal are included in the “Rental Cars” Section. However, insurance considerations for driving in a foreign country bear repeating, since insurance coverage in foreign countries can be somewhat “tricky.” When you plan on renting or driving a rental car outside the United States (even if the vehicle was rented within the United States), make sure you check to see what coverage for losses applies. Often, your own coverage from your auto policy or health policy may have many exceptions for international coverage. Coverage available from credit cards may also have significant exceptions. Make sure you check. And even if you purchase coverage from the rental car company, make sure it will still be good if you drive in another country (even if they allow you to drive the car in another country). For instance, coverage purchased from a rental company on a car rented in Arizona, may not be in effect if the car is driven in Mexico. Or coverage purchased on a car rented in Germany may not be any good if the car is driven in Poland. Make sure you check so you do not have any surprises.
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