Maximize your travel budget

Traveling on a budget doesn’t mean you have to compromise on comfortable accommodations and decent flight times. In fact, experienced travelers already know how to maximize their travel budget and take advantage of low prices on travel packages, airline tickets and other travel-related expenses. Planning ahead will usually give you the upper hand when it comes to playing the vacation-booking game, and there are several tricks and tactics you can use to slash those costs even further.
按照預算旅行并不意味著舒適的住宿和理想的航班時間就必須讓步。實際上，有經驗的旅行者已經知道充分利用旅行套餐、機票和其他旅行花費來最大化的利用自己的旅行預算。提前計劃往往能讓你做好一手準備，以應對假日預訂，下面有一些能讓你狠狠削減開支的小訣竅和小方法。

1.Fly to alternate airports

1.Fly to alternate airports
飛去備選機場

When you are heading to a major city or other hub with multiple airports, consider all your options. Flights to alternate airports can be slightly less expensive than flying into a larger, international airport in the same city. In some cases, you might also be closer to your final destination and can skirt traffic. Just make sure to calculate taxi fares from all airports before.
當你要前往某個大城市或是去有多個機場的城市中心時，你要考慮選擇所有可選擇的目的機場。同城的大型國際機場，通常比備選機場要稍微貴一點。有時候，飛備選機場可能離你的終點站會近一點，還能避開交通堵塞。只是在到達前要算一下從備選機場到你目的地的打的費。

2. Book and fly on the right day of the week

2. Book and fly on the right day of the week.
在每周對的日子里訂票和起飛

Shop for airfare on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, suggests Travelzoo’s Senior Editor Gabe Saglie. Most airlines publish their sale fares on Tuesday, which is when competition to match those fares begins each week. You’re also likely to find a better deal when you fly on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday.
來自Travelzoo’s期刊的高級旅游編輯Gabe Saglie建議，在周二和周三購買飛機票。大部分的航線在周二會發(fā)布折扣，就是在這個時間段開始每周的價格競爭。當你選周二、周三或周六有飛行的時候，你就可能有一個好的折扣價。

3.Book group travel with a rewards card

3.Book group travel with a rewards card.
用積分信用卡預訂團體游

Earn bonus miles when booking a group trip by paying for travel expenses using a travel rewards credit card. The best travel rewards card program will allow you to earn extra miles under your own account, and group members can pay you in cash for their portion of the trip.Buying airline tickets with a rewards credit card is a smart move, especially if you travel frequently and are planning to take another trip in the near future.
支付預訂團隊游的旅行費用時，刷旅行積分信用卡，就可以積攢消費積分換里程。?最棒的旅行獎勵積分卡項目這樣操作：團體游的其他成員用現(xiàn)金支付給你代刷的旅行費用，而你自己的積分卡賬戶下可以獲得額外的獎勵里程。用高額旅游信用卡購買飛機票是非常聰明的舉動，尤其是如果你出行很頻繁而且計劃在不遠的將來開始另一端旅程。

4. Plan ahead for holiday weekends.

4. Plan ahead for holiday weekends.
提早計劃節(jié)假日的周末游

Holiday weekends are among the priciest times to fly, so unless you’re heading to a destination specifically to celebrate the holiday, steer clear of those long weekend trips. The weekend before or after a major holiday usually commands lower rates and fares.
節(jié)假日的周末機票往往是最貴的。除非你要去的地方是有特別慶祝節(jié)日安排，如果不是則避開那些有公休假的周末旅行。在主要節(jié)假日前后一周，一般機票價格都會低些。

5. Seek out off-peak deals

5. Seek out off-peak deals.
尋找淡季折扣

Do your homework to find out which destinations are currently in their off-peak season. You’ll discover that many destinations around Europe have attractive package deals during the spring and early summer months. Traveling during the off-peak season could save you up to 50 percent or more on your entire vacation package.
仔細做旅游的攻略尋找出目前處在淡季的旅行景點。你會發(fā)現(xiàn)許多歐洲旅游點在春天和夏初幾個月都有很吸引人的旅游套餐價。淡季旅游能讓你節(jié)約50%的錢，甚至讓你的整個旅游套餐花費更少。

6. Keep your passport updated.

6. Keep your passport updated.
保持護照更新

Don’t wait until the last minute to update your passport information if it’s expired. The application process can take up to six weeks, and you’ll pay a set of fees for the service. If you’re an avid traveler, make sure your passport never gets too close to the expiry date before you request a renewal.
不要等到護照過期的最后時刻才去更新護照。護照更新的申請需要6周左右的時間，你需要為此付費。如果你是一個熱愛旅游的人，在你需要更新護照前，永遠都要確保離過期的時限不是太遠。

7. Subscribe to deal sites

7.Subscribe to deal sites.
折扣網站上訂購

Groupon Getaways, Travelzoo and LivingSocial Escapes are three major travel deal sites that will keep you in the know about the latest deals and discounts. You can also sign up for free, membership-only sites like Jetsetter to get exclusive, prenegotiated rates for many luxury hotels and travel packages throughout the country.
Groupon Getaways, Travelzoo 和 LivingSocial Escapes是三個主要的旅游折扣網站，它們會讓你知道最新的交易動態(tài)和折扣。你也能免費注冊，不過一些會員制的網站類似于Jetsetter（耶特塞特），能夠提供全美范圍的奢華酒店和旅行套餐的高級別議價。

8. Learn to pack properly.

8. Learn to pack properly.
學會打包行李

Overpacking can lead to extra checked baggage fees, so make sure you’re packing only what you need. If you’re planning an extended stay trip, get quotes from shipping service providers that will ship and pick up your items to your destination. In some cases, shipping your belongings instead of carrying them in a suitcase will be less expensive.
過多的行李會導致在檢查的時候收取行李費，因此要保證你帶的物品僅僅都是你需要的。如果你計劃一段很長久的旅行，從航運服務供應商那里搜集些航運報價，把你的東西航運到目的地。有時候，海運你的物品比把它們用旅行箱隨身攜帶要便宜一些。

9. Negotiate hotel rates.

9. Negotiate hotel rates.
洽淡酒店價格

If you can’t find a great deal on a hotel and flight package through a third-party travel site, call the hotel or resort directly and inquire about the best available deals. Sometimes the rates extended by the hotel are lower than those published online. Hotels may need to fill rooms at the last minute, and some will be open to negotiating a rate or package deal.
如果你通過第三方旅游網站沒有找到好價位的酒店和折扣多的機票套餐，你可以直接打電話給酒店或者旅游景點，詢問最優(yōu)惠的價格。有時候酒店的實際價格要比在網上公布的價格要低。酒店在最后時刻可能需要讓游客滿員入住，這時有飛酒店就會同意議價或者提供協(xié)議優(yōu)惠。

10. Research ground transportation options.[

10. Research ground transportation options.
研究地面交通方式

Don’t wait until you arrive at the airport to figure out how you are going to get to your hotel or resort. Research taxi service providers and rental car companies before you leave so you can negotiate a rate or book a great deal.
不要等到到了機場再去分辨如何坐車去酒店或者旅游景點。在你出發(fā)之前研究一下的士服務提供和租車公司，這樣你能同他們協(xié)商一下價格或者預定優(yōu)惠價格。

11. Look for freebies and deals at your final destination.

11. Look for freebies and deals at your final destination.
在你的目的地找免費消費和贈品

Search for free attractions, events and guided tours at venues throughout the town or city you’re visiting. Keeping activity costs low means you can spend more on a great meal and splurge on other travel expenses. You could also check the daily deal sites at the city you’re visiting to see what types of discounts are available for local activities, events and dining destinations. Consider buying a city pass or similar activity card that lets you visit several attractions for one low price.
在你旅游的鎮(zhèn)或城市，尋找免費的景點、活動和導游。保持日?；顒拥拖M意味著你能有更多的錢吃大餐和在其他旅游花費上揮霍。你也可以在當?shù)氐娜粘＝灰拙W址找找有什么當?shù)氐膬?yōu)惠活動或者折扣餐廳?？紤]買一張城市景點通行卡或者類似的優(yōu)惠卡，這能讓你用低價格參觀好多景點。