Travel Smarter, Save More: Avoid Costly Mistakes!

Are you over paying for essential Travel – Hotel Rooms, Flights, Rental Cars, Dining? Las Vegas offers great opportunities for family fun, but the price tag for this fun can be substantially reduced by following very simple and easy-to-remember tips.

Here is what you will find below organized by essential travel service:

• Hotel Tips
• Airline Tips
• Car rental tips
• Food, Shows, and Adventures

• Part One is very wordy and detailed explanation of travel advice
• Part Two is concise easier-to-read advice with bullet points

Part One is the explanation, and part Two is easy to reference bullet points

*** PART 1 – The Details ***

Lets begin planning to save more and avoid costly mistakes…

While I am a Traveler with many years of knowledge this does not mean I know everything…but I do have a lot of collective knowledge to share with you. This should at the very least serve as a solid guide for you as you plan your Las Vegas Travel Itinerary. After all every dollar saved is a dollar you can spend on more fun later.

As you read this information, please keep in mind that I am not a booking agency I have nothing to sell you. This is just advice, based on years and years of travel and personal experience. This is a personal blog not incentivized by attempts to get you to make a purchase.

Most people overpay for everything when they get in a rush or simply do not know the “lay of the land” (Lack of Travel Experience). Who has the time to track down every deal? You may be surprised to find out that YOU DO… it does not take that much time if you have a PLAN and an OUTLINE of what to look out for and the kinds of things you need to remember as you research and plan you trip. These tips and tricks (They are less tricks than just common sense reminders) will help you FOCUS and stay on task while you plan. This list is not exclusive to Las Vegas Travel, but can be used all the time for any trip to any place.

So how do you get the best Las Vegas travel deals for your specific needs?

Here is how…

ALWAYS USE A CASH BACK OR REWARDS CREDIT CARD

As a person who travels a lot less now than in the past perhaps two weeks per year I find that just getting the very best cash back credit card seems to work best for me and I know I’m going to get a certain return on my investment and I know I’m not gonna have to worry about how are use the points or if they are going to expire. However, if you’re a person that’s going to travel more than 30 days a year it may be to your benefit to look into getting a specific credit card that’s either tied to the hotel chain that you prefer, or tied to an airline that you fly frequently. BE SURE TO READ THE FINE PRINT. SOME REWARDS CARDS HAVE VERY HIGH ANNUAL FEES. THEY OFFER YOU A LOT OF POINTS TO SIGN UP BUT THEN BURIED IN THE FINE PRINT ARE THE FEES THEY DO NOT OTHERWISE MENTION.

Most people have 2 or more credit cards… be sure you are using the card that offers you the best deal for you. Always use cash back credit card, or a rewards card and never a debit card. There is another advantage that people often overlook when using a credit card; a lot of credit cards include insurance coverage for rental cars. It just depends on the card you have, but almost always you’re going to get insurance coverage with a good credit card program so that you don’t have to overpay for the car rental that you’re going to get anyway.

COMMIT TO A BRAND STRATEGY

Building a relationship with a Hotel, Rental Car, or Airline Brand can really pay off not only in cost savings but in peace of mind and additional benefits like potential room upgrades and special offer. If your preferred brand offers an email newsletter sign up for it. If you have the time and can find a Travel Forum or Reddit Group related to your Brand Join it. For example here is the Hilton Hotels sub-Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/Hilton/). You do not have to join Reddit to read this information, but if you do you can get email updates.

In some cases you may be visiting a town or city that does not have your preferred Hotel Brand or your preferred Airline does not fly to that city you may not be able to find an opportunity to build points with your preferred vendor. For example; Hyatt does not have a lot of properties (Less than 800 properties in the USA) while Hilton has (Approximately 5,800), Marriott (Approximately 8,700), IHG (Approximately 3,800) and Choice Hotels ( Approximately 7,500).

There is also a good chance the Hyatt House you really want to book is already fully booked (A good reason to book early) or just too far away from where you want to play. So it’s a good idea to go ahead and sign up for all of them. EXPERT TIP: Go to Proton Mail https://proton.me) and get a free email account to use for all your Travel Bookings. (I am not paid to recommend them, I have used them for years and they are much better than Gmail! Plus you get a lot of storage space for free and they are fully encrypted on both ends (Based in Switzerland).

You do not need to worry about others reading your emails or unwanted advertising. have personally signed up for at least five different hotel rewards programs, although I use generally just one or two hotel chains. I have joined the other programs because you’re always going to get a better rate if you log on and book directly from your account then if you just logon as a guest and pay whatever the prices they’re asking.

WATCH OUT FOR SMASH AND GRAB – SECURITY MATTERS!!!

Fortunately, most areas of Las Vegas are quite safe especially in the “Strip” Hotels where the higher end parking lots have security and there are security cameras everywhere. However this does not mean you won’t become a victim of a smash and grab. Common sense say to never leave any visible items in your car.

As you read on further down the page you’ll see a suggestion to use Google maps and Google satellite. One of the reasons I do this is I like to see how hard it would be for the bad guys to drive into the property, smash my car windows, and then drive away without being seen or without enough time for somebody in the security patrol to be able to quickly react. It’s a sad reflection upon our society today that one must worry about this.potential reality.

If your vehicle has an out of state license plate you become an easy target because thieves know you will be leaving soon and not follow up with law enforcement if victimized. Most Hotel chains put the entire security burden on you. They just tell you to call your insurer.

There are often cases where I am reading the reviews on a particular hotel property and I’ll come across a person who’s had their car broken into. Criminals often work in small groups and they’ll hit a parking lot and will smash and grab 10 cars in a row very quickly then just drive away because they know the police cannot respond quick enough to get to them.

It only takes a criminal a few minutes to cause a lot of damage to your vehicle and grab your personal belongings. I always try to book hotels that are in nicer part of town and further away from the major highways and roadways. Ideally, you’re going to be best off for security reasons parking in a secure garage especially if they have a valet parking service.

BOOK DIRECT AVOID CONSOLIDATORS (YOU’LL THANK ME LATER)

Avoid booking through consolidators like Expedia hotels.com or Booking.com. Instead just use them to take advantage of how easy they are to do a quick comparison on pricing. Remember the reviews on these consolidator sites are highly censored to remove negative comments thus reflecting inaccurate levels of praise on some poorly run properties.

Expedia & Hotels.com (Same Parent company) and nearly all of the other consolidator programs (Trip Advisor, Booking.com, Kayak) offering points programs offer less value than just joining the major hotel programs. Keep in mind many of the hotels will not take the rewards points on certain days or specific locations.

The Hotel Business is confusing as the company may not actually own the property instead leasing the name (Brand) to an independent owner who is a franchisee. You may also run into event dates where the demand for rooms is so great they simply avoid taking points on those days. So choose whatever hotel you like and then try to stick with that hotel, so that you’re cute enough points to be able to use them in the future.

Another potential problem if you choose a booking consolidator like Expedia is you can show up and find that your room has been given to somebody else! When Hotels get really busy they will often and bump people who chose consolidator bookings because they are going to make more money off the person that does so you could end up without her room and no other place to stay.

If you book through a 3rd party you must deal with their customer service. Imagine how much fun that is when you are already at the property, its late and you are talking to a call center person in India. You may also have a smaller window to check inor out. I encountered a situation where I needed to use up some accumulated points from a VRBO Rental (Not recommended) at a Hotel I had just stayed at a month prior and my checkout time was 10:AM not the standard 11:00 AM time afforded to those who booked direct.

CALL THE HOTEL DIRECT

Make sure you ask if you have the front desk of the hotel or if you are talking to someone in a call center. The person in the call center will nearly always charge a HIGHER RATE than the person at the front desk. but NOT ALL FRONT DESK PEOPLE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO RESERVE ROOMS! And you should NEVER give a front desk person your Credit Card Number. All they need to do is make the reservation. You pay when you show up.

If you are a member of the Hotel’s Rewards program and give them your program number this is a lot easier. The great thing about talking to the front desk is you can ask for accommodations or a specific room or floor within the Hotel. You can ask about local restaurants or events, You will want to call in “off hours”. If you call between 3pm and 7pm when most people are checking in they may not answer the phone because they are too busy.

So to summarize YES can sometimes get a better rate by just calling the hotel, direct and talking to the person at the front desk because they can actually look up the amount of people that are booking at any given time.

ADS ARE YOUR FRIEND BEING “AD BLIND” COULD COST YOU

Don’t be add blind – sure we all hate pop-ups but this is not the time to ignore advertisements. All of the major players (Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, Choice, etc.), advertise. Most of the majors also have their own pages right on their site explaining their current offers.

THE TRUTH ABOUT 3RD PARTY MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNT RATES

The truth about discounts races Is they’re generally 10% and it doesn’t matter if you’re a Senior, if you’re an AAA member, if you’re a AARP member the rate is basically the same for all groups. Occasionally there will be a better deal for Military and First Responder so do check those rates out. But the hotels own program will be just as good and nearly always just a bit better… plus it is a lot less hassle you do not need to show your membership card and can do electronic check in if you like.

BOOK IN ADVANCE BUT WATCH OUT FOR NON-REFUNDABLE RATES

Generally, when you book, at least a couple of weeks in advance, you’re going to get a better rate then you would if you wait until it comes time to leave and go on your trip that just makes common sense. However, there’s some caveats with booking in advance you don’t always get the best rate because sometimes if the hotel has low occupancy, they’re going to offer a better rate as you’re getting closer to your arrival date. There’s no reason not to book in advance as long as you choose a refundable rate.

You got to be very careful to read the fine print and make sure that your rate is in fact, refundable. Otherwise you could get yourself into a real situation where it be very difficult to get your money back. Another advantage of booking in advance as you can keep checking the website and if you find a lower rate, you can just cancel your reservation and re-book. A lot of people will do this and it’s a great way to save money depending on the time of year are the events that are going on in the location where you’re going to be traveling.

USE GOOGLE MAPS

Use Google maps before I travel to any location that I have not been for a long time or ever. I will always open the address for the particular property in Google maps then after I’ve got the property open, I’ll go ahead and take advantage of the reviews and make sure that it’s actually a good property one Hampton Inn in one sitting may be great maybe just horrible in another location is important when you’re reading the reviews to keep an open mind some people are like to talk a lot about the service and it’s really hard to judge the service most overall in this year the person is actually receiving it. Some people are so easily offended, and some people are affected by nothing nothing.

After I have located the location that I think I want on the Google maps I will look and see what surrounding it is it close to the restaurants and activities that I want to visit if it isn’t then I’m probably going to go ahead and pass because you’re always so much of your vacation time and spend so much extra money traveling around the places you want to go so there’s a lot of money to be saved by locating close to where you actually want to be. Also, it’s a good idea while you’ve got the map open to go ahead and look at the satellite view take a look at the surroundings in real time.

Google has another product which is called Google Earth and you can use Google Earth similar to the satellite pictures to do an actual flyover of many of the places that you’re going to be visiting and see what it actually looks like or you can use the street view and then you can like drive up and down the streets with your cursor and see what the property looks like. Sometimes these pictures are a little bit dated back off and give you a real feel for the neighborhood to make sure that it’s a place that you and your family really want to be.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BOOKING CALENDARS

A booking calendar is just a Hotel or Consolidator website that shows a Calendar of available dates with the estimated price you would need to pay to reserve a room on that date. They are very common and super easy to use… a great guide. They are also nearly always color coded so it’s easy to see which dates offer the best deals.

Take advantage of the hotel booking date calendars that will show you how much each night will cost on average. Then try to book your stay on the days that cost the least amount of money. Although, I never actually book with a consolidator like Hotels.com or booking.com I will often go to Google and type in the address of the Hotel I am interested in, and many different consolidators will pop up with rate information. This is why I especially like Google Maps because they just cut through all the fluff making it easier to compare basic rates faster.

Once you have an idea of expected rates by date you can more easily plan your trip. If you have AAA, AARP or are a Senior or Veteran or even some kind of promotional coupon code that you’ve download the “Member Rate” offered by the Hotel is most often your best deal. Note about the promotional sites sites like Groupon: Most of these offers are expired or simply do not work. You will often see “Coupon not needed” and when you click on the link the site opens. These are scam links that offer you nothing but they will insert the sites affiliate code into the Hotels site so they will be paid a commission when you book.

These unethical tricks only serve to make rooms cost more for all of us. They will usually block your back ,button so you have to start your search over in a new Browser Tab. Your mileage may vary but in my entire Travel Life I have only been able to get one $5 discount ever. Total waste of time.

CORPORATE AND PRIVATE CODES

Another problem is most Hotel sites make it difficult to find the field where you input your promotional code if you have one to try. But you will need o find the field if the Hotel sends you one by email or regular mail. You will also need this information if you have a “Corporatec Code” provided by your employer. Finally there are friends and family rate codes for people that work for the Hotel companies and their families. Discounts for friends and family can be significant. These special codes will require you o provide “Proof” of legitimacy upon arrival and check-in.

DOUBLE UP WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO SAVE

Double up you’ll always save money if you can share the expenses with your friends or family so if you’re going to book a hotel, and you’re traveling with other people, it just makes sense to book a room that has multiple capacity like two level bags instead of one king bed, and then split the expenses. It’s the easiest way to save the most money.

Here is the condensed version of all the detailed Tips explained above. Please use this as your quick check list as yo plan your adventure.

*** PART 2 – The Summary Outlines ***

Travel Hacks: Mastering the Art of Saving Money

Traveling doesn’t have to break the bank! Savvy travelers utilize a treasure trove of tricks to consistently save significant amounts on flights, hotels, and car rentals. Here’s a breakdown of the key strategies:

• Maximize Rewards and Credit Cards: Leverage credit cards: Consider using a cash back or travel rewards credit card to earn points or miles on your travel expenses. These can be redeemed for future trips, effectively reducing your costs.
  Unlock hidden benefits: Many credit cards offer travel insurance for car rentals, flights, and even trip cancellations. Utilize these perks to avoid additional costs.
• Be Brand Loyal (When Possible): Loyalty programs: Joining a hotel loyalty program allows you to accumulate points towards free nights, room upgrades, and other benefits. If you frequently visit the same brand, loyalty can pay off handsomely.
  Flexibility matters: While brand loyalty offers advantages, prioritize flexibility when options are limited in certain locations. You might miss out on rewards, but securing a convenient hotel is essential.
• Book Smart, Not Fast: Ditch the middleman: Avoid booking through online consolidators like Expedia or Booking.com. While convenient for comparisons, their rewards are often minimal, and direct booking often offers better deals.
  Call the hotel directly: Inquire about rates directly with the hotel. You might score a better deal, especially during off-peak times.
• Embrace online ads: Though annoying, targeted hotel ads can reveal exclusive promotions. Don’t blindly dismiss them; they might offer surprising discounts.
• Debunk Rate Myths: Discounts: Not the holy grail: Understand that advertised discounts are often around 10%, regardless of your affiliation (AAA, AARP, Senior citizen).
• Book in advance: cautiously: While booking early often leads to better rates, hotels might offer last-minute deals to fill vacancies. Consider refundable rates to adjust if a better deal emerges.
• Utilize Online Tools: Google Maps: Your travel companion: Use Google Maps to explore potential hotels, read reviews, and assess their proximity to desired locations.
• Booking calendars for price insights: Hotel booking calendars show average daily rates. Choose dates with lower average costs to save significantly. Research, then book directly: While not recommended for booking, online consolidators can be used for quick price comparisons. However, always book directly with the hotel after narrowing down your choices.

Bonus Tip: Share the Experience, Share the Cost- Traveling with friends or family presents an opportunity to split accommodation costs. Opt for rooms with multiple beds and share expenses for a more economical experience.
Remember, mastering these travel hacks requires research, planning, and flexibility. By adopting these strategies, you can embark on memorable journeys without breaking the bank!

Top Tips for Scoring the Best Hotel Rates:

• Be flexible with your travel dates: Consider traveling during the week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and shoulder seasons (periods between peak and off-seasons) to potentially find lower rates compared to weekends and peak travel times.
• Compare prices across multiple platforms: Utilize hotel booking websites like Booking.com, Expedia, and Kayak, along with individual hotel websites, to compare rates and find the best deal. Don’t forget to check for any special offers or promotions directly on the hotel’s website. Then ALWAYS book direct.
• Consider alternative accommodation options: Explore options like hostels, vacation rentals (through platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo), or boutique hotels, which can be significantly cheaper than traditional hotels, especially in popular tourist destinations. If you book an Airbnb or similar watch out for cleaning fees and non-refundable deposits
• Join hotel loyalty programs: Signing up for free loyalty programs with hotel chains you frequent can unlock benefits like discounts, free nights, and room upgrades.
• Look for hidden deals: Explore “last-minute deals” offered by hotels and booking websites. These rates can be significantly discounted, especially for unsold rooms closer to the travel date. However, be prepared for limited availability and less flexibility in choosing specific room types or locations.

NOTE: Some of the above may seem contradictory to what I said earlier about booking direct. While booking direct has always saved me the most money overall there are still “Experts” w;ho will suggest using consolidators. Your mileage may vary… ultimately I am only speaking from my own experiences. I have found the fees on Airbnb and VRBO to be excessive most of the teim and the properties can be disappointing. Much harder to get out of an Aibnb than to switch hotels. And yes I have used these extended stay type of extended stay private residences in the past. Sometimes they work out great, other times you will wish you would have just booked a hotel.

Bonus Tips:

• Book directly with the hotel (sometimes): While booking platforms often offer competitive rates, some hotels might provide exclusive discounts or packages when booking directly through their website.
• Negotiate your rate: Especially for extended stays or off-season bookings, consider politely negotiating the rate with the hotel directly.
• Sign up for email alerts: Subscribe to email lists of your preferred hotels and travel websites to receive notifications about special offers, flash sales, and loyalty program promotions.
• Utilize credit card rewards: Consider using travel points or rewards offered by your credit card to pay for your hotel stay, potentially saving you significant money.
• Read reviews and compare amenities: Don’t solely focus on the price. Read guest reviews and compare amenities offered by different hotels within your budget range to ensure you’re getting the best value for your money.

Top Tips for Scoring the Best Airline Rates:

• Be flexible with your travel dates and times: Consider flying on weekdays (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and during off-peak hours, as they tend to be less expensive than weekends and peak travel times.
• Use flight comparison tools: Utilize websites like Google Flights, Kayak, or Skyscanner to compare prices across multiple airlines and travel dates. These tools also offer features like “price tracking” to notify you of price fluctuations for your desired route.
• Consider alternative airports: Explore flying into smaller airports near your destination, which can sometimes offer cheaper fares compared to major hubs. Factor in any additional costs like transportation to your final destination
• Sign up for email alerts: Subscribe to email alerts from your preferred airlines and travel websites to receive notifications about special deals, flash sales, and last-minute offers.
• Be mindful of baggage fees: Check baggage allowance and fees included in your ticket price. Consider packing light or utilizing checked baggage strategically to avoid additional costs.

Bonus Tips:

• Clear your browsing history and cookies: Airlines and travel websites may use cookies to track your searches and potentially raise prices if you revisit the same route multiple times. Consider clearing your browsing data or using an incognito window when searching for flights.
• Explore discount airlines: While offering fewer amenities, budget airlines like Spirit Airlines or Frontier can provide significantly cheaper fares, especially for domestic flights. Weigh the cost savings against potential drawbacks like baggage fees and limited legroom.
• Be open to layovers and stopovers: Consider flights with layovers or stopovers, which can sometimes be cheaper than direct flights. Layovers involve a short wait in a connecting city, while stopovers allow you to stay in a connecting city for a longer period, essentially turning your trip into a multi-city adventure.
• Track historical prices: Utilize tools like Google Flights’ “price history” feature to understand the typical price range for your desired flight route. This knowledge can help you determine if the current price is a good deal or if you should wait for a potential drop.
• Book in advance (sometimes): While not always the case, booking domestic flights 1-3 months in advance and international flights 2-8 months in advance can sometimes offer better rates compared to last-minute bookings. However, this strategy is not foolproof, and prices can fluctuate depending on various factors.

Top Tips for Scoring the Best Car Rental Rates:

• Be flexible with your pick-up and drop-off locations: Renting from an off-airport location can save you significant money on airport concession fees and surcharges. Consider taking a taxi or ride-sharing service to a nearby rental agency instead.
• Book in advance, but not too early: Prices can fluctuate based on demand, so booking too far in advance might not guarantee the best deal. Aim to book a few weeks before your trip, especially during peak seasons.
• Compare prices across multiple platforms: Don’t just stick to the big-name rental companies. Use car rental aggregator websites like Kayak or Priceline to compare rates from various providers, including smaller local agencies. Once done go back to the Rental Company then book direct.
• Consider alternative car rental options: Explore car-sharing platforms like Turo or Zipcar, which can offer competitive rates, especially for shorter rentals within your city.
• Be mindful of add-ons and insurance: While rental company insurance can be convenient, it’s often expensive. Check if your personal car insurance or credit card coverage extends to rentals to avoid unnecessary fees.
  Bonus Tips:
• Join loyalty programs: Membership in loyalty programs of major rental companies can unlock discounts and other perks, including free upgrades.
• Look for discount codes and promotions: Many companies offer discounts through memberships like AAA or employer partnerships. Check their websites or social media for ongoing promotions.
• Choose the right size car: Don’t pay for a larger vehicle than you need. Opting for a smaller, fuel-efficient car can save you money on both the rental rate and gas mileage.
• Pay attention to fuel policies: Some companies offer “prepaid fuel” options, which can be convenient but may not always be the most cost-effective. Choose the option that best suits your driving habits and fuel prices at your destination.
  Read the fine print: Before booking, thoroughly review the rental agreement, including any additional fees or restrictions, to avoid hidden costs and surprises at pick-up.

Tips for Dining, Entertainment, and Adventure

• Go local: Venture beyond tourist traps and explore local markets, cafes, and restaurants. These often offer authentic experiences and lower prices.
• Embrace lunch: Many restaurants offer special lunch menus with lower prices than dinner.
• Utilize daily deals and apps: Check out apps like Groupon, Eat24, or local restaurant websites for daily deals, coupons, or happy hour specials.
• Consider cooking in: If your accommodation has a kitchen, explore grocery stores or local markets for fresh ingredients and prepare meals yourself.
• 
  Entertainment:
• Seek free or discounted options: Look for free outdoor concerts, festivals, museums with free admission days, or explore historical landmarks that don’t require entrance fees.
• Plan your entertainment: Research “city passes” or discount bundles that offer combined entry to multiple attractions at a lower cost.
• Consider off-peak times: Attending shows or visiting attractions during weekdays or off-peak hours can be significantly cheaper than peak times.
• Look for student/senior discounts: Many museums, theaters, and entertainment venues offer discounted rates for students and seniors.
• Tours and Adventures:
• Book directly with local operators: This can often be cheaper than booking through large tour companies and allows you to support local businesses.
• Consider group tours: Joining a group tour can be significantly cheaper than a private tour, especially for smaller groups.
  Research and compare prices: Don’t jump on the first offer. Compare prices and services offered by different tour companies before booking.
• Look for seasonal or promotional offers: Many companies offer discounted rates during the off-season or run special promotions.
• Be flexible with your schedule: If you’re flexible with your dates, you might be able to find better deals on tours and activities.
• 
  Bonus Tips:
• Negotiate (respectfully): Especially in local markets or with smaller tour operators, politely inquire about potential discounts, especially for last-minute bookings or if you’re traveling during the off-season.
• Talk to locals: Ask locals for recommendations on hidden gems, budget-friendly restaurants, or free/discounted activities they enjoy.
• Utilize travel blogs and forums: Many travel blogs and forums share local insights and tips on finding good deals and hidden gems.

Remember, a little planning and research can go a long way in unlocking savings and ensuring you experience the best your destination has to offer without breaking the bank.