| How
to score those winter travel deals | | |
| And, "because it isn't a
tourist destination for American tourists with dollars, it's actually cheaper
than some of the resorts in Mexico," Hasbrouck says. It's a "great world
city, two hours by air from Dallas," he says. And "it's virtually unknown
to American tourists."
Shop your age
Good
news for travelers over 50: You might be entitled to some extra savings. Get an
AARP card (anyone 50+ can apply) and you can often score additional discounts
on hotel, rail and rental car rates. In addition, you'll also have access to some
specially priced trips and tours. Start at elderhostel.org.
It's a good resource for travel deals, particularly on domestic trips, says Joan
Rattner Heilman, author of "Unbelievably
Good Deals and Great Adventures That You Absolutely Can't Get Unless You're Over
50." While airfare is not included, meals and lodging
are, she says. Trips frequently center on hands-on educational opportunities,
and lodging may be in the form of dorms, inns, hotels or conference centers, says
Heilman. So whether you want to spend a week learning about the flora and fauna
of the Rio Grande or traveling through Cajun country, if you have a sense of adventure
this is another good travel tool. Visit the Web site or call 877-426-8056. Or
if you want to visit warmer climes, check Grand
Circle Travel, a Boston-based firm that caters to tours for the 50-and-above
set. They recently posted two weeks in Eastern Europe starting in February (round-trip
from Boston, Newark or New York) for $1,595, says Heilman. Visit the Web site
or call 800-248-3737. Timing is everything
A
rule of thumb: "When it comes to international airfare, perhaps the two best
dates are the week after Thanksgiving and the week after New Year," says
Greenberg. Except for places like Hawaii and the Caribbean,
"typically, this is low season for many places," says Hasbrouck.
One warning: schedules aren't guaranteed.
"People who are snapping up bargains
should realize that airline schedules are usually
subject to change," he says.
That means while there are bargains to be had, the
airline might change the time or even the day of departure, says Hasbrouck. So
if you're taking a trip where timing is critical, like meeting a tour or cruise
ship, don't cut it too close. And if the new airline times
don't fit your plans, ask for a refund and book something else. "Most people
don't realize they can ask in the case of unexpected schedule changes -- even
if [the ticket] was complete unrefundable," Hasbrouck says. To
protect yourself financially from airlines that are here today, and maybe gone
tomorrow, don't book departure dates more than 60 days out and use your credit
card, says Greenberg.
If you really want a bargain, try
to be flexible about when you leave and how long
you might stay, says Hasbrouck. "There's always
some tension between having a short and fixed vacation,
and trying to get a good deal."
Dana
Dratch is a freelance writer based in Atlanta. | 
