With the cost of ski full-day lift tickets reaching $100 at a handful of high-end resorts, frugal skiers and snowboarders are finding a number of ways to save. Here are nine simple tips to get free or cheap ski lift tickets: 1. Go online to find deeply discounted tickets. Know when and where … [Read more...] about 9 ways to get free or cheap ski lift tickets
Travel
Rent an RV for fall travel
Rent an RV for fall or holiday travel, as extra housing for family and guests, or as a spare office for working from home. And an RV adds a second kitchen - or more like a kitchenette - for holiday meals. In some parts of the country, fall is the perfect time to go camping. Campgrounds are less … [Read more...] about Rent an RV for fall travel
Tips for traveling with family and friends on a budget
Traveling with a family can be expensive, but the memories are priceless. Whether you are envisioning a relaxing trip to the beach, a thrilling amusement park visit, or exploring one of our great National Parks, there are ways to make a vacation fit your budget. With careful planning and great … [Read more...] about Tips for traveling with family and friends on a budget
Ready to travel again? What you need to know
If you're ready to travel again, the travel industry is ready for you. More than ready. But there are a few things you need to know about tourism's grand opening that might surprise you. After the COVID-19 outbreak shut down virtually the entire travel industry, the reopenings have been uneven … [Read more...] about Ready to travel again? What you need to know
How to set (and stick to) a vacation budget
For Kathy Lopez, it’s all about the spreadsheet. When she started planning a future trip to Europe with her friends, she put every expense into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to determine how much the month-long adventure would cost. “We’re going to save a lot of money and planning time on the … [Read more...] about How to set (and stick to) a vacation budget
How to insure future trips in case of a crisis
What if it happens again? What if coronavirus resurges this summer, just as you’re leaving for a well-deserved vacation? Or during the winter holidays? Many travelers are looking for ways to protect their next trip from another wave of the virus. One of them is Baron Hanson, who takes frequent … [Read more...] about How to insure future trips in case of a crisis
How to purchase travel insurance
Travel insurance is no longer optional. After hundreds of thousands of travelers lost deposits, nonrefundable tickets and activities because of the recent outbreak, it's more or less mandatory. But how do you buy travel insurance after this is over? "There are various coverages that could be … [Read more...] about How to purchase travel insurance
Try these expert negotiation strategies for refunding or rescheduling your vacation
Refund or reschedule? As the current crisis deepens, that’s the difficult choice many travelers face. And either way, they may need a few expert negotiation strategies to recoup the value of their canceled vacations. “At this point, everything is negotiable,” says Casey Halloran, chief executive … [Read more...] about Try these expert negotiation strategies for refunding or rescheduling your vacation
Travel deals: It’s a buyer’s market, but should you buy?
The travel deal was too good to pass up. For just $500, Danielle Tedrowe could enjoy a week at the five-star Live Aqua Beach Resort in CancĂşn, Mexico, this fall. "It was a phenomenal rate," says Tedrowe, a property manager and travel agent from Austin, Texas. An 80% discount for an ocean … [Read more...] about Travel deals: It’s a buyer’s market, but should you buy?
How to file a credit card dispute for your canceled vacation – and win
It’s time to talk about the nuclear option. If a travel company isn’t refunding payment for your canceled vacation, maybe it’s time for a credit card dispute. Asking a bank to force a merchant to return your money is typically a last resort. But that’s where we are now. Some travel companies have … [Read more...] about How to file a credit card dispute for your canceled vacation – and win
12 ways to save at spas
Hot stone massage. Chocolate body scrub. Lavender rose wrap. All sound lusciously decadent ... and expensive. But even the $14 billion spa industry isn’t immune to a skittish economy. Pressured to keep expenses low yet maintain customer levels, spas (both day and destination resort) continue to ramp … [Read more...] about 12 ways to save at spas
30-plus discounts teachers can use all year long
Teachers are rarely paid what they're worth. Recognizing that, many businesses offer discounts to teachers year--round. Living on the Cheap has been rounding up great school supply deals, providing tips on how to save on school lunches and dressing for fall without breaking the bank. This is also a … [Read more...] about 30-plus discounts teachers can use all year long
Quick and easy ways to take better photos
You spend lots of money taking your family on vacation miles from home. You want your photos to be perfect. Nothing is more disappointing than vacation photos that miss the mark. Why not spend a few minutes learning techniques that can make your photos winners? Ed Szczepanski, a St. Louis, … [Read more...] about Quick and easy ways to take better photos
Great ways to save money on your vacation
Planning a vacation? If you're anything like us, you're probably looking for ways to have a great time without spending a fortune. If you’ve booked a summer vacation, we hope you planned carefully, saved up enough money to pay for the whole trip and are now looking forward to leaving your cares … [Read more...] about Great ways to save money on your vacation
Summer vacation ideas for families on a budget
With summer comes thoughts of travel: road trips and theme parks and visits to Grandma's house, camping and cruising and hanging out by the pool. The most organized of families, of course, have already made their summer vacation plans. But for those of us who have not yet decided, or … [Read more...] about Summer vacation ideas for families on a budget