Finding Discounts on Summer Vacations

Have you started planning your summer vacation yet? I know. It’s still April, but here in the Dallas area, school will be out in about a month. By then, the good deals may be taken. Even if you’re not planning to travel until the beginning of August or just planning a weekend getaway, now is the time to look for deals.

The Internet has a wealth of resources for finding great deals on just about anything. Travel sites are no exception. But how do you find them and how do you know which ones are reputable? Here are a few resources to get you started.

Social couponing websites often offer extreme discounts on travel destinations. These coupons are great if you are flexible on dates or don’t have a specific destination in mind. Simply choose a destination already on sale. If you have a specific destination in mind, go to these websites and sign up for e-mails for deals in specific regions. If you plan to vacation in Boston, sign up for entertainment and dining deals in Boston and start planning your trip around the daily deals you receive. Some good sites to start with are groupon.com and livingsocial.com/escapes.

Memberships can pay off. AAA offers last minute vacation deals as much as 70 percent off the regular price. To make the deal sweeter, AAA offers a low price guarantee. If you find a cheaper rate for the exact itinerary within 24 hours, AAA will match it.

Wholesale warehouses like Costco offer exclusive benefits on vacations around the world, cruises and more. They also offer great deals on rental cars.

If you still plan to wait until the last minute, there are lots of websites that cater to your needs. These sites often buy the last few seats on an airplane or the last few cabins on a cruise at a fraction of the regular cost and can sell them much cheaper than the airlines and cruise lines would. Check out some of these sites:

Travelzoo.com
Lastminute.com
Moments-notice.com
Laterooms.com

And, for last minute deals specific to Disney destinations, check out mousesavers.com.

Where do you turn for big discounts on vacations? Please post a comment and continue the conversation so all NCU members can benefit.