Mobile, October 2004

Traveling for business means corporate cards and expense accounts. But when you’re not jetting around on the company’s dime, it’s a little harder to justify high airfares and expensive hotel rooms—and it only gets more expensive if your family is along for the trip. Can you lead a filet mignon travel life on a hamburger budget?
You bet your frequent-flier miles you can. If you do your research and follow a few easy guidelines, you can fly to exotic locales and stay in decent, even luxurious, accommodations without spending a fortune. Here’s how to travel first-class without breaking the bank.

DON’T FOLLOW THE HERD
Map out this year’s hottest travel destinations—then go somewhere else. "No Mexican would ever go to Cancun," says Joel Widzer, author of The Penny Pincher’s Passport to Luxury Travel." Instead, opt for a low-key Baja town like La Paz. Think Eastern Europe, not Western, or Panama instead of Costa Rica. Ski in April, or visit Arizona in June. "Look for areas of opportunity," says Widzer, For instance, Greece will be a good place to go at the end of the year. The Olympics are over, but Athens is still spruced up.

WATCH THE DOLLAR
One of the best ways to save money on a trip is to make sure each dollar you spend is worth as much as possible. "People don’t pay much attention to currency fluctuation and exchange rates," says Widzer, "but it can make a huge difference in vacation costs." The dollar is weak in Europe right now, which means your hard-earned cash will go further in Asia or Latin America. One other suggestion is to take a trip closer to home. "In the States, there is tremendous value right now," says Widzer, citing airline fare wars and more hotel rooms than there are domestic travelers to fill them.

BOOK DIRECTLY
While it’s tempting to let a travel agent or an adventure travel company do all the planning for you, you’ll save a bundle by booking your own itinerary locally. "We went trekking in Nepal and booked our own accommodations, and in the same places that paid thousands of dollars to adventure travel companies."

BE FLEXIBLE
Good deals come when you’re not picky about what days you travel, and even where you go. Airlines offer great deals if you fly from a smaller airport that’s less convenient to you, for example, San Diego instead of LAX. If you live near a busy cruise ship port such as Miami, you can score last-minute unsold staterooms at rock-bottom prices.

BE LOYAL
If comfort is your biggest priority, pick an airline and a hotel chain, and give them your business exclusively. Dress nicely and be a pleasant customer at the front desk, and write letters commending good service. Not only will you earn mountains of points and miles toward future discounts, you may find yourself being upgraded for the asking. "Most travel employees are under a lot of pressure, and people treat them pretty poorly," says Widzer. "Show them a good reason why they should upgrade you."

TURN OFF THE NEWS
After watching a few hours of CNN, you may be tempted to just stay home. But don’t be afraid to go to an exotic local because you’re nervous about local unrest. In fact, a little negative publicity can mean rock-bottom hotel and airfare prices. We’re not saying you should spend your holiday at the Baghdad Hilton—be prudent about State Department warnings. However, most incidents are usually isolated. Skeptical? Look around you. "If people were as worried about danger here as they were about going overseas, we’d never leave our homes," says Widzer.