Contents

are you getting a
good deal?
How to avoid a booking anxiety
what are those hidden
car rental fees?
5 travel dilemmas and
how to cope
How to deal with big travel headaches
the best & cheapest
time to cruise
Contents
Are you getting a good
deal?
10 things to know
before booking airfare
5 travel dilemmas and
how to cope
Top 10 free travel apps
Fit it all in a personal
item bag
10 tips to sailing
through airport security
What do those hotel
star ratings mean?
What are those hidden
retnal car fees?
Vacation rentals: what
you need to know
The best & cheapest
time to cruise
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2
ARE you getting
a good deal?
how to avoid booking anxiety
Booking airfare and hotels online occasionally makes even the
savviest traveler feel a little unsure. Here are some confidence-building
tips for avoiding three major booking anxieties.
How do you know if you’re getting a good
deal?
How do you know if a hotel is a good
value?
Airfare
First, compare prices using a flexible-dates search tool. It may
cost less to travel a few days before or after your preferred
date. You should also track prices for a few weeks before
booking to get a benchmark price.
Websites such as TripAdvisor or others with a solid online
community of travelers are particularly helpful for researching hotels. Search by hotel to find reviews from other
travelers. Give more weight to reviews from travelers who
seem to have similar likes and dislikes as you.
If you’re finding high prices for airfare, consider booking a vacation package instead. Often, bundling different elements
of your travel experience–airfare, hotel, and car rental, for instance–can be less expensive than airfare alone, particularly
when you’re booking peak-season or last-minute travel.
Hotels
Compare hotel prices by using a price-comparison tool; also
compare prices from online agencies (Travelocity, Expedia,
etc.) with those from the hotel itself.
If you’re not picky about hotels, try using Hotwire or Priceline,
where you trade knowing the name of the hotel in advance
for potentially rock-bottom prices.
Researching with guidebooks is another tactic. Authors
generally visit each property and mention both pluses and
minuses.
Are you going at the right time?
If your dates are flexible, you can take advantage of low
prices without sacrificing good weather by traveling to a
destination during its shoulder season, or save even more
by visiting during the off-season.
Knowing when to visit will help you avoid crowds, high
prices, and less-than-ideal weather.
Tips for
safer
booking
The good signs
Many travel sellers are members of
industry associations—such as the U.S.
Tour Operators Association (USTOA), the
American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA),
or the Better Business Bureau (BBB)—that
reflect a degree of reliability.
Worried about the reliability of an unfamiliar
travel provider? Here are some tips for separating the good from the bad.
The red flags
You can often spot indications of potential
problems before you book. If a company
doesn’t accept credit cards, has an offshore
location, or lacks a physical address or
phone number, be wary.
If you aren’t comfortable or have qualms
about an agency, Google it to look for
past issues or check an online travel gripe
site to see if there’s a history of complaints.
Such sites include Complaints.com, ConsumerAffairs.com, My3cents.com, Ripoff
Report.com, and TheSqueakyWheel.com.
Very few good deals are limited to just
one or two outlets; if someone you don’t
trust has a good offer, ask a local agency.
Chances are you can get it from someone
you do trust.
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10 Things to know
before booking airfare
Peak vs. off-peak
1 When
you begin planning a trip, be aware of your des-
tination’s busy travel season. You can read about the peak,
off-peak, and shoulder seasons for many destinations in
SmarterTravel’s Travel Guides.
2 Compare fares
With so many flight and booking options, you should
never buy a ticket without comparing fares first. Expedia,
Orbitz, and Travelocity display fares from the major carriers,
as do meta-search sites like Kayak.
3 Don’t forget the low-fare carriers
Southwest sells tickets on its website, and JetBlue sells
tickets on Travelocity and its website. These low-cost fares
are generally unavailable from the major online travel agencies.
4 Know when to buy
When one airline announces a sale, its competitors
often rush to match the prices. This usually happens on
Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
5 Sign up for alerts
6 Be aware of airlines fees
Fees can vary by route and airline. Use our airline fee
guide to estimate the additional charges you may expect on
your base fare.
Fly midweek
7 You
can generally find the lowest fares by traveling on
weekdays, e.g., Monday through Wednesday or Thursday.
8 Consider last-minute fares
Many airlines offer last-minute airfare specials. These
fares are very limited, so if you’re interested, sign-up for
alerts from your favorite airline and book as soon as you see
a fare you like.
Use discounts
9 Seniors,
students, and youths can sometimes take ad-
vantage of discounts from major travel providers.
10 Stay informed
Most airlines let you select your seat assignments
when you book online. SeatGuru.com knows the best seats
and can help you choose well.
Tracking prices on a given route can be time-consuming, but it’s also the best way to get a benchmark price.
Services that track fares include Travelocity’s Fare Watcher,
Orbitz’s Deal Detector, and Kayak’s Buzz.
smartertravel.com
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5
travel
dilemmas
and how
to cope
If your passport is lost or stolen…
Overseas: Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy. You will need
to fill out a passport application, sign an affidavit that your
passport was stolen, and verify your identity/U.S. citizenship.
Statesite: Call the U.S. Department of State at 877-487-2778.
Before you go… Make sure you have a copy of your identification (Passport and ID) in all your bags and one copy with
a contact at home, in case you need it faxed.
Even if you suffer a setback
while traveling, it doesn't
have to mean your vacation's
ruined. Here's how to deal
with big travel headaches.
If you get sick…
Seek medical attention and make
sure you collect everything you
need for a possible claim—such
as receipts for your visit and any
medications needed, clinic contact information, etc
Before you go… Be sure to
check your policies (both trip
and personal medical insurance);
bring emergency contacts and
insurance card with you.
If your hotel is
overbooked…
If you miss your flight
connection…
It is the hotel’s responsibility to find
accommodations for travelers they
can’t accommodate, provide a complimentary phone call to let others know
of your itinerary change and pay for
transportation expenses to the new
property
If it’s the airlines fault, you may get
some compensation such as meals
and hotel stay, along with help on
rebooking.
Before you go… Make sure you have
a confirmed reservation, guaranteed
with a credit card. Keep a record of
your confirmation number upon
check-in.
If it’s not the airline's fault (for example, bad weather), the carrier will
help you get on the next available
flight.
Before you go… Be sure to check
your airline's delays and cancellation
policies for further clarification.
If you lose your luggage…
Contact an airline customer service representative immediately
and obtain any contact information to follow up after you leave
the airport.
Before you go… Pack essentials in a carry-on. Leave
one or more credit cards, spare keys, and another form of
identification at home so someone can send them to you if
you lose everything.
smartertravel.com
5
top10 free
travel apps
OpenTable
A miniaturized version of its online services, OpenTable
lets you make reservations at more than 13,000
restaurants in the U.S., Canada, and abroad, and shows
you what reservation times are available before you put
in your request.
Where
An all-encompassing local-area search engine perfect for
travelers just getting acclimated to a new destination in
the U.S. Want gas prices in your area? Done. Need to find a
movie theater and see what's playing? Check.
Yelp
The one-stop shop for reviews of just about everything,
from restaurants to beaches, museums, salons, and auto
shops. Find out which places get the locals' approval.
TripAdvisor
You need a room, and you need one now, but even in your
desperate state you won't settle for some cheap fleabag
motel. Wouldn't you like to have TripAdvisor's 35 million
(and counting) hotel reviews in your pocket?
GateGuru
This app comes with maps of 86 airports in the U.S., 12
in Canada, and London's Heathrow. It shows you what's
available in each terminal and where you can find it.
GateGuru also features user reviews.
5
apps
airlines
don't
want
you to
use
Next Flight
($2.99):
Cancelled, delayed,
or you just missed a
connection? Get a list
of all available flights
(from all carriers) for
the same day and
the next two days.
Plus this app also has
a search for hotels,
cabs, and car rentals
for the instances there
is no available flight.
Flyers Rights
($0.99):
Get helpful tips about
what to do in the
event of a delay, and
specific information
about your legal
rights as a passenger.
Plus, you'll be able to
log your delays in real
time, using the app's
GPS system and map
for future evidence.
USAToday AutoPilot
AutoPilot lets you store all the information for your trips—
flight, hotel, or car reservations—and then gives you
updates on flight status and weather for your destination.
AutoPilot is designed to sync up with TripIt, a similar service.
Urbanspoon
Tell Urbanspoon where you are and how much you want
to spend, then shake your phone (literally). Urbanspoon
will recommend a restaurant. All restaurants are rated by
Urbanspoon users, so you know what you're getting into.
MetrO
The smartphone universe is chock full of public
transportation apps for cities across the world. MetrO
covers 400 cities and is more than adequate for most
travelers' needs. MetrO can plot routes for you and show
your location on a map so you can see what's nearby.
Your Airline/Online Travel Agent
Just about every airline has an app that, at minimum, lets
you store your flight information.
UpNext 3-D Maps
This is simply the coolest way to navigate a city. UpNext's
maps give you a fresh, useful perspective on the city you're
visiting.
SkyScanner
(Free):
Scan all the major
airlines' websites and
online travel agencies
for the lowest fares.
Also learn if it's cheaper to book one-way
tickets on separate
airlines rather than
a round-trip on one
provider.
Priority Pass
(Free):
Use Priority Pass to
check out the airline
lounges available to
you at the airport.
View photos and offerings before deciding if you should shell
out for a pass inside.
B4 You Board
(Free):
Order food from
nearby restaurants to
be delivered directly
to you at your gate–
often for less than an
in-flight meal.
smartertravel.com
6
Fit It all in
a personal item bag
Is it possible to vacation with only a 16x14x12-inch bag? The answer: Yes. Get out your ruler and
prepare to dodge those carry-on baggage fees!
Use Your Pockets
Since you will need to remove your
jacket at security, use a jacket or
sweatshirt with large pockets. Make
the most of the pockets by packing
them with any items you'll use during
the flight, such as books, snacks, and
music devices.
Excluded items
There are several items you can take
that do not count toward your baggage allowance. These include umbrellas, cameras, infant diaper bags,
and outer garments such as hats and
coats with stuffed pockets. Bassinets,
child car seats, strollers, and wheelchairs are accepted as checked baggage at no charge.
Reuse clothing
Packing neutral-colored clothes (think
blacks, whites, and grays) makes it
easy to mix and match; a couple of
interchangeable tops and bottoms can
create infinite combinations.
Pack the right fabrics
Some fabrics travel better than others.
Pick knits over woven items, and opt
for blended fabrics, especially those
with a bit of spandex or polyester to
avoid wrinkles.
Do a load of laundry
Ship ahead
Washing, whether by hand, at the hotel, Consider shipping must-have items
or around the corner at a laundromat, is that cannot fit in advance via UPS,
a quick way to get more mileage out of USPS, or another carrier. You'll pay a fee,
but the cost is sometimes more reasonthe same outfits.
able than the airline charge, dependLeave (some of) the
ing on your carrier and what you're
toiletries behind
packing. This is also a good option to
If you're staying at a hotel, chances
consider for any souvenirs.
are you'll find soap, shampoo, and
conditioner in your room. Many hotels
Pack nothing
also offer extras such as toothbrushes,
Bring an empty backpack or small
toothpaste, razors, and shaving cream
duffel with you for the return trip to
upon request.
hold anything you bought. Purchasing necessities at your destination
Check, and recheck, the
may be more expensive, but it's
weather
also a great way to ensure you bring
Wear your bulkiest clothing items (such home useful souvenirs rather than a
as pants, a coat, sunhat or baseball cap, bunch of tchotchkes.
and shoes) on the plane. Pack smaller,
lighter items such as your t-shirts,
shorts, swimsuit, and sandals. Skip
items you can go without or that you
can find at your destination, such as
hair dryers.
Use compression bags
If you set out everything you think you
absolutely, without-a-doubt must bring
and it still won't fit into your bag, try
putting your clothes in a vacuum bag
to reduce the volume. It may even free
up some space for extra items.
smartertravel.com
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10
Tips for sailing through
Airport Security
Wondering how
to adopt the experts' time-saving
measures and put
yourself in the fast
lane? Here are
tips for speeding
through airport
security.
1 Check in online
It’s a good idea to check in online
whenever you can, since bag-drop lines
tend to be shorter than the check-in lines.
2 Get to the airport early
There are all sorts of things that can
slow down a security line—unprepared
travelers ahead of you, understaffed
checkpoints, people that need rescreening.
3 Don't pack prohibited items
Sharp objects, some sports equipment,
firearms, explosives, and flammable items
are not allowed to be carried onto planes.
More information is available on the TSA
website. http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/
airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibiteditems.shtm
4 Abide by 3-1-1
The 3-1-1 rule for carry-on liquids limits
all passengers to one quart-sized zip-top
bag of liquid toiletries of no more than 3.4
ounces each. To speed things along, make
sure to stash your zip-top plastic bag in an
accessible place so you can easily take it
out of your bag and put it in a bin
during screening.
5 Know the 3-1-1 exceptions
Liquid medications, baby formula,
and breast milk are exceptions to the 3-1-1
rule. Declare them at the checkpoint and
you'll be allowed to carry them on, though
additional screening may be required.
6 Flash the right credentials
Have your boarding pass and
identification ready as you enter the
security line. You'll be asked for it
immediately.
7 Perfect your outfit
Skip wearing jewelry to the airport,
keep your pockets empty, wear a jacket
that's easy to remove and put back on,
and avoid shoes that require a lot of lacing
or yanking.
8 Ready your electronics
Make sure your laptop is placed in a
checkpoint-friendly laptop bag that allows
for easy scanning, or remove it from its
case and put it in a bin. You'll also have to
remove full-sized video game consoles,
DVD players, and some video cameras from
your baggage for separate screening.
9 Choose the right line
At many airports in the U.S., security
checkpoints allow travelers to choose lines
based on their traveler type. Expert, casual,
and family/medical liquids lanes help
divide travelers by their familiarity with the
process and by the amount of assistance
they're likely to need getting through the
screening.
10 Remember other restrictions
Keep gifts unwrapped until you reach
your destination. Jams, jellies, and pastes
(including peanut butter) are restricted to
3.4 ounces.
smartertravel.com
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What do those
hotel star
ratings really
mean?
Four-star Three-star Two-star
One-star
Here’s a quick cheat-sheet to star ratings, as well as some tips about getting a sense of a
hotel before you book.
Travelocity
Expedia
Orbitz
Meets budget basic needs
Economy, no-frills accommodations
Simple accommodations
Meets basic needs
Value, clean, basic
Value, comfortable, affordable
High service, additional amenities
Quality, style, comfort, personalized
service
Mid-scale, convenience plus comfort
Superior property, variety of amenities
Superior, upscale, high quality
Deluxe/upscale, comfort plus quality
You may be confused by conflicting star rating information.
To get a better idea of the hotels that interest you, use
each site’s rating as a general guideline and check hotel
user ratings and testimonials on TripAdvisor, a partner of
SmarterTravel. In addition to their own rating systems, many
Online Travel Agents (OTAs) also list consumer user reviews
on individual hotels.
Note the tone of each entry: Do any complaints sound
similar to issues that might bother you? Does the praise gel
with what you usually like about a hotel? By comparing your
tastes to previous guests’ experiences, you’ll be able to get a
good feel for a given property.
smartertravel.com
9
your guide to
hidden car
rental fees
If you’ve ever
rented a car,
you’ve probably
walked away
wondering how
the reasonable
base price turned
into an exorbitant
bill, heavy with
extra fees. Here's
an outline of
some of the more
common fees
to expect when
renting a car.
Common fees
Airport concession fees: Also called
recoup fees, consolidated facility charges
(CFC), facility usage fees, and concession
recovery fees. These fees can be as much
as 10 percent of the total rental cost.
Reimbursement fee/Vehicle
license fee: The fee that contributes to
the cost of registering and titling the car,
usually between three and eight percent of
the base rate.
Convention center/stadium/
sports arena tax: The money from
this fee goes towards construction of
area centers. Charges of this type are
calculated as daily fees or as a percent of
the rental rate.
Other possible fees
Drop-off fee: A fee charged for
returning the car to a different site than
the pick-up location. These fees can be
high, so it’s a good idea to ask about them
before booking.
Mileage fee: For rentals without
unlimited mileage, a per-mile fee based on
the number of miles overall, or number of
miles over the per-day allotted usage.
Additional drivers fee: Usually a
flat fee charged for extra drivers other than
the renter. Some rental agencies allow
the spouse of the renter to be added as a
driver for no additional fee.
Young drivers fee: For drivers under
age 25. Rates can run from $10 to $80 or
more per day, depending on agency and
location.
Insurance fees: Car rental companies
often pressure you to buy their insurance,
but you may already be covered. Check
with your insurance carrier and the credit
card company to see which types of
insurance they cover on rental cars in what
locations. You may also want to compare
your credit cards’ policies to see which one
gives you the greatest coverage.
Late fee: Late fees are charged by the
hour until the hourly charges exceead the
daily rate, at which point most companies
charge you for a full extra day.
Fuel charge: Per-gallon gasoline
charges that you pay for returning a car
without a full tank.
smartertravel.com
10
Vacation
rentals:
what you need to know
What's a Vacation Rental?
A vacation rental is a lodging option for travelers,
and can consist of a variety of accommodations
types: homes, apartments, and condos. Typically,
vacationers book a rental through an individual
property owner or a property management
company. Rentals are fully furnished, usually feature
equipped kitchens, and may have extras such as a
pool, a hot tub, a deck, etc.
How Does a Vacation Rental Differ
From a Hotel?
A vacation rental typically gives travelers a lot more
space for their money—ideal for groups with one
rental accommodating everyone for one price,
rather than the group having to reserve and pay for
several hotel rooms.
Transactions are a little different: Owners and
managers will usually have a rental agreement
signed by the traveler. A rental agreement will
stipulate all terms of the rental, including length of
the trip; price (per night, week, or month); security
deposits; check-in and check-out procedures;
policies for cleaning, pets, and the like; and other
applicable requirements
What Are Some Advantages to
Vacation Rentals?
Vacation rentals are an incredibly good value for
your money:
• More living space than a hotel room
• Ability to cook your own meals
• Locations to fit your travel needs
(mountainside, oceanside, etc.)
What Should you Watch Out For?
• Make sure the property owner or manager is
reputable
• Be sure your rental agreement stipulates any
areas of concerns, such as return of security
deposits, any applicable fees, cleaning
responsibilities, etc.
If you have any questions or concerns, address
them in writing before putting down your deposit.
You may also want to look into travel insurance to
protect your vacation investment.
smartertravel.com
11
Booking travel
The best & cheapest
times to Cruise
ALASKA
Cruising season: May through September
Best time: June through August for warm weather
Cheapest time: May and September
EUROPE
Cruising season: April through November
Shorter season: May to October for Northern Europe
and Baltic cruises
NEW ENGLAND AND CANADA
Cruising season: May through October
Best time: Early to mid-October (foliage season)
Cheapest time: May and late October
Longer season: March to December for Greek and
Canary islands
Best time: Summer, late spring, early fall
Cheapest time: Very beginning and end of each season
CARIBBEAN
Cruising season: Year-round
Best time: December through March
MEXICO
Cruising season: Year-round
Cheapest time: Late summer and fall (hurricane season)
Perk: Ships can change itineraries to avoid bad weather
any time of year
Best time: November through May (dry season)
Cheapest time: Fall (hurricane season)
smartertravel.com
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