Good timing extends to air travel, too. To snag deals, experts suggest flying on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and early on Saturdays. Also, sign up for e-newsletters that alert you to discounts. “Airlines have unadvertised sales all the time,” says George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog.com, whose e-mail alert gives promotional codes. These sales usually last 24 to 48 hours and are good for travel up to 11 months in the future. He also suggests buying peak-period (during holidays and spring break) tickets far in advance: “Fares won't come down if you wait, and worse, flights will be sold out.”
Rack up those points
Frequent flyer miles and other loyalty programs from hotels, airlines and credit cards can be your ticket to paradise. If you haven't done so already, join one. Sometimes just registering gets you perks: At Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, enrollees get free Wi-Fi.
Dan Sondhelm, an Alexandria, Va., based financial marketing consultant and self-described “point junkie,” earned enough currency through Starwood Hotels' loyalty program and frequent flyer miles — he travels about 50,000 miles a year — to cover his 2006 honeymoon in Tahiti, which would have cost about $8,000. “We saved a ton, so we could put that money toward having fun when we got there,” he says.
Low on points? Seek donations from friends and family, since most points are transferable. “I never thought we'd be able to afford a 10-day honeymoon in Hawaii on the salaries of a nurse and teacher,” says Lia Moss, of Chicago, who with her husband, Ben Blair, visited the Big Island this past August using miles donated by Ben's dad. “That saved us about $1,500. Crazy!”
The only caveat with miles: Book early, at least six months out, as supply (the number of award seats available) is limited and demand is high.
Fly off-peak
